Artist creates a sculpture filled with seeds to feed 12 communities after a natural disaster

What You Should Know About Lead Contamination in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more than a century, factories spewed toxic dust across the city, contaminating the soil and causing lead poisoning. We talked to experts about how to stay safe from lead exposure.

Remember when wildfires would go out, or at least abate, at night Climate change has unfortunately extended the hotter and drier conditions into the evening, which feeds wildfires such as the devastating conflagrations in LA, Hawaii and Alberta in recent years. has more:

Some polar bears are adapting to their melting habitat. Will it be enough to save the iconic species Via livescience

University of Waterloo: Canadian Peatland Data Portal debuts as a landmark tool for climate research and policy. Peatlands cover upwards of 12 per cent of Canadas landscape and store more carbon than all other ecosystems in the country combined Yet until now, information on these critical ecosystems has been difficult to find. To address this gap, the Can-Peat Network at the University

Thoughtful article from Jason Momoa in The Guardian about coral reefs.

(14/14) ... pouse Albert Dulac -> journaliste fministe dans La Franaise (cf 1883 1892 1915 1924).
- naissance du corse Ral Leoni (cf 1964).
- USA : -> Nobody (cf 1874 1903 1913).
- Ukraine : naissance de Vassili Grossman (cf 1943 1945 1993) .

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says climate change is "crap." The U.S. military is still bracing for it.

Ah yes, and the hashtags:

Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought.

Scientists say finding is very concerning as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas.

2026 Music Sustainability Summit Recap: 9 Actions the Industry Can Take Right Now

We're changing everything.

"Future projection indicates a consistent increase in surface refractivity across West Africa throughout the 21st century, with stronger amplification under the high emission scenario. The largest increases occur along the humid coastal belt, reaching approximately +15 to +20 N-units by the late century, while the Sahel exhibits comparatively smaller changes. Relative changes show that refractivity increases by about 6-7% in the Equatorial Monsoon zone and 4-5% in the Tropical Savannah zone under SSP5-8.5. Scenarios divergence becomes pronounced after mid-century, highlighting the growing influence of emission pathways.

These changes are driven by enhanced atmospheric moisture and temperature increases associated with global warming. Th result demonstrate the importance of ensemble-based approaches for reducing model uncertainty and provide critical insight for climate-sensitive applications, such as radio wave propagation and telecommunication planning across West Africa."

Going to be interesting to see what this purposely poor, stony soil does with increased chances of extreme weather such as heatwaves and heavy rains thanks to . One big experiment, and hopefully will tell us about successes and failures that result.

America Made Its Most Toxic Lake. Now We Need What's Inside

Backed by the Trump administration, the companies argued the case belongs in federal court because they began oil production and refining during the second world war as US contractors. They deny responsibility for land loss in Louisiana and say it is wrong to sue them for what they did before state environmental regulations were in place.

BY SETH BORENSTEINUpdated April 17, 2026 11:01 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) Burning time for North American wildfires is going into overtime. The number of hours in North America when the weather is favorable for wildfires is 36% higher than 50 years ago, according to a study Friday in Science Advances. .

We are fucked.

Urban Flooding: Causes, Risks and Sustainable Solutions

Urban flooding is one of the fastestgrowing environmental challenges facing modern cities. As rainfall intensifies and urban areas grow, drainage systems, infrastructure and communities are put under greater strain. This article investigates the reasons, threats and long-term solutions that can help cities adapt and thrive in a changing environment.

What is Urban Flooding

occurs when rainfall exceeds the built environment, causing water to gather on streets, pavements and homes. Urban flooding, unlike or coastal floods, occurs distant from natural water bodies and is mostly caused by human-made factors such as impermeable surfaces, inadequate drainage and poor land-use planning.

The key features of urban flooding are:

• Rapid water accumulation following heavy rainfall.
• Overloaded drainage systems.
• Flooding in locations not generally seen as at risk
• Dense populations have significant economic and social implications.

Urban flooding is typically unexpected, disruptive and costly, making it a top priority for communities around the world to address.

Why Urban Areas Are Increasingly Vulnerable

significantly alters the natural . As cities expand, green spaces and soil are replaced by concrete, asphalt and buildings. These surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, causing it to move quickly across the landscape.

Several factors increases the vulnerability of urban areas, including:

• Rapid development reduces the natural infiltration zones.
• Modern rainfall patterns pose a challenge for ageing drainage infrastructure.
• Climate change has increased the frequency of strong downpours.
• High population density concentrates the risk in small regions.

As a result, even moderate rainfall can cause localised floods, transportation disruptions and property damage.

