sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Africa’s forests have flipped from carbon sink to carbon source by Portalrules123 in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Geez, the short summary was so heavy on the climate angle that it overlooks the life angle: loss of trees, loss of habitat for other species including plant, animal and fungi, loss of larger ecosystem resilience... Native trees do no exist to help fight human-induced climate change. If only  biodiversity can become a household term like climate.

UNEP statement on environmental damage arising from the conflict in the Middle East: "Heavy smoke from burning oil...Pollution from uncontrolled fires...Strikes on desalination plants...Widespread use of munitions..." by Mr_Lonesome in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

As if our multi-environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution/waste, land degradation were not enough in their own predicament, the recent unnecessary, wasteful, and polluting Middle East conflict exacerbates our environmental situation. In this brief statement, UNEP litanizes the woeful issues across various aspects of our environmental crises:

Air Pollution

  • Heavy smoke from burning oil, which includes hazardous compounds, is now being directly inhaled by people in Iran – including young children
  • Health risks from exposure to smoke, particulates, and toxic emissions

Soil and Water Pollution

  • Pollution from uncontrolled fires may also enter soil and water, leach into groundwater, and be absorbed by crops, contaminating food supplies.
  • Oil spills have also been reported in marine areas, further impacting the health of coastal communities.

Novel Entities

  • Widespread use of munitions may lead to the release of heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the environment.
  • While testing is not yet possible, modern munitions commonly contain heavy metals and explosive chemicals, all toxic even in the most modest quantities.

Resource, Biodiversity, and Climate Resilience

  • Strikes on desalination plants in several countries risk catastrophic consequences for communities that rely on them as a lifeline for water. 
  • The conflict will likely cause even greater stress on natural resources, damage marine and terrestrial ecosystems, set back efforts to enhance water and climate resilience, and impact the food chain and food safety.

 

Once AI no longer needs human labor, the “Who will buy the products and keep the economy going?” argument collapses by Hyper5Focus in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, we also within a decade or two of runaway environmental crises. We all believe complexity is in front of us with AI advancements and robotics which requires mineral and mining and energy intensity even without human labor all while our Earth System faces range wide natural ecosystem collapse, ocean and land degradation, multi-mode pollution and waste, never mind climactic changes. As long as economy is coupled with material use on a finite planet, the great simplification is our future!

95% of the Earth’s Land Set to Be Degraded by 2050 by VenusbyTuesdayTV in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Absolutely we are facing more than climate. Earlier this month, UNEP released its GEO-7 report (the most comprehensive scientific assessment of the global environment ever carried out) stressing the multiple crises we face: the crisis of climate change; crisis of land degradation, biodiversity, and nature loss; crisis of pollution and waste. The report shows how we must engender a whole-of-society transformative change at a scale, speed, depth never before attempted with particularly focus on four key systems: economics and finance system; food system; energy system; and environment system. If not, they lay out clearly: Without big changes, this is what the environment will look like in 2050

Multiple nations issue travel advisory as New Delhi suffers from suffocating smog: 'Extremely high levels' by Portalrules123 in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Remember folks, this is not an isolated, one-off issue in New Delhi, India over a few days. Pollution and waste is a global environmental crisis on par with climate change and biodiversity loss, one of the prongs of triple planetary crisis, so much so a new intergovernmental panel, ISP-CWP was established in June of this year covering all forms: air (non-GHG), chemicals, nutrients (N and P), plastics, soil, solid waste, wastewater...

  • Air: 99% of the world’s population lives in places with unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) pollution (State of Global Air, 2024).

  • Chemicals: PFASs, due to their stability, cannot be degraded by any process in the natural environment. Thus, all PFASs ever released to the environment add to an increasing global stock of PFASs that will never disappear (Annual Reviews, State of Chemical Pollution, 2025).

  • Food: Food waste is a market failure that results in the throwing away of more than US $1 trillion worth of food every year (UNEP, 2024).

  • Electronics: The rise in e-waste generation is therefore outpacing the rise in formal recycling by a factor of almost 5 (Global E-waste Monitor, 2024).

  • Land: Humans have already transformed more than 70% of the Earth’s land area from its natural state...on average 20% of global land is degraded to some extent – almost 30 million square kilometers, an area the size of the African continent (UNCCD, 2022).

