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Indigenous Migrants in Northern Colombia Battle Worsening Droughts and Floods

In La Guajira, Colombia, the Wayuu people face worsening climate impacts, with droughts and intense rains causing food insecurity, flooding, and displacement

Standing next to her makeshift home of scrap metal, wood and plastic tarp, 47-year-old Nelly Mengual recounts how severe flooding and winds tore off her roof a few months ago, leaving her knee-deep in water in her home. She lives in an informal settlement on the outskirts of Riohacha, in northern Colombia’s arid, wind-swept region, where thousands of other Wayuu people, native to the La Guajira region spanning Colombia and Venezuela, also reside. Although many residents were born in Colombia, it is the Wayuu who fled Venezuela who face the greatest hardship. Having escaped what many describe as economic crisis, they now live in these settlements without access to running water — and for many, without electricity. The Wayuu, whose traditional lands span Colombia and Venezuela, view the border as a political construct rather than a cultural divide, with their relationships and networks transcending national lines.“This entire hut. Our belongings, what little we had. Everything was lost,” said Mengual, who makes ends meet by recycling scrap material in Maicao. The Wayuu, the largest Indigenous group in Colombia, are facing the dual threats of climate change-driven droughts and floods. Scientists warn that more severe, prolonged drought periods punctuated by flashes of torrential rain are only getting more common as the world warms. Aside from damaging people's homes, they are also draining water sources, destroying crops, and increasing health risks from waterborne diseases. Many Wayuu families are forced to migrate in search of essential resources, putting even more pressure on already overcrowded urban areas. Intense flooding challenges the Wayuu's way of life Ingrid Gonzalez, a Wayuu community leader from Maracaibo who's lived in the Villa del Sol settlement near Riohacha for six years, says those more traditional Wayuu homes, made with sticks and covered in mud, are very susceptible to the rainy season.“There are many, many houses that flood and fill up with water,” said 29-year-old Gonzalez. “A strong river of water passes through here, and the mud houses collapse.”“Some people manage to preserve their homes by reinforcing them, but the damage is still significant,” she said. “Several of my own roofing sheets were blown off.” Samuel Lanao, head of Corpoguajira, La Guajira’s environment authority, said in 2024 extreme winter floods caused significant losses of homes, crops, and domestic animals in Indigenous communities, particularly among those coming from neighboring Venezuela. “Because of climate change, there’s been a rise in vector-borne diseases like dengue and Zika. Dengue, in particular, has hit Indigenous communities very, very hard,” he said.Lanao said Corpoguajira has created a Climate Change Plan to cut emissions and boost community and ecosystem resilience.The shift in weather patterns is undeniable to Camilo Martinez, La Guajira base manager for the Danish Refugee Council, which has a strong presence in the region. With 14 years of experience in the area, he has witnessed these changes firsthand. “Years ago when I arrived here, there was fog and in certain hours of the morning it was cold. Today that has stopped, as well as in the snow peaks on the nearby mountains ... you don’t see that much anymore,” Martinez told The Associated Press at the Uyatpana Indigenous community, on the outskirts of Maicao. Martinez says the months the rainy season starts has changed, but also the intensity of the rain too when it eventually comes. Scientific evidence of climate change in La Guajira, supported by data from Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) and various studies, includes rising temperatures, prolonged droughts like the 2012–2016 crisis, irregular rainfall patterns, and increased desertification. Heat and drought tests informal settlements Last year's heat was the hottest Gonzalez, the community leader, can remember. “There are houses where the heat is intense, which affects people, especially those with high blood pressure. They feel tired, flushed, and even unwell,” she said. “The heat is so strong that it even affects the animals. Neighbors who have chickens have lost some of them due to the extreme heat, as the animals are suffocating.”A significant portion of the Wayuu population maintains traditional, semi-nomadic lifestyles, residing in rancherias — thatched-roof huts made from dried cacti and mud — and herding cattle and goats. In many informal settlements, residents lack access to running water or sanitation services. Water sellers transport untreated water in barrels, using mules to distribute it between homes for a fee. While many people rely on collecting rainwater, the increasing unpredictability of rainfall has made this source of water less dependable.“They have been forced to buy water from sources that aren’t clean, transported by mules or carts that make long journeys to bring it to families,” said Martinez. “This water isn’t drinkable—it can only be used for washing or cooking. But people are left with no choice but to drink it. This is one of the biggest consequences of the droughts and the lack of rainfall during these seasons.” Many non-governmental organizations say they step in to support these areas in La Guajira where state assistance is minimal or entirely absent. Colombia's environment ministry did not respond to AP's requests for comment. Wayuu leader Anibal Mercado told AP the migrant Wayuu population suffers the most because of climate change. “You find them picking up garbage, you find them recycling, which has never been seen before. And that is a product of the neglect of the government. The State has been promoting neoliberal policies that go against traditional rights, with which the Wayuu used to provide for their own economy... their own food," he said. Many work to rebuild, again and again In the neighborhood of Uyatpana, 28-year-old Laura Pushaina sits on a stool, weaving a chinchorro, a traditional Wayuu hammock used for sleeping. With five children between the ages of one and ten, she says the intricate work will take her four days to complete.Pushaina is one of thousands of Wayuu people who cross into Colombia and establish settlements. Due to shifting political and economic conditions in the region, many have left homes in neighboring Venezuela. Many, like Pushaina, told the AP they hope to return to their rancherias on the Venezuelan side of the border, but they believe the political and economic situation remains too unstable to do so. Some also said that relocating from the informal settlements would help, as the land is unsuitable for living without running water or proper sewage infrastructure.Just a few months ago, Pushaina's home was destroyed by the floods. “I’ve lived through the worst of times," she said. “The water would seep through the mud, and sometimes it came in like a river, flowing through here.”The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Feb. 2025

