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Environment

Environment

Collage of a wildfire with a plane traveling overhead, a travel insurance form, a passport, coins, sunglasses, and a straw hat.
Half of travel insurance policies will not pay out over wildfires

Catastrophe cover is getting tighter — and if the threat to your holiday is a ‘known event’ you won’t get a penny

An aerial view shows a large hill ablaze with fire and smoke in the foreground, with city lights and the sea in the background under a cloudy sky at dusk.
How fires put climate (and net zero deadlines) back on the agenda
Red fishing boat named "Grouse III" at Croig Harbour on the Isle of Mull.
Toxic levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in fish caught off Scotland
Scotland
Firefighters spraying water on a blaze.
FIRST PERSON
Diary of a firefighter working 20-hour shifts in France
Man standing in a barn with dairy cows.
Is it cruel to take calves from their mothers?
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
‘It was like a torch’: How a Suffolk beauty spot went up in flames
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Family who fled French wildfires caught up in Suffolk blaze
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
UK food supplies at risk from extreme weather, supermarket bosses warn
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Meet the part-time firefighters ready to tackle wildfires for 80p an hour
Man standing in a barn with dairy cows.
Man standing in a barn with dairy cows.
Is it cruel to take calves from their mothers?
Man standing in a barn with dairy cows.
Man standing in a barn with dairy cows.
Is it cruel to take calves from their mothers?
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
‘It was like a torch’: How a Suffolk beauty spot went up in flames
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
A firefighter covering his mouth with his hands, with a fire truck in the background, at the Dunwich Heath wildfire.
‘It was like a torch’: How a Suffolk beauty spot went up in flames
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Family who fled French wildfires caught up in Suffolk blaze
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Aerial view of a wildfire in Suffolk with a large plume of smoke rising from a forested area.
Family who fled French wildfires caught up in Suffolk blaze
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
UK food supplies at risk from extreme weather, supermarket bosses warn
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
Cattle graze on a barren, dry field under a blue sky, reflecting drought conditions.
UK food supplies at risk from extreme weather, supermarket bosses warn
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Meet the part-time firefighters ready to tackle wildfires for 80p an hour
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Collage of a firefighter in full gear and firefighters battling a large fire at night.
Meet the part-time firefighters ready to tackle wildfires for 80p an hour
Collage of a wildfire with a plane traveling overhead, a travel insurance form, a passport, coins, sunglasses, and a straw hat.

Labour's net-zero challenge

a man in a suit and tie is giving a speech

COVER STORY

Labour versus wind farm resistance: who are the true environmentalists?

Pylon wars in the quiet Welsh hills are already only going to get more bitter

a man in an orange vest measures a hole in the ground
The secret to sustainable farming in the Fens? It’s in the water

Feeding the nation while cutting carbon emissions is a challenge, but growers in Cambridgeshire and East Anglia are engineering a solution in the peaty soil

a man in an orange vest measures a hole in the ground
The secret to sustainable farming in the Fens? It’s in the water
Why electric lorries are better than ever — and still not selling
PODCAST
Andreia Pawel’s bold million-hectare rewilding vision in Namibia
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a man sitting on a windmill next to a man climbing a rope
Labour’s net-zero challenge in five charts, from trees to EVs
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Climate change

Hilary Lightfoot stands in front of her home, which is at risk due to collapsing cliffs.
‘Our homes are being demolished before they fall into the sea’

Devastating coastal erosion is leaving houses in East Anglia on cliffside precipices. We speak to homeowners about to lose their beloved properties

Property & Home
Donald Trump speaking at a campaign town hall while South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem listens, with a backdrop displaying "DRILL BABY DRILL."
Donald Trump speaking at a campaign town hall while South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem listens, with a backdrop displaying "DRILL BABY DRILL."
Trump wants energy dominance — is he just drilling US into a hole?
Zack Polanski, the Green Party’s new leader, poses for a portrait in London, England.
Zack Polanski, the Green Party’s new leader, poses for a portrait in London, England.
INTERVIEW
You can fly, drive, eat meat and still be green, says Polanski
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Aerial view of a large wildfire burning across a heath, with smoke covering parts of the landscape and a road with emergency vehicles visible.
Extreme weather events are ‘new normal’ for UK wildlife
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Met Office weather map of the UK showing a yellow wind warning for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales.
Stormy weather gives Britain its greenest autumn
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Bollards with a Low Traffic Neighbourhood sign in Cowley near Oxford.
Strict climate policies ‘erode public appetite for green living’
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Sustainable living

Nature

Marsh-marigolds, vulnerable to extinction, with bright yellow flowers and green leaves.
A quarter of Britain’s native plants now at risk of extinction
Sunlight breaking through clouds over a green mountain valley with a winding road.
Plan to water down laws protecting national parks branded ‘outrageous’

Green business

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Clean It Up

More Environment

Jul 31, 2026
A woman hand-painting pottery at Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. in the 1950s.
AN WILSON
Why I’m roused by the Marquess of Queensberry’s death

