Australia's rainforests are releasing more carbon than they absorb, warn scientists The lead author of the study, which was published in science journal Nature, said the findings have significant implications for global emissions reduction targets which are partly based on how ecosystems - such as rainforests - can absorb carbon. But a study looking at data from Queensland forests found that extreme temperatures have caused more tree deaths than growths. Rainforests are usually regarded as so-called "carbon sinks" as they absorb more emissions than they emit with new trees offsetting the carbon released by dead ones. Australia's tropical rainforests have become the first in the world to release more carbon than they absorb, in a trend linked to climate change, a study has found. "Current models may overestimate the capacity of tropical forests to help offset fossil fuel emissions," said Dr Hannah Carle of the Western Sydney University. With fewer new trees, the report found that the trunks and branches of dead trees - known as woody biomass - became carbon emitters, rather than carbon absorbers, about 25 years ago. "Forests help to curb the worst effects of climate change by absorbing some of the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels, but our work shows this is under threat," said Dr Carle. Dr Carle added that said an increase in trees dying in recent decades was due to climate change such as more extreme temperatures, atmospheric dryness and drought. Based on 49 years of data from 20 forests in Queensland, the report also found a rise in the number of cyclones and the severity of them was killing more trees and making it harder for new ones to grow. "We have in this study evidence that Australia's moist tropical forests are the first of their kind globally to to exhibit this [woody biomass] change," Dr Carle said. "And that's really significant. It could be a sort of canary in the coal mine. " Senior author Patrick Meir also described the results as "very concerning", telling news agency AFP that it was "likely that all tropical forests [would] respond fairly similarly" - but added that more data and research would be needed to make a fair assessment. Australia, one of the world's biggest polluters per capita, recently announced its new carbon reduction targets, pledging to cut emissions by at least 62% compared to 2005 levels over the next decade. The country continues to face global criticism for its continued reliance on fossil fuels, with the government allowing one of the country's largest gas projects -Woodside's North West Shelf - to keep operating for another 40 years. Last month, a new report into the impact of climate change found Australia had already reached warming of above 1. 5C and that no community would be immune from "cascading, compounding and concurrent" climate risks

Foul skies, fading light: How air pollution is stealing India's sunshine 1 day ago Share Save Soutik Biswas India correspondent Share Save Hindustan Times via Getty Images India faces a severe air pollution crisis, ranking among the world's top 10 most polluted countries India is losing sunlight. A new study by six Indian scientists finds that over the past three decades, sunshine hours - the time direct sunlight reaches the Earth's surface - have steadily declined across most of India, driven by clouds, aerosols and local weather. Data from 20 weather stations from 1988 to 2018 shows a persistent decline in sunshine hours nationwide, with only the northeast region seeing a mild seasonal reprieve, according to the paper published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal published by Nature Portfolio. Scientists from Banaras Hindu University, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the India Meteorological Department report that the steepest annual declines occurred in the northern inland region - notably Amritsar and Kolkata - as well as along the Himalayan belt and the west coast, particularly Mumbai. All of nine India's geograpically diverse regions showed an overall annual decline in sunshine hours, though the rate of decrease varied across India. Monthly analysis revealed significant increases from October to May, followed by sharp drops from June to July in six of the nine regions. This seasonal pattern of sunshine intersects with a deeper, long-standing problem: India's severe air pollution crisis - it's now among the world's top 10 polluted countries - which scientists trace back to the 1990s. Rapid urbanisation, industrial growth and land-use changes drove up fossil fuel use, vehicle emissions and biomass burning, sending aerosols into the atmosphere and dimming the Sun's rays. Getty Images Mumbai's sunshine hours are gradually declining, the scientists found In winter, high air pollution from smog, temperature inversions and crop burning across the Indo-Gangetic plains produces light-scattering aerosols, which reduce sunshine hours. These aerosols - tiny solid or liquid particles from dust, vehicle exhaust, crop burning, and other sources - persist in the air long enough to affect sunlight, climate and health. During June-July, monsoon clouds blanket much of India, sharply reducing sunlight even though aerosol levels are lower than in winter. Scientists note that higher sunshine hours from October to May don't indicate cleaner air; rather, they reflect more cloud-free days. Hazy winter sunlight may scatter or diffuse, lowering intensity without entirely blocking sunshine, which instruments still record as sunshine hours. "Our study found that shrinking sunshine hours are linked to clouds that linger longer without releasing rain, blocking more sunlight. These longer-lasting clouds form indirectly due to aerosols that alter weather and climate," says Manoj Kumar Srivastava, a professor of geophysics at the Banaras Hindu University, and one of the authors of the study. Aerosols have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching the ground in India by about 13%, while clouds accounted for an additional 31-44% drop in surface solar radiation between 1993 and 2022, according to Sachchida Nand Tripathi, an atmospheric scientist at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. These patterns raise concerns for agriculture, daily life and India's solar energy ambitions, while highlighting where solar panels could be most effective. Solar now makes up 47% of India's renewable energy capacity. The government says it's on track for 500GW of renewables by 2030, with more than 100GW of solar installed as of early 2025. But declining sunlight could cast a shadow on the country's solar ambitions. According to Prof Tripathi, air pollution compounds the problem. It reduces solar panel output by 12-41% depending on the type of photovoltaic system - the technology that converts sunlight into electricity - and costs an estimated $245-835m in lost power generation. LightRocket via Getty Images India's solar ambitions could be dimmed by declining sunlight

Red Tractor ad banned for misleading environmental claims 3 hours ago Share Save Esme Stallard Climate and science reporter, BBC News Share Save Red Tractor The Red Tractor advert was last shown in 2023 but will now be banned for future use unless it is updated A TV advert by Red Tractor, the UK's biggest certifier of farm products on supermarket shelves, has been banned for exaggerating the scheme's environmental benefits and misleading the public. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled the organisation had provided "insufficient evidence" that its farms complied with basic environmental laws to substantiate the claims in its ad. Environmental group River Action, which brought the complaint in 2023, said the ruling showed the scheme was "greenwashing" and urged supermarkets to stop using it. But Red Tractor called the watchdog's decision "fundamentally flawed" and argued that the scheme's focus was animal welfare not environmental standards. In 2021, Red Tractor aired an advert in which it said: "From field to store all our standards are met. When the Red Tractor's there, your food's farmed with care. " You can watch it below. Watch: the ad banned by the Advertising Standards Authority The environmental charity River Action took issue with the ad, which ran for a further two years, and complained to the watchdog that it suggested to consumers that Red Tractor farms will "ensure a high degree of environmental protection". The charity pointed to a report by the Environment Agency, released in 2020, which looked at how many breaches of environmental law there were on Red Tractor farms in the previous five years. The report concluded that these farms were "not currently an indicator of good environmental performance". After more than two years of investigation - one of the longest running - the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint. It said that Red Tractor had failed to provide "sufficient evidence" that its farms met "basic" environmental laws and had a good environmental outcome to substantiate the claims in the ad. It also ruled that as a result the advert was "misleading" and "exaggerated" the benefits of the scheme. River Action welcomed the decision by the ASA and called on supermarkets to act. "What this shows is that for their environmental credentials Red Tractor has been misleading the public and their suppliers," said Amy Fairman, head of campaigns at River Action. "So, we're looking for suppliers like supermarkets to really examine and take stock of what is on their shelves. " She added that challenging such adverts was important because of the risk to the environment from agricultural pollution. In 2022, the Environment Audit Committee concluded that agriculture was one of the most common factors preventing rivers from being in good health - affecting 40% of them. The risks to the environment include from slurry and pesticide runoff. BBC News/Tony Jolliffe Amy Fairman represents environmental charity River Action which campaigns for clean and healthy rivers But Red Tractor, which assures 45,000 farms in the UK, have pushed back strongly, calling the finding by the ASA "fundamentally flawed". Jim Mosley, CEO of Red Tractor, told the BBC: "They believe that we have implied an environmental claim. Nowhere in the voiceover or the imagery is any environmental claim actually made. " He argued that the ASA only found a minority of people would think the advert meant Red Tractor farms had good environmental standards, and in fact the scheme is focused on other issues. "Red Tractor's core purpose is food safety, animal welfare, and traceability. Whilst we have some environmental standards, they are a small part. And as a consequence, we leave that entirely to the Environment Agency to enforce environmental legislation," said Mr Moseley. When asked if that meant Red Tractor does not know if its farms are complying with environmental law, he said: "Correct"