Climate
Food
Indigenous

Greenpeace on Trial: $300M Lawsuit over Standing Rock Protests Could Shutter Group & Chill Free Speech

A closely watched civil trial that began in North Dakota last week could bankrupt Greenpeace and chill environmental activism as the climate crisis continues to deepen. The multimillion-dollar lawsuit by Energy Transfer, the oil corporation behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, claims Greenpeace organized the mass protests and encampment at Standing Rock between 2016 and 2017 aimed at stopping construction of the project. Although the uprising at Standing Rock was led by Indigenous water defenders, Energy Transfer is instead going after Greenpeace for $300 million in damages — an amount that could effectively shutter the group’s U.S. operations. “This case is not just an obvious and blatant erasure of Indigenous leadership, of Indigenous resistance,” says Deepa Padmanabha, a senior legal adviser for Greenpeace USA. “It is an attack on the broader movement and all of our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful protest.”

A closely watched civil trial that began in North Dakota last week could bankrupt Greenpeace and chill environmental activism as the climate crisis continues to deepen. The multimillion-dollar lawsuit by Energy Transfer, the oil corporation behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, claims Greenpeace organized the mass protests and encampment at Standing Rock between 2016 and 2017 aimed at stopping construction of the project. Although the uprising at Standing Rock was led by Indigenous water defenders, Energy Transfer is instead going after Greenpeace for $300 million in damages — an amount that could effectively shutter the group’s U.S. operations. “This case is not just an obvious and blatant erasure of Indigenous leadership, of Indigenous resistance,” says Deepa Padmanabha, a senior legal adviser for Greenpeace USA. “It is an attack on the broader movement and all of our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful protest.”

Activism
Climate
Crisis

Power struggle: will Brazil’s booming datacentre industry leave ordinary people in the dark?

While millions live with regular blackouts and limited energy, plants are being built to satisfy the global demand for digital storage and processing – piling pressure on an already fragile system Thirty-six hours by boat from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, Deodato Alves da Silva longs for enough electricity to keep his tucumã and cupuaçu fruits fresh. These highly nutritious Amazonian superfoods are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and serve as a main source of income for farmers in Silva’s area. However, the lack of electricity to refrigerate the fruit makes it hard to sell their produce.Silva’s fruit-growing operation is located in the village of Boa Frente, in Novo Aripuanã municipality, one of Brazil’s most energy-poor regions, where there is only one diesel-powered electricity generator working for a few hours a day. Continue reading...

