Environment

a group of tourists take photos of the birds perched on the balcony rails

Macaws lighten things up in Venezuela’s capital, and form a special bond with residents

Blue and gold macaws, a species non-native to the city, have developed a relationship with the residents of Caracas, Venezuela. However, the birds’ future is uncertain as their habitats are becoming increasingly endangered.

Macaws lighten things up in Venezuela’s capital, and form a special bond with residents
A buffalo grazes on the drenched land in the Cardamom Mountains, southwest Cambodia.

‘It’s a lose-lose situation’: Carbon ‘offset’ project in Cambodia accused of human rights violations

‘It’s a lose-lose situation’: Carbon ‘offset’ project in Cambodia accused of human rights violations
Children play in the surf at Kite Beach with the Burj al Arab, the Dubai Marina and a man flying a powered parachute in the background in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 8, 2016.

To beat the heat, beach lovers in Dubai head to the shores at night

To beat the heat, beach lovers in Dubai head to the shores at night
Air quality levels have been bad in Accra since December as harmattan season kicks in across Ghana. The data coming in shows the situation is not improving.

Hazy skies over Accra: Harsh harmattan season in Ghana leads to health hazards, poor air quality

Hazy skies over Accra: Harsh harmattan season in Ghana leads to health hazards, poor air quality
a multiple-exposure photo of insects flying around a light

The surprising reason why insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky

The surprising reason why insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky
man in front of river

Paul Salopek treks across China as part of his yearslong 'Out of Eden Walk'

The World's hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler talked with National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek about his experiences walking across China and beyond as a part of his "Out of Eden Walk" project.

Paul Salopek treks across China as part of his yearslong 'Out of Eden Walk'
Uganda Women Birders tackles limiting gender taboos by giving women the experience and resources they need to prove they can do the job.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example

Birdwatching is a rapidly growing and lucrative part of the tourism sector worldwide, but women make up a very small minority of professional guides. Uganda Women Birders, a bird guide club, is revolutionizing the industry by encouraging and supporting women who want to get into the business. Anita Elash reports from the town of Entebbe, Uganda.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example
Projected blue and red stripes over white cliffs

The humble origins of the ubiquitous ‘climate stripes’

When Ellie Highwood was crocheting a blanket as a baby gift in 2017, she wanted to make something that would mean something to the baby's climate-scientist parents. She ended up making a "global warming blanket." And she never could have guessed the impact that the blanket would have.

The humble origins of the ubiquitous ‘climate stripes’
Sea-level rise and storms made stronger by climate change threaten communities across coastal Bangladesh.

‘They forgot about me’: People with disabilities in Bangladesh face increased risk during natural disasters

Millions of people have migrated from villages in coastal Bangladesh to escape climate-related disasters, but people with disabilities often stay behind. This puts their lives in even greater danger as weather conditions become more severe, advocates say.

‘They forgot about me’: People with disabilities in Bangladesh face increased risk during natural disasters
Ghana officially commenced oil production in commercial quantities in 2010.

COP28: African nations resist fossil fuel phaseout, citing economic realities

At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, leaders from the US and EU have backed a phasedown of fossil fuels, with some qualifications.  But many African countries say they deserve to exploit their natural resources and develop just like richer countries. 

COP28: African nations resist fossil fuel phaseout, citing economic realities
Lower reservoir on El Hierro island

Spanish island dumps diesel for wind, water and sunshine

El Hierro, a tiny island in the Canaries, is halfway to the UN goal of ditching fossil fuels. But finding just the right renewable energy mix is proving tough.

Spanish island dumps diesel for wind, water and sunshine
The traditional Iñupiaq village of Teller sits on a long spit of land separating two bodies of water off Western Alaska’s Seward Peninsula.

China cut graphite imports to the US, worrying EV carmakers. Can Canada come to the rescue?

China began restricting exports of graphite supplies needed to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries on Dec. 1. EV carmakers are nervous about shortages because the US lacks its own domestic supplies. One of the world's largest sources of graphite has been discovered in Alaska, but the company with mining rights to the site is Canadian.

China cut graphite imports to the US, worrying EV carmakers. Can Canada come to the rescue?
A person in all black walks past a logo at the media center ahead of the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit.

Confidence in UN climate talks at a low point ahead of COP28 in Dubai

Optimism soared after the Paris Agreement was established in 2015. But progress at UN climate talks since then has been incremental at best.

Confidence in UN climate talks at a low point ahead of COP28 in Dubai
Salah Fareeq Al-Feroun's farm sits unattended without the necessary water to cultivate Iraq's signature anbar rice, Al-Meshkhab, Najaf Province, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2023.

Iraq's signature anbar rice is disappearing amid water shortages

Severe water shortages in Iraq are affecting the cultivation of the country's signature anbar rice. The lack of water is being caused by a combination of climate change and geopolitics. The World's Sara Hassan speaks with a farmer who can no longer grow the crop in southern Najaf province.

Iraq's signature anbar rice is disappearing amid water shortages
People marching in street with a Panamanian flag

Copper mine protests roil in Panama

The government approved a new contract with the mine late last week. Since then, protests have rippled across Panama, and people are afraid they could bring the country to a standstill.

Copper mine protests roil in Panama