Pictured: Winning entries for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 7 hours ago Share Save Maddie Molloy Climate & Science reporter Share Save Wim van den Heever A brown hyena standing beside the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement has earned wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He set up his camera trap after spotting fresh hyena tracks in the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia. It took him ten years to get the shot, he said. The brown hyena, the rarest of all hyena species, is primarily nocturnal and tends to live a solitary life. For years, Mr van den Heever searched the deserted town, finding only traces of the elusive animal. "I knew they were there, but actually photographing one was just never going to happen," he says he thought. He was awarded the prize at London's Natural History Museum. The annual exhibition dedicated to the competition opens at the Natural History Museum on 17 October. Keep scrolling to explore the full collection of award-winning images. Andrea Dominizi Category: Junior Grand Prize and 15- to 17-year-old winner Title: After the Destruction Photographer: Andrea Dominizi, Italy Location: Lepini Mountains, Lazio, Italy While exploring the Lepini Mountains in central Italy, an area once logged for its old-growth beech trees, Andrea spotted a beetle resting on a cut log beside abandoned machinery. "This photo shows the story and challenge faced by many animal species: habitat loss," he says. "In this case, it's a beetle that loses the tree and the wood it needs to lay its eggs. " Category winners Shane Gross Category: Animals in their Environment Title: Like an Eel out of Water Photographer: Shane Gross, Canada Location: D'Arros Island, Amirante, Seychelles After weeks of patience, last year's winner, Shane Gross, captured peppered moray eels scavenging for carrion at low tide. He spent hours enduring the sun, heat, and flies, waiting where dead fish had washed up. Eventually, three eels appeared. Jamie Smart Category: 10 Years and Under category Title: The Weaver's Lair Photographer: Jamie Smart, UK Location: Mid-Wales, UK On a cold September morning, Jamie Smart discovered an orb-weaver spider curled up inside its silken hideaway. "It's also quite special for me because I get to show something that people are usually afraid of," she says. Sebastian Frölich Category: Wetlands: The Bigger Picture Title: Vanishing Pond Photographer: Sebastian Frölich, Germany Location: Platzertal, Tyrol, Austria Sebastian Frölich visited Austria's Platzertal moorlands, a fragile wetland, to highlight its vital role as a carbon sink and a habitat for diverse wildlife, at a time when Austria has lost 90% of its peat bogs. Lubin Godin Category: 11–14 Years Title: Alpine Dawn Photographer: Lubin Godin, France Location: Col de la Colombière, Haute-Savoie, France During an early ascent, Lubin Godin found an Alpine ibex resting above a sea of clouds. He retraced his steps as the sun broke through and captured the scene before the mist returned. Ralph Pace Category: Underwater Title: Survival Purse Photographer: Ralph Pace, USA Location: Monterey Bay, California, USA Battling strong currents, Ralph Pace captured this image of a swell shark egg case, revealing a glowing embryo, complete with gill slits and a yolk sac. Swell sharks depend on kelp to lay their leathery eggs, making them vulnerable to kelp forest loss. Researchers believe Monterey Bay's kelp has declined by more than 95 per cent in the past 34 years. Philipp Egger Category: Animal Portraits Title: Shadow Hunter Photographer: Philipp Egger, Italy Location: Naturns, South Tyrol, Italy Philipp Egger observed this eagle owl's nest from afar for more than four years. Among the world's largest owls, eagle owls are about twice the weight of buzzards. These nocturnal hunters nest on cliffs or in crevices and often return to the same site for many years. Qingrong Yang Category: Behaviour: Birds Title: Synchronised Fishing Photographer: Qingrong Yang, China Location: Yundang Lake, Fujian Province, China Qingrong Yang captured a ladyfish snatching prey just beneath a little egret's beak. He often visits the lake to document these frenzied feeding moments. Dennis Stogsdill Category: Behaviour: Mammals Title: Cat Amongst the Flamingos Photographer: Dennis Stogsdill, USA Location: Ndutu Lake, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Caracals are known for their acrobatic leaps to catch birds, but sightings of them hunting flamingos are rare. Jon A Juárez Category: Photojournalism Title: How to Save a Species Photographer: Jon A Juárez, Spain Location: Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Laikipia County, Kenya After