Listed here are all of the constructive environmental tales from 2023 up to now

Eco-anxiety, local weather doom, environmental existential dread – as inexperienced journalists, we see these phrases used lots – and sometimes really feel them ourselves.

Whereas there’s lots to be nervous about in terms of the local weather and nature crises, we should not lose hope – as a result of hopelessness breeds apathy.

The media has an necessary position to play in combatting local weather doom. It is our job to be truthful and correct in our reporting, not making an attempt to downplay or greenwash the scenario. However it’s additionally our job to point out that there’s hope.

In 2022, as a part of our ongoing effort to sort out eco-anxiety (each that of our readers and our personal), we saved observe of all of the constructive environmental information all year long – racking up over 100 tales of eco-innovation, inexperienced breakthroughs and local weather wins.

In 2023, we’re assured the excellent news will carry on coming, as renewable energy soars, weak ecosystems acquire rights, and local weather protocols begin to pay dividends.

This text will likely be commonly up to date with the newest excellent news. It could be one thing small and native, one thing foolish that made us smile, or one thing monumental and doubtlessly world-changing.

If you happen to come throughout an ideal, constructive story that we’ve not coated right here – please attain out to us on Instagram or Twitter to share your concepts.

Constructive environmental tales from August 2023

‘We now have to verify the entire metropolis is inexperienced’: How can we enhance entry to inexperienced areas in Europe?

Except for their cooling results, inexperienced areas are linked to elevated happiness, higher psychological well being, elevated social interactions and decrease threat of heart problems.

And the excellent news is that over eight in ten Europeans say inexperienced areas and nature are straightforward to entry, in line with a brand new Eurobarometer ballot.

This is which European nations have the perfect entry to inexperienced areas and what we will be taught from them.

‘Humanity thrives in group’: Locals repair their damaged objects without spending a dime at this restore cafe

“It’s abhorrent seeing issues thrown away,” says Chris Murphy, the organiser of Tunbridge Wells Restore Cafe.

Chris is the kind of one who goes to the dump and leaves with extra issues than he went with. He makes do and mends objects once they’re damaged. And he enjoys bringing individuals collectively.

So when he learnt about restore cafes from a pal again in 2019, his subsequent step was a no brainer.

“I believed nicely, we don’t have one, I am going to begin one,” the 51 yr previous from Tunbridge Wells, UK tells Euronews Inexperienced.

Free meals: Geneva’s group pantries use the sharing economic system to stop meals waste

In an effort to chop waste, a Geneva nonprofit is rolling out street-side, free-access fridges the place individuals can provide and take meals that may in any other case perish.

The venture launched a yr in the past with a single fridge outdoors a group centre. The primary fridge helped save round three metric tonnes of meals from going to waste final yr. 

France to finish non-essential printing of paper receipts

The top of the systematic printing of paper gross sales receipts has come into impact in France. This measure, which additionally applies to financial institution card receipts, has been taken within the identify of the setting.

Constructive environmental tales from July 2023

Deutschlandticket: Germany’s €49 ticket pushes passenger numbers up 25% on native practice providers

A scheme to extend the uptake of public transport in Germany has been hailed as a “big success”.

The €49 a month ‘Deutschlandticket’ has led to a 25 per cent rise in passengers on nationwide railway firm Deutsche Bahn’s regional providers, in line with DB Regio CEO Evelyn Palla.

Photo voltaic, €49 practice tickets and residential power effectivity: Why Portugal is our Inexperienced Nation of the Month

This month, we’re recognising the efforts of a rustic which has introduced ahead some essential decarbonisation targets. It’s in search of to spice up renewables, and assist residents on their very own journeys to sustainable dwelling.

Right here’s why Portugal is our Inexperienced Nation of the Month for July.

An enormous water battery inside a mountain will assist Scotland hit web zero

The Scottish authorities has given the inexperienced mild to develop a hydro storage plant within the west of the nation.

Renewable energy developer Drax needs to construct a brand new £500 million (€581 million) growth of their current Cruachan facility.

Authorities have permitted the plans, which may even assist Scotland in its bid to succeed in net-zero targets.

Six causes to be hopeful about the way forward for meals

In accordance with UN estimates, one third of all human-caused greenhouse gasoline emissions (GHGs) come from the worldwide meals system.

Meals manufacturing makes use of 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater too, but the World Meals Programme estimates that almost a 3rd of the meals we develop is misplaced or wasted every year.

Whereas these points could seem insurmountable, there are nonetheless causes to be hopeful about meals’s future.

‘A blessing’: Wounded troopers assist US scientists to avoid wasting coral reefs

A gaggle of US Military veterans wounded in fight are working to revive coral reefs off the southern tip of Florida, USA.

The mission is twofold: save coral threatened by illness and rising sea temperatures, and assist veterans heal wounds – each bodily and emotional.

India, Germany, Poland: All of the methods during which nations are harnessing solar energy for railways

An Indian railway community is putting in over 1,000 hectares value of photo voltaic power.

The Central Railway, certainly one of 18 rail ‘zones’ within the nation, has dedicated to creating 1 megawatt (MW) of photo voltaic items at 81 spots all through its community.

It’s a part of a rising pattern of railways utilizing their massive land portfolios to go greener and assist meet nationwide renewable power targets.

Feeding daffodil extract to cows might scale back methane emissions

Daffodils, that are grown at increased altitudes, maintain a secret energy. They produce an important medical compound that may be a key part in a drug used within the administration of Alzheimer’s.

However that is not all. Current research reveal one other astonishing profit. Early proof reveals excessive altitude daffodils produce an extract which, when fed to cows, has the distinctive skill to scale back their methane emissions.

At this farm in Portugal’s Alentejo timber get to retire and pigs go on maternity depart

Herdade de S. Luís is a part of the huge estates of Montado, an historic cultural panorama rolling from the hills right down to the plains of Alentejo that mixes timber with livestock and crops.

“Montado is the proper system as a result of it permits us to combine completely different land makes use of,” says Francisco Alves, the property’s proprietor.

“The animals assist forestall fires and may fertilise the soil. They feed on acorns, and in addition profit from the shade of oak timber.”

‘The extra you put in, the cheaper it will get’: Wind and photo voltaic to provide 33% of world energy by 2030

Wind and photo voltaic initiatives are on observe to account for greater than a 3rd of the world’s electrical energy by 2030, a report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) stated on Thursday.

This indicators that the power sector can obtain the change wanted to satisfy world local weather targets.

Sultan al-Jaber, president of the following UN local weather summit, COP28, earlier this yr referred to as for a tripling of renewable power era by 2030 to curb greenhouse gasoline emissions and assist attain targets set underneath the 2015 Paris local weather settlement.

EU to push for fossil gas phaseout ‘nicely forward’ of 2050 at COP28 local weather summit

The EU is pushing for a worldwide pledge to section out the unabated use of fossil fuels “nicely forward of 2050” at COP28, in line with local weather chief Frans Timmermans.

Timmermans defined that this could imply eliminating emissions from the oil and gasoline sector and merchandise bought by oil and gasoline corporations. It can additionally require an finish to the usage of coal.

This excessive pace practice may very well be the primary to be powered fully by renewable power

California’s long-awaited excessive pace practice will likely be photo voltaic powered, in line with the California Excessive-Pace Rail Authority.

To energy this behemoth of a practice, 44 megawatts of power, theoretically generated by 552 acres of photo voltaic panels will likely be required. On board batteries will purpose to retailer 62 megawatt hours of energy.

Can you modify a polluting trade from the within? Ex aviation, mining and gasoline staff converse out

The world will want a military of inexperienced collar employees, from photo voltaic panel engineers to public transport drivers, if web zero ambitions are to be met.

This rising workforce is rising; by 2050, it’s estimated that there will likely be 300 million such jobs worldwide.

And plenty of of these roles will likely be crammed by individuals making a inexperienced transition in their very own careers. It is a shift that has been quickly selecting up tempo since we spoke to grease and gasoline employees in 2021.

Large mineral discovery in Norway might provide battery and photo voltaic panels for the following 50 years

Large phosphate deposits found in southwestern Norway may very well be massive sufficient to produce electrical automobiles, photo voltaic panels and fertiliser for no less than 50 years.

