Record UK Flooding Exposes Climate Gaps, Corteva Ends Toxic Herbicide Production — Today’s Environmental Briefing for Tue, Feb 10 2026

The business of survival took center stage today, as companies worldwide grapple with a stark new reality: nature isn’t just something to protect — it’s the foundation their entire operations depend on. A major new report warns that businesses face “extinction” without immediate action to safeguard natural ecosystems, a message that’s reverberating from corporate boardrooms to community meetings where solar farm expansions spark both hope and concern.

Across the stories today, a common thread emerges around the mechanics of change — how societies actually shift from knowing what needs to happen to making it happen. The UK exemplifies this tension beautifully. While approving its largest onshore wind farm in a decade and 190 renewable energy projects as part of an ambitious push toward zero-carbon electricity by 2030, the country simultaneously faces biblical flooding that’s exposed critical gaps in climate preparedness. Some regions have endured 40 consecutive days of rain, turning adaptation from an abstract policy goal into an immediate survival need for waterlogged communities.

The day’s coverage points to growing momentum around reimagining how we measure progress itself. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a revolutionary shift away from GDP-focused economics to prevent environmental collapse, while students worldwide continue challenging traditional economic education, demanding curricula that reflect environmental and social realities. It’s a reminder that progress and pressure often arrive together — as climate scientists warn we’re breaching the critical 1.5°C warming threshold, triggering potentially irreversible tipping points.

Corporate accountability emerged as another key theme, with mixed signals on whether businesses are stepping up or stepping back. Chemical giant Corteva ended production of its controversial “toxic cocktail” herbicide containing Agent Orange and glyphosate, while bank executives face potential shareholder uprisings over climate commitment reversals. Meanwhile, the EPA reapproved the controversial dicamba herbicide despite widespread crop damage concerns, highlighting how regulatory decisions continue to balance competing interests.

Behind the numbers are real communities adapting in real time. In northeastern Kenya, over 2 million people face severe hunger as livestock deaths mount during devastating drought. Cambodian fishing communities worry about their uncertain future as the massive Funan Techo canal project moves forward without direct consultation. Yet innovation blooms in unexpected places — British companies are installing workplace beehives to combat employee stress, Yorkshire scientists are reintroducing extinct moss species to fight climate change, and Wisconsin distilleries partner with organic farms to champion regenerative agriculture through grain-to-glass production.

Perhaps most encouraging are the glimpses of systemic solutions gaining traction. Geothermal technology could replace 42% of EU fossil fuel power at comparable costs, while Indigenous-led funds transform climate philanthropy as Brazil recognizes new Amazon territories. These developments suggest that the tools for transformation exist — the question is whether they can scale fast enough.

The tension between AI’s soaring energy demands and climate goals — with data centers increasingly turning to natural gas — captures today’s central challenge: how to manage competing urgencies without losing sight of long-term survival. As extreme weather from New York’s deadly cold snap to record UK flooding makes climate impacts undeniably present, the stories reveal a world simultaneously accelerating toward solutions and racing against time.