years following the BioRescue Project, Jon A. Juárez witnessed a breakthrough in rhino conservation, the first successful transfer of a rhino embryo to a surrogate mother. Though the foetus of the southern white rhino, pictured here, did not survive due to infection, the milestone proved that IVF could work for rhinos, bringing scientists closer to saving the critically endangered northern white rhino. The BBC covered this incredible story and you can read about it here. Quentin Martinez Category: Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles Title: Frolicking Frogs Photographer: Quentin Martinez, French Guiana Location: Kaw Mountain, French Guiana In heavy rain, Quentin Martinez followed a flooded path to a pool in a forest clearing and captured the metallic sheen of lesser tree frogs gathering to breed. Javier Aznar González de Rueda Category: Photojournalist Story Title: End of the Round-up Photographer: Javier Aznar González de Rueda, Spain Location: USA Across the US, Javier Aznar González de Rueda explored society's conflicted views of rattlesnakes from deep respect to fear and persecution. See the other images in his winning portfolio here. Georgina Steytler Category: Behaviour: Invertebrates Title: Mad Hatterpillar Photographer: Georgina Steytler, Australia Location: Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia Georgina Steytler showcased the gum-leaf skeletoniser caterpillar's strange tower of discarded head capsules. Each moult leaves a capsule behind, forming a stack thought to confuse predators. Audun Rikardsen Category: Oceans: The Bigger Picture Title: The Feast Photographer: Audun Rikardsen, Norway Location: Kvænangen Fjord, Skjervøy, Norway During a polar night in Norway, Audun Rikardsen photographed gulls swarming around a fishing vessel, trying to catch fish trapped in nets. He aims to highlight the conflict between seabirds and the fishing industry. Many birds drown in purse seine nets each year. Chien Lee Chien Lee has been awarded first place in the Plants and Fungi category Category: Plants and Fungi Title: Deadly Allure Photographer: Chien Lee, Malaysia Location: Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia Some carnivorous pitcher plants reflect UV light as part of their display, using colour, scent and nectar to lure prey. To illustrate this, Chien Lee used a long exposure and UV torch. Luca Lorenz Category: Rising Star Title: Watchful Moments Photographer: Luca Lorenz, Germany Location: Germany While Luca Lorenz was photographing mute swans on an urban lake, a coypu photobombed his frame. See his other portfolio images here Simone Baumeister Category: Natural Artistry Title: Caught in the Headlights Photographer: Simone Baumeister, Germany Location: Ibbenbüren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany On a city bridge, Simone Baumeister photographed an orb-weaver spider silhouetted against traffic lights. By reversing one of the six glass elements in her lens, she created the kaleidoscopic effect, framing the spider. Fernando Faciole Category: Impact Award Winner 2025 & Highly Commended, Photojournalism Title: Orphan of the Road Photographer: Fernando Faciole, Brazil Location: CETAS (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres), Belo Horizonte, Brazil At a rehabilitation centre in Brazil, Fernando Faciole photographed an orphaned giant anteater pup trailing its caregiver. His aim is to show the consequences of road collisions, a major threat to these animals. Alexey Kharitonov Alexey Kharitonov is the winner of the Portfolio Award category

Floods trap people in cars in Spain's Catalonia region La Ràpita is among the towns ravaged by floods Floods caused by torrential rain have left a number of people trapped in vehicles in Spain's north-eastern Catalonia region, officials say. Videos on social media have emerged showing torrents of muddy water sweeping through the towns of La Ràpita and Santa Bàrbara in the Tarragona province, and moving everything in their path. The highest red alert has been declared in the coastal province by Spain's national weather agency AEMET. So far there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries

Your nose gets colder when you're stressed. These thermal images show the change 1 day ago Share Save Victoria Gill Science correspondent, BBC News Share Save Watch science correspondent Victoria Gill put herself through a thermal imaging stress test When I was asked to give an impromptu five-minute speech and then to count backwards in intervals of 17 - all in front of a panel of three strangers - the acute stress was written on my face. That is because psychologists from the University of Sussex were filming this somewhat terrifying experience for a research project that is studying stress using thermal cameras. Stress alters the blood flow in the face, and scientists have discovered that the drop in temperature of a person's nose can be used as a measure of stress levels, and to monitor recovery. Thermal imaging, according to the psychologists behind the study could be a "game changer" in stress research. Kevin Church/BBC The temperature drop in the nose, seen in the thermal image on the right, happens because stress affects our