Africa: Environmental atlas tracks dramatic earth changes

The dramatic, often damaging environmental changes sweeping planet Earth are brought into sharp focus in a new atlas launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The agency’s “One Plant Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment” compares and contrasts satellite images of the past few decades with contemporary ones, some of which have never been seen before, according to the agency. In addition to images of deforestation, urban sprawl and the retreat of glaciers, the agency says, there are also surprising developments that can be seen from space.