From fighting pollution in Bangladesh’s rivers to the environmental impact of uranium mining in Sweden, join us in the latest issue of Geographical
In April’s issue of Geographical, we investigate a highly-subsidised Northumberland power station importing wood pellets to produce electricity, meet the Afghan women refugees in Pakistan who fear being forced to return to Taliban control, and journey to Sweden where Boštjan Videmšek reports on how a once-tranquil part of the country is poised to become a vast open-pit uranium mine.
Our cover story this month heads to Bangladesh, where Stuart Butler looks at the efforts to clean up the many rivers upon which the country depends.
Tristan Kennedy marvels at the cold-water swimmers braving Dublin’s renowned Forty Foot and suggests the essential kit you need to enjoy an invigorating dip. Meanwhile, Rory Walsh takes a trip to Milton Keynes and asks: is it a soulless suburb, as so commonly described, or an urban utopia?
Tim Marshall, one of our regular columnists, considers whether America has ushered in a new era and ended Pax Americana. In our latest Geo-Graphic, learn more about how high-income countries are contributing toward the issue of ‘exporting’ extinction.
If you have a penchant for maps, this month’s Passport will surely pique your interest: Bryony Cottam interviews map artist Eilidh Jamieson, and discovers her experiences of travelling around the world.
Our digital edition is out now, and you can not only read all the great stories in that issue, but our app also gives you access to our full archive dating back to 1935 with hundreds of magazines to explore. And if you want to enjoy our beautifully designed and produced print magazine, we can post the next edition to you anywhere in the world. Join us and stay on top of the world!
Lynemouth’s controversial Biomass Power Station
On Northumberland’s coast, Lynemouth is defined by industry, not seaside charm. Its landmark isn’t a pier but a power station, a relic of its coal-mining past now converted to biomass.
Once a model village for miners, Lynemouth still honours its heritage – the Miners’ Welfare Institute remains its social hub, and a sculpture marks its coal legacy. But today, the power station dominates discussions. Since its 2016 switch to biomass, it has burned wood pellets shipped from as far as Canada and the US. But a Freedom of Information request revealed its supply included longleaf pine, a protected species, with some pellets failing UK sustainability standards.
Though biomass is classed as renewable, critics argue it emits more CO2 than coal. It has gone months without generating power, instead profiting from selling surplus wood pellets, raising questions about taxpayer-funded subsidies. As biomass faces growing scrutiny, Lynemouth’s future is uncertain. Is its power station a necessary step in energy transition or an expensive relic of an outdated model?
Afghan refugees fear being sent back
Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, Afghan women and girls have faced severe repression, leading many to flee to neighbouring Pakistan. Amina, a former mathematics teacher, represents the countless women who abandon their homes and careers in search of safety. Living as undocumented refugees in Pakistan presents immense challenges, including limited access to work, education, and healthcare. The threat of deportation is ever-present, as the Pakistani government has initiated mass deportation campaigns, returning over 800,000 Afghans to a Taliban-controlled homeland.
Women like Amina navigate a life of fear, relying on community support and low-paying, exploitative jobs. The recent suspension of US refugee admissions complicates their already fragile situation. Their stories prompt important questions: what solutions can ensure the safety and rights of these displaced women? How can the international community support their quest for dignity and opportunity?
How to really solve global poverty
As the second Trump presidency begins, cuts to foreign aid signal a turning point in the country’s use of soft power and raise concerns about the future of humanitarian support. In his latest column, Andrew Brooks contends that traditional foreign aid has locked countries into cycles of indebtedness, failing to address the root causes of poverty.
With the possibility of withdrawing aid, what alternative strategies can effectively tackle global poverty? Brooks emphasises the need for systemic changes, such as debt relief and climate financing, to bridge the gap between richer and poorer nations. The evolving landscape of international aid could reshape relationships between the Global North and South, with profound implications for millions relying on external support.
The rise of green-fading
While many corporations pledged ambitious net-zero goals years ago, some are now scaling back or abandoning these efforts altogether. As Marco Magrini explains, this constitutes ‘corporate green-fading’, a phenomenon emerging in droves as companies begin to retreat from climate commitments amid a shifting political landscape.This trend, coupled with the return of a US administration favouring fossil fuel expansion, raises concerns about the integrity of corporate sustainability pledges and climate progress alike.
Cleaning up Bangladesh’s rivers
Bangladesh is a land of rivers, and they are struggling to survive under staggering levels of pollution. However, recent political upheaval has encouraged many to take a stand against the environmental degradation, and the new government is starting to tighten up regulations. Stuart Butler meets the volunteers risking their health to clean-up the nation’s waterways.