David Queensberry was a great potter and designer but he fell under the spell of a money man and Wedgwood went bust

The Times
Jul 29, 2026
a woman wearing a necklace with a cross on it
JANICE TURNER | NOTEBOOK
Zacktivism’s old news now we have a TikTok PM

Andy Burnham is not just deft on social media but using it to promote real-world matters, not parped out slogans

The Times
Jul 28, 2026
A worker in the National Grid control room in Sindlesham, Berkshire, oversees electricity supply on multiple screens.
National grid operator failing to report on risks to network and power supply

Neso is also yet to implement proposals made in its frequency risk control report in 2024 and has not upgraded its backup communications system

The Times
Scorched yellow-brown grass in Wimbledon Common from drought conditions, with people sitting on the ground.
Park visitors told to avoid sitting under trees as 35C heatwave hits UK

Visitors to parks have been told to avoid sitting under older trees as they could drop branches unexpectedly, and heat health warnings have been upgraded

The Times
Jul 27, 2026
Fintan Slye of National Grid ESO in the control room at their headquarters.
Electricity grid chief sidelined from inquiry into blackout ‘cover-up’

Fintan Slye will no longer receive progress updates after pressure over the independence of a legal review into Neso’s conduct during June’s heatwave

The Times
Flamingos in the El Cuyo Ecological Reserve.
Eco-paradise with sea turtles, dolphins and flamingos on sale for £87m

El Cuyo estate on the northern Yucatan peninsula is the most expensive private estate ever to be listed in Mexico, and comes with blueprints to create a “billionaire’s retreat”

The Times
Protesters in firefighter costumes at a "World on Fire" protest call for an end to North Sea drilling.
THE TIMES VIEW
A hasty push for net zero has raised risks and costs to consumers

The government is doing voters a disservice by continuing to pretend the transition is easy and costless

The Times
Jul 25, 2026
Collage of a man holding pink lilies and an aerial view of fields and a plant nursery.
How gardeners are planting after heatwaves — they’re not

Nurseries say their wares are wilting and customers are staying away, but maybe it’s time for hardy species to shine

The Sunday Times
Two people in safety gear operating a drone on a rural road to detect water leaks.
MATT RUDD
Secrets of the water firm that hasn’t had a hosepipe ban in 30 years

With 23 million Brits under restrictions, I asked Severn Trent how it avoided them. Naturally, I ended up on leak patrol with a drone

The Sunday Times
Underwater footage showing a white rope on the seafloor, which is covered in shells and sediment.
Two friends won a ban on trawling. Now, this bay teems with life

For 40 years a pair of divers fought to outlaw damaging fishing off Arran in Scotland. Their perseverance has let to a threefold increase in marine species

The Sunday Times

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Jul 31, 2026
AN WILSON
Why I’m roused by the Marquess of Queensberry’s death

David Queensberry was a great potter and designer but he fell under the spell of a money man and Wedgwood went bust

The Times
Jul 29, 2026
JANICE TURNER | NOTEBOOK
Zacktivism’s old news now we have a TikTok PM

Andy Burnham is not just deft on social media but using it to promote real-world matters, not parped out slogans

The Times
Jul 28, 2026
National grid operator failing to report on risks to network and power supply

Neso is also yet to implement proposals made in its frequency risk control report in 2024 and has not upgraded its backup communications system

The Times
Jul 28, 2026
Park visitors told to avoid sitting under trees as 35C heatwave hits UK

Visitors to parks have been told to avoid sitting under older trees as they could drop branches unexpectedly, and heat health warnings have been upgraded

The Times
Jul 27, 2026
Electricity grid chief sidelined from inquiry into blackout ‘cover-up’

Fintan Slye will no longer receive progress updates after pressure over the independence of a legal review into Neso’s conduct during June’s heatwave

The Times
Jul 27, 2026
Eco-paradise with sea turtles, dolphins and flamingos on sale for £87m

El Cuyo estate on the northern Yucatan peninsula is the most expensive private estate ever to be listed in Mexico, and comes with blueprints to create a “billionaire’s retreat”

The Times
Jul 27, 2026
THE TIMES VIEW
A hasty push for net zero has raised risks and costs to consumers

The government is doing voters a disservice by continuing to pretend the transition is easy and costless

The Times
Jul 25, 2026
How gardeners are planting after heatwaves — they’re not

Nurseries say their wares are wilting and customers are staying away, but maybe it’s time for hardy species to shine

The Sunday Times
Jul 25, 2026
MATT RUDD
Secrets of the water firm that hasn’t had a hosepipe ban in 30 years

With 23 million Brits under restrictions, I asked Severn Trent how it avoided them. Naturally, I ended up on leak patrol with a drone

The Sunday Times
Jul 25, 2026
Two friends won a ban on trawling. Now, this bay teems with life

For 40 years a pair of divers fought to outlaw damaging fishing off Arran in Scotland. Their perseverance has let to a threefold increase in marine species

The Sunday Times
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