01 Sep 2026

Photo by Ray Harrington   Atlantic bluefin tuna have recolonised the waters off north-east England for the first time in around 60 years, in a moment researchers are calling a genuine conservation success, albeit one with caveats. The milestone came in two stages: a historic catch off Whitby in mid-August, followed by a University of […]

25 Aug 2026

Photo by Joshua Humpfer   The global average sea surface temperature has broken its all-time record. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed the figure reached 21.1°C on 22 August, surpassing the previous record of 21.09°C set in March 2024. The timing is notable in itself: global ocean temperatures typically peak in March and April, yet […]

20 Aug 2026

Photo by Sarah Doffman on Unsplash   The UK Government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which introduces a dedicated flood risk and coastal change chapter (Policies F1-F9), bringing greater visibility and structure to flood risk planning policy. The framework introduces policy W1, which requires development plans to be informed by early […]

18 Aug 2026

Photo by Bob Brewer   Scotland’s seabirds remain in long-term decline, with average numbers now around half what they were in the 1980s, according to new statistics published by NatureScot on 13 August. A steep long-term fall The Scottish Biodiversity Indicator for Seabirds, which draws on data from the UK Seabird Monitoring Programme, assessed 19 of the 24 […]

11 Aug 2026

Photo by Sebastien Gabriel   Global sea surface temperatures reached their highest level ever recorded for the month of July, according to new data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), as a prolonged marine heatwave around the UK edges towards rare “extreme” territory and much of England and Wales is declared officially in drought. […]

05 Aug 2026

Photo credit: M. Shahri   Hungary’s only nuclear plant came within millimetres of a complete shutdown this week as the drought draining central Europe’s rivers left the Danube too low to cool its reactors. A slight overnight rise in the river bought the Paks plant a reprieve, while downstream in Romania the military has detonated […]

30 Jul 2026

Photo credit: Photoholgic on Unsplash   The Environment Agency has declared drought across seven regions of England, covering just over half the country, following what is set to be the driest July on record. The declaration moves East Anglia, Hertfordshire and North London, Thames, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and […]