The “polluter pays” principle transformed the energy industry half a century ago. Now, as industrial agriculture drives climate breakdown, deforestation, and water scarcity, experts say it’s time to apply the same rule to our food systems—and make corporations, not consumers, bear the cost of the damage. Representational image -- Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons By Alex Crisp The “ polluter pays ” principle is a cornerstone of environmental regulation. It raises

An unprecedented avian flu outbreak in Argentine Patagonia devastated a stable elephant seal colony, highlighting the rising threat of infectious disease to wildlife in a warming world. Elephant Seals -- Ecohotel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Claudio Campagna, Valeria Falabella and Julieta Campagna In the spring of 2023, we returned to Península Valdés, a rugged coastal region in Argentine Patagonia, expecting to witness the familiar sights and sounds of southern el

Millions of African children are born into overlapping crises, and true climate justice must begin with birth equity to uphold human rights, sovereignty, and reparative action. Nigerian children doing a class exercise -- Ibukshizzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Esther Afolaranmi In July 2025, the International Court of Justice held its first hearings on states’ climate responsibilities in decades. A lead judge described climate change as an “ urgent and existential

Often overlooked in traditional emergency management, women play a critical role in preparedness, risk reduction, and building resilient communities. Representational image -- Kartiki Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Reynard Loki On February 26, 1852, the HMS Birkenhead struck a cluster of rocks off the coast of South Africa. With only a few lifeboats for the 638 people aboard, Captain Robert Salmond ordered the women and children to board first while the men

Indigenous leaders, farmers, and environmental activists worldwide face harassment, violence, and legal threats while defending land, water, and ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections and international accountability. Banner at a protest after the murder of Honduran environmental activist Juan López -- image via X By Reynard Loki Land and environmental defenders—Indigenous leaders, farmers, conservationists, and community activists—risk their lives

After centuries of dam building, a nationwide movement to dismantle these aging barriers is showing how free-flowing rivers can restore ecosystems, improve safety, and reconnect people with nature. The silt filled Matilija Dam in California -- Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License, via Wikimedia Commons By Tara Lohan With more than 550,000 dams in the United States, free-flowing rivers are an endangered species. We’ve dammed, diked, and diverted almost every ma

Image via India Today on X, November 28, 2025 By Srujana Bodapati It is that time of year again when India’s national capital Delhi’s air quality turned acutely hazardous. Official Indian air quality indicators hit their maximum adverse readings of 500, while indices based on international norms shoot past 1,000 or even 2,000 —a level that effectively turned the city into a gas chamber. The thick smog, loaded with toxic gases, seeps into every corner of the city, including in

Lands managed by Afro-descendant peoples in the Amazon experience dramatically lower deforestation and house some of the planet’s richest ecosystems—showing how centuries-old stewardship can guide global conservation. A view of part of the Brazilian Amazon -- Marinha do Brasil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Reynard Loki Spanning nine nations and covering more than 5.5 million square kilometers —roughly the size of the continental United States—the Amazon is the world

People march in Belem, Brazil on November 15 as part of the popular protests outside of COP30 -- news screenshot via X By Cade Dunbar On Friday, 17 October 2025, the UN Development Programme released the 2025 edition of its Multidimensional Poverty Index Report . For the first time, the report directly evaluates their multidimensional poverty data against climate hazards, exposing the extent to which the world’s poor are threatened by the environmental crisis. According to th

As consumers flock to “reef-safe” and “ocean-friendly” skincare, beauty brands are selling a vision of ocean purity that is more marketing-driven than science-based. By Kate Petty The personal care industry has mastered the art of marketing eco-consciousness— evolving beyond familiar labels like “green,” “clean,” and “natural”—into a new wave of sea-inspired branding that claims to champion ocean conservation. Terms such as “reef-safe” and “ocean-friendly” evoke images of cry

Humanity’s evolution into a super predator has reshaped ecosystems and instilled a primal fear in much of the animal kingdom. Representational image - public domain By John Divinagracia Hunting is considered critical to human evolution by many researchers who believe that several characteristics that distinguish humans from our closest living relatives, the apes, may have partly resulted from our adaptation to hunting, including our large brain size. Over time, however, the

Simple daily practices can help us slow down, notice, and build empathy with the more-than-human world—fostering both personal well-being and planetary care. Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn NY USA -- Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bridget A. Lyons One morning, I was walking in a friend’s yard in Idaho and saw a monarch butterfly. I stopped to watch him flutter above a purple coneflower—one of his favorite sourc

Facing habitat loss, climate change, and shifting livelihoods, Maasai women are leading a transformative program that links sustainable...

Lands vital for climate resilience and the forestry industry are also critical habitats for declining bird species, offering a rare...

A national human ecology curriculum that begins with food education could help address our most pressing crises—from climate change to...

Despite mounting evidence of serious health risks, the U.S. continues to allow diquat use on farms. A Canadian farmer spraying diquat on...

The war economy relies on the enclosure of the commons. By reclaiming the commons, we can build a world based on cooperation, ecological...

From the deserts of California to the forests of Belgium, these iconic music festivals showcase the power of sound to bridge cultures,...

Lula during a 2023 ceremony announcing the holding of COP 30 in the city of Belém -- Palácio do Planalto from Brasilia, Brasil, CC BY...

The least humane way of culling poultry and pigs has become increasingly common. Image via Otwarte Klatki, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia...