Sunset in the Leaves

The flow of time on our planet is adorned by a symphony of change - the ebb and flow of seasons, blossoming and fading in primordial cycles: the renewal of spring, the abundance of summer, the transformation of autumn, and the quiet rest of winter.

These ancient rhythms, forming the keystone of life on Earth, are undergoing dramatic changes due to global climate disruptions. In 2024, global average temperature increases were over 1.5 degrees Celsius–the hottest recorded year in human history. In 2025, blackberries ripened weeks ahead of schedule and leaves burst into brown and gold hues in a ‘false autumn’ in August during the UK’s hottest summer on record.

As our world changes, we invite you to reflect on the season that surrounds you. Are the trees in unusual bloom, restless before their time?

This award-winning photograph is from the fourth season, “Life in Color”, of the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) Archive. The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA, leveraging the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.