Kenya’s sand wars

Communities are pitted against sand harvesters, powerful cartels and one another as demand for sand in Kenya grows.

Whales turn tail at ocean mining noise

A new international study has measured the effect of loud sounds on migrating humpback whales as concern grows as oceans become noisier. Scientists have said one of the main sources of ocean noise was oil and gas exploration, due to geologists firing off loud acoustic air guns to probe the structure of the ocean floor in search of fossil fuels.

Behind the Lens: Climate Refugees

Kiribati residents’ “carbon footprints” are among the lowest in the world. These are not people who travel by air or drive gas-guzzling vehicles. They’re not the big carbon polluters but they’re the ones who’ll be among the first to have their lives disrupted by climate change through rising sea levels and extreme weather…

Mackenzie Meets Beaufort

The Mackenzie River is the leading source of freshwater flowing into the Arctic Ocean. It’s also a leading source of sediment flowing into that basin.

“Dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is biggest ever

Each summer, a large part of the Gulf of Mexico “dies”. This year, the Gulf’s “dead zone” is the largest on record, stretching from the mouth of the Mississippi, along the coast of Louisiana to waters off Texas, hundreds of miles away. Around 8,776 square miles of ocean, an area the size of New Jersey or Wales, is almost lifeless.