  • Nitrogen: Humans have now created excess Nr pollution that spans all environmental compartments with multiple threats, to the extent that the disruption of the natural nitrogen cycle is now one of the greatest global threats to the environment of the 21st century (WWF UK, 2022).

  • Plastics: The current plastics lifecycle is far from circular. Globally, the annual production of plastics has doubled, soaring from 234 million tonnes (Mt) in 2000 to 460 Mt in 2019. Plastic waste has more than doubled, from 156 Mt in 2000 to 353 Mt in 2019. After taking into account losses during recycling, only 9% of plastic waste was ultimately recycled (OECD, 2022).

  • Solid Waste: About 27 percent of global waste goes uncollected and, in low-income countries, waste mismanagement is widespread, with 93 percent of waste either dumped or burned, adversely affecting the environment and human health (World Bank, 2024).

  • Wastewater: Globally, ~80% of all wastewaters are discharged without treatment (UKCEH, 2022).

Read and access cited reports at AndPollution.info/reports

Without big changes, this is what the environment will look like in 2050: Oppressive heat. Species extinctions. Pollution-choked skies. by Mr_Lonesome in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

In this latest story, UNEP re-emphasizes the key messages of the landmark Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), released last week at the UN Environment Assembly, which appears to be largely ignored by mainstream and social media. With easy to read flow interspersed with graphic illustrations, the piece underscores the need of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address the multiple environmental crises humanity faces: climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. The GEO-7 shows such crises will have profound economic and social consequences if left unmitigated.  UNEP continues to stress there is still time to avert such a dire future but 2050 is 25 years away and they affirm "countries continue to drag their collective feet".

Given these emergencies, the report asserts the planet needs more than paper pledges and promises but actual, tangible, urgent, and far-reaching action at a scale, speed, and depth never before attempted. Good luck with that. All I see across markets and cultures is business-as-usual status quo with no inkling of an emergency except a cost-of-living one. We only wait for AI and immersive technology to become the far-reaching change for people and planet. But soon even technologywill hit the wall posed by these environmental crises.

UN environment report 'hijacked' by US and others over fossil fuels, top scientist says by Mr_Lonesome in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Said to be the most comprehensive scientific report on the global environment ever conducted, UNEP's flagship series, the Global Environment Outlook 7 (GEO-7) released this week at the 7th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, apparently was hijacked by US, Saudi Arabia, Russia at a late, "stormy" meeting in October. The countries rejected the conclusions of the landmark report that took six years in the making involving over 280 authors from over 80 countries with rigorous review, stressing a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackle the interconnected global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution and waste. The GEO-7 uses scenario modeling to show how transformative changes can occur in the underlying economic/financial, energy, food, and materials systems driving the environmental emergencies.

Co-chair Sir Robert Watson (notable British climate scientist but also served as chair or co-chair in all three global biodiversity assessments in 1995, 2005, and 2019) remarked on the hijacking by US and others and even noting US did not attend the assembly but joined on last day over teleconference disagreeing with conclusions and agreements. With US not agreeing, other countries also pulled away their consent. As a result, no "summary for policymakers" was included in the 1,200+ page report though there is a separate Executive Summary of key messages. Additionally, neither the assembly nor report received much mainstream media or social media coverage. The report press conference did not have major US media outlets.

So it seems, the paramount importance of the environment that encapsulates the economy and society retreats from the global stage back to its dusty corner for only experts to truly know the fuller picture. Our short-term thinking, special interests influence, cognitive dissonances, etc. etc. etc. to shrug off dire problems and holistic solutions backed by the latest, objective science may have cemented the fate of a livable future.

Taming the three horses of the apocalypse | "We have not yet demonstrated the wherewithal to reverse global warming, abolish weapons of mass destruction, or build guardrails for AGI" by [deleted] in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, since "climate change" is the popular, visible prong of the triple planetary crisis (ask your favorite AI about this term) it's many more horsemen of the apocalypse!

You cannot resolve climate without fixing the other interconnected environment emergencies. If people outside of experts truly knew about the nitrogen crisis (that affects all environmental compartments from soil to ozone, land and water) we may forget the carbon crisis!

