Energy experts have criticised former British prime minister Tony Blair’s call for greater oil and gas extraction, arguing that moving away from the country’s net zero targets would increase long-term economic and climate risks.

The criticism followed an essay by Blair in which he argued that the United Kingdom should use its remaining oil and gas reserves and reconsider its target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Blair’s position has renewed debate over the future of the UK’s energy policy, particularly as the country faces rising concerns over energy security, extreme weather and the cost of living.Energy specialists said expanding fossil fuel production would not provide a reliable solution to energy challenges and could expose households and businesses to continued volatility in international fuel markets.

Ed Matthew, UK programme director at the climate thinktank E3G, described Blair’s intervention as out of step with current energy and environmental pressures.Matthew said recent heat records and international energy disruptions demonstrated the risks associated with continued dependence on fossil fuels.

He argued that renewable energy offered a more stable alternative because operating costs were low once infrastructure was built.Blair’s comments came as the UK recorded periods of unusually high temperatures and increased solar power generation. Scientists have linked rising temperatures and more frequent heat extremes to climate change driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

Medical professionals warned that extreme heat could increase health risks, particularly for older people and young children. Farmers also reported pressure on livestock and crops, with economic losses expected to exceed hundreds of millions of pounds.The debate has centred on whether the UK should prioritise domestic fossil fuel extraction or accelerate investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technologies.

Supporters of increased oil and gas production argue that domestic resources could improve energy independence and reduce reliance on imported fuels. Critics say fossil fuel markets remain globally connected and that new extraction would not shield consumers from international price changes.

The UK has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, a target that requires substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across electricity generation, transport, industry and buildings.Experts opposing Blair’s proposal said abandoning the target could weaken investment certainty for clean energy industries and slow the development of technologies needed for the transition.

Renewable energy capacity has expanded in recent years, with falling costs making technologies such as solar and wind increasingly competitive. However, the transition also requires improvements in energy storage, grid infrastructure and industrial adaptation.

Blair has previously questioned aspects of current climate policy and argued that energy strategies should focus more heavily on technological development and economic competitiveness.His latest comments have drawn attention because they come during a period of heightened global energy uncertainty.

International conflicts and supply disruptions have contributed to fluctuations in oil and gas prices, reinforcing arguments on both sides of the energy debate.Climate policy experts said the central challenge for governments was balancing energy reliability, affordability and emissions reduction.

They argued that investment decisions made now would influence the UK’s energy system for decades, with consequences for both economic resilience and climate risks.

Bangladesh is facing a growing challenge in balancing groundwater conservation with the survival of farming communities as water shortages intensify across the country’s northwestern Barind region.

Agricultural experts, government officials and local farmers warn that declining groundwater reserves, driven by climate pressures and decades of intensive extraction, are threatening both food production and rural livelihoods in one of Bangladesh’s most important agricultural zones.

The crisis has prompted renewed debate over how the country can maintain crop production while reducing dependence on underground aquifers that have sustained farming for decades.Development specialists argue that long-term solutions must move beyond emergency restrictions and focus on building more resilient agricultural systems.

According to water and sanitation experts working in Bangladesh, sustainable adaptation requires investment in water-efficient irrigation technologies, climate-resilient crop varieties, climate-smart farming practices and community-led water management initiatives.

Such measures are increasingly viewed as essential as traditional groundwater supplies become less reliable and climate variability makes rainfall patterns more unpredictable.Experts also stress that women must play a central role in future water-management strategies.

In rural Bangladesh, women often bear primary responsibility for household water collection, agricultural labor and family care, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of water scarcity.Water-sector specialists say gender-sensitive approaches to water-service delivery are critical to ensuring equitable access to resources, strengthening community resilience and supporting inclusive decision-making processes.

They argue that policies designed without considering women’s experiences risk overlooking some of the most significant social impacts of water shortages.At the local level, many farmers believe solutions should focus on maximizing the use of surface water rather than relying exclusively on groundwater extraction.

Residents across the Barind region are calling for expanded rainwater harvesting projects, restoration of wetlands and rehabilitation of ponds capable of storing seasonal rainfall for use during dry months. Farmers argue that large quantities of rainwater continue to be lost because existing storage systems are inadequate.

Sreemoti Shobdorani, a farmer from the region, said deeper excavation of ponds could create additional capacity to capture monsoon rainfall and provide irrigation water during extended dry periods. She expressed concern that insufficient attention has been given to preserving water resources above ground.

The proposal reflects a growing recognition among farming communities that long-term water security will require a shift away from exclusive dependence on underground reserves. Surface-water storage projects are increasingly being viewed as a practical way to supplement irrigation supplies while reducing pressure on depleted aquifers.

Government officials acknowledge the seriousness of groundwater depletion and say alternative irrigation systems are being evaluated to ensure agricultural production can continue without further accelerating water loss.Authorities face a difficult balancing act. Restricting groundwater use may help protect dwindling reserves, but it could also reduce agricultural output and threaten incomes in regions where farming remains the primary economic activity.

The stakes are significant for Bangladesh’s broader food security. Agricultural experts estimate that more than 2.5 million hectares of farmland could remain uncultivated if water shortages continue to worsen. Such a scenario could reduce national crop production by approximately 2.7 million tonnes, affecting both local markets and national food supplies.

The economic consequences could extend beyond agriculture. Reduced harvests would likely increase financial pressures on farming households already dealing with rising living costs and recurring climate-related disruptions. Experts warn that prolonged crop failures could deepen rural indebtedness, accelerate migration to urban centers and increase food insecurity among vulnerable populations.

For many communities in the Barind region, the issue is no longer a distant environmental concern but an immediate economic reality. Farmers report increasing difficulties accessing irrigation water, while local residents worry that shortages could become more severe if sustainable alternatives are not developed quickly.

The challenge confronting policymakers is therefore broader than groundwater conservation alone. It involves designing a transition that protects water resources while preserving agricultural livelihoods, maintaining food production and preventing social disruption.Climate change is expected to intensify these pressures in the coming decades through rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.

As a result, experts increasingly argue that adaptation strategies must combine environmental protection with economic and social support for affected communities.The experience of the Barind region highlights a growing challenge facing many climate-vulnerable agricultural areas around the world.

As water resources come under increasing pressure, governments are being forced to reconsider how agriculture is managed, how water is allocated and how rural communities can adapt to a future in which access to water can no longer be taken for granted.

For Bangladesh, the success of those efforts may determine not only the future of groundwater reserves but also the sustainability of farming systems that support millions of people and form a cornerstone of the country’s food security.

A growing number of rewilding projects across Britain are reporting significant ecological improvements, prompting calls for greater recognition of the approach within national nature recovery strategies.

One of the projects highlighting those gains is Heal Somerset, a rewilding site in southwest England that has documented increases in wildlife populations and habitat diversity since restoration efforts began three years ago.According to Heal Rewilding, the charity behind the project, monitoring data show measurable changes in biodiversity across the site.

The number of small mammal species recorded has increased from three to five over the period, while a range of habitats has developed as former agricultural land has been allowed to recover.The project is supported by more than 250 volunteers who contribute to ecological surveys, removal of barbed-wire fencing and other restoration activities.

Community engagement forms a central part of the initiative, with the charity working alongside 15 underserved groups involved in managing and maintaining the site.Participants include people living with dementia, individuals with additional needs and those experiencing financial hardship.

Schools and youth organizations also take part in educational and conservation activities.The site has become an increasingly popular destination for visitors seeking access to natural landscapes undergoing ecological recovery.

Heal Rewilding founder Jan Stannard said many older visitors describe the experience as a reminder of landscapes that were once more common in Britain before decades of agricultural intensification.“An increasing number of people are coming either as visitors or camping and if they are older they are being transported back to a childhood experience of abundance that they will not get in the farmed countryside,” Stannard said.

She said visitors frequently report hearing insects and bird species that have become less common in many agricultural areas.“They are hearing grasshoppers and crickets in the day and birds such as linnet or greenfinch, which are much less common now,” she said.

The ecological transformation has also been evident to staff working on the project since its early stages.Dan Hill, a 25-year-old rewilding ranger who joined Heal Somerset three years ago, recalled arriving when large areas of the site were dominated by rye grass.“I remember seeing the monoculture of rye grass swaying in the wind and thinking, crikey, it’s desolate,” Hill said.He said the pace of ecological change had exceeded his expectations.

“Three years has flown by and so much has changed. It’s incredibly exciting. I’m learning so much,” he said.Hill described the project as evidence of the capacity of ecosystems to recover when human intervention is reduced and natural processes are allowed to re-establish themselves.“Seeing what nature wants to do – it’s very hopeful,” he said.

He added that public response has been an important part of the project’s success.“When you get people coming to the site and they say: ‘I just want to keep coming back, I’ve never seen a site like this before,’ it really puts a smile on your face,” Hill said.Among the features attracting attention are natural wetland systems created by beavers.

The rodents have become increasingly common across eastern Somerset and are widely viewed by conservationists as important ecosystem engineers because of their ability to create ponds and wetlands that benefit a range of species.Heal Rewilding said its latest report was motivated in part by what it viewed as limited coverage of rewilding initiatives in the 2023 UK-wide State of Nature report.

The charity argues that while rewilding has expanded rapidly across Britain, evidence documenting outcomes has not always been systematically collected or incorporated into broader assessments of biodiversity recovery.

“We were struck by how little attention was given to rewilding, despite the extraordinary growth of the movement,” Stannard said.“There are now hundreds of rewilding projects across Britain and many report seeing remarkable ecological changes.”She said the sector must increasingly rely on scientific monitoring and measurable outcomes if rewilding is to become a more prominent component of environmental policy.

“Stories alone are not enough,” Stannard said. “If rewilding is to be fully recognised within national nature recovery strategies, we need robust evidence of its impact.”

The report forms part of a broader effort by conservation groups to demonstrate how rewilding projects can contribute to biodiversity restoration while also delivering social and educational benefits through community participation and public access to recovering landscapes.

Zoë Garbett has begun her term as mayor of the London Borough of Hackney following a significant electoral breakthrough for the Green Party of England and Wales in local elections earlier this month.Garbett’s victory ended decades of Labour political control in the east London borough and formed part of a broader advance by the Green Party across England.

Nationally, the party secured more than 500 council seats, gained control of five councils and won two mayoralties during the local elections.The result in Hackney drew particular political attention because of the borough’s longstanding association with the Labour Party.

In addition to Garbett winning the directly elected mayoralty, the Green Party expanded its representation on the council from four councillors to 40. Labour’s representation fell from 50 seats in 2022 to nine.“Before the election, I was saying it’s going to be really different this time, there is going to be a different landscape in London,” Garbett said.

“But I genuinely did not think it would be to this scale.”The political shift in Hackney reflects wider changes in voter alignment in parts of urban England, where housing costs, public services, environmental policy and dissatisfaction with established political parties have become increasingly influential local issues.Hackney is one of London’s most socially and economically diverse boroughs.

According to Hackney Council data, around half of residents are from Black and other global majority communities. The borough also contains significant disparities in income and living conditions, with affluent neighbourhoods existing alongside areas of long-term deprivation.Government data from the English Indices of Deprivation has identified Hackney as one of the country’s most severely affected areas for child deprivation.

Life expectancy in the borough also remains below the national average despite sustained regeneration and investment in parts of east London over the past two decades.Garbett now oversees a council administration responsible for services including housing, transport, public health, adult social care and environmental management.

Hackney Council operates with an annual budget of approximately £2 billion.Housing policy is expected to become one of the defining issues of Garbett’s administration. The borough has experienced sustained gentrification over recent years, driven by rising property prices, private investment and population growth across east London.

Those changes have contributed to pressure on social housing availability and concerns over displacement among long-term residents and community organisations.Garbett said her administration intends to prioritise the expansion of what she described as “genuinely affordable homes” alongside investment in council housing maintenance and safety improvements.

She also announced plans for a programme called “Who Owns Hackney”, which she said would focus on identifying empty properties that could potentially be repurposed for public or community use.“There is no extra money from government but we’ve got all these assets in empty properties and we could be doing much more,” Garbett said.

Her comments reflect wider financial constraints facing local authorities across England. Councils have faced prolonged budgetary pressure following years of reduced central government funding combined with rising demand for social care, housing support and local infrastructure spending.

The mayor said concerns about displacement and loss of community space were particularly relevant for Black residents and Black-owned businesses in Hackney, where redevelopment and rising commercial rents have altered the borough’s social and economic composition.“Black spaces for black communities and black-led business have been kind of pushed out of Hackney,” Garbett said.

“So it is a question of how can we use the council’s assets to push back against some of that and open up these spaces for people to use again.”The Green Party’s electoral growth has prompted debate within British politics about whether the party’s platform has broadened beyond its traditional environmental focus into housing, public services and economic inequality.

Garbett rejected suggestions that climate policy had become secondary within the party’s agenda.She said climate policy remained central to the borough’s proposed governance framework and described climate justice as a guiding principle linking multiple policy areas, including housing resilience, public health, urban planning and transport.

“Everything I do has got climate and climate justice at its centre,” Garbett said. “It’s one of our core principles that runs through our manifesto, from trying to buy back council homes and make housing safer and more resilient, to rewilding in parks, from public health to transport.”Her administration is expected to face immediate scrutiny over how environmental priorities are balanced against financial limitations and rising service demands.

Like many London boroughs, Hackney continues to manage pressures linked to temporary accommodation costs, adult social care funding and infrastructure maintenance.The political implications of the Hackney result extend beyond local government. The Green Party’s gains in London and other urban centres have raised questions about future competition between progressive parties for voters dissatisfied with Labour while also opposed to right-wing political movements.

Garbett acknowledged concerns among residents regarding national political developments, particularly around immigration policy and the growth of right-wing parties in parts of Britain.

“I speak to residents all the time in Hackney who are terrified about the changes to immigration for them or their family members and communities if Reform get in,” she said, referring to Reform UK.She said the Green Party’s local performance created a responsibility to demonstrate effective governance and provide an alternative political model capable of retaining progressive support.

“We’ve got a responsibility to deliver and to make sure that people are looking to the Green party as an alternative rather than to Reform or further rightwing parties,” Garbett said.

The change in leadership at Hackney Town Hall marks one of the most significant local political realignments in London in recent years and places the borough at the centre of wider debates over urban governance, environmental policy and shifting electoral loyalties in Britain.

A prolonged marine heatwave off the California coast is altering whale migration and feeding behavior, increasing the risk of entanglements with commercial fishing equipment and accelerating efforts to expand whale-safe fishing technologies across the U.S. west coast.

Scientists say warming offshore waters are shrinking the cold, nutrient-rich zones that sustain krill, anchovies and sardines, key prey species for humpback whales. As those prey populations move closer to shore, whales are increasingly entering areas heavily used by California’s Dungeness crab fleet.

The overlap has intensified concerns over the fishery’s conventional trap system, which relies on vertical lines extending from traps on the seafloor to floating surface buoys. Tens of thousands of such lines can remain in the water during crab season, creating entanglement hazards for whales migrating and feeding along the Pacific coast.

California regulators this spring again imposed restrictions on portions of the commercial crab fishery off central California, temporarily closing areas to traditional gear as whale activity increased near fishing grounds.

Similar closures have become more common in recent years as ocean warming disrupts long-established migration and feeding patterns.Marine biologists say humpback whales face the greatest risk because of their behavior around fishing equipment.“Humpbacks are curious and they’ll scratch their backs on the gear,” said Kathi George, director of cetacean conservation biology at The Marine Mammal Center.

“If they get a line caught on their body, they’ll breach and they’ll roll and end up entangling themselves.”Entangled whales can remain trapped in fishing gear for months, often dragging heavy equipment across long distances.

Researchers say the strain can prevent whales from feeding or diving normally, contributing to exhaustion, infection, starvation and drowning.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 36 whales were confirmed entangled along the U.S. west coast in 2024, the highest reported number since 2018.

Scientists caution that many incidents likely go unrecorded because entangled whales can disappear offshore before being observed.In response, California approved commercial deployment of ropeless “pop-up” crab fishing systems for the first time this year, allowing parts of the fleet to continue operating later into the season while reducing risks to marine mammals.

The technology eliminates permanently floating buoy lines. Instead, ropes and buoys remain stored with the trap on the seafloor until fishermen return and activate an acoustic release mechanism that sends the gear to the surface.

Supporters say the system could substantially reduce whale entanglements while allowing fishermen to maintain harvests during periods when traditional gear would otherwise be prohibited.

Environmental groups and fisheries managers increasingly view adaptive fishing systems as necessary as climate-driven ocean changes intensify along the Pacific coast.

Scientists expect continued overlap between whales, shipping traffic and fishing operations as warming conditions reshape marine ecosystems.“We will have to continue to be adaptive and science driven in terms of our management to reduce wildlife risk and keep fishermen on the water,” said Caitlynn Birch, a marine scientist and Pacific campaign manager at Oceana.

Birch said California’s transition toward whale-safe fishing systems could become a model for other fisheries operating along the west coast.Separate monitoring efforts are also expanding in California’s coastal waters as researchers and conservation agencies seek to better track whale movements in high-risk areas.

Camera systems installed near locations including Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island may eventually support broader surveillance coverage across the San Francisco Bay region to improve detection of whales moving near shipping lanes and fishing zones.

Marine heatwaves in the Pacific have become more frequent and intense over the past decade, affecting fish populations, marine mammal migration routes and coastal fisheries.

Researchers say those changes are forcing regulators and fishing industries to adopt increasingly flexible management systems capable of responding quickly to changing environmental conditions.

Wale, elected by lawmakers on Friday after the removal of former prime minister Jeremiah Manele, named former premier Rick Hou as foreign minister and legislator Peter Kenilorea as minister for National Planning and Development Coordination, portfolios central to the country’s foreign aid and diplomatic engagement.

The appointments are being closely watched by regional governments and Western allies as the strategically located Pacific archipelago remains an arena of competition between China and Australia for political and security influence.

Kenilorea is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a multinational group critical of Beijing’s policies. James Batley, a former Australian high commissioner to the Solomon Islands, said the appointments suggested a greater emphasis on transparency, although he said it was unlikely Honiara would reverse its 2019 decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.

Hou, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2019 before the diplomatic switch, had publicly opposed the move to sever ties with Taiwan. Batley described Hou as experienced in international affairs and unlikely to be easily pressured in diplomatic negotiations.

Chinese Ambassador Cai Weiming and Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach both met Wale over the weekend as regional powers moved quickly to engage the new administration.

According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, Wale told Cai that the Solomon Islands remained committed to the One China policy and intended to continue cooperation with Beijing to deliver economic benefits.

In separate talks with Australia, Wale said Canberra should adopt a longer-term approach to deepening bilateral ties, while describing Australia as the country’s longstanding development partner.

The government also restored a prohibition on the export of live dolphins, reversing a decision by the previous administration to lift the ban days before its collapse.

Environmental campaigner Lawrence Makili welcomed the move, saying it would help protect both marine life and the international reputation of the Solomon Islands’ tuna industry, one of the country’s largest sources of export revenue.

The issue gained prominence after a company applied to capture and export 50 dolphins, prompting criticism from conservation groups concerned about the impact on marine ecosystems and trade perceptions abroad.

While dolphin hunting in Malaita has historically been tied to traditional practices involving dolphin teeth, the commercial export of dolphins to aquariums in China has drawn increasing scrutiny in recent years.

A rapidly growing population of peacocks roaming through the Adriatic seaside town of Punta Marina has become the center of an increasingly divisive debate among residents, prompting local authorities and animal welfare groups to intervene with educational campaigns, cleanup teams and plans for an official bird census.

The birds, which wander through residential streets, perch on rooftops and occupy abandoned gardens near a disused military barracks, have become a defining feature of the small coastal town near Ravenna.

For some residents and visitors, the peacocks are an attraction that adds character to the area. Others complain about noise, hygiene concerns and property disturbances during the breeding season.Federico Bruni, who owns a holiday home in Punta Marina, said he views the birds as part of the town’s identity.

“It’s no different to seeing a cat, really, they’re part of the fabric of the town,” he said while watching several peacocks roam near a public bench.The birds are especially active during mating season, when male peacocks emit loud calls and display their iridescent tail feathers in courtship rituals.

Some residents say the noise has become disruptive.“There are too many of them,” said Francesco, a local resident who declined to provide his surname.

He said the birds frequently enter private balconies and leave droppings around apartment entrances.“The main issue is the mating the screams are keeping people awake,” he said.

