In his new book, The Anthropocene Illusion, photographer Zed Nelson reflects on the surreal environments created as people destroy nature, yet crave connection to it
The Anthropocene is a new term used by scientists to describe our age. While scientific experts argue about the start date, many point to about 200 years ago, when the accelerated effects of human activity on the ecosphere were turbocharged by the Industrial Revolution. Our planet is said to have crossed into a new epoch: from the Holocene to the Anthropocene, the age of the human.
The strata of rock being created under our feet today will reveal the impact of human activity long after we are gone. Future geologists will find radioactive isotopes from nuclear-bomb tests, huge concentrations of plastics, the fallout from the burning of fossil fuels and vast deposits of cement used to build our cities. Meanwhile, a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature and the British Zoological Society shows an average decrease of 73% of wild animal populations on Earth over the past 50 years, as we push creatures and plants to extinction by removing their habitats.
Continue reading...
Breaking Waves: Ocean News
07/24/2025 - 00:00
07/23/2025 - 23:01
Decision is a significant blow for MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coalmine expansion in Muswellbrook in the upper Hunter
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here
The New South Wales court of appeal has overturned the approval of the largest coalmine expansion in the state after a community environment group successfully argued the planning commission failed to consider the impact of all of the project’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The decision is a significant blow for MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coalmine expansion in Muswellbrook in the upper Hunter and one that climate advocates say could have wider implications for future fossil fuel project proposals in NSW.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 19:00
Exclusive: Anthony Albanese sought ‘advice on strategy’ as federal and state governments prepared for ‘potential impacts of an adverse decision’
Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here
The Albanese government was so worried a court case could halt native forest logging in northern New South Wales that it drew up plans to essentially sidestep federal environment laws in the event of a loss, documents released under freedom of information laws reveal.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, played a key role as the commonwealth and NSW governments worked to ensure some logging could continue in the face of any “adverse decision” and to manage a potentially volatile situation between loggers and environmentalists.
Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 18:02
Move expected to help negotiations with US for lower trade tariffs on exports, but Labor says decision was made after scientific assessment
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Labor’s move to lift restrictions on imports of US beef is not related to Donald Trump’s escalating tariff war, the agriculture minister has claimed, despite coming as the federal government seeks relief from new taxes on pharmaceuticals and steel and aluminium.
The government confirmed on Thursday morning that the Department of Agriculture would allow the imports into Australia, saying the US now “effectively” manages biosecurity risks in beef production.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 18:01
Dudderhouse Hill in dales is thought to be one of first structures in UK to be communally constructed by humans
A rare and remarkable 5,000-year-old monument that is an example of one of the earliest visible structures in England is to receive extra protection because walkers, sometimes innocently, have been removing and moving stones.
The Dudderhouse Hill long cairn in the Yorkshire Dales has been granted “scheduled monument” status by the government, making it a site of national importance with greater legal protection.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 15:27
Scheme rolled out Wednesday reveals intent to dismantle some environmental and land-use regulations
The Trump administration has unveiled plans to speed the development of the highly polluting artificial intelligence sector, sparking outrage from climate advocates.
Rolled out on Wednesday, the 28-page scheme pledges to remove so-called “bureaucratic red tape” and streamline permitting for datacenters, semiconductor manufacturing facilities and fossil fuel infrastructure.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 15:10
Activists launch civil disobedience campaign in New York and San Francisco after company dropped climate vows
Seven people were arrested as hundreds of climate and Indigenous rights activists participated in non-violent demonstrations at Wells Fargo’s corporate offices in New York City and San Francisco on Wednesday, in what marks the launch of a summer of civil disobedience against billionaires and corporations accused of cowering to Donald Trump.
In New York City, dozens of protesters stormed the lobby of the bank’s corporate offices, disrupting employees by blocking the entrance and calling out what they describe as Wells Fargo’s complicity in the climate crisis.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 13:00
GMB and Prospect say government needs greater focus on green energy amid political shift away from net zero commitments
The Labour government needs to ramp up the creation of green jobs or risk workers being tempted to vote for parties opposing the shift to net zero, two major unions have said.
The GMB and Prospect, who between them represent tens of thousands of energy workers, said there needs to be more of a focus on increasing green jobs as the fossil fuel industry is increasingly phased out.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 10:00
As Senate establishes inquiry into the ‘human-mediated disaster’, a report is calling for more long-term action
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Scientists are warning the wildlife impacts of a marine heatwave that has driven a catastrophic algal bloom off South Australia are likely to be equivalent to those from the black summer bushfires, and demand a similar response from governments.
Experts from five Australian universities say “one of the worst marine disasters in living memory” requires rapid investigation by federal and state governments to identify any at-risk species and fund emergency interventions if necessary.
Continue reading...
07/23/2025 - 09:46
Landmark opinion says those that fail to prevent climate harm could be liable for compensation and restitution
States must tackle fossil fuels, the world’s top court has ruled, and failing to prevent harm to the climate could result in them being ordered to pay reparations.
In a landmark advisory opinion published on Wednesday, the international court of justice (ICJ) said countries must prevent harm to the climate system and that failing to do so could result in their having to pay compensation and make other forms of restitution.
Continue reading...