blood flow. The experimental stress test that I subjected myself to is carefully controlled and deliberately designed to be an unpleasant surprise. I arrived at the university with no idea what I was in for. First, I was asked to sit, relax and listen to white noise through a set of headphones. Then, the researcher who was running the test invited a panel of three strangers into the room. They all stared at me silently as the researcher informed that I now had three minutes to prepare a five minute speech about my "dream job". As I felt the heat rise around my neck, the scientists captured my face changing colour through their thermal camera. My nose quickly dropped in temperature - turning blue on the thermal image - as I considered how to bluster my way through this unplanned presentation. (I decided I would take the opportunity to make my pitch to join the astronaut training programme!) The Sussex researchers have carried out this same stress test on 29 volunteers. In each, they saw their nose dip in temperature by between three and six degrees. My nose dropped in temperature by two degrees, as my nervous system pushed blood flow away from my nose and to my eyes and ears - a physical reaction to help me to look and listen for danger. Most participants, like me, recovered quickly; their noses warmed to pre-stressed levels within a few minutes. Lead researcher, Prof Gillian Forrester explained that being a reporter and broadcaster has probably made me "quite habituated to being put in stressful positions". "You are used to the camera and talking with strangers, so you're probably quite resilient to social stressors," she explained. "But even someone like you, trained to be in stressful situations, shows a biological blood flow shift, so that suggests this 'nasal dip' is a robust marker of a changing stress state. " Kevin Church/BBC News The 'nasal dip' happens in just a few minutes when we are acutely stressed Stress is part of life. But this discovery, the scientists say, could be used to help manage harmful levels of stress. "The length of time it takes someone to recover from this nasal dip could be an objective measure of how well somebody regulates their stress," said Prof Forrester. "If they bounce back unusually slowly, could that be a risk marker of anxiety or depression? Is it something that we can do anything about?" Because this technique is non-invasive and measures a physical response, it could also be useful to monitor stress in babies or in people who can't communicate. The second task in my stress assessment was, in my view, even worse than the first. I was asked to count backwards from 2023 in intervals of 17. Someone on the panel of three impassive strangers stopped me every time I made a mistake and asked me to start again. I admit, I am bad at mental arithmetic. As I spent an embarrassing length of time trying to force my brain to perform subtraction, all I could think was that I wanted to flee the increasingly stuffy room. During the research, only one of the 29 volunteers for the stress test did actually ask to leave. The rest, like me, completed their tasks - presumably feeling varying degrees of humiliation - and were rewarded with another calming session of white noise through headphones at the end. Anxious apes Prof Forrester will demonstrate this new thermal stress-measuring method in front of an audience at the New Scientist Live event in London on 18 October. Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the approach is that, because thermal cameras measure a physical stress response that is innate in many primates, it can also be used in non-human apes. The researchers are currently developing its use in sanctuaries for great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas. They want to work out how to reduce stress and improve the wellbeing of animals that may have been rescued from traumatic circumstances. The team has already found that showing adult chimpanzees video footage of baby chimpanzees has a calming effect. When the researchers set up a video screen close to the rescued chimps' enclosure, they saw the noses of animals that watched the footage warm up. So, in terms of stress, watching baby animals playing is the opposite of a surprise job interview or an on-the-spot subtraction task. Gilly Forrester/University of Sussex Chimpanzees and gorillas in sanctuaries may have been rescued from traumatic circumstances Using thermal cameras in ape sanctuaries could prove to be valuable in helping rescued animals to adjust and settle in to a new social group and strange surroundings. "They can't say how they're feeling and they can be quite good at masking how they're feeling," explained Marianne Paisley, a researcher from the University of Sussex who is studying great ape wellbeing. "We've [studied] primates for the last 100 years or so to help us understand ourselves. "Now we know so much about human mental health, so maybe we can use that and give back to them. " So perhaps my own minor scientific ordeal could contribute, in a small way, to alleviating distress in some of our primate cousins