Thirty-six hours by boat from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, Deodato Alves da Silva longs for enough electricity to keep his tucumã and cupuaçu fruits fresh. These highly nutritious Amazonian superfoods are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and serve as a main source of income for farmers in Silva’s area. However, the lack of electricity to refrigerate the fruit makes it hard to sell their produce.Silva’s fruit-growing operation is located in the village of Boa Frente, in Novo Aripuanã municipality, one of Brazil’s most energy-poor regions, where there is only one diesel-powered electricity generator working for a few hours a day.The 17 families in the community pay for the diesel, but because of the high price, everyone agrees to use the generator only between 6pm and 10pm. This is also the only time they can communicate with the outside world – the region has no mobile phone connection, only satellite internet.“Power is supplied for just four hours a night. The motor is switched off and only switched back on the following night,” says Silva, 72, a rural health worker and fruit-grower who has lived in the area since he was born.“I would have a much higher income if we had power to preserve the cupuaçu pulp. Our community is a big producer of tucumã, but the lack of power prevents conservation.”More than 1.3 million Brazilians still live, like Silva, with little or no electricity. Even though it has one of the world’s cleanest power grids, the country has a vulnerability: its reliance on hydroelectric power, which causes fluctuations in power generation and blackouts in times of severe drought.Brazil has one of the cleanest energy grids in teh world, but is heavily reliant on hydropower, which can lead to blackouts in drought conditions. Photograph: Jeff BotegaYet Brazil is attracting the attention of big datacentre companies, which consume huge amounts of energy. According to the Brazilian Data Centre Association (ABDC), 46 new datacentres are either under construction or being planned across the country. There are already 60 centres in operation.By using cooling systems with excessive water use, these companies consume more than small citiesThe rush to build datacentres is part of the growing digitalisation of the Brazilian economy as large multinationals seek more data storage and processing for cloud platforms, apps, and critical private and government services.Brazil has become a hub to meet growing demand in Latin America for streaming, e-commerce and AI apps, as expanding regional server capacity is critical to minimising delays in transferring data.“If all the data was stored solely in the US, communication would be inefficient and delayed,” says João Xavier, director of institutional relations at ABDC.Rodrigo Pastl Pontes, monitoring manager at Brazil’s National Confederation of Industry, says the need to expand the number of datacentres is closely related to “Industry 4.0” – the integration of technologies to make manufacturing more intelligent, automated and interconnected.An impression of Scala Data Centers’ planned 700-hectare AI City in Rio Grande do Sul. ‘This is our response to the demand for artificial intelligence,’ the firm said. Illustration: Scala Data Centers“Industry 4.0 offers flexibility that meets customer requirements in real time, allowing the company to reorganise constantly,” says Pontes. “Secure datacentres are essential for this.”One study put Brazil’s Industry 4.0 market at $1.77bn (£1.40bn) in 2022 and expects it to reach $5.6bn by 2028.With an eye on local and global markets, as well as its largely renewable power grid, Amazon and Microsoft have announced new investments in Brazilian datacentres.Amazon plans to invest 10.1bn reais (£1.35bn) in expanding its datacentres and infrastructure over the next 10 years. The company claims to have established solar and windfarm projects with the capacity to match its energy consumption in Brazil – enough to supply 100,000 homes.Itaipu hydroelectric dam in Foz do Iguaçu. Though Brazil has vast hydropower potential, recent droughts have underlined its vulnerability to the climate crisis. Photograph: Bloomberg/GettyMicrosoft is planning to invest R$14.7bn in the country. With datacentres in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the company has signed a deal with the energy company AES Brasil to be supplied for 15 years from a Rio Grande do Norte windfarm.Campaigners and experts say the problem is that implementing new energy projects, even renewable ones, could harm local communities just as the country needs to adapt its power grid to the climate crisis.Vinícius Oliveira, a specialist at the Energy and Environment Institute, says: “The impact of datacentres depends on where they are installed and on the type of energy the Brazilian power grid will need to meet the load demanded.“We may have environmental impacts in soil, deforestation, building road access. Native flora will be eliminated. We may have real-estate speculation, with land becoming more expensive and families being displaced.” Oliveira also anticipates greater demand for water, as datacentres generally require vast amounts to cool servers.Osório windfarm in Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil has one of the world’s cleanest electricity grids but demand is rising so fast that small nuclear reactors are now being considered. Photograph: Alamy“By using cooling systems with excessive water use, these companies consume more than small cities,” he says, stressing that better infrastructure for distribution and power generation will also be required.“This level of investment may affect energy rates,” he adds. “In the end, the consumers bear the cost.”skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Global DispatchGet a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development teamPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionIf they are going to build datacentres where people don’t even have access to power, the companies need to provide compensationAccording to last year’s National Energy Balance report, the industry consumes about 31% of Brazil’s energy, second only to transport. Projections suggest Brazil’s electricity demand will grow by more than 30% by 2050.Experts fear that datacentres’ high water consumption will raise pressure on the power grid, as hydroelectric plants supply about half of all power. Lower water levels in reservoirs raise the chances of blackouts and increase demand for pricier and more polluting thermal power plants, fired by oil, gas and coal.Incidents such as the 2001 water crisis, which caused rationing, and the severe 2014-15 drought, when reservoirs reached record lows, show how a lack of rainfall can threaten the national power supply.Itajá in Goiás during a blackout last year. Demand for electricity in Brazil is predicted to grow by more than 30% by 2050. Photograph: Vinicius Souza/AlamyYet the energy ministry remains optimistic. In a statement, it said: “The growth of the datacentre sector in Brazil shows the country’s capacity to become a technological hub in South America, driven by a robust and predominantly renewable power grid.”By 2026, global datacentre power demand is projected to reach up to 1,050 terawatt-hours – equivalent to about four times the UK’s annual electricity consumption. This has prompted greater interest in alternative energy sources such as small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), as seen in the plan by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, to use them in the US.According to Raul Lycurgo, president of the state-owned company Eletronuclear, nuclear power can meet Brazil’s needs. “Nuclear is the only [power source] that does not generate greenhouse gases,” he says.But the idea faces opposition due to high capital costs and concerns about how to manage radioactive waste. “Countries with no alternatives can afford to use a more expensive energy,” says Ricardo Lima, an energy consultant. “We have much cheaper alternatives than nuclear – we have solar, wind, hydroelectric.”Energy has been an issue as the climate crisis increasingly tests the Brazilian power grid. Roraima, in the Amazon region, the only state in the country not connected to the national grid, experienced blackouts last year due to severe drought and poor infrastructure.Ivone Medeiros, lights her way with a candle as she climbs the stairs after more than seventy hours without electricity following a storm that knocked down power cables, in São Paulo, in November 2023. Photograph: Carla Carniel/ReutersRio Grande do Sul faced dramatic floods, leaving millions of residents in the dark. In São Paulo, the country’s wealthiest city, a recent blackout caused by heavy rain affected more than 3 million people.Plans to expand the datacentre industry also contrast with the energy poverty affecting millions – a problem not limited to the Amazon. A study using the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index indicated that 11% of Brazilian households lived in energy poverty in 2018 – a percentage rising to 16% in rural areas.Elaine Santos. ‘People lose food and medication,’ she says. ‘The shortages create tension’Even in São Paulo, the country’s largest metropolis, residents face increasingly frequent blackouts. Elaine Santos, a researcher in energy poverty at the University of São Paulo, faces the problem herself, as she lives in Santo André, a suburb of the city.“People lose food and their medication; the bakery closes,” she says of the power cuts. “The shortages create tension, as everyone knows they will have to cope with their losses alone in neighbourhoods where people live in extremely vulnerable conditions.”Santos believes the tech companies must look at the local effects caused by their growing share of the country’s power supply.“If they are going to build datacentres where people don’t even have access to power, the companies need to provide compensation,” she argues. “Since Brazil is being sold, the compensation must be robust.”

