Boom town

Twenty years ago, Mexico City was considered the ultimate urban disaster, an overpopulated megalopolis with nothing to show for itself except pollution, corruption, crime, congestion and horrendous poverty. For many people, this stereotype holds true today. But, as Charlie Furniss reports, political and economic reform during the 1990s has transformed the city and given rise to a new generation of chilangos who are embracing individualism, cultural diversity and consumerismRead on

Fuelling the debate

In a remarkable reversal of fortune, biofuels have gone from saviour to pariah in just a few short years. But there is still optimism that a second generation of biofuels could still come to our aid. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Sounding the retreat

While climatologists argue over exactly what effect rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are going to have on global climate, there is one thing we can’t ignore. The world’s glaciers are melting. Rapidly.  Hugh Warwick reportsRead on

Can God save the world?

In the past two years, a growing number of faith leaders and organisations have spoken out about climate change and the state of the environment. Charlie Furniss reportsRead on

Whaling

At the end of May, a crucial meeting will decide the fate of the world’s whales.
Andrew Brackenbury reportsRead on

Volcanoes

Understanding and predicting the behaviour of the world's 1,500 active volcanoes isn't a straightforward science, as Charlie Furniss discovers.
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Marine Ecosystems

With the world's commercial fisheries in decline, Charlie Furniss discovers that it's time to overhaul the way our marine resources are managed.Read on

Plundering the Past

The looting of antiquities has a history as old as the antiquities themselves, but political instability and rising prices have seen a surge in thefts in recent years.Read on

China in Africa

As China’s economy grows, so too does its need for energy and resources. In order to fill those needs, the country is quietly signing agreements with many poor African nations.Read on

Ivory Trade

As the CITES Standing Committee deliberates over whether or not to sanction a sale of stockpiled ivory, there are fears that once again, the world’s elephants are in peril.Read on

How green is your business?

An increasing number of large companies are discovering their environmental consciences. But is it all just a big PR exercise?Read on

Heroin - a global addiction

Increases in heroin supply have led to new trafficking routes opening up, which has, in turn, led to the creation of new markets and rising global addiction levels.Read on

The new GM revolution

Genetically modified crops were met with a wall of resistance in Europe, but in the developing world, GMOs are becoming increasingly popular with small-scale farmers. Charlie Furniss reportsRead on

Flooding in the UK

According to a new country-wide assessment, more than 550,000 properties in England and Wales, with a combined value in excess of £100billion, are at significant risk of flooding, and the number is still growing. As global warming threatens to increase the frequency of flooding events, what efforts are being made to keep the water from our doors? Charlie Furniss reports

Climate change and extinction

There’s little doubt that the world’s climate is already changing as a result of global warming. But while we’ve woken up to the dangers it poses to humankind, little thought has been given to the threat to wildlife. Now, however, as new research reveals that extinction levels in some biodiversity hotspots could reach 75 per cent, conservationists say it’s time we took the impact of climate change upon our natural heritage seriously. Charlie Furniss reports
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Zoonotic diseases

Bird flu isn't anything new - humans have been catching diseases from animals for millennia. However, incidences are on the rise. Experts around the world are now warning that we’re entering an age of pestilence last seen in Biblical times, and that the human race is primed for another HIV pandemic. So are we all doomed? A group of scientists in the USA may have the answer.  Charlie Furniss reports
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Palm oil

Palm oil is now the world’s most popular vegetable oil. However, its rapid rise to market dominance has been at a heavy environmental cost – its production is one of the primary causes of rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia. Environmental campaigners are working to regulate the industry, but time is running out, not just for the 2,000 orangutans killed each year, but for the planet itself. Charlie Furniss reports
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