When the wind blows

With 1,200 wind turbines due to be built in the UK this year, Mark Rowe explores the continuing controversy surrounding wind power and discusses the extent to which it can supply our future energy needsRead on

Damned if you do...

On all of the world’s great rivers large dams are being planned to help cope with climate change and promote development. But will their construction inevitably come with social and environmental costs, asks Mark RoweRead on

Going... going...

In September 2012 Arctic summer sea ice coverage shrank to an all-time low, prompting warnings that it will only be a matter of time before it disappears for good. Mark Rowe examines the implications of an ice-free Arctic summerRead on

GM update

Greenpeace has stopped campaigning on them, the EU says there’s no risk, even Bill Gates has got behind them. So why are so many people still worried about genetically modified crops? Special report by Mark Rowe Read on

Fishy business

For millennia, the waters off West Africa have provided those living along its coastline with seafood but the region’s fisheries are coming under increasing pressure from unscrupulous foreign trawlers. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

We're here to help

After 50 years of trying, the West’s international aid agencies still can’t seem to feed the world. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

On shaky ground

It could help meet the world’s energy needs well into the next century, but environmental campaigners are warning about pollution, climate change and even earthquakes. So what is ‘fracking’, asks Mark RoweRead on

The slow burn

Far too slow to make headline news, desertification is nevertheless putting the lives of more than one billion people at risk, and sooner or later, will require the urgent attention of the international community. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

All that glitters

With demand, prices and production of the Earth’s precious metals currently soaring to all-time highs, resource-rich developing countries look set to cash in. But the boom will inevitably come at a cost. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

A new colonial carve-up?

Wealthy countries have been buying up huge tracts of land in developing countries and paying billions of dollars for the privilege. But do the local people ever benefit? Mark Rowe investigatesRead on

REDD+ or dead?

A new scheme to pay developing nations not to cut down trees is being hailed as the saviour of the world’s forests. But is it too focused on quantity over quality? Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Come hell or high water

Global sea levels are definitely rising, putting millions worldwide at risk of flooding. But how quickly will the waters rise, and can anything be done to prevent it, asks Mark RoweRead on

Nuclear power

In recent years. nuclear power has seemingly shaken off the spectre of Chernobyl to beome the in-vogue clean-energy solution. But doubts still remain about its safety, proliferation and waste disposal. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Playing the market

For more than a decade, international carbon trading has been seen as a key weapon in the fight against climate change, but critics say the system is a failure, with heavy emitters exploiting loopholes. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Heavy weather

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, causing profound problems for the developing world. Some scientists believe that these disasters are the result of man-made climate change, but can a link be proven? Mark Rowe investigatesRead on

Safety in numbers?

Population is the ‘elephant’ sitting at the centre of the debate over how to protect the environment. But in contrast to the Malthusian nightmare that many envisage, demographers believe that world population will soon peak and then begin to decline. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

When will the oil flow slow?

Oil is becoming more difficult to obtain, and research suggests that it won’t be long before we’re unable to meet global demand. Mark Rowe filters through the factsRead on

A watershed moment

As populations grow, climate change continues and agriculture siphons off much of the planet’s reserves, water scarcity is becoming a problem. Mark Rowe looks at what can be done to satisfy the increasing demand for this resourceRead on

Feed the world

With the world’s population expected to hit nine billion by 2050, scientists are calling for a new Green Revolution. But can technology raise crop yields in time to feed all the extra mouths? Mark Rowe reportsRead on

What lies beneath

In May, dozens of countries submitted claims to the seabed beyond their coastlines to the UN. Mark Rowe gets to the heart of this modern-day land grab.Read on

The burning question

Coal has been described as ‘the single greatest threat to civilisation and all life on our planet’ but consumption is rising, especially in fueling China's economic boom. Can we clean up coal before it’s too late? Mark Rowe reports.Read on

Milking the planet dry

All over the world, demand for beef and milk is on the rise. But the production is becoming increasingly unsustainable, causing deforestation and desertification, and contributing to global climate change. Patrick Evans reportsRead on

Cruel to be kind?

To many, killing animals for sport is simply barbaric and senseless. But advocates say that in many parts of the world, it’s absolutely necessary. So, can hunting ever be justified? Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Méthode traditionnelle

At a conference this year, some of the world’s most respected winemakers were warned that without drastic measures to deal with the threat of climate change, their industry will be plunged into turmoil. Charlie Furniss reportsRead on

The credibility gap

Opting to take a career or study break to volunteer overseas has never been so popular. But as the gap year industry becomes increasingly profit-driven, calls for better regulation are growing. Mark Rowe reportsRead on

Access to the British countryside

Despite recent legislation, existing rights of way are often in poor shape. While European ramblers enjoy greater freedom, what is being done to satisfy UK walkers’ demands for similar access? asks Mark RoweRead on

Mexico City special edition: Boom town

Twenty years ago, Mexico City was considered the ultimate urban disaster. But, recent political and economic reforms have transformed it into a hub of individualism, cultural diversity and consumerism. Charlie Furniss reportsRead on

Fuelling the debate: biofuels

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

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

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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