Energy
Food
Conservation

Growers Who Rely on Climate Data Sue USDA for Cutting Off Access

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. In late January, the director of digital communications at the U. Department of Agriculture sent an email to staff instructing them to remove agency web pages related to climate change by the end of the following day.  Peter Rhee, the communications head, […]

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. In late January, the director of digital communications at the U. Department of Agriculture sent an email to staff instructing them to remove agency web pages related to climate change by the end of the following day.  Peter Rhee, the communications head, also told staff members to flag web pages that mention climate change for review and make recommendations to the agency on how to handle them. The new policy was first reported by Politico.  The result is that an unknown number of web pages—including some that contained information about federal loans and other forms of assistance for farmers and some that showcased interactive climate data—have been taken down, according to a lawsuit filed this week on behalf of a group of organic farmers and two environmental advocacy groups. The plaintiffs are demanding that the USDA stop erasing climate-related web pages and republish the ones taken down.  “Farmers are on the front lines of climate change,” said Jeff Stein, an associate attorney with the environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, who is representing the plaintiffs. “Purging climate change web pages doesn’t make climate change go away. It just makes it harder for farmers to adapt.” One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), a group that helps educate and certify producers in organic farming practices. The organization has a hotline that often directs interested farmers to USDA websites as a starting point for more information.  “The Trump administration is demonstrating itself to be the most anti-science administration in history.” “All of a sudden, it’s like anything marked with climate is starting to disappear,” said Wes Gillingham, the board president of NOFA-NY. According to the complaint, the Farm Service Agency and Farmers.gov, both part of the USDA, removed information about how farmers could access federal loans and technical assistance to start adopting practices that help reduce emissions and sequester carbon, known as climate-smart agriculture.  The speed with which websites were taken down encouraged NOFA-NY to move quickly when it came to filing a lawsuit. “We want to prevent good science and information that farmers need from disappearing, especially this time of year,” Gillingham added, since the colder winter months are when farmers plan for the growing and harvesting seasons ahead.  Gillingham emphasized that access to scientific information about drought, extreme weather, and other climate impacts is essential to farmers’ ability to stay in business. “Farmers are constantly trying to improve their situation. They’re under immense economic pressure,” he said.  One tool that allowed farmers to assess their risk level when it came to climate impacts was an interactive map published by the US Forest Service, which combined over 140 different datasets and made them accessible to the general public, said Stein. Land managers could see how climate change is expected to impact natural resources throughout the country; for example, they could look up which watersheds are projected to face the greatest climate impacts and highest demand in the future. But this tool is no longer available. (As of late Monday evening, a link to information about the map on the Forest Service’s website was dead.) When tools like this go offline, they disrupt farmers’ ability to protect their lands and their livelihoods. In New York, where Gillingham’s group is located, the majority of farms are small: under 200 acres. “The margin of error to be successful, it’s pretty slim already,” said Gillingham. “So taking away information that allows farmers to make decisions about their business, and that also protects the planet, protects their soil, enhances their crop yields, it’s really insane to be doing that.” In its complaint, filed Monday, Earthjustice referred to emails sent on January 30 by Rhee, the director of digital communications at USDA, instructing staff to remove web pages. These emails were obtained by multiple news outlets last month. It’s unclear how Rhee’s directives were meant to be implemented—if all web pages that were taken down also had to be sorted and flagged for review, or if the staff received further guidance on which ones to unpublish and which ones to leave online. To date, neither Rhee nor the Department of Agriculture has publicly acknowledged the emails or the removal of climate-related web pages. “That’s problematic for a number of reasons, including that we don’t know the full scope of the purge,” said Stein. Larry Moore, a spokesperson for the USDA, said the agency is working with the Department of Justice, or DOJ, on court filings, and directed inquiries to the DOJ. The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.  Jason Rylander, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity who is not involved in the lawsuit, said that the agency’s move serves to diminish the public’s confidence in climate science, and the scientific community more broadly. “Once again, the Trump administration is demonstrating itself to be the most anti-science administration in history,” he said. The loss of dedicated web pages for climate research, mitigation programs, and datasets “holds back scientific inquiry and public knowledge,” he added. In addition to NOFA-NY, the other plaintiffs in the complaint are the National Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group, an activist group focused on toxic pollution.  A hearing date is still pending. Rylander argued it’s likely that more complaints will be filed over the removal of climate information from other federal agency websites, like the Environmental Protection Agency. He also said the Center for Biological Diversity may look into these purges. Gillingham referred to these moves as part of “an indiscriminate political agenda scrubbing climate” from any government website. “We can’t sit by and just wait to see what happens. You know, they should not be doing what they’re doing. So it has to stop. And the courts are the only option right now.”

Climate
Agriculture
Business

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has been taken to court over 11 threatened species. Here’s why

Thousands of Australian species and ecological communities are threatened – and many don’t have a recovery plan in place.

