Founder of @Sumaumajornal and Rainforest Journalism Fund. Global environment writer for the Guardian.
The devastating wildfires that tore through the world’s biggest tropical wetland, Brazil’s Pantanal, in June were made at least four times more likely and 40% more intense by human-caused climate disruption, a World Weather Attribution study has found.
Story by me
A UK judge has just sentenced climate protesters to five years in prison, longer than the average sentence for robbery, arson, violence, fraud or possession of weapons.
Caring for the future shouldn’t be a crime. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/18/five-just-stop-oil-supporters-jailed-over-protest-that-blocked-m25
Looking forward to launching my biography of Gaia scientist and ecological pioneer, James Lovelock at Edinburgh International Book Festival on 25 August.
Details here:
https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/jonathan-watts-1
A disrupted climate and diminished natural world are widening the dividing lines of ideological debate. Left unchecked, this will undermine democracy.
In this column I argue it is no coincidence that more extreme politics comes at a time of more extreme weather.
What are the main UK parties promising on climate and nature, and is it enough? – podcast.
Ian Sample grills Phoebe Weston and me about environmental politics in the current election campaign - and far beyond.
‘Disappointing and surprising’: Why isn’t this a climate election in the UK?
400 scientists write to political parties urging ambitious action or risk making Britain and the world ‘more dangerous and insecure’
Wishing all my China friends an unforgettable national amnesia day.
Devastating Brazil floods made twice as likely by burning of fossil fuels and trees, finds new study.
Risks will double again if global warming reaches 2C.
Story by me
‘We want to forge ahead’: grief and defiance as Dom Phillips’ widow journeys to site of his death.
Heart-wrenching story from the Vale do Javari ahead of the second anniversary of the murder of Dom and Bruno Pereira.
Story by @tomphillipsin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/03/dom-phillips-widow-alessandra-sampaio-amazon-brazil?CMP=share_btn_url
Hey British voting-age friends in far-flung places! Don’t forget to register to vote! If you are not in UK, you can do a proxy or a postal vote!
Deadlines:
Registration (if needed) - 18 June
Proxy vote online application - 26 June
More details here. https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/voting-by-proxy
More than a third of the Amazon rainforest is struggling to recover from drought, according to a new study that warns of a “critical slowing down” of this globally important ecosystem.
Welcome to the floating world - My take on the floods in the south of Brazil, what they forebode, and why this makes it more important than ever to protect climate shock absorbers like the Amazon rainforest.
https://sumauma.com/en/bem-vinda-bem-vinde-bem-vindo-ao-mundo-flutuante/
Bolsonarist coup-mongers are still at it in Brazil. They’ve called a national strike today. Here in Altamira, 10 more cows have been slaughtered for a protest churrasco outside the military base on the edge of town and a list circulated of businesses that have closed, including the Discreto Sex Shop. All very silly with an undercurrent of sinister.
Photo by Rodolfo Salm