Weather tracker: Austria breaks heat records as Japan braces for Typhoon Dolphin Soaring temperatures continue to sweep parts of Europe, while Okinawa faces powerful winds and storm surgesWire*·August 3, 2026
Country diary: Down an old lead mine, an explosion of colour<strong>Garrigill, Cumbria:</strong> The abandoned Tynebottom mine is alive with vivid orange, raspberry-ripple pink and sulphurous yellow. But it’s the cave pearls that captivate me mostWire*·August 3, 2026
Britain could face food shortages as drought continues, farmers warnFarmers battle to salvage what they can of their crops as heatwave set to continueWire*·August 2, 2026
Traffic, mobiles, music … let’s turn the volume down<strong>Letters: </strong>Readers respond to an editorial on the health impact of noise pollution Wire*·August 2, 2026
Solar powers record share of Britain’s electricity mix in JulyFarms and rooftop panels contribute 14.4% to the grid – and figures reveal a surge in new installations Wire*·August 2, 2026
Karl’s ‘great net zero debate’ was anything but – so beware Coalition claims of renewables taking over ‘two Tasmanias’One expert described Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s claim of land used for clean energy as ‘plain wrong and plain silly’Wire*·August 2, 2026
Relentless UK heatwaves turn ‘green and pleasant land’ brownVisible impact of warming climate is impossible to ignore across landscapes that have been starved of rainfallWire*·August 2, 2026
‘I have an understanding housemate’: the student who makes videos of fungus on faecesAlfred Drummond-Herdman’s extraordinary timelapses have been viewed by millions – and led him to identify new speciesWire*·August 2, 2026
‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at riskCouncil leaders say crumbling infrastructure and lack of water are jeopardising government’s plans for new homesWire*·August 2, 2026
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniersPM has long history of speaking out on realities of global heating but political opponents remain unnmovedWire*·August 2, 2026
Lost income, energy fears and a woolly mammoth: what Europe’s dried-up rivers have yieldedHeat and drought have affected shipping, power plants and tourism across eastern Europe – as well as unearthing some surprisesWire*·August 1, 2026
Country diary: Pity the poor limpets – must the summer holidays mean they get smashed by a child?<strong>Lyme Regis, Dorset:</strong> Busy beaches can be bad news for shellfish. If curious children don’t know they are live creatures, then let’s educate themWire*·August 1, 2026
India’s monsoon rains in danger as UN chief warns planet is ‘on fire’António Guterres says strengthening El Niño will help push the world’s climate crisis into ‘uncharted territory’Wire*·July 31, 2026
Ponds need more than a drop of protection <strong>Letters: </strong>Readers respond to an editorial arguing that freshwater havens require a law of their ownWire*·July 31, 2026
Tell us: have you installed renewable energy sources in your home? We would like to hear from people who have recently installed renewable energy sources in their home, or considered doing soWire*·July 31, 2026
‘It’s too fast, too big’: speed of climate crisis is devastating crops, say farmersDrought and extreme heat are killing plants, driving up prices while also making some farms economically unviableWire*·July 31, 2026
New solar panels in Great Britain at 15-year high as fossil fuel costs soarBoom in solar farms and home installations in first half of 2026 began shortly after start of US-Israel war against IranWire*·July 31, 2026
Weather tracker: Wisconsin hit by rare tornado and meteotsunamiUnusual atmospheric phenomenon causes widespread damage in US state, while heat continues to grip EuropeWire*·July 31, 2026
‘We can’t make it better again’: what Europe’s wildfires tell us about the climate crisisIn this week’s newsletter: As France and Spain battle huge fires in this summer of relentless heat, will it be enough to spur us to take action? Wire*·July 31, 2026
‘It’s all right for them’: private schools and golf courses stay green despite England’s hosepipe bansAs parks turn brown and paddling pools go unfilled, exemptions mean sports pitches can stay lush – even in school holidaysWire*·July 31, 2026
Country diary: Rumours of glowworms set me off on a twilight stroll <strong>Wellington, Somerset:</strong> Desiccated leaves crunch underfoot and ponds have shrunk to muddy pools. Will I catch a glimpse of bioluminescence?Wire*·July 31, 2026
Soy sauce refills and reused jars: can Philippines’ tingi culture hold back deluge of plastic waste?A zero-waste shop set up by a district council provides plastic-free products at affordable prices in a country that gets through 164m sachets a dayWire*·July 31, 2026
Burnham promises ‘pragmatic’ approach to North Sea oil and gasPM tells reporters the government cannot ignore the energy resource ‘when people are struggling’Wire*·July 30, 2026
The cost and burden of avoiding ‘forever chemicals’ should not fall on parentsLetter: <strong>Kendal Archer </strong>says it is the government’s responsibility to legislate and big agriculture’s responsibility not to cover our food in chemicalsWire*·July 30, 2026
Fifteen elephant deaths in Kenya may be due to cyanide poisoningAnalysis of samples collected from carcasses found traces of toxic chemical compound, says Kenya Wildlife ServiceWire*·July 30, 2026