Impermeable Surfaces and Drainage Overload

Urban flooding is primarily caused by impermeable surfaces. Roads, pavements, car parks and rooftops lose water quickly, resulting in runoff that flows into underground pipes. When rainfall surpasses the pipes capacity, water has nowhere to go.

because of several reasons, such as:

• Reduced infiltration because water cannot soak into the soil, runoff volumes increase significantly.
• Smooth surfaces enhance water velocity, which can overwhelm drains in minutes.
• Runoff introduces oils, metals and debris into streams, degrading water quality.

Many drainage systems in UK were built decades ago for a different climate. Cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester have experienced flashstyle surface flooding during intense rainfall because:

• Pipes are too narrow for modern rainfall extremes.
• Blocked drains reduce capacity.
• Urban expansion has outpaced drainage upgrades.

Climate change compounds this problem by increasing the intensity of short, heavy rainfall events that overwhelms drainage networks.

The Role of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

(SuDS) are one of the most effective tools for reducing urban flood risk. They mimic natural hydrological processes by slowing, storing and filtering water before it enters drainage networks. SuDS aims to:

• Reduce runoff volume
• Slow the movement of water
• Improve water quality
• Enhance biodiversity and urban cooling

The Key include:

• Permeable pavements: Allows water to seep through the surface into the underlying layers.
• Swales and infiltration trenches: Shallow, vegetated channels that delay and absorb runoff.
• Detention basins and retention ponds: Are used to store water either temporarily or permanently.
• Rain gardens and bioretention systems: Plant-filled depressions that collect and filter water.

Moreover, SuDS offer multiple cobenefits. for instance:

• Cooler microclimates during
• Improved in urban areas
• Cleaner water entering rivers and streams
• More attractive public spaces

For councils and developers, SuDS provide a costeffective, longterm solution that integrates water management with urban design.

Green Infrastructure as a Flood Solution

refers to natural or semi-natural features that manage water and provide environmental and social advantages. It complements SuDS by improving the citys ability to absorb and store rainwater. Some examples of Green Infrastructure are:

• Green roofs absorb rainwater and reduce runoff.
• Urban wetlands are natural water storage sites that slow and filter water.
• Street trees intercept rainwater and improve soil infiltration.
• Pocket parks are small green spots that break up impervious environments.

Green infrastructure reduces flooding because vegetation slows the movement of water, increases infiltration and provides temporary storage. This reduces pressure on drainage systems and lowers the risk of surface flooding.

Additional benefits of green infrastructure includes:

• Improved air quality
• Enhanced wellbeing and mental health
• Cooler temperatures in heatprone neighbourhoods

have demonstrated how green infrastructure can transform floodprone areas into resilient, liveable spaces.

Urban Planning for Flood Resilience

Longterm resilience requires integrating flood risk into every stage of urban planning, from zoning to street design. Key planning strategies include:

• Avoiding highrisk zones: Restricting development in floodprone areas.
• Designing watersensitive streets: Incorporating swales, permeable surfaces and tree pits.
• Retrofitting older neighbourhoods: Adding SuDS and green features to existing streets.
• Crosssector collaboration: Councils, developers, engineers and communities working together.

Inspired by nature, aims to absorb, store and release water gradually. This approach reduces flood risk while improving urban quality of life.

Social and Economic Risks of Urban Flooding

Urban flooding has farreaching consequences that extend beyond physical damage. Key risks involve:

• Housing damage: Costly repairs and displacement of residents.
• Transport disruption: Flooded roads and railways halt movement.
• Economic losses: Businesses face closures, stock damage and lost revenue.
• Public health threats: Contaminated floodwater spreads disease.

Lowincome communities often face the greatest risks due to poor housing quality, limited insurance coverage and fewer resources for recovery.

Climate Change and the Future of Urban Flooding

is reshaping rainfall patterns worldwide. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier downpours. At the same time, sealevel rise increases flood risk in coastal cities. Some of the future challenges include:

• More frequent intense rainfall events
• Higher stormwater volumes
• Increased pressure on drainage systems
• Greater need for adaptation in planning and infrastructure

Cities must act now to build resilience into their design, policies and community planning.

Building Community and Household Resilience

While largescale infrastructure is essential, communitylevel action also plays a vital role. Here are some ways communities can build resilience:

• Local flood action groups that coordinate preparedness.
• Propertylevel protection such as flood barriers and raised utilities.
• Drainage maintenance by residents to keep gutters and grates clear.
• Awareness campaigns to educate households on flood risks.
• Earlywarning systems to alert residents during heavy rainfall.

Empowering communities strengthens overall resilience and reduces longterm impacts.

Conclusion

Urban flooding is becoming a more serious issue driven by impermeable surfaces, drainage overload and climate change. However, cities have formidable tools at their disposal. Implementing sustainable drainage systems, green infrastructure and resilient urban planning can transform flood-prone areas into adaptable and thriving settings.