The precious ore was found in 2018 by Norge Mining, who revealed in Could that they’d discovered 70 billion tonnes of the fabric.

Phosphate is wealthy in phosphorus which is a key part of many inexperienced applied sciences, in addition to fertiliser. The discover comes at an important time when Europe has been dealing with provide points.

Brazil Amazon deforestation drops 34 per cent underneath Lula

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon dropped by a 3rd in the course of the first six months of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s time period, in line with authorities satellite tv for pc information.

From January to June the rainforest had alerts for doable deforestation overlaying 2,650 sq. kilometres, down from 4,000 sq km throughout the identical interval final yr underneath former chief Jair Bolsonaro.

This yr’s information features a 41 per cent plunge in alerts for June, which marks the beginning of the dry season when deforestation tends to leap.

Contained in the manufacturing unit making ‘tri-brid’ electrical trains that would revolutionise transport in Europe

Solely round 60 per cent of Europe’s traces have been electrified up to now. To improve the entire railways in Europe might take many years and the fee can be monumental. 

To assist scale back emissions utilizing Europe’s restricted infrastructure, Hitachi Rail has developed its Masaccio tri-brid practice. Euronews Inexperienced went to their manufacturing unit in Pistoia, Italy to be taught extra.

What’s water cremation? UK to supply eco-friendly burial different for the primary time

The UK will supply water cremation for the primary time this yr, following rising demand for extra environmentally pleasant finish of life choices.

If you die there’s at present solely two choices in most of Europe – burial or a conventional hearth cremation.

However new choices are being explored.

Constructive environmental tales from June 2023

Austria is our Inexperienced European nation of the month – right here’s why

International locations throughout Europe are racing to scale back their greenhouse gasoline emissions and avert the worst results of the local weather disaster. This has thrown them into a brand new form of wholesome rivalry with one another.

This June, we highlighted a European nation that’s making good progress on a variety of key local weather fronts: Austria, a small however mighty nation proper on the coronary heart of the continent.

This is why it is our Inexperienced Nation of the Month.

Fountain of youth: Dwelling close to a inexperienced area can scale back your organic age by 2.5 years

A brand new examine has proven that getting access to parks and group gardens in your neighbourhood can gradual organic ageing.

A joint Spanish and American analysis group discovered that folks dwelling close to inexperienced areas are on common 2.5 years biologically youthful than those that don’t.

“Dwelling close to extra greenness can assist you be youthful than your precise age,” stated Kyeezu Kim, the examine’s lead writer and a postdoctoral scholar at Northwestern College’s Feinberg Faculty of Medication.

This ‘extinct’ earless dragon has been noticed in a secret location after going lacking for 50 years

A tiny earless dragon which specialists thought was extinct has been noticed for the primary time in over 50 years.

The Victorian grassland earless dragon – native to east Australian grasslands – was final noticed within the wild in 1969.

Conservationists feared for the animal’s survival and beforehand made “appreciable however unsuccessful efforts” to find the species. Now, they’ve found a small inhabitants.

Solely the tremendous rich stand to lose cash from shutting down fossil fuels, examine finds

Cutting down fossil fuels would have hardly any monetary influence on the overwhelming majority of individuals, new analysis reveals.

Oil and gasoline corporations are the one greatest driver of world heating. However opponents of the renewable transition typically declare that chopping down fossil gas manufacturing will likely be massively costly – and hit atypical individuals within the pocket.

New analysis sends this argument up in smoke. 

Church of England divests from fossil fuels after oil and gasoline corporations fail on local weather

The Church of England is divesting from oil and gasoline after accusing fossil gas corporations of stalling on web zero plans.

The church’s Pensions Board will divest its holding in Shell over what it stated have been inadequate plans to align its technique to the objective of limiting world warming to 1.5 levels Celsius.

The Board has round 1.35 million kilos (€1.58 million) invested in Shell of its whole 3.2 billion kilos in investments.

New EU regulation to pressure smartphone makers to construct simply replaceable batteries

 The European Union will quickly require smartphone producers to let customers substitute their batteries.

The powerful new guidelines – endorsed by the European Parliament in June – might save thousands and thousands of telephones from landfill.

