by Editor Colin Dixon
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 16th of May 2025

This article is not a political statement but as a human I can see huge changes in the planet we live in and as a parent huge challenge for our children and grandchildren in the future.

The wild fires in California lately are the most recent example of the change in our climate over a small period of the planet’s history.
But there are many other extreme weather events

FLOODS 

'Water World' (flooded plain, Slovenia) by Ales Komovec

STORMS 

'Porthleven Washout' (Cornwall, England) by Carla Regler

DROUGHT

'Begging for rain' by João Coelho

TROPICAL STORMS (Hurricanes) more frequent and stronger 

'Montana Supercell' (Canada) by Alexander Fisher

'Tropical Storm' by Rob Darby

Also of course FOREST FIRES 

'Wildfires' by Rui Caria

Untitled by Antonio Grambone

RISING SEA LEVELS
Melting glaciers and ice sheets due to warming temperatures contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands with flooding.

EXTINCTION OF SPECIES
Shifting climate patterns disrupt ecosystems, causing many species to struggle to adapt and face potential extinction. For example, the Coral reefs are currently under threat. 

'Coral garden and the green turtle' by Barathieu Gabriel

We all have responsibility in how we can make changes to our lives but as with all of life’s big problems it is our political leaders and large corporations who have the biggest influence.

'Smoke signal' by Erhard Batzdorf

'Goodbye blue sky' by Ekkachai Khemkum

I believe that the biggest change will come from Innovation and Science.
We have seen so many changes already in a small period of time. For example.

Electric cars and the huge improvement in Batteries

·       silicon anode lithium-ion batteries, where the silicon enables much greater capacity;

·       solid state batteries, which overcome the traditional limitations of lithium-ion batteries;

·       and NanoBolt lithium tungsten batteries, which are expected to provide longer charge times for electric vehicles.

Wind farms and solar power 

'Wind turbines' by Joan Gil Raga

But many more different types are being worked on. Some will work and some will not of course but man’s constant need to innovate will hopefully come up with a brighter future. Here are just a few of the many ongoing innovations.

Tidal energy

Tidal energy production has the potential to provide vast amounts of clean energy, utilizing predictable tidal currents through methods like tidal streams, barrages, and tidal lagoons. Liverpool has announced plans to build the world largest tidal power project on the River Mersey; it could power more than 1 million homes for 120 years or longer. ( for more info ) 

Elevator generators

Power-generating brakes are familiar to anyone who drives an electric or hybrid car. Work is ongoing looking to install them on other things that stop frequently – like elevators/lifts. A new generation of elevator technology incorporates regenerative drives, which produce energy when the elevators are being lowered, particularly when they have a heavy load, See here. But this is just one of many ways of producing this type of energy being developed around the world.

Alternative uses for mushrooms

The scourge of un-environmental friendly packaging materials is being answered by alternatives such as  those based on mushrooms and organic plant waste such as hemp and corn husks. This offers an alternative to unrecyclable plastic and foams.

Transparent wood

Well-designed windows help moderate a building’s temperature and power use, but conventional glass production is carbon heavy. Transparent wood, a new material made almost entirely of fast-growing balsa trees, is a sustainable alternative. Use of this in cell phones is also envisioned.

Solar Textiles

Flexible solar fabrics are thin, lightweight materials that can be integrated into clothing, bags, and other everyday items. These fabrics use thin-film solar cells or organic photovoltaics to generate electricity while maintaining the traditional flexibility and comfort.

Of course, we as photographers can use the above problems and solutions to be creative through our cameras and computers.

'Climate Change' by Esther Margraff

'Destruction of the environment' by Sulaiman Almawash

'Globe ice is melting' by Ben Goossens ✝

'Don’t leave our earth behind' by Colin Dixon

'Save the world' by Mas Heri

'Last hope' by Deniz Ener

'Future of Nature' by Mohammad Rasool Fahmani

'Global Warming' by Anugrah Askari

'Look after mother earth' by Colin Dixon

So, we all have hope.

'Hope' by Mike Melnotte