In August 2025, the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans off the coast of the UK and France set all-time records for surface water temperatures, according to Copernicus data. The average water temperature reached 20.82°C and the air temperature 16.6°C. In annual terms, global warming was +1.52°C above pre-industrial levels – although not exceeding the Paris Agreement limit, this is a serious concern. Scientists warn of the increased impact of local heat waves, reduced winds and limited mixing of the waters – which led to extremely high temperatures.
A study by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) found that 48% of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral reefs suffered a decline in coral cover between August 2024 and May 2025, the worst rate on record. Heat stress, tropical cyclones and the crown-of-thorns starfish are the main drivers. Experts say a combination of global emissions reductions, local stress management and the development of recovery and adaptation technologies are needed to help corals survive.
In August, the latest round of talks on a global agreement to combat plastic pollution ended in Geneva without a deal. The failure to reach an agreement was due to differences between supporters of an ambitious and weak version of the treaty, as well as pressure from “oil countries.” Negotiators from WWF, Greenpeace, GEF and other organizations called for further progress, calling what happened a “wake-up call.”
Scientists warn: more than 100 million “novel entities” are actively used in industry, food and packaging. Of these, between 40,000 and 350,000 are commercially active. Their impact on health and ecosystems is often underestimated – and has already been linked to ADHD, infertility, oncology. The level of public sensitivity to this problem is much lower than to climate change – even despite the serious risks.
Lough Neagh, the UK’s largest lake, has suffered its worst toxic algal bloom in years, with 139 cases recorded in 2025, more than three times the number in 2024. The causes are excess phosphates and nitrates from agriculture (62%), outdated sewage (24%), and septic tanks (12%). Fishermen have lost 60% of their income due to the eel ban – and officials are delaying the implementation of the Nutrients Action Programme, with only 14 of the plan’s 37 measures implemented.
The Andhra Pradesh government has banned the use of single-use plastics — disposable cups, plates, bags, etc. — in its secretariat from August 15, 2025. This is part of the “Say No to Single-Use Plastic” campaign, which aims to make the state completely plastic-free by June 2026. The ban is planned to be extended to all government institutions and public spaces; awareness campaigns and monitoring of implementation are planned.
TOI Ecopreneur Honours 2025 in Delhi: Young environmental leaders showcase digital platforms and campaigns that are transforming climate activism. The panel “Citizen Power: Environmental Activism in the Digital Age” showcased how young people are using social media to unite environmental activism and shape new models of participation.
The photo charity Prints for Wildlife is back with a new 2025 campaign, “Edition Hope.” More than 200 photographers, including Joel Sartore and others, have created limited edition prints (30×45 cm), which sell for $125. All proceeds go to support Conservation International. The campaign will run from August 21 to September 21.
August 2025 brought significant environmental challenges:
This is a month of extensive events that reflect the inextricable link between the environment, politics, and civic activism.
Growing organic raspberries is always a balancing act between agronomy, climate, and soil biology. These factors were particularly acute in the 2024–2025 season, as weather conditions in central Ukraine were unstable and stressful for the crop.
The AVELIFE Institute of Nanotechnology and Organic Products is developing the direction of nanocellulose as a qualitatively different level of cellulose materials — not just a crushed, but a structurally reinterpreted form of a natural biopolymer.
If you look at organic farming more closely, it ceases to be a marketing label and opens up as a different logic of interaction with the soil. It feels like you are moving from a primitive game of fertilizer to a real strategy for managing a natural system, where the soil is a partner, not an object of influence.
