Africa's Wildlife Crisis & Big Oil's 25-Year Deception Campaign
As we near the end of 2025, the environmental challenges facing our planet are coming into sharp focus. From Africa's wildlife losing critical ecological function to major policy reversals in the U.S., this week's stories remind us why independent environmental journalism matters more than ever.
Top Stories
Africa's Biodiversity Crisis Deepens
A sobering new study reveals that Africa's wildlife has lost a third of its 'ecological power', fundamentally reshaping how ecosystems function across the continent. Meanwhile, devastating floods in Sumatra may have wiped out a key population of the world's rarest great ape, the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan. Reporting by Mongabay
Climate Policy Under Fire
The year 2025 is shaping up as the year the U.S. gave up on climate action, according to Grist's year-end analysis. The Trump administration's withdrawal from global climate efforts comes as a major study finds Big Oil has spent 25 years misleading the public with false climate solutions in their advertising. Inside Climate News analyzed hundreds of ads from BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell to expose the pattern of deception.
Win for Ocean Wildlife
In rare good news, more than 70 species of sharks and rays gained landmark protections against international trade due to overfishing threats. The challenge now lies in implementation and enforcement of these new CITES regulations. Inside Climate News
Around the Regions
Data Center Debates Heat Up
From Michigan to California, communities are grappling with the environmental impact of AI-driven data centers. Environmental groups are demanding a nationwide freeze on new construction, citing concerns about rising energy costs and climate impacts. In Michigan, developers paused a $1 billion project following community pushback. Inside Climate News and Planet Detroit
Water Rights Reality Check
A UCLA study found that nearly a quarter of Colorado River water is essentially free, particularly for agricultural users, highlighting massive federal subsidies as the river faces unprecedented strain. Inside Climate News
Deep Dives
The Fight to Protect Indigenous Waters
In Tlingit territory, the complex battle to protect herring offers a powerful look at how Indigenous communities navigate conservation challenges. This excerpt from Julian Brave NoiseCat's "We Survived The Night" beautifully illustrates the intersection of culture, ecology, and sovereignty. The Narwhal
Forever Chemicals Everywhere
Scientists are sounding alarms about TFA contamination in Eastern North Carolina, where the forever chemical appears in blood and water samples, raising serious questions about Chemours' role in the pollution burden. Inside Climate News
What to Watch
• The UN Environment Assembly meetings in Nairobi this week could set crucial priorities for global environmental action in 2026 • Norway's four-year pause on deep-sea mining marks a significant policy reversal worth monitoring for global implications • As COP30 approaches, watch for how Indigenous voices are centered in climate negotiations
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