7 h. ago Climatologist Friederike Otto: ‘The more unequal the society is, the more severe the climate disaster’

The German scientist on her new book arguing that inequality, wealth and sexism are making the climate crisis worse – and what we need to do about itFriederike Otto is a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London. She is also the co-founder of the World Weather Attribution initiative, which seeks to determine the influence of global warming on intensity and likelihood of an extreme weather event. The project also examines how factors such as ill-suited architecture and poverty exacerbate heatwaves, hurricanes, floods and wildfires. This is the theme of her second book, Climate Injustice: Why We Need to Fight Global Inequality to Combat Climate Change.The thesis of your book is that the climate crisis is a symptom of global inequality and injustice. That will be quite topsy-turvy to some people, who think global heating is caused by the amount of carbon that we are putting into the atmosphere.Yes, of course, if you just stick to the physics, then the warming is cau...

Events

36 h. ago Climate change is not just a problem of physics but a crisis of justice

In an exclusive extract from Friederike Otto’s new book, she says climate disasters result from inequality as well as fossil fuelMy research as a climate scientist is in attribution science. Together with my team, I analyse extreme weather events and answer the questions of whether, and to what extent, human-induced climate change has altered their frequency, intensity and duration.When I first began my research, most scientists claimed that these questions couldn’t be answered. There were technical reasons for this: for a long time, researchers had no weather models capable of mapping all climate-related processes in sufficient detail. But there were other reasons that had less to do with the research itself. Continue reading...

Society

36 h. ago Weather tracker: sandstorm turns Iraqi skies orange and empties the streets

Thousands go to hospital with respiratory problems after massive dust cloud blows in from Saudi ArabiaIraq was hit by its most severe sandstorm of 2025 this week, turning skies from blue to an orange haze. Visibility dropped to less than half a mile, causing travel disruptions, with two major airports halting flights, and streets in Basra, the largest city in southern Iraq, left deserted. Respiratory problems sent thousands to hospital. The storm also affected Kuwait, where wind gusts exceeded 50mph, and visibility in some areas was diminished to zero.This massive dust cloud originated in Saudi Arabia before being blown into Iraq. While dust storms are common in Iraq, climate change is expected to intensify them across the region in the future, fuelled by desertification in Saudi Arabia and Syria. Continue reading...

Events

48 h. ago The Apprentice winner DEAN FRANKLIN on why he won't apologise for sex toy gaffe and not being able to explain climate change during brutal interview

The Apprentice winner Dean Franklin says he's proud to become the first tradesman to be awarded Lord Sugar's investment for nine years after being 'petrified' of the show's boardroom.

Society

55 h. ago ‘All of his guns will do nothing for him’: lefty preppers are taking a different approach to doomsday

Liberals in the US make up about 15% of the prepping scene and their numbers are growing. Their fears differ from their better-known rightwing counterparts – as do their methodsOne afternoon in February, hoping to survive the apocalypse or at least avoid finding myself among its earliest victims, I logged on to an online course entitled Ruggedize Your Life: The Basics.Some of my classmates had activated their cameras. I scrolled through the little windows, noting the alarmed faces, downcast in cold laptop light. There were dozens of us on the call, including a geophysicist, an actor, a retired financial adviser and a civil engineer. We all looked worried, and rightly so. The issue formerly known as climate change was now a polycrisis called climate collapse. H1N1 was busily jumping from birds to cows to people. And with each passing day, as Donald Trump went about gleefully dismantling state capacity, the promise of a competent government response to the next hurricane, wildfire, fl...

