A genomic study reveals African elephants once roamed freely across the continent with gene flow between species. Human activities like poaching and habitat fragmentation have disrupted these patterns and pressured populations.
EU considers fossil-fuel exemptions while UK wind and solar generate £1.7bn in savings. Amazon rainforest approaches critical tipping point amid climate concerns.
The UK car industry has long claimed insufficient consumer demand for EVs to justify rapid transition targets. A fact-check analysis reveals what the industry is not disclosing about actual market conditions and EV adoption potential.
A new study identifies thousands of flowering plants from rare and ancient lineages that require urgent protection. These evolutionary oddities face extinction risks and need conservation action.
Yale Environment 360 · May 8, 2026 · relevance 8/10
European aviation emissions have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with Ryanair's carbon footprint rising 50% since 2019 despite industry decarbonization pledges. Expansion of low-cost carriers is driving the increase despite more fuel-efficient aircraft being introduced.
Economic inequality in Europe contributes to over 100,000 heat and cold-related deaths annually. Reducing inequality to Slovenia's levels could decrease temperature-related mortality by 30%.
US automakers' inconsistent lobbying against EV regulations created regulatory uncertainty that undermined their competitiveness. An InfluenceMap analysis shows this self-inflicted instability contributed to billions in losses while allowing Chinese competitors to advance.
Ryanair's global emissions increased 50% since 2019, the largest increase among airlines worldwide. European aviation emissions reached record levels in 2025, with two-thirds of CO2 still uncovered by carbon pricing mechanisms.
Honda suspended a $15 billion EV factory planned for Canada, citing US tariffs as a major challenge to the project. The suspension represents a setback for North American EV manufacturing and the broader electric vehicle transition.
Texas-based SEG Solar is expanding US solar capacity by 4 gigawatts despite recent federal policy shifts. Multiple solar manufacturers continue pushing forward with renewable energy projects.
Spain has expanded its energy community programme to 262 projects with €108.4 million in EU funding. The initiatives combine solar generation, storage, efficiency, and mobility solutions, delivering 175.3 MW of capacity and involving over 111,000 citizens.
A new report examining 13 African oil and gas-producing nations concludes that fossil fuel extraction has enriched few while undermining economic development and exposing economies to external shocks. The analysis suggests decades of oil and gas production have yielded minimal benefits for ordinary Africans.
Up to half of bird species using the African-Eurasian flyway are experiencing population declines. About 2 billion birds migrate annually along this route connecting distant ecosystems.
Global tropical primary forest loss slowed by 36% in 2025 according to World Resources Institute data. Scientists note the improvement is encouraging but caution that one year of progress does not guarantee long-term trends.
Fires have damaged a decade-long orangutan habitat restoration project in Indonesian Borneo, threatening years of conservation progress. Conservationists warn that a severe fire season could devastate recovery efforts before the dry season fully begins.
UK renewable energy from wind and solar has reduced the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the Iran conflict began. This demonstrates how renewable energy generation protects economies from volatile global energy markets.
Oil industry windfall profits from geopolitical conflict may slow clean energy transition by funding political lobbying and oil expansion. Experts warn these profits could entrench fossil fuel industry influence and undermine climate progress.
BYD's new electric SUV received over 100,000 orders within two weeks, priced under $40,000 with 590-mile range and fast charging capability. The strong demand reflects growing consumer interest in affordable electric vehicles.
The SEC has submitted a proposed rule to rescind its 2024 climate disclosure requirements, reducing transparency obligations for publicly traded companies on climate-related risks and impacts.
The EU allocated 1.1 GW of electrolyzer capacity through its third hydrogen auction, with 58 bids from 11 countries and production premiums ranging from €0.44 to €3.49 per kilogram.
A new study warns that climate change could destroy most South American cloud forests by eliminating the misty mountain conditions these ecosystems depend on. Cloud forests, which support exceptional biodiversity including rare species and unique plant life, face severe habitat loss from warming temperatures.
Research in Brazil's Cerrado grasslands reveals significant carbon stores not accounted for in conservation policies. The findings expose gaps in how Brazil's environmental protections address carbon sequestration.
Texas is projected to produce over 15 GW of solar PV modules by 2026, accounting for nearly half of U.S. silicon-based manufacturing. Major manufacturers like T1 Energy and Canadian Solar are driving this expansion.
Gibraltar pumps untreated sewage from 40,000 residents directly into the Mediterranean Sea, lacking any wastewater treatment infrastructure. The territory claims natural dispersion minimizes environmental impact despite decades of pollution.
Angola has activated Africa's largest off-grid solar-plus-storage facility with 31.85 MW of solar capacity and 75.26 MWh of battery storage. The project will provide electricity to over 90,000 people in eastern Angola.