Some 32 social scientists and researchers from around the world, including a Senior Sustainability Scholar at Arizona State University, have concluded that fundamental reforms of global environmental governance are needed to avoid dangerous changes in the Earth system.

 Increase of 52% to $10.3bn in 2011 was based on strong solar performance

John Vidal

Huge increase in large-scale mining is being fuelled by the rising price of metals and oil, as search for minerals centres on Africa

Adam Daley

The proportion of the world’s population with access to improved drinking water sources grew by 10 percent over a period roughly covering the past two decades, according to a United Nations study released Tuesday.

Deborah Zabarenko

* More food possible without water crisis, experts say

* Africa has greatest potential for improvement

By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent

alertnet // Laurie Goering

LONDON (AlertNet) – Efforts to feed an extra 2 billion people by mid-century could lead to widespread destruction of forests, wetlands and other natural systems that protect and regulate the world’s water, researchers warn.

Tilde Herrera

For a company like Goldman Sachs, water represents a potential risk lurking in its investment portfolio. For GE, it may also offer a potential business opportunity to help its clients overcome their challenges.

 A quarter of the world's plant species may be headed toward extinction. Seed banks aim to prevent that.

According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a quarter of the world’s known plant species – some 60,000 to 100,000 species – are threatened with extinction.