Angela Merkel - almost sure to secure a fourth term as chancellor – has been dubbed the ‘Climate Chancellor.’ But experts say she hasn’t lived up to the name. Germany is expected to miss its 2020 climate targets and its reputation as global climate leader is at stake. So why hasn’t the environment been a campaign issue? DW asks Niklas Höhne from German think tank NewClimate Institute.

As governments around the world implement legislation to fight climate change, companies are lobbying to give their input to those new laws. But a report by UK think tank InfluenceMap says 35 out of the 50 most influential companies doing so are actually trying to block efforts to fight climate change. DW's Dave Keating is in Tallin at a meeting of EU energy ministers and tells us more.

Microplastics aren't just fouling the world's oceans - invisible plastic fibers are polluting drinking water tapped by millions of people. Where do these fibers come from, and how bad are they for human health?

Chile's government has rejected plans for a controversial billion-dollar mining project. Its reasoning: the proposed mine would disrupt marine life at the Humboldt Penguin Reserve, in particular the colonies of Humboldt penguins that breed there. Environmentalists have hailed the move a victory for nature.

German artist HA Schult's latest artwork ‘Save the World Hotel’ aims to highlight throwaway consumer culture. DW talks to the artist about his installation situated on the Rhine River in Cologne.

The Vjosa in southern Albania is the last free-flowing river in Europe and is crucial to thousands of livelihoods. But the Balkan frenzy over hydropower threatens the future of the entire valley.

Mongolia's huge deposits of copper, ore, uranium and gold, has made mining one of the biggest contributors to the country's economy today. While some Mongolians welcome the additional jobs, others fear that the growth of the mining sector could destroy their health and their environment. Now, small-scale gold miners are trying to strike a balance.

Ocean currents deposit thousands of discarded flip-flops among the litter on Kenya's coastline, where these popular and cheap shoes threaten marine life and ecosystems. But now, an innovative project is making good use of this waste - and in doing so, is helping clean up Kenya's coastline.

California's Silicon Valley is a mecca for young entrepreneurs turning cutting-edge lifestyle concepts into big money. At least, that's the cliché. In reality, San Francisco's techies are also working on more serious issues. Young entrepreneurs Vivian Qu and Felix Fischer have developed a nanofilter to clean water and air, which they say could improve the lives of millions.

Discarded car tires littering the streets of Senegal's capital Dakar often become breeding grounds for disease-spreading mosquitoes. If they end up in landfills, their toxic components can break down and seep into waterways. One young entrepreneur, sick of seeing the black tubes polluting her country, decided to give them new life as shoe soles or synthetic turf in playgrounds and courtyards.