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo Imogen Warren/ShutterstockWhat do the Australian lungfish, ghost bat, sandhill dunnart and southern and central greater gliders have in common? They’re all threatened species that need a formal “recovery plan” – but do not have one. Today, environmental group the Wilderness Society launched a case in the Federal Court against Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, arguing she and successive environment ministers have failed to meet their legal obligations to create threatened species recovery plans. Other species forming the basis of the case are Baudin’s cockatoo, the Australian grayling, Carnaby’s black cockatoo, red goshawk, forest red-tailed black cockatoo and the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle. Many other species and ecological communities also don’t have recovery plans. If successful, the case would set a precedent compelling future environment ministers to meet their legal obligations and improve Australia’s dire conservation record. This is a significant moment for conservation in Australia – testing how accountable environment ministers are in preventing species extinctions. Why do recovery plans matter? Threatened species recovery plans lay out very clearly why species or ecological communities are in trouble and the actions necessary to save them. Once a plan is in place, it can directly benefit the species by tackling threats and safeguarding habitat. Proposals such as a new farm, suburb or mining project can be assessed by the environment minister and rejected if they are inconsistent with recovery plans and place threatened species at increased risk of extinction. Recovery plans have helped dozens of species come back from the brink. Under Australia’s national environmental laws, the environment minister must decide whether a recovery plan is required for a species or ecological community listed as threatened. If a plan is ordered, it must typically be created within three years. But a 2022 Auditor-General’s report found just 2% of plans met this timeframe. Recovery is possible, but plans are vital Successive governments have failed to keep up with creating and implementing recovery plans in a timely manner. The perennial and chronic lack of funding for conservation means there’s little capacity to do the vital but time-consuming work of planning and recovery. As a result, the federal government has increasingly shifted to offering conservation advices in place of recovery plans. Conservation advices can be produced and updated faster than recovery plans. This is useful if, say, a new threat emerges and needs a rapid response. But there’s a key legal difference. When the environment minister is considering a project such as land clearing for new farmland or a mine, they need only consider any conservation advice in place. When a recovery plan is in place, the minister is legally obliged not to approve actions which are contrary to its objectives and would make the plight of a species or ecological community worse. A conservation advice can be thought of more like a fact sheet without the same legal weight or accountability that recovery plans have. In March 2022, the Morrison government scrapped recovery plans for 176 threatened species and habitats, despite thousands of submissions arguing against this. After the Albanese government took power in May 2022, it pledged to end “wilful neglect” of the environment and to introduce stronger environmental laws. Sadly, this commitment has not been honoured. The range of northern Australia’s ghost bats has shrunk significantly. Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock Why do we need recovery plans? Australia’s species protection record is unenviable. Since European colonisation, more than 100 species have been driven to extinction and more than 2,000 species and ecological communities are listed at risk of suffering the same fate. For a species to be considered threatened, its population has to have shrunk. The severity of the decline and hence its extinction risk will determine how it’s categorised, from vulnerable through to critically endangered. Recovery plans lay out the research required to actually recover these species, meaning helping their populations to grow out of the danger zone. A key role for these plans is to coordinate planning and action between relevant interest groups and agencies. This is especially important for species found across state and territory borders, such as the southern greater glider and the migratory swift parrot. The greater glider should have had a recovery plan in place since 2016, but does not. Are individual plans still worthwhile? Faced with so many species in need of protection and limited funding, prominent figures including former Environment Minister Peter Garrett have argued we should focus our efforts on protecting ecosystems rather than single species to make the best use of scarce funds. But there is a deeper issue. Australia is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. It has the capacity to greatly increase conservation spending without impoverishing humans, and should do so for the benefit of the economy, culture and our health and wellbeing. That’s not to say ecosystem protection isn’t worthwhile. After all, ecosystems are made up of species and their interactions with each other and their environment. You cannot have healthy species without healthy ecosystems and vice versa. But if we focus only on protecting large expanses of wetland, forest and grasslands, we risk overlooking a key issue. Two species in the same ecosystem can be very differently affected by a specific threat (predation by foxes, for instance). Some species can even have conflicting management needs. For some species, invasive species are the biggest threat, while climate change and intensified fire regimes threaten others the most. The sandhill dunnart is one of 11 species listed in the court case. Kristian Bell/Shutterstock Extinction is a choice As Australia’s natural world continues to deteriorate, climate change deepens and worsening wildlife woes abound, these issues will no doubt be front of mind for many in the upcoming federal election. It can be easy to see these trends as inevitable. But they are not – the collapse of nature is a choice. We have what we need for success, including traditional, ecological and conservation knowledge. What’s sorely needed is political will. There were once fewer than 50 northern hairy-nosed wombats alive. Today, that number exceeds 400. When supported, conservation can succeed. Almost all Australians want their government to do more to save our species. Let us hope whoever forms the next government takes up that challenge – even if it takes court cases to prompt action. Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australian Mammal Society, and President of the Australian Mammal Society.

Climate
Conservation
Culture

NASA and Costa Rica Unite to Track Red Tides from Space

An unprecedented marine expedition in Latin America took place on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, collecting data and samples for an international study that aims to detect red tides using satellite technology. Red tides are harmful algal blooms that can significantly impact marine ecosystems, public health, fisheries, and tourism. Their sudden appearance and unpredictable […] The post NASA and Costa Rica Unite to Track Red Tides from Space appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

An unprecedented marine expedition in Latin America took place on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, collecting data and samples for an international study that aims to detect red tides using satellite technology. Red tides are harmful algal blooms that can significantly impact marine ecosystems, public health, fisheries, and tourism. Their sudden appearance and unpredictable nature make early detection essential for mitigation efforts. The expedition, which occurred from February 17 to 21, involved biologists and oceanographers from the Costa Rican Federation of Tourist Fishing (FECOP), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and NASA scientists, including a Costa Rican researcher. This initiative aligns with NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) satellite mission, launched a year ago, which seeks to advance our understanding of ocean color and improve the monitoring of ocean ecosystems through innovative optical measurements. “This is pioneering research in ocean optics, as such comprehensive measurements applied to ocean color validation in Costa Rica have never been done before,” said Dr. Joaquín Chaves, a Costa Rican scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. During the expedition, information was gathered using different optical sensors: a spectrometer on a research aircraft, a hyperspectral radiometer on board a ship, and PACE itself in orbit. “The information collected in situ is triangulated to verify or validate the satellite data, and with all the information simultaneously, regional algorithms can be developed,” explained Chaves. The objective is to create specific algorithms for the Costa Rican Pacific that will enable the prediction of red tides with greater precision. For Dr. Marina Marrari, executive director of FECOP, this expedition “marks a milestone for science in Costa Rica.” The ability to detect red tides in near real-time is expected to mitigate their impacts on tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and public health. Marrari also highlighted the collaboration between the participating organizations and the free access to the information generated through FECOP’s PezCA application. Moreover, the expedition expanded its scope by collecting data on contaminants such as microplastics and heavy metals, as well as conducting an analysis of the microbial population structure. Maribel Vargas, a UCR researcher, explained that the information collected will contribute to the development of new algorithms for PACE, considering the specific phytoplankton species of the region. This research not only paves the way for improved environmental monitoring but also represents a critical step towards proactive management of coastal resources. With enhanced predictive capabilities, local communities and industries can better prepare for and respond to the environmental and economic challenges posed by red tides, ensuring that both public health and local economies are protected. The post NASA and Costa Rica Unite to Track Red Tides from Space appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Health
Technology
Science

Justice Department is poised to drop suit over alleged cancer-causing pollution

The Justice Department is poised to drop a landmark lawsuit alleging that emissions from a Louisiana petrochemical plant poses a danger to nearby communities.

