Heat, fires and agribusiness squeeze traditional Amazon açaí harvesters

Rising global demand for açaí is driving plantation expansion in the Amazon, displacing traditional forest harvesters. Heat, wildfires, and industrial agriculture threaten both indigenous livelihoods and forest ecosystems.

Trump’s Environmental Cuts Further Marginalize Vulnerable Communities

Trump administration cuts environmental and community assistance programs in second term. Vulnerable communities with fewer resources face increased climate vulnerability from heat and storms.

Nearly One-Fifth of Americans Are Consuming Water With High Levels of Nitrates

Nearly 20% of Americans are exposed to high nitrate levels in public water systems, primarily from agricultural runoff. The Environmental Working Group's first comprehensive review identified over 6,100 affected water systems nationwide.

Snow Is Scarce in the Upper Colorado Basin

The Upper Colorado Basin in Utah and Colorado faces critically low snowpack levels heading into spring 2026. The region anticipates significant water availability concerns due to scarce mountain snow.

Celebrating the ‘gardeners of the forest’ on World Tapir Day

Tapirs are described as 'forest gardeners' for their role in seed dispersal and ecosystem maintenance, but all four species remain underfunded for research and conservation efforts.

Energy

Australia’s energy commission targets lower solar curtailment

Australia's Energy Market Commission plans to implement a new distribution planning framework and enhanced data reporting to reduce rooftop solar curtailment. These measures aim to improve the integration of distributed solar energy into the grid.

New Zealand’s grid operator finds emerging energy gap in early 2030s

New Zealand's grid operator warns of a potential electricity supply gap in the early 2030s despite all planned investments being completed on schedule. The shortfall highlights challenges in balancing energy demand with renewable generation capacity.

Two-year testing shows how PV plants increase local temperatures in semi-arid regions

A two-year study of a 100 MW solar plant in Inner Mongolia found that large-scale photovoltaic installations increase local air temperatures by 0.8°C in semi-arid regions. Researchers used ground sensors, radiation measurements, and thermal imaging to quantify the warming effects on the local energy balance.

Chinese solar exports surge 125% in March on policy change rush, not underlying demand acceleration

Chinese solar exports surged 125% in March as buyers rushed shipments ahead of April's tax-rebate policy change. The spike reflects timing rather than underlying demand acceleration.

Wildlife

After nearly a century, Taiwan’s legless lizard gets its own identity

Researchers at National Taiwan Normal University confirmed the Formosan legless lizard is a distinct species endemic to Taiwan, resolving a century of taxonomic confusion. The discovery highlights the importance of proper species identification for conservation efforts on the island.

Record bear sightings in Japan cause alarm as hibernation ends

Rested bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are increasingly spotted in urban areas, with sightings already surpassing 2025 record levels. A woman was killed and a police officer injured in recent bear attacks as authorities warn the public ahead of Golden Week holidays.

U.S. government sets preliminary anti-dumping duties on solar imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos

The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed preliminary anti-dumping duties of up to 123% on solar cells and modules from India, Indonesia, and Laos. The tariffs aim to address alleged unfair trade practices in the solar manufacturing sector.