Politics

58 h. ago ‘No fish, no money, no food’: Colombia’s stilt people fight to save their wetlands

Illegally diverted rivers, seawater and poorly managed building projects have polluted the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta. But the Unesco site has a vital role to play in fighting climate changeFrom the porch of her family home in Nueva Venecia, Magdalena, Yeidis Rodríguez Suárez watches the sunset. The view takes in the still waters of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta wetlands. Pelicans dip their beaks into the lagoon, ripples breaking the glassy surface. Distant mangroves turn from green to deep purple in the dying light.The 428,000-hectare (1,600 sq mile) expanse of lagoons, mangroves and marshes in Colombia has been a Unesco biosphere reserve since 2000. Yet, for Rodríguez, 27, the natural abundance is little more than an illusion. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Australian PM contender’s run unravels over climate crisis question

Albanese said Dutton’s remarks ‘stunned’ him

Events

62 h. ago Turnbull says negative gearing ‘examined by every government’ – as it happened

This blog is now closedPeter Dutton insists he ‘believes in climate change’ after refusing to say if impacts of global heating worseningAnywhere but Canberra: Australian voters on what matters to themInteractive guide to electorates in the Australian electionListen to the latest episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaSee all our Australian election 2025 coverageGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastBoth parties claim victory in last night’s debateThe political reaction to last night’s debate is coming in thick and fast. No surprises here that the Liberals believe their leader Peter Dutton won with flying colours, while Labor has backed Albanese for the victory.I saw a very weak, indecisive Prime Minister and a very strong Opposition leader. And I was particularly blown away, Bridget, by the prime minister not fessing up that his own government modelled changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax with respect to homeownership.The prime minist...

Politics

64 h. ago Chocolate lovers face bitter news at Easter as treat could disappear after 2030

Chocolate lovers are being warned they could one day lose their favourite chocolate treat as producers say the cocoa industry is on its knees amid a hammering from climate change

Events

65 h. ago Deadly floods in DRC becoming more likely with climate change, say scientists

More than 70 people have been killed and more than 5,000 displaced by floods currently hitting the country, reports Nick Ferris

Events

2 d. ago Farmers warn all cocoa trees could be ‘destroyed’ by 2030. Here’s why

While UK shoppers pay 50 per cent more for some chocolate this Easter, farmers living in poverty at the other end of the supply chain are calling for help

Events

3 d. ago This common vegetable could help make electric vehicle batteries cheaper and longer

Protein from vegetable could extend lithium-sulphur battery life by hundreds of charge cycles

Science

3 d. ago Dutton admits he made mistake on Indonesia in ABC leaders’ debate as Albanese evasive on electricity prices

Opposition leader also says ‘I’ll let scientists pass that judgment’ when asked if climate change impacts getting worse in second showdownPolls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverageAnywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guideListen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastPeter Dutton has admitted he made a mistake by wrongly claiming the Indonesian president had announced a proposal for Russia to base military aircraft in Indonesia, and declined to state whether the impacts of climate change were getting worse.The opposition leader has also confirmed his plan to reduce the size of the federal public service by 41,000 positions by 2030 would not pay for the entirety of the Coalition’s policy platform, suggesting further cuts to government spending may be necessary.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Scientists prepare for 'mammothpox' virus that could emerge from arctic permafrost and threaten humanity

While the scenario and the virus were completely fictitious, scientists warn the threat of 'zombie viruses' emerging from permafrost thawing due to climate change is very real.

Events

4 d. ago Shocking Katy Perry video resurfaces undermining all her claims about her Blue Origin trip

Katy Perry has been shamed by fans after a shocking video resurfaced shortly after she launched to space aboard Blue Origin's rocket.

Events

4 d. ago Scots seabird populations still falling but some species stabilising – figures

Populations face pressures including climate change, fisheries, predation, invasive species and avian flu.

Politics

4 d. ago Scientists warn rising heat could cause more mental health disorders

High temperatures are already worsening mental health, from anxiety to schizophrenia

Events

5 d. ago Wine grapes could be grown as far north as YORKSHIRE by 2100 thanks to climate change, report claims

In Britain, higher temperatures will provide perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon as far north as Hull, a report reveals.

Events

5 d. ago Hull to become ‘the new Bordeaux’ in British wine boom sparked by climate change

Warmer temperatures could see the production of cabernet sauvignon in the north of England

Politics

6 d. ago Huge airport with 30m passengers every year is sinking into the sea

An award-winning airport that was built on an artificial island has been subsiding since its construction over 30 years ago, but today climate change is putting the airport at greater risk

Politics