The Justice Department is poised to drop a landmark lawsuit alleging that cancer-causing pollution from a Louisiana petrochemical plant poses an imminent danger to nearby communities, according to two individuals briefed on the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision was not final.The lawsuit alleges that the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, threatens local residents by releasing unsafe levels of the toxic chemical chloroprene. The Environmental Protection Agency considers chloroprene — which is used to make synthetic rubber — a likely carcinogen, and the suit sought to compel the plant to curb these emissions.

Chemicals
Pollution

Why detecting methane is difficult but crucial work

From handheld to space-based, new methane detectors are making it easier to track the greenhouse gas.

Why detecting methane is difficult but crucial workChristine RoTechnology ReporterHelen GebregiorgisHandheld devices can detect methane and other gasesIn and around Washington DC, volunteers and activists have been walking through streets and homes to see how healthy the air is.They're armed with industry-grade monitors that detect the presence of several gases. The devices look a bit like walkie-talkies.But they are equipped with sensors that reveal the extent of methane, turning this invisible gas into concrete numbers on a screen.Those numbers can be worrying. In a 25-hour period, neighbourhood researchers found 13 outdoor methane leaks at concentrations exceeding the lower explosive limit. They have also found methane leaks within homes.A key concern has been health. Methane and other gases, notably nitrogen oxide from gas stoves, are linked to higher risks of asthma.Djamila Bah, a healthcare worker as well as a tenant leader for the community organisation Action in Montgomery, reports that one out of three children have asthma in the homes tested by the organisation."It's very heartbreaking and alarming when you're doing the testing and then you find out that some people are living in that condition that they can't change for now," Ms Bah says.Methane might be a hazard to human health, but it is also powerful greenhouse gas.While it has a much shorter lifespan in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2), methane is much better at trapping heat and it accounts for about one-quarter of the rise in global temperature since industrialisation.Methane emissions come from a diverse array of sectors. Chief among these are fossil fuels, waste and agriculture.But methane is not always easy to notice.It can be detected using handheld gas sensors like the ones used by the community researchers. It can also be visualised using infrared cameras, as methane absorbs infrared light.Monitoring can be ground-based, including vehicle-mounted devices, or aerial, including drone-based measurement. Combining technologies is especially helpful."There is no perfect solution," says Andreea Calcan, a programme management officer at the International Methane Emissions Observatory, a UN initiative.There are trade-offs between the cost of technologies and the scale of analysis, which could extend to thousands of facilities.Thankfully, she has seen an expansion of affordable methane sensors in the past decade. So there is no reason to wait on monitoring methane, at any scale. And the world needs to tackle both the small leakages and the high-emitting events, she says.Carbon MapperThe Tanager-1 satellite is designed to spot large methane emissionsAt a larger scale, satellites are often good at pinpointing super-emitters: less frequent but massively emitting events, such as huge oil and gas leaks. Or they can detect the smaller and more spread-out emitters that are much more common, such as cattle farms.Current satellites are typically designed to monitor one scale of emitter, says Riley Duren, the CEO of the Carbon Mapper, a not-for-profit organisation that tracks emissions.He likens this to film cameras. A telephoto lens offers higher resolution, while a wide-angle lens allows a larger field of view.With a new satellite, Carbon Mapper is focusing on high resolution, high sensitivity and rapid detection, to more precisely detect emissions from super-emitters. In August 2024 Carbon Mapper launched the Tanager-1 satellite, together with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Earth imaging company Planet Labs.Carbon MapperA methane plume from a Texan oilfield spotted in September 2024 by Tanager-1Satellites have struggled to spot methane emissions in certain environments, such as poorly maintained oil wells in snowy areas with lots of vegetation. Low light, high latitudes, mountains and offshore areas also present challenges.Mr Duren says that the high-resolution Tanager-1 can respond to some of these challenges, for instance by essentially sneaking peeks through gaps in cloud cover or forest cover."In an oil and gas field, high resolution could be the difference between isolating the methane emissions from an oil well head from an adjacent pipeline," he says. This could help determine exactly who is responsible.Carbon Mapper began releasing emissions data, drawing on Tanager-1 observations, in November.It will take several years to build out the full constellation of satellites, which will depend on funding.Tanager-1 isn't the only new satellite with a focus on delivering methane data. MethaneSAT, a project of the Environmental Defense Fund and private and public partners, also launched in 2024.With the increasing sophistication of all these satellite technologies, "What was previously unseeable is now visible," Mr Duren says. "As a society we're still learning about our true methane footprint."It's clear that better information is needed about methane emissions. Some energy companies have sought to evade methane detection by using "enclosed combustors" to obscure gas flaring.Translating knowledge into action isn't always straightforward. Methane levels continue to rise, even as the information available does as well.For instance, the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) uses satellite data to detect methane emissions notify companies and governments. The MARS team gathered a large quantity of methane plume images, verified by humans, to train a machine learning model to recognise such plumes.In all the locations that MARS constantly monitors, based on their history of emissions, the model checks for a methane plume every day. Analysts then scrutinise any alerts.Because there are so many locations to be monitored, "this saves us a lot of time," says Itziar Irakulis Loitxate, the remote sensing lead for the International Methane Emissions Observatory, which is responsible for MARS.In the two years since its launch, MARS has sent out over 1,200 alerts for major methane leaks. Only 1% of those have led to responses.However, Ms Irakulis remains optimistic. Some of those alerts led to direct action such as repairs, including cases where emissions ceased even though the oil and gas operator didn't officially provide feedback.And communications are improving all the time, Ms Irakulis says. "I have hope that this 1%, we will see it grow a lot in the next year."At the community level, it's been powerful for residents, such as those in the Washington DC area, to take the air pollution readings themselves and use these to counter misinformation. "Now that we know better, we can do better," says Joelle Novey of Interfaith Power and Light.More Technology of Business

