Arctic tundra now emits planet-warming pollution, federal report finds
Arctic tundra, which has stored carbon for thousands of years, has now become a source of planet-warming pollution.
‘Drink to dust’: Startup says just smash its clay alternative to plastic cups
Disposable plastic and paper cups are an environmental mess. GaeaStar, a startup based in Berlin and San Francisco, thinks it can do better with just clay, water, salt and sand.
Paper or plastic? Instead ask which companies are innovating recycling
Paper or plastic? If you’re looking to invest in the packaging that’s best for the environment, the answer is… it’s complicated.
Microplastic found in Antarctic krill and salps
A new study led by researchers at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) discovered microplastics in krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean, and salps, a gelatinous marine invertebrate.
The snack bag of the future won’t be made from plastic
From an environmental standpoint, polymers – like all plastic – have two marks against them: They’re made from petroleum, and they’ll never decompose.
Rich countries export twice as much plastic waste to the developing world as previously thought
Current estimates only cover “the tip of the plastic waste iceberg.”
Brazilian researchers find ‘terrifying’ plastic rocks on remote island
The geology of Brazil’s volcanic Trindade Island has fascinated scientists for years, but the discovery of rocks made from plastic debris in this remote turtle refuge is sparking alarm.
Plastic entering oceans could nearly triple by 2040 if left unchecked
Plastic entering the world’s oceans have surged by an “unprecedented” amount since 2005 and could nearly triple by 2040 if no further action is taken.
Rice into low-carbon plastic: bringing hope to a struggling Fukushima town
Last November, Tokyo-based firm Biomass Resin opened a factory in Namie to turn locally-grown rice into plastic pellets.
More than 170 trillion plastic particles found in the ocean as pollution reaches ‘unprecedented’ levels
The world’s oceans are polluted by a “plastic smog” made up of an estimated 171 trillion plastic particles that if gathered would weigh around 2.3 million tons, according to a new study.
Scientists Identify Plastic as New Threat to Andean Condors in Protected Areas
Plastic is everywhere and now, scientists have confirmed plastic as a new threat to Andean condors even in protected areas of Peru. Research revealed high amounts of plastic in the diets and the regurgitated pellets of these birds.
US beach town bans balloons to save the ocean
Laguna Beach – the California city known for surfers, waves, rolling hills – grabbed headlines this week for enacting a strict ban on the sale and use of balloons.
An organism used as fire starter for centuries could replace some plastics, study finds
The fungus has structural integrity similar to certain grades of plastics and could be used to replace shock-absorbing materials
Bumblebee population increases 116 times over in ‘remarkable’ Scotland rewilding project
‘The sound of traffic and a uniform sea of barley have been replaced by the most beautiful meadows, full of wildflowers, young saplings and the buzz of bees’
Barbados Completes World’s First ‘Debt-for-Climate’ Swap
Barbados has secured the world’s first “debt-for-climate” swap to finance crucial water and sewage projects that will help the island cope with the destructive impacts of climate change.
Killer whales have found new homes in the Arctic Ocean, potentially reshaping marine ecology
The vast ice sheets that historically kept killer whales out of the Arctic Ocean are melting as the region rapidly warms.
Pollution in Delhi hits record high, cloaking city in smog
India’s capital, Delhi, imposes emergency measures including closing schools and offices and barring heavy vehicles.
Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10 per cent of farmland into forest
Danish lawmakers on Monday agreed on a deal to plant one billion trees and convert 10 per cent of farmland into forest and natural habitats over the next two decades in an effort to reduce fertilizer usage.