Environment News

Dr Bruno Cintra stands next to a tree in the Amazon. The darker shade on the bark reveals previous flood levels reached several metres in depth.

Tree rings reveal increasing rainfall seasonality in the Amazon

Published
17 June 2025
Categories
Global
Environment
Research

Scientists have used clues locked into tree rings to reveal major changes in the Amazon’s rainfall cycle over the last 40 years which show that wet seasons are getting wetter and dry seasons drier.

A picture of the setting sun, in the foreground chimneys emit fumes into the atmosphere

Methane project receives first post-Brexit Horizon grant

Published
17 June 2025
Categories
Environment
Global
Research

A €2.5m grant has been awarded to Professor Jan Selby by the European Research Council (ERC), the University’s first since the UK rejoined the EU’s Horizon research scheme post-Brexit.

A thunderstorm above a Ghanian town.

Enhancing weather warnings in Ghana 

Published
23 April 2025
Categories
Environment
Global

The University of Leeds is collaborating with institutions in Ghana to combat climate challenges and nurture the next generation of scientists. 

A person in a high vis vest and hard hat stands in front of wind turbines looking at a clipboard

Making the net zero transition fair for workers

Published
10 March 2025
Categories
Business & Economy
Environment

Ministers must work with unions to make the journey to net zero fair for workers, and guarantee good jobs for those leaving carbon heavy industries for a new green economy, say researchers.

A person cycling through a flooded street with people walking through the flooded street in Africa in the background.

Improving early warnings of thunderstorms

Published
13 February 2025
Categories
Environment
Global

Meteorological experts and students are working together to improve early warnings of severe thunderstorms in Southern Africa.

A young hawthorn hedge on the edge of a field

Hedgerows increase soil carbon storage by 40%

Published
5 February 2025
Categories
Environment
Research

Planting hedgerows increases soil carbon storage by almost half compared to nearby grassland – no matter where they are in the country – says new research.

an aeroplane landing on a runway at sunset

Switching planes for trains to decarbonise holidays

Published
29 November 2024
Categories
Environment
Research

Up to 41% of Britons holidaying abroad could travel by rail instead of air to cut down on carbon emissions, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Leeds.

In the foreground, researchers in orange high vis-vests conducting field measurements on the Kasai River, one of the major tributaries of the Congo basin

Protecting the vulnerable Congo Basin

Published
18 November 2024
Categories
Environment
Research
Global

A project to protect the world’s second largest area of tropical rainforest has received £9.1m from the Government.