The onslaught of illegal miners into Indigenous territory in the Brazilian Amazon has destroyed forest, polluted rivers, and brought disease and malnutrition to the Yanomami people. Now, the new Brazilian government is confronting a health crisis and moving to evict the miners.
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ANALYSIS
Microplastics Are Filling the Skies. Will They Affect the Climate?
Recent studies reveal that tiny pieces of plastic are constantly lofted into the atmosphere. These particles can travel thousands of miles and affect the formation of clouds, which means they have the potential to impact temperature, rainfall, and even climate change.
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CONSERVATION
Silencing Science: How Indonesia Is Censoring Wildlife Research
Under President Joko Widodo, Indonesia has gained international praise for its conservation policies. But now the government is clamping down on scientists who are questioning official claims that the country’s endangered orangutan and rhino populations are increasing.
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Energy
In Europe’s Clean Energy Transition, Industry Turns to Heat Pumps
With soaring gas prices due to the Ukraine war and the EU’s push to cut emissions, European industries are increasingly switching to high-temperature, high-efficiency heat pumps. Combined with the boom in residential use, the EU is now hoping for a heat pump revolution.
WATER
After Comeback, Southern Iraq’s Marshes Are Now Drying Up
After recovering from Saddam Hussein’s campaign to drain them, Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes are disappearing as a regional drought enters its fourth year and upstream dams cut off water flows. Marsh Arabs, resident for millennia, are leaving, and biodiversity is collapsing.
E360 Digest
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Cold Water Fish Can Adapt to Climate Change by Breeding With Warm Water Relatives
Temperatures are rising faster than many species can evolve to cope with them, posing a long-term threat to their survival. But new research suggests an evolutionary shortcut to adaptation: breed with closely related species that can better stand the heat. More about Cold Water Fish Can Adapt to Climate Change by Breeding With Warm Water Relatives →
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In Brazil, Forests Returned to Indigenous Hands See Recovery, Study Finds
Granted formal rights to their ancestral lands in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, Indigenous people have stemmed forest loss and improved tree cover, a new study finds. More about In Brazil, Forests Returned to Indigenous Hands See Recovery, Study Finds →
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Clean Energy Saw as Much Investment as Fossil Fuels for the First Time in 2022
Solar, wind, electric vehicles, and other clean energy technologies saw a record-high $1.1 trillion in investment globally last year, matching investment in fossil fuels for the first time ever, according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. More about Clean Energy Saw as Much Investment as Fossil Fuels for the First Time in 2022 →
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Energy
For U.S. Companies, the Race for the New EV Battery Is On
Spurred by federal mandates and incentives, U.S. manufacturers are pushing forward with developing new battery technologies for electric vehicles. The holy grail is a battery that is safer, costs less, provides longer driving range, and doesn’t use imported “conflict” minerals.
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INTERVIEW
Amazon Under Fire: The Long Struggle Against Brazil’s Land Barons
Journalist Heriberto Araujo spent four years reporting on the destruction of the Brazilian Amazon. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, he talks about his new book, which explores the complex web of issues underpinning the deforestation of the world’s largest rainforest.
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Biodiversity
Sacred Groves: How the Spiritual Connection Helps Protect Nature
From Ethiopia’s highlands to Siberia to the Australian rainforest, there are thousands of sacred forests that have survived thanks to traditional religious and spiritual beliefs. Experts say these places, many now under threat, have ecological importance and must be saved.
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Policy
Which Wetlands to Protect? Supreme Court Will Soon Decide
The U.S. loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands a year. An upcoming Supreme Court decision could settle decades of legal ambiguity about which wetlands should get federal protection under the Clean Water Act, bringing major changes to how these vital ecosystems are managed.
