Environment
How often do you celebrate the natural world? The air, the sea, the wildlife, the forests, the fields and the cities – that, together, form the environment we are lucky enough to share with every other living thing on Earth.
It is something well worth admiring. As British naturalist David Attenborough says: “It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest.”
But it is also under threat. Global warming is melting ice caps and destroying habitats. Rising sea levels threaten whole cities. Species are disappearing at more than 100 times the natural rate.
A 2020 study found that over 500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians were on the brink of dying out completely. This is largely due to habitat destruction and poaching at the hands of humans. In 2019, deforestation in the Amazon reached its highest rate in a decade, threatening millions of creatures and plants. Our briefing on extinction details some of the species under threat.
Fortunately, there are ways everyone can contribute to protecting the environment – for instance, by reducing plastic use and saving electricity. Read our latest stories on our climate watch.
Read Our Stories
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Attenborough calls for the rewilding of Earth
Can we still save the planet? A new EU report shows that three quarters of Europe’s species require better conservation, and 80% of its key natural habitats are in poor or bad condition.
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I am Greta: the person behind the protests
Is authenticity the secret of charisma? A Swedish teenager became an overnight sensation after launching a lone climate protest. Now, a new film sheds light on her extraordinary popularity.
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The epic battle to save Earth’s species
Is conservation the most important job? As the winners of a prestigious environmental prize collect their awards, some people say there is no more noble task than protecting our planet.
Assembly
Find out about three scientists who were among the first to detect and understand climate change in this brilliant video.
Activities
- Use this calculator to discover your environmental footprint. How could you improve your habits?
- Make a poster to raise awareness about extinction and how it affects the environment. Research useful facts and figures.
- Read our story about climate protests. Then make two columns of arguments for and against the statement: “Protests are the only way to make progress.”