Activism
Agriculture
Business

He was born navy blue': Real-life stories behind Toxic Town Netflix series

The drama tells the story of how families fought for justice over their children's birth defects.

'He was born navy blue': Real-life stories behind Toxic Town Netflix seriesJames GrantBBC News, NorthamptonshireGetty ImagesFamilies won a landmark legal battle in 2009 after being exposed to toxic chemicals in CorbyNetflix's new drama Toxic Town revisits one of the UK's biggest environmental scandals: the Corby toxic waste case. The series tells the story of families fighting for justice after children in the Northamptonshire town were born with birth defects, believed to be caused by industrial pollution.Corby's steel and iron industry expanded rapidly in the 1930s with the construction of Stewarts and Lloyds' steelworks. By the 1970s, half the town worked in the mills, but when the steelworks closed in the 1980s, toxic waste from the demolition process was mishandled, leading to widespread contamination.Getty ImagesThe steel industry was a major employer in Corby for decades In 2009, after a long legal battle, the High Court ruled Corby Borough Council was negligent in managing the waste. Families affected won an undisclosed financial settlement in 2010, held in trust until the children turned 18.Alongside the drama, a BBC Radio Northampton podcast series offers a deeper look into the real-life events, using original court transcripts and newly uncovered documents. Hosted by George Taylor, 32, who was born with an upper limb defect linked to the case, the podcast features testimony and interviews with those directly impacted.Here are some of the key voices behind the story.'The first person you are going to blame is yourself'Kate Bradbrook/BBCGeorge Taylor, one of those affected, narrates the BBC podcast In Detail: The Toxic Waste ScandalGeorge Angus Taylor was born on 11 March 1992 to parents Fiona and Brian, in Corby. Brian had worked at the Stewart and Lloyds steel plant, a job that left him covered in dust and debris at the end of each shift. Fiona, a former Boots No7 beauty consultant, vividly remembers George's birth, an event that would change their lives forever.Born "navy blue" as a result of pre-foetal circulation issues, he was immediately ventilated and placed in intensive care.It was then Fiona noticed something unusual."I remember just seeing his little hand; his pinkie ring finger and middle finger," she says."It was like a fist; you know how babies make a fist? Then his index finger; his thumb was sticking out."I just kept thinking, 'He's here because of me,' and you just look for blame. You look, and the first person you are going to blame is yourself."Tim Wheeler/BBCGeorge narrates the BBC podcast In Detail: The Toxic Waste ScandalAt 14, doctors discovered a tumour in George's hand so large that amputation became a real possibility. The surgery, experimental at the time, was gruelling. "When I woke up, I was so full of morphine," he remembers."They said it was like climbing Everest with no practice – my body just shut down." The experience, particularly the smell, left lasting memories. "They burn flesh as they [operate]: very quiet sizzling, like sausages in a pan. And that's the smell that still comes to you from time to time."Despite everything, George was determined to move forward. "The first time I saw my hand, I wasn't shocked; I wasn't sad. It was better than before."But George was not alone. Other children in Corby were born with similar conditions.'Did I do this?'SuppliedSimone Atkinson (left) was born with three fingers because of her mother Lisa's exposure to the dust at the Corby steelworksLisa Atkinson was a security guard at the Corby steel mills, where her duties involved outside patrols, checking parking permits, and often having to move dust that had settled over everything.On 27 June 1989, she gave birth to her daughter, Simone, at Kettering General Hospital. Simone was born with three fingers on each hand.Doctors reassured Lisa, saying the only thing she would not be able to do was play the piano.Just as Fiona Taylor did with George, Lisa initially questioned whether she was responsible for her daughter's condition. "There was probably part of me that sat there and went, 'What did I do? Did I do this?'" she says."Because I've had a couple of miscarriages before Simone... I always thought maybe I was lucky; maybe I was given Simone... but she wasn't quite perfect. But I was lucky to have had that baby and not the two previous ones."SuppliedSimone Atkinson (right) initially hid her disability from her husband Despite her initial self-doubt, Lisa "knew" she had done nothing wrong, as she had neither drunk nor smoked during pregnancy. She recalls the lack of follow-up care or investigation into her daughter's condition."You're let out into the world with a child that's a little bit different," she says."But there was nowhere to go. There was no follow-up or anything; no 'We're going to look into it.' So you just deal with it. And you did, because you had to."Lisa quickly adjusted to life with Simone's condition, saying: "It shocked other people more than it shocked me. I got used to it really, really quickly."Winning the subsequent legal case against the borough council brought with it overwhelming attention."I'm not famous, but I feel like that's how famous people must feel... it was crazy."Lisa Atkinson worked as a security guard in Corby's steel millsGrowing up, Simone, now 35, faced relentless bullying. "I had a great family and friends... but [school] was hard. I wasn't a very confident child, and I was an easy target," she remembers. Simone coped by using humour. She would joke that her mum had chopped off her fingers or that she was part alien, turning her differences into something entertaining. "It was a bit of a front, because if I make a joke about myself, nobody else can. Just accept that's who you are; it's not going to change."At 18, she was offered surgery to reshape her hands, but declined. "They admitted they didn't really know if it would help. By then, I'd adapted. I live with daily pain, but I didn't want to risk making things worse."Meeting her now-husband, she initially hid her hands, subtly positioning herself to avoid detection. Eventually, she told him - through a long message and sending him a link to the 2020 Horizon documentary about the case. His response? "It's really not a big deal."Today, she is grateful for the legal battle her family fought. "It set me up for life," she says."I was able to start my own life, and I went to university. I've got my own house and my daughter had the best start in life."'It felt like we were an inconvenience'University of NorthamptonLewis Waterfield says school was tough for him; writing was difficult and classmates often had questions about his handsLewis Waterfield was born in 1994 with deformities to both hands. His father worked near the contaminated site as a roofer, and his pregnant mother often visited him there."My dad noticed something wasn't right straight away," Lewis recalls.As a child, he endured disruptive hospital stays, including an unsuccessful attempt to graft a toe on to his hand to create a functioning finger. "I've had extensive surgery, but there are limits to what can be done."During the legal battle, Lewis's parents fought to prove a link between industrial pollution and birth defects. "The council, I remember, was dismissive. It felt like we were an inconvenience to them."Now a senior lecturer in public health at the University of Northampton, Lewis acknowledges how his experiences shaped him. "Every now and then, someone asks about my hands, and it takes me right back." he says."But I don't mind. It's part of who I am."University of NorthamptonLewis Waterfield said the settlement from Corby Borough Council "doesn't alleviate" his disabilityCorby Borough Council ceased to exist in 2021 when it merged with other authorities to become North Northamptonshire Council.In 2010, its then chief executive Chris Mallender issued a formal apology over the scandal."The council extends its deepest sympathy to the children and their families," it said."Although I accept that money cannot properly compensate these young people for their disabilities and for all that they've suffered to date and their problems in the future, the council sincerely hopes that this apology, coupled with today's agreement, will mean they can now put their legal battle behind them and proceed with their lives with a greater degree of financial certainty."BBC Radio Northampton's eight-part documentary series In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal, is for download from BBC Sounds.