From THE WESTERN JOURNAL At Castel Gandolfo last week, Pope Leo XIV managed to make global headlines—but not for preaching the gospel. Instead, he solemnly blessed a block of ice at the Raising Hope for Climate Justice conference. The gesture, intended as a symbol of melting glaciers and a warming world, was met with laughter and disbelief. “Will this become Holy Water?” one observer quipped online. Others were blunter: the papacy, they said, has become climate theater. The pope’s symbolism was meant to inspire. Instead, it revealed something troubling: the Vatican’s moral authority is being melted down into a prop for environmental politics. When the Bishop of Rome plays to the gallery with ice blocks and photo ops, the message is clear: faith is being repackaged to serve as a public relations tool. This spectacle was not an isolated event. It came paired with a speech in which Pope Leo condemned those who “minimize the increasingly evident impact of rising temperatures” and derided critics who “ridicule those who speak of global warming. ” It was a script that echoed Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which firmly planted the Roman Catholic Church in the middle of global climate activism. Leo XIV insisted, “We will raise hope by demanding that leaders act with courage, not delay. ” But these words ring less like pastoral guidance and more like political sloganeering. A shepherd’s role is to guide souls — not to issue rallying cries that could just as easily be lifted from a UN climate summit. The blessing of ice exposed the problem most starkly. A papal blessing traditionally sanctifies elements that nourish the life of the Roman Catholic Church: water for baptism, bread and wine for the Eucharist, oil for anointing. Here, ice was not consecrated for divine purposes, but conscripted as a prop for political messaging. That distinction matters. The sacraments draw their power from Christ, not from climate metaphors. When holy ritual is used as a stage device, it cheapens both the faith and the message. A block of ice cannot stand in for stewardship of creation, nor does blessing it advance the mission of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo also repeated the familiar claim that climate change hits the poor hardest, and that skeptics are “blaming the poor for the very thing that affects them the most. ” But here again, rhetoric outruns reality. In practice, it is the poor who suffer most under the weight of climate policies themselves. High energy costs, stifled development, and curtailed opportunities are the bitter fruits of the “green” agenda. Europe’s recent energy crisis, driven by overreliance on renewables and a retreat from affordable fossil fuels, left families struggling to heat their homes. Across Africa, development is stifled by Western climate aid packages tied to restrictions that prevent industrial growth. These policies, cheered on by elites, deepen poverty rather than relieving it. Yet the pope reserves his sharpest criticism not for policymakers, but for skeptics. This is not the first time the Roman Catholic Church has tied itself to a scientific consensus. The Galileo affair remains a cautionary tale: doctrine was entangled with prevailing science, and when that science shifted, Rome’s credibility collapsed. Today, climate models — uncertain, politicized, and often wrong — are treated as moral absolutes from the pulpit. It is a dangerous repetition of history. Yes, the climate changes. But the leap from “some warming” to “existential crisis requiring radical global transformation” is not theology — it is ideology. The papacy should never mistake one for the other. As a Roman Catholic, I want to be clear: I do not deny the call to stewardship of creation, nor do I reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals. But I cannot support the Holy See when it uses the papal office to advance politicized views on climate science. My disagreement is not with the faith but with a misguided application of it. The pope’s duty is to lead souls to Christ, not to serve as a spokesman for contested policies. Scripture is clear: we are to care for the Earth. But stewardship is not synonymous with political posturing or theatrical stunts. Blessing blocks of ice may make headlines, but it does nothing to strengthen faith or lift the burdens of the poor. The Roman Catholic Church’s mission is eternal salvation, not temporal activism. Its message should be timeless, not tied to the agenda of climate conferences. If Pope Leo truly wishes to raise hope, he would do better to preach than pontificate. For Roman Catholics, salvation will never be measured in tons of CO₂ — but in faith, truth, and fidelity to the gospel. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here

