This book sees Middleton travel to the coldest, hottest, wettest and driest places in the world, chronicling his experiences in an easily readable way. Middleton explores the geography of each region he visits, considering the impacts of meteorological processes and landscape. He shares his feelings and tells the stories of people living in the areas, located in Chile, Russia, India and Ethiopia. Middleton also explores how plants and animals have adapted to extreme environments. This book is suitable for all secondary school students who are fluent readers, and extracts could easily be used in lessons for guided reading. If you enjoy this book, you may also like to read ‘Surviving Extremes’ by this author.

We know how polar bears have adapted to survive in the extreme environment of the frozen Arctic, but we are less aware of their struggle to survive in the warmer conditions caused by climate change. This book tells the true story of Nora the polar bear cub, cleverly interwoven with the struggle for survival of an indigenous hunter. The book tackles difficult questions, such as the right of indigenous people to hunt in traditional ways and the causes of the climate emergency, which is having such a profound impact on the Arctic. It is easy for a Western audience to condemn the hunter, but we must also consider the greater threat to the species from our consumption of fossil fuels. An engaging read for GCSE students upwards.

Extremophiles are organisms which have adapted to live at the absolute extremes of life. This article discusses examples of extremophiles found in the Namib desert, exploring how they survive the intense UV radiation and dry conditions. Understanding how the bacteria photosynthesise is providing NASA with useful information in relation to the possibility of past life on Mars. It is also fascinating to read about how scientists have conducted their research. This article is suitable for teachers and A-level students, especially those interested in biology and geography.

This article not only summarises the responses to extreme conditions from various indigenous groups but also includes links to articles exploring these adaptations. Having detailed some of the challenges facing groups such as the Canadian Inuit, the Afar in Ethiopia and the Tay in Vietnam, Jegede explores how they have adapted. The article finishes with a crucial message: ‘If we are to enhance the adaptive capacity of indigenous peoples facing drought globally, respect for indigenous peoples’ human rights and regard for their culture will be important. In the front seat of the slow-motion car-crash, indigenous peoples more than anyone, need to enhance their resilience in the face of increasing drought.’ An excellent article for teachers to explore with GCSE or A-level students.

This audio recording offers testimonies from two women who have experienced some of the most extreme climates in the world.

What impact does climate change have on our daily lives? This clip explores the answer.