Climate Change

A satellite-derived image of Earth showing the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding continents, overlaid with false-colour data indicating phytoplankton concentrations. Bright greens and yellows highlight dense blooms near coastlines, particularly where the Amazon River meets the sea. Deep blues and purples mark nutrient-poor waters farther offshore. This image, based on NASA SeaWiFS data from 2003–2006, visualises chlorophyll levels that reflect the abundance of microscopic phytoplankton. These organisms photosynthesise using chlorophyll, and their seasonal growth is fuelled by land-borne nutrients and winter mixing. Blooms peak in spring and decline by early summer as nutrients are depleted and grazers multiply.

Ocean Colour Change

Warming oceans are shifting plankton distributions, making polar waters greener and subtropical regions bluer.

Cheese platter with assorted cheeses, including soft-ripened and herb cheeses, decorated with olives, radishes, orange slices, and greens – illustrating the diversity of cheese quality affected by climate change and dairy feed choices.

Cheese Weather

Hotter, drier summers mean less fresh grass for cows – and that means blander, paler cheese.

An industrial factory emits thick plumes of smoke from multiple chimneys near the Yangtze River in China. The greyish-white smoke billows into the overcast sky, partially obscuring the green, terraced hills in the background. The factory complex is surrounded by dense vegetation in the foreground, contrasting sharply with the pollution above.

Proxy Measures

Democracies may appear greener by offshoring pollution, shifting environmental harm to less democratic countries.

A wooden construction panel in a Venetian square, Campo Santa Marina, features black spray-painted graffiti reading ‘RISE UP 4 CLIMATE JUSTICE.’ The panel is part of a temporary structure, bordered by red and white hazard tape, with a pile of metal pipes stacked on the cobbled ground in front. Behind, historic buildings with shuttered windows and balconies frame the scene.

Inheritance Pattern

The wealthiest 10% of people are responsible for two-thirds of the global warming we see today, while the top 1% account for one-fifth.

A world map showing global terrestrial water storage anomalies for December 2019. The map uses shades of brown and blue to illustrate areas with below-average (brown) and above-average (blue) water storage compared to the long-term average from 2003 to 2019. Large parts of North and South America, southern Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia display significant water deficits (brown), while areas such as Canada, northern Eurasia, and parts of Southeast Asia show above-average storage (blue). The background is a dark navy grid indicating global latitude and longitude lines

Drying the Spine

The climate crisis is not just altering weather – it is rewiring Earth’s hydrological systems.

A golf course at Newbiggin Golf Club with manicured green fairways and sandy dunes in the foreground. A tractor is maintaining the course while a golfer pulls a trolley nearby. In the background, wind turbines and power lines stretch across the horizon, contrasting the natural landscape with industrial elements.

Greening the Fairway

Golf courses occupy more land than renewable energy – repurposing them could boost solar and wind capacity.

A chain-link fence in the foreground encloses a dimly lit site with a concrete floor. Several rats are visible scurrying across the ground, one near a discarded popcorn container. Orange and white safety barriers line the edges of the site, and faint tire tracks mark the dusty pavement. The scene is illuminated by artificial lighting, casting a muted glow over the area.

Ruin’s Vermin

Rats are thriving in warming, expanding cities, with rising populations linked to climate change, posing risks to health and infrastructure.

This image shows a map of the Arctic region highlighting ground temperature trends from 2000 to 2019. Areas with significant permafrost thaw are marked in shades of red, while cooler areas are in blue. The map includes various Arctic settlements and administrative boundaries, providing a detailed visual representation of the changing permafrost landscape.

Frost’s Defeat

Arctic permafrost thaw endangers communities, ecosystems, and infrastructures, necessitating adaptive strategies and policies.

A serene sunset over a calm body of water, with the golden-orange glow of the sun illuminating the surface. Silhouetted mountains form a jagged horizon in the distance, and a small boat drifts peacefully across the water. The scene evokes a sense of tranquillity and natural beauty.

Burning Seas

Ocean temperatures in 2024 reached record highs, signalling escalating global warming, with severe consequences for weather, ecosystems, and vulnerable communities.

Photograph of a boreal forest in late winter, featuring tall evergreen trees dusted with snow. The ground is blanketed in unbroken white snow, while the trees reach upwards under a clear blue sky. Soft shadows stretch across the snow, creating a serene and crisp winter scene

Drunken Forests

Boreal forests face warming risks as unstable permafrost reduces tree growth, limiting carbon storage.