'How growing a sunflower helped me fight anorexia' 1 day ago Share Save Malcolm Prior and Jenny Kumah BBC News rural affairs team Share Save Andy Alcroft/BBC Emily Hough is now using her experiences to help shape nature prescribing schemes For Emily Hough, nature was too often simply something "out there", a world apart from her, a view from a hospital window. Years spent in and out of specialist mental health units in Birmingham and London, being treated for the eating disorder she had had since the age of 12, meant she felt little connection with the countryside or interest in the everyday flora and fauna around her. That was until five years ago, when a hospital occupational therapist gave her an unusual prescription: Grow a sunflower. "I'll be honest I'd never planted anything in my life," Ms Hough said. "But I planted that sunflower and, just watching it grow, from me watering it and from me protecting it from the shade, helped me feel connected for the first time and really be able to appreciate what was around me - and how I can make a difference to nature and what nature can actually do for me. "I was in a hospital at that point, so it was very limited. Fast forward five years, here we are today. " Getty Images Green social prescribing encourages people to take part in nature-based activities to benefit their health and wellbeing From those early roots, Ms Hough, now 35, embraced what is formally called by the NHS "green social prescribing", where GPs and health practitioners refer patients to organisations that offer nature-based activities, whether that be hiking, birdwatching, rockpooling or looking after a city-based allotment. It is supposed to complement other more mainstream treatments and therapies and has been a key part of the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in England. The scheme may not work for everyone but for Ms Hough, who has now relocated from Solihull to a life in the countryside, the benefits have been profound. She is now out of hospital and has become what the NHS calls an "Expert by Experience" (EbE) - someone who uses that experience to design and evaluate new health services. She helped shape the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)'s flagship "nature prescription" scheme for the West Midlands, launched earlier this year. On Friday – World Mental Health Day - the scheme marks the training of its 100th health professional, with enough resources to support 1,000 patients accessing nature-based activities. Andy Alcroft/BBC Dom Higgins, from the Wildlife Trusts, saids the evidence in favour of green social prescribing was clear But the future of green social prescribing is uncertain. Despite a four-year national pilot that ended in March being judged a success by an independent evaluation of its first two years, there is concern that the onus for funding these schemes is being left to charities. Organisations, including The Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and the Ocean Conservation Trust, are calling on the government to commit more funding to nature prescription schemes and to roll them out, beyond their initial seven trial areas. Dom Higgins, head of health and education for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "It is unequivocal that nature improves mental health. "I think the time for questioning the evidence is really over and people within the system and the NHS and decision makers get this. "It's just we need the mechanism to make it available everywhere. It's time to seriously fund prevention and opportunities for people to create good health in the neighbourhoods where they live and work. " The national pilot scheme saw nearly 8,500 people prescribed nature activities in its first two years, with more than half those patients living in socio-economically deprived areas. Chris Dayson, professor of voluntary action, health and wellbeing at Sheffield Hallam University, who was part of the team that evaluated the scheme, said it brought "a really statistically significant increase in wellbeing" for patients. The evaluation also found the scheme brought an economic social return - not least of all by getting people back into work - of £2. 42 for every £1 invested. When approached by the BBC, the government did not comment on the future of green social prescribing but said the evaluation of the second two years of the trial scheme would be published "in due course"

Green turtle bounces back from brink in conservation 'win' 22 hours ago Share Save Helen Briggs BBC environment correspondent Share Save Getty Green turtles are large sea turtles found in tropical and subtropical oceans, known for their plant-based diet and reliance on beaches for nesting The green turtle has been rescued from the brink of extinction in what scientists are calling a major conservation victory. Once hunted extensively for turtle soup, its eggs as a delicacy and decorative shells, the ancient mariner saw its numbers plummet and has been listed as endangered since the 1980s. Now, thanks to decades of global conservation efforts - from protecting eggs and releasing hatchlings on beaches to reducing accidental capture in fishing nets - new data shows green turtle populations are rebounding. "We must use this win as a catalyst to achieve numerous other wins," said Dr Nicolas Pilcher of the Marine Research Foundation, a non-profit based in Sabah, Malaysia. Getty Green turtle hatchling heading for the ocean after emerging from a nest buried in sand Green turtles are one of the largest species of sea turtles, named for the greenish colour of their body fat, which comes from their plant-based diet. They are one of seven living species of sea turtles, two of which are critically endangered. Prof Brendan Godley, a conservation