Rising temperatures and extreme weather alter ecosystems, as Europe faces a potential tripling of burned areas and Honduras declares a widespread drought alert, while global mangrove cover shows a net gain.
A Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research study projects that Europe's yearly burned area could grow by about 192 percent by the end of the century under a high-emissions pathway. The same models indicate that stronger prevention and firefighting could cut the burned area by 72 percent in a warmer climate. About 550,000 hectares had already burned across the European Union by 12 August 2026, roughly two and a half times the 20-year average.[1]
The Honduras government has placed 234 of its 298 municipalities under a drought alert, covering about 80 percent of the country. The crisis has lowered reservoir levels, ruined crops, and killed livestock, occurring as an El Niño dries the region. Officials expect the drought to last until early next year and are planning new wells and food deliveries for the hardest-hit areas.[2]
An update to the Global Mangrove Watch mapping product recorded a net global gain of 47,720 hectares of mangrove cover between 1985 and 2025. This overall increase conceals sharp regional declines: Indonesia lost 2,044 square kilometres over the same 40-year window, and losses were also reported in Myanmar, Malaysia, and Nigeria. The latest version of the map uses higher-quality satellite imagery over the four decades.[3]
