Guardian Environment
This US island is home to flora found nowhere else. Now, a wildfire threatens extinction
A wildfire on California's Santa Rosa Island is threatening one of only two populations of Torrey pine trees on Earth, a grove of several thousand specimens, some over 250 years old. The island's subspecies is genetically distinct from its San Diego counterpart, meaning its destruction would represent an irreversible loss to global biodiversity. Firefighters are working urgently to contain the blaze before it reaches the irreplaceable stand.
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Sewage and Fuel Leaks Contaminate the Potomac River, Source of Drinking Water for More Than 5 Million People
Regulators ignored years of warning signs as two simultaneous environmental disasters — sewage and fuel leaks — now threaten the Potomac River, the drinking water source for more than 5 million people. An investigator with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network documented what he describes as a systemic regulatory failure spanning three years. The compounding crises raise urgent questions about infrastructure oversight and the vulnerability of critical public water supplies.
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UK records hottest day of the year so far, with warnings of more extreme heat this weekend
The UK hit 30.5°C in Kent this week, marking the hottest day of the year so far and the first time temperatures have broken the 30°C threshold in May since 2012. The Met Office has warned that further extreme heat is expected over the bank holiday weekend. The milestone underscores an increasingly familiar pattern of record-breaking temperatures arriving earlier in the calendar year.
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UK records hottest day of year as forecasters warn of more extreme heat
Britain's heatwave hit a milestone as temperatures reached 30.5C in Kent, marking the first time the country has crossed the 30C threshold in May since 2012. The record comes with amber health alerts in place as forecasters warn of further extreme heat over the bank holiday weekend. The early-season heat signals an unusually intense start to summer, raising concerns for vulnerable populations.
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UK records heatwave as parts of England hit historic highs for May
The UK has officially entered a heatwave after Santon Downham in Suffolk recorded temperatures above 27C for three consecutive days, meeting the Met Office's official threshold. The milestone was reached at 11:30am on Sunday, with the heat pushing close to historic May records across parts of England. The early-season heatwave signals an unusually warm start to summer for a country where such conditions typically arrive months later.
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