Since the industrial revolution, sources of polluting gases have been growing. Cars, machines, food production, construction etc all contribute to the high concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere, including carbon and other greenhouse gases which are the biggest drivers of climate change. Green energy is touted as the future if we want to stop global warming. But pledging a commitment to renewable energy is one thing and doing it is another. earthrise travels to Denmark and India to...

The relationship between humans and animals has always been one with elements of conflict, and as the number of people on the planet continues to increase, the relationship is becoming more strained and unbalanced. With the world's human population approaching eight billion, sprawling human settlements and activities are encroaching on animal's habitats more than ever. And when humans and animals fight for territory, it's often the animals that lose. Extinction data estimates that 1,000...

There are currently 7.6 billion people on the planet, and they all need feeding. However, producing crops and rearing livestock is hugely environmentally unsustainable. Nearly one third of the Earth's land is severely degraded and 90% of our oceans are quickly being emptied of fish. The pace of harvest is relentless and with the worldwide population expected to grow to 10 billion by 2050, it is clear that our planet won’t be able to keep up the pace of food production. In this episode of...

Since 1978, 1 million hectares of mangroves have been cut down in Myanmar. In the Ayerwaddy Delta in the south, mangrove forests have been significantly depleted - often cut down to make way for shrimp and rice farming, as well as charcoal production and collecting palm oil. Worldwide, 35 percent of the world's mangroves are now lost. Only 16 percent of the original cover is left in the vulnerable Delta Region where the mangroves are being destroyed at rates three to five times higher than...

In drought-stricken Kenya life for all residents, and particularly the herding community, has been nothing less than devastating. Erratic weather patterns and the increasing effects of climate change have led to a lack of vegetation and water resources jeopardising the survival of livestock and the pastoralist way of life. "Last drought, when I migrated near Tanzania, I lost roughly 15 beasts. It's a big impact, I felt it, it was really bad. When it comes to us, I cannot control it. I have...

Rising global temperatures have been linked to changing weather patterns. Drought, storms, wildfires – extreme weather have recently become the norm and conditions will only worsen unless things change. earthrise travels to southern Kenya and to Myanmar to see how the locals in these areas are coping with extreme weather. Navigating Drought In drought-stricken Kenya life for all residents, and particularly the herding community, has been nothing less than devastating. Erratic weather...

Every year seven million people die from air pollution. It's the world's biggest environmental killer. Italy is Europe's most polluted country: in 2012, more than 84,000 people in the country died prematurely owing to bad air quality. Iceland is the first country in the world to generate 100 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources, and is taking steps to cut its emissions even further. earthrise travelled to both countries to meet the engineers and scientists who are...

Antarctica, one of the most remote and desolate locations on earth also functions as one of the world's main cooling systems. However, after decades of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, parts of the continent are now warming faster than anywhere else on the planet. Over the years, climate change has led to increased erosion of the continent, altered ocean currents and affected wildlife. Warmer currents are now flowing further south towards the icy terrain, contributing to glacial...

Al Jazeera Science editor Tarek Bazley joins an international team of scientists on a voyage around Antarctica as they investigate the effects of climate change - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Even before he became president, Donald Trump made it clear that his administration's environmental policies would fly in the face of much of the US legislation crafted in recent years to combat global warming. In late April, more than 200,000 people gathered in Washington DC to advocate for action against climate change. Russell Beard attends the march and speaks to some of the men and women at the forefront of a global network of grassroots resistance. He meets Wes Gillingham, who not...

China and the United States are the world’s two biggest CO2 emitters, but what approach are these countries’ governments taking in the fight against climate change? In Shenzhen, one of China's most populous cities, new regulations to tackle air pollution are helping unleash a revolution in clean energy and transport. Meanwhile, the tone has changed in Washington DC with the Trump administration rolling back much of the environmental policies that had been made over the past decade. -...

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The Martu are the indigenous peoples of Australia's Western Desert cultural bloc. The traditional owners of those lands, the Martu practised small-scale "land burning" for tens of thousands of years. The burning encouraged a regrowth of diverse vegetation across the landscape that would then make large-scale bushfires less likely to occur. However, as the last of the Martu were cleared off their lands by the Europeans in the 1960s, wildfires have once again devastated the landscape with as...

On the outskirts of Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil lies the Cerro Blanco reserve, one of the last remaining dry forests in the country. Dry forests are named as such due to the ability of the vegetation to survive long periods without rain using natural water conservation methods. Cerro Blanco is threatened by a host of natural causes and human activity, including an expanding city that means people who cannot afford to live centrally are edging closer to the forest. The reserve's chief...

The survival of people and wildlife depends on the health of the land. The economic prosperity of a country is linked to the richness of its resources. But, our demand for these is destroying the land and all it harbours. Our consumption of the earth's natural reserves has doubled in the last 30 years. Now, a third of the planet's land is severely degraded. Each year, we lose 15 billion trees and 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil. And at least 10,000 species go extinct every year. The land...

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Known as Asia's greenest city, and with one of the highest population densities in the world, Singapore has long favoured innovative environmentally friendly ideas. It's a low-lying island and city-state in which the majority of the population lives in high-rise public housing. However, challenges from rapid urbanisation, sea level rise and a changing climate are pushing planners and policymakers to find innovative ways of coping with the pressures of growing demand. From vertical farms to...

More than 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, yet just a fraction of this is recycled. Most of the waste usually ends up in landfills, waterways and oceans. If we use just two percent of the waste plastic in the world, we can change the lives of millions of people. We can end the housing shortage in Latin America in just 10 years. Oscar Mendez, architect and founder of Conceptos Plasticos In Colombia's capital, Bogota, it is estimated that 650 tonnes of plastic is thrown...

earthrise looks at some innovative methods of sustainable farming and food production as climate change intensifies. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Already, half the world's population live in cities and, by 2050 the figure will increase to two-thirds, or about 6 billion people. The environmental impact is already extensive. As the global population expands so too do pollution and pressure on resources. earthrise travels to Colombia and Singapore to meet some of the people who are finding ways to meet growing demand while also making our cities more sustainable. Colombia's Lego Homes Over 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced...

According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of city dwellers are breathing polluted air. Smog is linked to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease. In 2012, Italy had the most pollution-related deaths in Europe. More than 84,000 people in the country died prematurely owing to bad air quality. Milan remains one of the worst polluted cities, not only in the country but also on the continent. To combat this, scientists have developed a new type of photocatalytic cement...

One hundred percent of Iceland's electricity needs are generated from renewable sources, including geothermal energy. With the aim of cutting emissions even further, a unique carbon capture system called CarbFix is being pioneered at the Hellsheidi geothermal power plant in western Iceland. Carbon dioxide emissions are captured, mixed with water and injected into the ground. Through this process, the CO2 is transformed into a mineral called calcite within just six months. This solid form...

earthrise explores ways of helping the world’s expanding cities grow sustainably. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Jordan is going through a severe drought. Groundwater reserves are being depleted at an alarming rate and around 40 percent of the water distributed to homes across the country is lost through illegal wells and faulty pipes. According to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, it is estimated that by 2025 Jordan's water needs will exceed its resources by more than 26 percent. Empowering citizens to make responsible water usage a personal mission is among the ministry's methods of water...