Environment

Ayyad Mohmmed Ali works on his farm where he grows date palm trees and vegetables, Iraq.

This startup is fighting to keep Iraq’s palm trees alive

Decades of war, mismanagement and the impact of climate change have taken a toll on Iraq’s iconic palm trees. One group is trying to help change that.

This startup is fighting to keep Iraq’s palm trees alive
two actors pretending to fight

Tokyo’s trash-collecting samurai takes a fun, zany approach to cleanup

Tokyo’s trash-collecting samurai takes a fun, zany approach to cleanup
man with trash

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders
trucks

In Mumbai, waste pickers do the heavy lifting of recycling  

In Mumbai, waste pickers do the heavy lifting of recycling  
landfill

Trash sorters in Ghana face health and safety risks

Trash sorters in Ghana face health and safety risks
volcano

El Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala

​​​​​​​The El Fuego volcano in Guatemala spewed lava and ash over part of the country last week. Thousands evacuated the area, and many more were exposed to dangerous ash. 

El Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala
Barnacle geese have developed new migration routes and breeding grounds amid warming global temperatures. 

Animal species are evolving to adjust to climate change, but scientists say time is running out

Scientists have been studying changes in animal physiology and behavior, some of which they believe are linked to rising global temperatures. They say the adaptations are beneficial, but may have limitations in the long term.

Animal species are evolving to adjust to climate change, but scientists say time is running out
Yellow sign on beach warning people to stay out of water because of pollutants, in Tijuana River Valley

Pollution from Tijuana River contaminates marine border areas

Pollution and trash carried from the Tijuana River to the Pacific Ocean have long plagued swimmers and surfers on both sides of the US-Mexico border. A recent court settlement is bringing hope for cooperation.

Pollution from Tijuana River contaminates marine border areas
portrait of Zafer Kizilkaya in front of a waterfront

'Nobody believed us:' Turkish conservationist wins Goldman Prize for expanding marine-protected areas

“We don't have much time to convince all the stakeholders in the world,” said award recipient Zafer Kizilkaya about the urgency of protecting marine life.

'Nobody believed us:' Turkish conservationist wins Goldman Prize for expanding marine-protected areas
fish underwater

You can ring this 'fish doorbell' to help marine life in the Netherlands

The World's Carol Hills spoke to Anne Nejs, an urban ecologist for the city of Utrecht, who worked on creating the doorbell back in 2021. She says mid-April is the best time of the season to go fish-doorbelling.

You can ring this 'fish doorbell' to help marine life in the Netherlands
canal

Archaeologists uncover ancient Moorish waterways to irrigate Granada 

The Moors, who ruled in Spain, had a network of canals 800 years ago that moved water from the Sierra Nevada down into cities and farms. Archaeologists today are trying to uncover those canals, and put the ancient wisdom about irrigation to use today.

Archaeologists uncover ancient Moorish waterways to irrigate Granada 
Left to right: Smoke from a wildfire over the Athens sky; a woman walks in a village during a period of drought; students hold up a banners; the Atlantic forest in Brazil.

VIDEO: 'The Big Fix' explores climate change solutions around the globe

In the ongoing series, “The Big Fix," The World reports on what communities, individuals, governments and businesses are doing to tackle the climate crisis.

VIDEO: 'The Big Fix' explores climate change solutions around the globe
Syed Sajjad Ali inspects tomatoes planted inside a Kheyti greenhouse.

This greenhouse innovation helps farmers in India cope with climate change

The “greenhouse-in-a-box” is part of a solution designed to help smallholder farmers cope with the vagaries of a changing climate. The design, essentially a low-cost, scaled-down version of a standard greenhouse, is the brainchild of an Indian startup called Kheyti.

This greenhouse innovation helps farmers in India cope with climate change
People walk through an informal settlement for trash segregators in Bangalore, India.

Waste collectors in Bangalore face discrimination and exploitation

Garbage segregators in India often have to migrate in search of work. Many in Bangalore, India, also face constant harassment from the police and local residents, often facing eviction from informal settlements if they can't afford to pay bribes.

Waste collectors in Bangalore face discrimination and exploitation
building that was destroyed

Life returns to Antakya, a city nearly leveled by earthquakes in southern Turkey

​​​​​​​Two months after devastating earthquakes killed more than 57,000 people in Turkey and Syria, survivors are living in tent camps and shipping containers outside the ruins of their former homes. As mobile businesses and streetside kebab shops return to the city of Antakya, some people are determined to stay in their hometown to grieve and rebuild. 

Life returns to Antakya, a city nearly leveled by earthquakes in southern Turkey