Combining engineering, nature-based solutions and community engagement may minimise flood risk, improve quality of life and create a more sustainable future.

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Central Asia faces a tense summer as water shortages threaten crops, food security, and regional stability

Senate overturns U.S./Canada Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company.

People often wrongly think fighting is about caring for nature instead of ourselves. But nature is going to be fine, it always finds a way. It has seen much, much worse. Us on the other hand is a different story entirely. Fighting climate change is not about preservation of nature but about self-preservation of humans.

has lost about 2,000 square miles of land to since the 1930sa land mass about the size of Delaware.

, the states southernmost parish, juts into the water where the meets the . The parish, which is crisscrossed with & canals, has already lost nearly half of its size in the last century as rise because of .

There is something darkly poetic about the Straits of Hormuz opening on the same day Japan coins a new official word -- kokushobi -- to describe extreme hot weather days.

Justice explained that the company had cleared the bar required to move the case into federal court because the lawsuit dealt with oil production in dating back to WWII, when refined crude oil into aviation for the .

He wrote that Chevron had shown that its production of crude oil related to its wartime aviation-gasoline refining for the military, a priority.

Jason Momoa: reefs are nearing extinction. 2026 must mark a turning point. At 1.5C of global warming, up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost. The next few months could be a defining moment.

The case, USA Inc v Parish, LA, focused on a narrow question: whether the companies could remove cases over damage from to court. But the case has been closely watched by litigants in other lawsuits because state courts are generally thought to be more receptive to people who sue over damages caused by , including activists & state officials.

The justices unanimously agreed to allow the companies to fight the lawsuits in court rather than court.

Congress has long authorized federal officers & their agents to remove suits brought against them in state court to federal court, Justice wrote.

Featured: What makes Corpus Christi significant as a case is not that the was unpredictable. It is that the drought was predicted, and that the planning systems in place were calibrated to conditions that are no longer stable.

agreed Friday that companies facing lawsuits over damage to Louisianas from & production can move the challenges from courts into friendlier venues.

The ruling is a significant victory for oil companies, led by & , in their legal battle with state officials over who should pay for the states . The companies have been supported by the admin.

Sides With Companies in Lawsuits

The companies had asked the justices to clear the way to move lawsuits out of courts, to friendlier venues.

i'm a mere dirt farmer, but something about the "planetary boundaries" framework strikes me as off.

first of all, it can give the false impression that there are safe amounts of ecosystem destruction that we just have to get within and then we'll be ok.

secondly, it doesn't give any sense of cycles or balance, which is really the kind of thinking that we're missing when it comes to ecosystem maintenance. by "cycles" i mean the ways that humans should be putting *into* the ecological system, not just taking from it and dumping into it. we're interrelated and are an integral part of it - our inputs and care are necessary.

what do y'all think

In 1996-1997, in Central Florida, mid-April high temperatures where in the mid-60s on 'warm' days.

For the past few years, the high mid-April temperatures in Central Florida have been in the high 80s.

Today we broke 90.

National Lab of the Rockies plans to remove iconic wind turbines months after scrubbing renewables from its name

, ,

Gray whales, once rare in San Francisco Bay, dying there at alarming rates.

Researchers find increase in whale deaths in the bay, largely because of collisions with vessels on busy shipping route.

rebel with a cause T-shirt

An organic cotton T-shirt from our Scientist and Philosopher range.

Scientist and Philosopher first design of rebel with a cause. The fossil fuel corporations have known for decades what our CO2caine addiction was doing to the planet. The COP meetings waffle on as if we still have time to change our ways. We dont, the majority of scientists say we need to reduce drastically our greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the 2020s decade. 

Check out how these products are made using organic cotton. We need to live in not just a sustainable way but one that causes the least environmental loading on the planet. You can even send these items back to be made into new things when you have finished with them. (S&P)

The T-shirt is available from our Teemill store, .

Our Teemill produced organic cotton products are ethically, environmentally and ecologically produced. They are recyclable, sustainable, stylish, high quality fashion items.

Our links

Our Teemill shop site for our organic cotton clothes and bags, .

My author page where you can discover more about my books, .

Our Etsy shop, .

This is our website for all our photography and my books, .

We are also on Flickr, .

Also on Instagram, .

On Pinterest,

#ethical #environmental #ecological #recyclable #sustainable #stylish #quality #fashion

personal bet : 2046

RE:

Imagine if all the speculative profits on AI was instead invested in proper railroad network.

It would actually create jobs, make everyone's lives better AND help fight climate change.

But no, because fast profit is the only thing that matters.

Building a More Resilient Los Angeles:
A roadmap for a more equitable and greener LA

,

Central Asia faces a tense summer as water shortages threaten crops, food security, and regional stability