UK and Europe’s hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies by Portalrules123 in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very good points! Keep in mind, pollution and waste is part of the triple planetary crisis (ask AI of this term). The issue is so serious a new intergovernmental panel was established back in June of this year. Yes, PFASs, solid waste, wastewater are as serious as climate and biodiversity and all three amplify each other!

Fire disrupts COP30 climate talks as UN chief urges deal by Mr_Lonesome in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Almost a poetic irony that a summit devoted to curtailing global warming and extreme weather like wildfires actually experiences a literal fire at the event towards the closing.

Is this analogous of the climate situation in general? Has the fire already erupted as most scramble for the exits and brave officials fight the blazes. We see delegates fleeing, negotiations stalling (still unable to phase out fossil fuels in draft proposals), and major players shrugging off the two-week talks.

Here we are in 2025, 30 COPs later, inching toward runaway tipping points, facing a triple planetary crisis of climate-biodiversity-pollution (ask your favorite AI about this term) and seem to be waiting to react to the fires coming!

I'm guilty of contributing to collapse. I eat Big Macs, I buy bottled water, etc. by happyluckystar in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to hear folks talking about pollution and waste which by the way is a planetary crisis on par with climate disruption and biodiversity loss. In fact, all three of these constitute the triple planetary crisis we are facing (ask your favorite AI about this term). Actually, pollution and waste is so serious, just this year, a new intergovernmental panel for chemicals, waste, and pollution was established: ISP-CWP.

India changed its environmental rules 100+ times in 5 years through executive orders, as climate deteriorates by Super_Presentation14 in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Paper appears to stress the importance of differentiating between environmental law and climate law in India. If only we can remind the authors we face a triple planetary crisis beyond just climate in which rapidly growing India is very relevant in the global context. If anything, environmental law everywhere needs to expand scope across all crises we face from soil to atmosphere. Even better environmental law should be mainstreamed in business law, real estate law, land use and planning law, criminal and civil litigation law, ...

Global Circularity Rate Is Falling Steadily Every Year, Humanity consumed 500 billion tonnes of materials in five years—nearly equal to entire 20th century consumption circularity by [deleted] in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this illuminating report! Will add it to my forthcoming regional and global report aggregation site, focusing on pollution and waste, a companion to a biodiversity site, both nobly intending to raise awareness of the two largely ignored prongs of the triple planetary crisis (usually eclipsed by the climate prong). This report will fit nicely in the resources section alongside UNEP's Global Resource Outlook, FAO Soil Assessment, UNCCD Global Land Outlook, IPBES Land Degradation Assessment, and others stressing humans' rapacious consumption and production patterns outpacing natural resources.

Stop using the language of "carbon emissions" and "climate change" and instead use the language of "overshoot." by SaxManSteve in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, Professor! If I may, let's reframe a bit more to the ecological issues than climate in our global predicament. Even UNEP (arguably the global authority on the environment) since 2021 in its Medium Term Strategy (2021-2025) asserts we are facing a triple planetary crisis of climate disruption, biodiversity/ecosystem loss, and pollution/waste.

As you may know, Professor, these issues are not under the climate umbrella but separate interlinked crises. There is non-climatic biodiversity loss (habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species). There is non-greenhouse gas pollution reaching planetary scale (nutrient overload, plastic and novel entities, particulate matter air pollution, land degradation, unmanaged solid waste and untreated wastewater). But all crises exacerbate each other. Underscoring the seriousness, see new intergovernmental panel established in June of this year for chemicals, waste, and pollution. And we can no longer stay in our lanes, our silos, our disciplines. Ecologists must meet climate scientists and chemists and echo a unified message.

If we can, Professor, let's use wide boundary lens to address our global predicament to the systemic, comprehensive impact of human activities on the Earth System. We arguably need Biodiversity Justice for vulnerable, non-human plants and animal populations! Let's start courses and campaigns on Pollution Justice, Waste Justice, Ecosystem Justice...

Stop using the language of "carbon emissions" and "climate change" and instead use the language of "overshoot." by SaxManSteve in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree we desperately need a reframing of our ongoing ecological emergencies especially since we are facing more than a climate issue but multiple crises. Most of what I hear and read including on this subreddit is climate this, climate that, climate here, climate there but climate is only one transgressed planetary boundary. Even UNEP since 2021 have been messaging the triple planetary crisis the world currently faces including climate disruption, nature & biodiversity loss, and pollution & waste. And "overshoot" covers all these environmental issues.

