Environment

• Saturday, February 28th 2026 - 01:29 UTC

  Uruguay approves offshore 3D seismic survey for oil exploration, sets marine safeguards

  

  Uruguay’s Environment Ministry on Friday granted operational authorization for a 3D seismic survey in its jurisdictional waters, in an offshore block operated by Chevron, with a specialized vessel already in position and work planned through the end of April.

• Wednesday, February 25th 2026 - 03:37 UTC

  Heavy rains leave at least 28 dead and dozens missing in Brazil’s Minas Gerais

  

  Heavy rains and landslides in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 28 people and left more than 40 missing, with the worst impact reported in the state of Minas Gerais, according to local authorities and rescue teams.

• Tuesday, February 24th 2026 - 12:05 UTC

  Colombia brings 12 Mexican Mennonites to trial over deforestation

  

  Colombia’s prosecutor’s office is taking 12 Mexican Mennonites to trial over alleged deforestation of more than 100 hectares in rural Puerto Gaitán, Meta province, tied to agricultural land development carried out between 2016 and 2021.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:12 UTC

  Argentina clears US oceanographic cruise in the South Atlantic as debate grows over “dual-use” data

  

  Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) recorded that it had “no objections,” within its remit, to a United States request for a marine scientific research cruise by the R/V Roger Revelle inside Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone between March 5 and March 30, 2026. In the same document, the council asked for “all basic data” plus “preliminary and final reports” to be submitted to Argentine authorities prior to any publication of results.

• Thursday, February 12th 2026 - 21:34 UTC

  6.1-magnitude quake hits Chile’s Coquimbo region; authorities rule out tsunami risk

  

  A magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck northern Chile on Thursday morning, with the epicentre in the Coquimbo region. Chile’s National Seismological Center (CSN) said the event occurred at 10:34:30 local time, locating it 13 km west of Punitaqui at preliminary coordinates of latitude -30.781 and longitude -71.613, with an estimated depth of 54 km.

• Tuesday, February 10th 2026 - 04:06 UTC

  January ranks as fifth warmest globally despite severe cold spells, Copernicus says

  

  Last month was the world’s fifth-warmest January on record, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported, even as sharp cold spells hit large parts of the Northern Hemisphere in the second half of the month. Global mean surface air temperature reached 12.95°C, 0.51°C above the 1991–2020 January average and 1.47°C above the estimated 1850–1900 “pre-industrial” baseline used for climate comparisons.

• Thursday, February 5th 2026 - 15:14 UTC

  Argentine scientists film rare “giant phantom jelly” measuring about 11 meters in the South Atlantic

  

  An Argentine-led deep-sea expedition has recorded rare footage of Stygiomedusa gigantea—the so-called giant phantom jellyfish—in waters off Argentina, offering an unusual look at a species seldom observed alive in its natural environment. The animal was filmed at around 250 meters depth by the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during the “Vida en los extremos” campaign aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor (too), involving scientists from CONICET and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

• Monday, February 2nd 2026 - 03:44 UTC

  Argentina probes alleged pollution and abuse claims at key Antarctic outpost

  

  An internal complaint alleging prohibited environmental practices and mistreatment of personnel triggered an investigation at Petrel Antarctic Base, a key enclave in Argentina's logistical deployment in Antarctica. The investigation is being conducted by the Antarctic Joint Command (COCOANTAR), led by Maximiliano Mangiaterra.

• Monday, February 2nd 2026 - 02:29 UTC

  Extratropical cyclone strengthens off southern Brazil, raising flood and wind risks in Santa Catarina

  

  An extratropical cyclone forecast to develop offshore in the South Atlantic is already driving growing instability across Santa Catarina, with officials warning that conditions could worsen between Monday, Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb. 4. The alerts were issued by Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina and reported by Agência Brasil.

• Friday, January 30th 2026 - 14:16 UTC

  Falklands, Tussac restoration project to protect peatlands

  

  Dr. Nicholas Midgley, a senior lecturer and his team from Nottingham Trent University have been in the Falkland Islands for the last three weeks investigating coastal peatland and tussac’s significance for agriculture and wildlife.