In January of 2022, a massive volcano erupted under the ocean near Tonga. The eruption released huge amounts of methane - a dangerous greenhouse gas. Now scientists have discovered that the volcano's ash cloud also removed a lot of methane. The discovery could lead to new ways to fight global warming.
Posts tagged as “environment”
Today marks the 56th celebration of Earth Day, a day set aside to remind people to protect our planet. This year’s theme, like last year, is "Our Power, Our Planet". The theme focuses attention on clean energy, while also reminding people of the power they have to fight the climate crisis.
Last Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that his government has gotten rid of an important rule which says that the pollution causing global warming is dangerous. The change will make it much harder for the US government - now or in the future - to act on the climate crisis.
Scientists have released a new report showing that in 2025, the world's oceans heated up more than ever. The oceans have set new records for heating eight years in a row. The scientists say this is a clear sign that the planet is warming because of human actions. The effects will last for hundreds of years.
The COP30 climate talks in Belém, Brazil ended last Saturday with a deal that left many people disappointed. The meeting, organized by the United Nations, was marked by strong disagreements between countries. The talks resulted in a deal, but without any new agreements on fossil fuels.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia held a special event to officially open Africa's largest dam. The $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to bring electricity to millions of people in Ethiopia. But the dam has upset Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on the Nile River for its water.
Scientists from the University of Florida have recently reported on the world's largest nesting site for freshwater turtles. They counted about 41,000 Giant South American River turtles at the site. Just as importantly, they developed a more accurate method of counting the turtles.
Under US President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a plan that would remove a 2009 decision that says climate change is dangerous. If the plan goes through, it will make it extremely hard for the US government to limit pollution that causes global warming.
Last Wednesday, the United Nations' highest court ruled that countries must protect people from the "urgent" threat of the climate crisis. The court said countries which don't take steps to fight global warming might have to pay for the damage they've done. The court's opinion could lead to more lawsuits over the climate crisis.
On Monday, scientists and government leaders came together in Nice, France for the third United Nations Ocean Conference. The meeting is focused on the many challenges facing the world's oceans, and what can be done to help. The event comes as the US has suddenly taken a step back from protecting the oceans.
Last year, the world lost more forests than ever before. The biggest cause of this loss was fires. Land clearing for farming and other human activities was also a major cause. The results are very worrying for the planet, which relies on forests to help fight climate change.