ecology

The Vatican has formally described the destruction of the environment as an 'ecological sin', a move championed by Pope Francis as part of his push to make climate protection a moral and religious duty. The framing, promoted through France 24's 'Down to Earth' programme, has drawn attention to how the Catholic Church is seeking to mobilise its global followers around environmental responsibility and the ethics of caring for the planet.

The Trump administration's push to expand domestic mining of critical minerals is moving into a region conservationists call America's 'forgotten wildlife corridor'. Reporting by InvestigateWest and Inside Climate News examines how mineral extraction plans could fragment habitat used by migrating wildlife, pitting the national strategy to secure supply chains for batteries and defense industries against environmental protection. Critics warn the corridor's ecological role has been overlooked in the rush to permit new mining projects.

A joint study by the OECD, World Bank and Global Green Growth Institute finds Morocco is among the African countries most exposed to climate change risks. The report describes systemic ecological shifts already affecting the country and acting as active macroeconomic constraints, putting pressure on growth and development planning. Commentators are highlighting the findings as a warning for Morocco's economic future.

A new analysis warns that environmental threats across the Himalayan region are growing severe, affecting glaciers, water supplies and the communities that depend on them. The piece examines the pressures facing one of the world's most fragile mountain ecosystems and the risks this poses to downstream populations across South Asia.

A commentary published in Taiwan examines what a military conflict over Taiwan would mean for the island's environment, beyond the immediate human toll. It considers damage from bombardment, pollution and destruction of ecosystems, adding an ecological dimension to the strategic debate over cross-strait tensions and international discussion of a possible Chinese invasion.

Researchers are developing 'smoke ecology', a field focused on understanding and preventing the health and environmental damage caused by wildfire smoke. The work examines how smoke affects ecosystems and communities, and what interventions could reduce harm as wildfires grow more frequent and intense. NPR reports on the growing scientific attention to an often-overlooked consequence of major fire seasons.

A new report argues that the flagship project of the multibillion-dollar Everglades restoration effort is too small to achieve its ecological goals. Environmental advocates say the finding raises questions about whether the largest ecosystem restoration plan in US history can deliver on its promises for the Florida wetlands, and calls are likely to grow for expanded or redesigned interventions.

Cornell University has opened an exhibit that brings together clothing, work and the environment, exploring how textiles connect labor practices with their ecological footprint. The display examines garment production through the lens of sustainability, inviting visitors to consider the environmental and human costs woven into what we wear.

A marine biology class at Monmouth University has been studying how nor'easter storms affect mole crab populations along the coast. Students are measuring crab abundance to understand how these powerful coastal storms reshape beach ecosystems. The fieldwork highlights hands-on science education while shedding light on the ecological aftermath of repeated nor'easter events along the northeastern United States shoreline.

A PhD project funded by Spain's FPU 2026 programme is examining why some animal species cope with human-driven environmental change while others decline. The research, titled 'Cognitive buffering in an increasingly altered planet: from neurons to populations', will connect brain mechanisms with population-level outcomes, aiming to explain differences in species' persistence across rapidly transforming habitats.

A visiting scholar with the Urban Wildlife Information Network (UWIN) has shared reflections on a research visit hosted by Lincoln Park Zoo, examining how city dwellers perceive the animals living alongside them. The piece explores how attitudes toward urban species shape coexistence, and how research networks compare public perceptions across cities to inform wildlife management and conservation planning.

Oklahoma is examining the environmental consequences of its large-scale marijuana cultivation sector, including water use, energy consumption and land impacts tied to grow operations. The state has become one of the country's biggest cannabis producers since legalizing medical marijuana, and the industry's rapid expansion has prompted growing scrutiny of its ecological footprint and calls for stronger oversight.

Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion has issued what it calls a second environmental warning, restating its alarm about the failure of governments to address ecological breakdown. The group frames the notice as a renewed call to action on climate change and biodiversity loss. No further details about the warning's contents were provided.

The 2011 tsunami in Japan is reported to have led to the creation of hybrid fish, but these hybrids almost completely disappeared in the years afterwards. The claim highlights how the disaster's environmental disruption briefly allowed crossbreeding between fish populations before natural conditions closed that window again.

The University of Rhode Island's College of the Environment and Life Sciences is highlighting a search for the state's rarest plant species. The effort focuses on documenting and protecting rare flora across Rhode Island, drawing attention to local biodiversity and conservation work being carried out by researchers and students.

A new piece in The Humanist argues that species extinction should be treated not only as an ecological problem but as a moral and humanist one, placing responsibility for biodiversity loss on human choices and values. The argument ties conservation ethics to secular humanist principles of responsibility for the shared world.

An outbreak of needleworms has stripped leaves from nearly 2,900 hectares of forest in Banff National Park, according to local reporting from Alberta. The insect infestation is affecting large swaths of the park's tree cover, raising questions about forest health and potential impacts on the popular tourist destination and its ecosystems.