Chemicals
Health
Pollution

Threatened species: court asked to compel Australian ministers to create recovery plans

The Wilderness Society launches legal action in hope of helping animals on brink of extinctionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Australia’s largest conservation organisations has launched legal action alleging that successive federal environment ministers failed to meet their obligation to create recovery plans for native species threatened with extinction.The Wilderness Society (TWS) filed the proceedings in the federal court on Monday.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

One of Australia’s largest conservation organisations has launched legal action alleging that successive federal environment ministers failed to meet their obligation to create recovery plans for native species threatened with extinction.The Wilderness Society (TWS) filed the proceedings in the federal court on Monday.Eleven endangered species, including the greater glider (Petauroides volans), the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) and the Baudin’s cockatoo (Zanda baudinii), will feature in the case.Recovery plans set out action needed to bring species back from the brink of extinction and put them on a better trajectory.TWS, represented by Environmental Justice Australia, will allege that the failure by environment ministers to make recovery plans for threatened plants and animals that had been identified as requiring them was unlawful.“This case will shine a light on the legal and moral duties of current and future environment ministers to do their job to help Aussie wildlife beat extinction,” said the TWS biodiversity policy and campaign manager, Sam Szoke-Burke.“For decades, government after government has failed to make recovery plans for hundreds of threatened species that are in dire need of better care.”The case is asking the court to compel the environment minister to make recovery plans for the 11 species named in the application.Under Australia’s national environmental laws, the minister decides whether a species requires a recovery plan or not. If the minister decides a species does require one, the plan must usually be made within three years.Once a recovery plan is enacted, the minister must not make decisions that would be considered contrary to its goals and actions.The legal challenge follows long-held concerns about a backlog of unfinished and undeveloped plans for species including the greater glider, which has required a recovery plan since 2016 but has no plan in place.“Recovery plans are legally required,” Szoke-Burke said.Guardian Australia has reported extensively on the failure by successive governments to make recovery plans within the required time frames. An auditor general’s report in 2022 found only 2% of recovery plans had been completed within their statutory timeframe since 2013.In 2020 the federal environment department told a Senate estimates hearing that 170 plants, animals and habitats were waiting for recovery plans.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Breaking News AustraliaGet the most important news as it breaksPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionTo reduce the backlog, the previous Coalition government had the threatened species scientific committee reassess whether some species still required a plan and, in 2022, scrapped the requirement for almost 200 plants, animals and habitats.The golden sun moth was one of the species the minister at that time decided still required a recovery plan. The moth has been identified as requiring a plan since 2009. The government’s threatened fauna list shows that plan still has not been made.In addition to the greater glider, the ghost bat and the Baudin’s cockatoo, eight other species will feature in the TWS case: the Australian grayling, the Australian lungfish, Carnaby’s black cockatoo, the forest red-tailed black cockatoo, the red goshawk, the sandhill dunnart and the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle.Some of these species previously had plans but those plans have expired and new ones have not been adopted.“Too many of Australia’s most iconic and threatened species simply don’t have recovery plans,” said an Environmental Justice Australia senior specialist lawyer, Ellen Maybery, adding: “Our client hopes this case will set a precedent that compels all future environment ministers to create recovery plans and pull these unique species back from the brink of extinction.”The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said she could not comment on details of the case because the matter is before the federal court.With an election looming, Plibersek claimed Labor had a stronger record than the Coalition when it came to protecting nature and acting on climate change.

Animals
Conservation
Extinction

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