Another resident, Marco, described the growing amount of peacock excrement around residential buildings as unhygienic and argued the birds should be contained.Peacocks are native to the Indian subcontinent but have existed in parts of Europe for centuries.

Historians have linked their arrival on the continent to ancient trade routes and military campaigns associated with Campaigns of Alexander the Great. Today, established peacock populations can be found in several European countries, including England and Spain.

In Emilia-Romagna, peacocks also hold cultural significance. The birds appear in Byzantine mosaics throughout Ravenna, where they historically symbolized immortality and prestige. Ravenna Byzantine Mosaics

Residents say the origins of Punta Marina’s current peacock population remain unclear, though local accounts suggest a resident may have introduced them as pets more than two decades ago.“I heard that a male peacock, left to his own devices after the woman died, crossed paths with a female one in the old military barracks,” said Ilaria Sansavini, who runs a fresh pasta shop in the town.

“They mated and it all began from there.”For years, the birds primarily stayed within the pine forest surrounding Punta Marina. Local observers say their movement into residential areas accelerated during Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, when reduced human activity allowed them to roam more freely. Residents also began feeding them more regularly during that period.

There is no official census of the population, but estimates cited by local groups suggest the number of peacocks increased from around 10 birds in 2018 to approximately 40 in 2023 and roughly 120 today.

Rosario Balestrieri, an ornithologist at the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, said the nearby pine forest provides suitable nesting and shelter conditions for the birds, while supplemental feeding by residents has contributed significantly to population growth.

“The pine forest serves as a preferred habitat and nesting refuge,” Balestrieri said, adding that human feeding practices encouraged the birds to remain in populated areas.

Public attention intensified after a social media video featuring a local resident imitating peacock mating calls went viral, drawing national media coverage and prompting exaggerated reports about a so-called “invasion” of birds disrupting daily life.

A local police officer described some of those portrayals as overstated, saying there was no evidence of a public health emergency linked to the birds.

Still, the issue has placed pressure on Ravenna’s municipal authorities, who have struggled for several years to balance wildlife management with public concerns. An earlier attempt to relocate peacocks in 2022 faced opposition from animal rights advocates and some residents.

The city later partnered with Clama, a volunteer animal welfare group tasked with promoting coexistence between residents and the birds.Clama volunteers have distributed informational leaflets and installed signs across Punta Marina instructing residents and tourists not to feed the peacocks. Under local regulations, people caught feeding them may face fines.

“If they know it’s easier to come and snack on a sandwich in the town rather than having to forage for their own food in the pine forest, then of course they will keep coming back,” said Cristina Franzoni, a volunteer with Clama.

To reduce tensions, local authorities and volunteers have also introduced so-called “peacock rangers,” who respond to complaints by cleaning bird droppings from streets, private properties and vehicles.Municipal officials are now preparing the town’s first formal peacock census to better assess the scale of the population and determine future management measures.

According to Franzoni, several other Italian regions have informally offered to relocate or “adopt” some of the birds. However, she argued relocation could traumatize the animals and would fail to address the broader issue of human responsibility for their presence.

“We need to try to live with the animals instead of making them victims of our choices,” Franzoni said. “They didn’t choose to come here, we brought them here and so must respect them.”

Since the beginning of April, Bali’s main landfill at Suwung has been closed to most organic waste as part of Jakarta’s push to phase out open landfills nationwide, a policy formally introduced in 2013 but only now being enforced more aggressively.

With limited replacement infrastructure in place, residents and businesses say waste is accumulating on roadsides, attracting rats and prompting some people to burn rubbish in the open, sending smoke through densely populated neighborhoods.“As a business owner, this is a real nuisance,” said Yuvita Anggi Prinanda, who runs a flower stall in Denpasar and generates several large bags of plant waste each day.

She said she had paid a private company to remove garbage near her shop after the smell began driving away customers.Bali produces an estimated 3,400 tons of waste daily, a figure driven in part by tourism on an island that welcomed around seven million visitors last year, far exceeding its local population of about 4.4 million.

At Kuta beach, one of Bali’s busiest tourist areas and a location frequently affected by marine plastic debris, rubbish bags have been stacked high in parking areas as collection systems struggle to cope.“You have many rats here at nighttime.