scientist at the University of Exeter, said green turtle populations in many parts of the world are showing signs of recovery because of conservation over the last five decades, and while this work must continue for years to come, it gives cause for optimism. "Sea turtles are iconic and charismatic species. they inspire people," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of people have been working for decades to try and look after these creatures, and undoubtedly, it has had an impact. " The conservation efforts include patrolling beaches, protecting females and their eggs at nesting sites, releasing hatchlings into the sea, education and awareness to reduce turtles being killed for meat and eggs, and using measures to stop turtles being captured in fishing nets. Getty A green sea turtle tangled in a fishing net off Pangasinan in the Philippines was rescued by local fishermen, tagged by environment officials, and safely released back into the sea The latest Red List of endangered species was revealed at the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) world congress in Abu Dhabi. The unenviable list now includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 are threatened with extinction. Species are moved between categories when new data shows changes in their population, habitat or threats. If a species becomes more at risk - for example, its numbers fall or its habitat is damaged - it may be moved to a higher-risk category such as Endangered; if it recovers thanks to conservation efforts, it may shift to a lower-risk category like Near Threatened or Least Concern. The green turtle has been downgraded from Endangered to Least Concern. However, despite recent gains, green turtles are still far below their historic numbers due to past overexploitation and ongoing threats like fishing, habitat loss and climate change. In places like Raine Island, Australia, fewer baby turtles are hatching, showing that conservation efforts are still urgently needed. Kit Kovacs Bearded seal pup on ice

Water bills to rise further for millions after appeal 20 hours ago Share Save Faarea Masud Business reporter Share Save Getty Images Millions of households in England will have to pay higher water bills than previously announced after the UK's competition body agreed to let five water companies increase charges. The companies - Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex and South East - had asked for permission to raise bills by more than the amount previously agreed by the regulator, Ofwat. They argued the rises set by Ofwat - which average 36% over the next five years – were not enough to deliver better infrastructure. A panel appointed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has now said the bills can rise on average by an extra 3% - about £12 per year - partly due to the companies facing higher borrowing costs. An independent group of experts appointed by the CMA said that Anglian and Northumbrian could increase their bills by a further 1%, Southern by 3%, South East by 4% and Wessex by 5%. The five water companies serve more than 7 million household and business customers, and had asked for much larger increases to bills than the ones granted. The group appointed by the CMA said the firms had asked to increase bills to raise a total of £2. 7bn in extra revenue, but it had allowed only 21% of this, equating to an additional £556m. "We've found that water companies' requests for significant bill increases, on top of those allowed by Ofwat, are largely unjustified," said Kirstin Baker, who chaired the group of experts. "We understand the real pressure on household budgets and have worked to keep increases to a minimum, while still ensuring there is funding to deliver essential improvements at reasonable cost. " The CMA's proposals are provisional and Ofwat and the water firms have a chance to respond before the CMA's final conclusion in a few months. Water companies finance much of their investment plans with borrowed money. The CMA said part of the reason it had allowed a rise was because interest rates on those loans have risen, making it more expensive for the firms to carry out their plans. Troubled firm Thames Water also appealed for higher price rises, but has deferred its case until late October while it tries to fix a rescue bid. Water firms have been told by authorities to fix outdated infrastructure which has been found to be the cause of much river and water pollution. The Environment Agency said serious pollution incidents by water firms went up by around 60% in a year. Water Minister Emma Hardy said she expected every water company to "offer proper support to anyone struggling to pay". Citizens Advice's Anne Pardoe said: "Ramping up water bills, when people up and down the country are already rationing showers and cutting down on laundry, is going to stretch budgets beyond breaking point". She called for the introduction of a national social tariff, in order to help people from low-income households pay for essential bills. Social tariffs are offered by some companies offering services such as broadband and energy, and allow those on benefits access to cheaper bills, although criteria differ from firm to firm