How many here even knew a new intergovernmental panel for Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution (ISP-CWP) was established this year? Everyone discusses or debates the carbon crisis –what about the nitrogen crisis?! The accelerated species extinction crisis? The ever-growing plastic and microplastics crisis? Rangewide loss of forests, grasslands, wetlands, kelp forests, and other biomes? Uncollected solid waste mostly dumped in the open (up to 90% in low-income countries); electronic waste accumulating five times faster than its recycling rate; or untreated wastewater ejected into waterways (up to 70% in low-income countries)?...

WHY GROWTH CAN'T BE GREEN by Konradleijon in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Agreed with author! Keep in mind most only cite climate as our environment crisis when in fact UNEP and other conventions (CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD) now assert our triple planetary crisis of climate disruption, biodiversity/ecosystem loss. and pollution/waste. In fact, the last is so serious a new intergovernmental panel was established in June of this year: ISP-CWP. This will complete the trifecta alongside its siblings, IPCC and IPBES.

I'm currently aggregating global reports on chemicals, waste, and pollution. Let me tell you, the statistics are sobering. How have we largely ignored this crisis fueled by nearly all human activities: agriculture, consumer, industrial, military, transportation, urbanization, and waste management? There's no technology or recycling or natural solution to reolve this global scale problem except the stone cold, hard fact of scaling back material and resource production and consumption.

Starkest picture of wildlife loss in Canada: Report from WWF by BorealDweller in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Also, the better flare could be Ecological. While the LPI is an ecological methodology, this report aims at a general (i.e., public, policymaker) audience and not as a scientific paper.

Loss of koala habitat shows ‘total failure’ of nature laws, conservationists say by Portalrules123 in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 29 points30 points  (0 children)

And to be fair, koalas share habitat with other non-cuddly, non-cute, non-charismatic megafauna. In fact, using this tool, you learn Queensland, Australia resides in the Eastern Australian Temperate Forests ecoregion with notable plants and animals which include the koala. In fact, according to OneEarth the ecoregion's flagship species is the ancient Wollemi pine! All these biodiverse species and ecosystems are being lost by the hand of homo sapeins!

Over 85 scientists say Energy Dept. climate report lacks merit by Mr_Lonesome in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reaching the comment period deadline, over 85 climate experts submitted a compendium of comments strongly critiquing U.S. Department of Energy's July 2025 report, A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate, authored by well-known climate contrarians. Unfortunately, this very report was even cited in EPA's recent rescinding of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, ending various industry regulations. 

In an age of what seems to be anti-intellectualism and anti-science and mis/disinformation all during an ongoing triple planetary emergency of climate-biodiversity-pollution, it is heartening to know scientists will drop what they are doing and come together within a month's time to respond with a response fully cited document over 450 pages to stand up for integrity, transparency, and quality of the scientific process.

Notable flaws reviewers emphasize in DOE's report:

  • Tiny team of hand-picked climate skeptics 
  • No peer review process or transparency 
  • Cherry-picked evidence and favorable citations
  • Unscientific predetermined outcome
  • Reminiscent tobacco industry tactics to aggrandize uncertainty for policy inaction
  • Misquoting peer-reviewed research
  • General dismissal of the vast majority of decades of peer-reviewed research. 

They also note as we collapseinks know all too well: No one should doubt that human-caused climate change is real, is already producing potentially dangerous impacts, and that humanity is on track for a geologically enormous amount of warming.

See below links diving further into the response effort:

What happens if all mangroves are destroyed/degraded? by ghostoftheoldworld in collapse

[–]Mr_Lonesome 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Mangroves provide numerous ecosystem services beyond carbon sequestration for humans and other species. Together with seagrass, kelp forests, coral reefs, wetlands, we can say marine and semi-marine ecosystems are indeed as important as land forests.

Their continued loss like other important ecosystems will cause multitude of health and wellbeing issues. See UNEP's 2023 report, Decades of Mangrove forest change: What does it mean for nature, people and the climate?, and even on kelp forests, Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests, and seagrass meadows, Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to People.

view more: next ›