The smell is not very good it’s not a good look,” said Australian tourist Justin Butcher.Authorities have warned that people caught illegally dumping or burning trash face up to three months in jail and fines of 50 million rupiah ($3,000), according to Bali public order agency head I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi.But sanitation workers say the restrictions have left them with few practical options.

“If we don’t collect our client’s trash, we are in the wrong, if we collect it, where do we dispose it?” said I Wayan Tedi Brahmanca, one of hundreds of workers who drove garbage trucks to the governor’s office in protest on April 16.

Following the demonstration, the provincial government said limited disposal at Suwung would be temporarily allowed until the end of July.From August, however, Indonesia plans to fully end the use of open landfills nationwide, despite uncertainty over replacement systems.

Waste management expert Nur Azizah of Gadjah Mada University said Suwung receives about 1,000 tons of waste per day and has been operating beyond capacity for years.She said up to 70% of the waste was organic material, which can produce methane gas over time, creating fire and landslide risks.

Such incidents have occurred repeatedly in Indonesia, including a collapse in March at the country’s largest landfill outside Jakarta that buried trucks and food stalls and killed seven people.Indonesia’s environment ministry says the country’s 284 million people generate more than 40 million tons of waste annually, with nearly 40% made up of food waste and almost one-fifth plastic.

Only about one-third of that waste is formally managed through recycling or processing, according to researchers, while the rest is often dumped into rivers, landfills or open land.

Fewer than one-third of Indonesia’s 485 landfills have shut since the open-dumping ban was introduced more than a decade ago.“We have not been managing waste properly, resulting in an emergency in all cities and regencies,” former environment minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said recently.

The government plans to begin construction in June on several waste-to-energy projects, including one in Bali expected to process around 1,200 tons of waste per day, though officials say such facilities may take years to become operational.

South Africa is advancing a transition away from its coal-dependent economy through a policy framework that seeks to align climate goals with social equity, according to discussions featured in a United Nations-backed podcast examining human rights-based economic models.

The initiative, highlighted in an episode of the “Economies That Work for All” series produced by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN System Staff College, outlines how Africa’s most industrialized economy is attempting to balance decarbonization with the protection of vulnerable communities.

Dorah Modise, Executive Director of South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, said the transition to a low-carbon economy is not solely an environmental objective but a broader socio-economic challenge. The country remains one of the most unequal in the world, with coal-dependent regions particularly exposed to potential job losses and economic disruption as energy systems shift.

Modise emphasized that the transition must proceed but warned that its design will determine whether it mitigates or deepens existing inequalities. Communities reliant on coal production face heightened risks, particularly in a context where millions of South Africans continue to experience energy poverty and where financing constraints slow the pace of reform.

The government’s approach is guided by the Just Transition Framework developed by the Presidential Climate Commission, which seeks to integrate economic restructuring with social protection. The framework promotes the gradual decentralization of the energy system, expansion of renewable energy capacity, and the development of new employment pathways in emerging green industries.

Efforts are also underway to prepare workers for shifts in the labor market through retraining and skills development initiatives. Authorities are expanding social protection measures to cushion the impact of industrial restructuring, while also seeking to ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are more evenly distributed.

A key component of the strategy involves the management of natural resources critical to the global energy transition. South Africa holds reserves of minerals required for renewable technologies, and policymakers are attempting to position the country as a supplier while adhering to environmental and labor standards.

“As we explore and extract … we need to protect workers and communities, and we need to avoid impacting the environment,” Modise said, underscoring the importance of responsible mining practices within the broader transition strategy.

The framework is rooted in South Africa’s constitutional provisions, which recognize sustainable development as a fundamental right. This legal foundation shapes the government’s emphasis on integrating human rights considerations into economic planning and environmental policy.Implementation of the transition strategy involves coordination across multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and international donors.

This multi-stakeholder approach is intended to address competing interests and manage trade-offs inherent in large-scale economic transformation.The policy framework also incorporates metrics that extend beyond traditional energy indicators. Progress is being assessed not only in terms of renewable energy capacity but also through social outcomes such as reductions in inequality, increased employment opportunities for young people, and greater participation of women in decision-making processes.

Modise described the ultimate measure of success as a narrowing of disparities between different socio-economic groups. This reflects a broader shift in policy thinking that links climate action with inclusive development objectives.South Africa’s transition efforts take place within a wider global debate on how to reconcile decarbonization with economic justice, particularly in developing economies where structural inequalities and fiscal constraints complicate policy implementation.

The country’s approach is being closely observed as a potential model for integrating human rights considerations into climate policy.The podcast series situates South Africa’s experience within the broader concept of a “human rights economy,” which seeks to align economic systems with social and environmental priorities.

The framework is linked to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasizes inclusive growth and equitable resource distribution.As countries accelerate efforts to meet climate targets, the South African case highlights the challenges of ensuring that transitions away from fossil fuels do not disproportionately affect already marginalized populations.

The emphasis on participatory governance and rights-based policy design reflects an attempt to address these concerns while maintaining momentum toward decarbonization.

Across large parts of Asia, rising temperatures, rapid urban expansion, and environmental degradation are contributing to a measurable increase in human-wildlife conflict, according to conservation groups and environmental researchers.

From snakebites in rural India to elephant incursions in agricultural zones and leopard sightings in urban peripheries, experts say these incidents reflect deeper ecological disruptions linked to climate variability and land-use change.

Data compiled by the World Health Organization indicates that snakebite envenoming alone remains a major public health issue, with millions of cases reported annually worldwide, disproportionately affecting rural populations.

Environmental scientists note that warmer climates are altering reptile behavior, extending active seasons and expanding habitats into areas with higher human density.India has recorded a steady stream of incidents involving venomous snakes entering residential zones, particularly during unusually warm or erratic weather patterns.

Researchers attribute this to both habitat encroachment and climatic shifts that influence prey availability and breeding cycles. Similar patterns have been observed in parts of Southeast Asia, where deforestation has forced wildlife into closer proximity with human settlements.

Beyond reptiles, large mammals are also increasingly involved in conflict scenarios. Reports from eastern India and parts of Sri Lanka show that elephant populations, traditionally migratory, are encountering barriers such as highways, railways, and expanding farmland. This has led to crop damage, property destruction, and fatalities on both sides.

Conservationists argue that fragmented habitats are disrupting established migration corridors, intensifying interactions.Urbanization is another significant factor. Expanding cities are absorbing forest fringes, creating transitional zones where wildlife adapts to human presence. Leopards in India, for example, have been documented navigating densely populated outskirts, often surviving on stray animals.

While such adaptation demonstrates ecological resilience, it also raises safety concerns.According to United Nations Environment Programme, human-wildlife conflict is emerging as a critical issue globally, driven by population growth, infrastructure development, and climate change.

The agency has emphasized that these interactions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend affecting biodiversity and human livelihoods.Government responses have varied. In India, state authorities have implemented measures such as rapid response teams, compensation schemes for affected families, and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing panic and promoting coexistence.

However, experts argue that these measures often address symptoms rather than underlying causes.“Mitigation strategies must include habitat restoration and the preservation of ecological corridors,” said a conservation researcher involved in wildlife tracking programs. “Without addressing land fragmentation, conflicts will continue to escalate.”

Technological interventions are also being explored. Early warning systems using GPS tracking, drone surveillance, and community-based monitoring networks are being deployed in select regions. These systems aim to alert residents to the presence of large animals, reducing the likelihood of surprise encounters.

At the same time, public health systems are under pressure to respond to the medical consequences of these interactions. Snakebite treatment, for instance, remains unevenly distributed, with rural areas often lacking access to timely antivenom. This gap highlights the intersection between environmental change and healthcare infrastructure.

Experts stress that wildlife itself is not the primary driver of these conflicts. Animals typically avoid human interaction and are forced into contact due to shrinking habitats and resource scarcity. From an ecological standpoint, many of these species play essential roles, such as controlling pest populations or maintaining ecosystem balance.The challenge, therefore, lies in balancing development with conservation.

Policymakers are increasingly being urged to integrate environmental considerations into infrastructure planning, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions. Failure to do so could exacerbate both ecological damage and human risk.

As climate models project continued warming and population pressures persist, the frequency and intensity of human-wildlife encounters are expected to rise.

Researchers emphasize that long-term solutions will require coordinated efforts across sectors, including urban planning, conservation policy, and public health systems.