Yearly, greater than 150 million smartphones are thrown away. Making batteries easier to switch might stem this deluge of e-waste.

Paris Olympics to provide waste a second life with recycled plastic chairs

Spectators on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games will sit on chairs made from plastic recycled from native bins.

In addition to combating a scarcity of uncooked supplies for plastic, the initiative is a part of wider efforts to scale back the environmental footprint of the Olympic Video games.

Round 11,000 seats will likely be produced from recycled supplies.

Animal rights teams ‘thrilled’ to see Iceland’s summer time whaling season suspended

Iceland has suspended whaling till the top of August within the identify of animal welfare.

A full ban might finally be enforced, in line with Iceland’s Meals Minister Svandis Svavarsdottir.

“If the federal government and [hunting] licensees can not assure the welfare necessities [according to Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act], this exercise has no future,” stated Svavarsdottir.

UN adopts world-first treaty to guard marine life in seas outdoors nationwide boundaries

Only one per cent of the world’s huge ocean areas have been protected – till now.

The primary-ever treaty to guard biodiversity in waters outdoors nationwide boundaries, generally known as the excessive seas, has been adopted by UN members.

The UN’s chief hailed the historic settlement as giving the ocean “a combating likelihood”.

Local weather ‘victory’: Swiss residents vote in favour of recent regulation to succeed in web zero emissions by 2050

The Swiss individuals have voted sure to a brand new local weather regulation that can see the nation lower web greenhouse gasoline emissions to zero by 2050.

A majority of 59 per cent of voters permitted the federal government’s Local weather Safety Targets, Innovation and Strengthening Vitality Safety Act on 18 June.

Nearly three-quarters of individuals (74 per cent) backed it within the canton of Geneva, following a record-breakingly heat spring for the rich European nation.

Meet the cattle breeders-turned-conservationists defending Colombia’s Amazon wildlife

Within the rural space of San José de Guaviare, Colombia, is 40 hectares of reborn jungle.

Up till a decade in the past, the forest seemed utterly completely different – it was a pasture filled with cattle.

The co-founder of the La Nupana nature reserve, Dora Sánchez, moved from the centre of the nation to the jungle area in 1997. Like many of the settlers, her household – the Zapatas – began livestock farming.

In 2012, she began planting native timber on her 56 hectares of pasture as an “experiment to arrange agroforestry techniques”.

London’s photo voltaic avenue: How two artists crowdfunded renewable power for his or her neighbours

Sick of eye-watering power payments and eager to fight local weather change, two London artists have made it their mission to convey solar energy to their avenue.

The couple have raised cash for the venture in eye-catching methods, together with spending three chilly winter weeks sleeping on the roof of their home.

The stunt helped them crowdfund £113,000 (€132,000), which they’re now utilizing to put in photo voltaic panels on dozens of homes in north London.

A inexperienced oasis: How Nairobi’s world-only nationwide park advantages lions, giraffes and folks

Do you know Nairobi is the one capital metropolis on the planet that has a nationwide park in it?

The park is an unlimited reserve that covers 117 sq. kilometres and is a haven for wildlife, together with lions, rhinos, giraffes, buffalos and varied species of antelope.

However specialists say Nairobi Nationwide Park is confronted by a myriad of threats, together with air pollution, human-wildlife battle, infrastructure growth and poaching.

A foliage-filled tram and free vegetation: How Antwerp is encouraging residents to be city gardeners

If you happen to hopped on the tram within the Belgian metropolis of Antwerp final week and also you might need discovered your self in a stunning verdant paradise.

The automobile operating on line 1 had been remodeled right into a lush cellular backyard for a day, with vegetation squeezed into each obtainable area.

Between the seats, within the panels separating the home windows and even on the roof, leafy decorations sprouted.

It was a pleasure to journey, but it surely was additionally a part of a scheme to make residents extra inexperienced and encourage residents to take up city gardening.

Glastonbury’s ‘greatest fan’: UK competition will get an attention-grabbing 28 metre wind turbine

It’s not as if Glastonbury Competition goers want another excuse to really feel delighted by this yr’s line-up.

However the likes of Lizzo, Lana Del Rey and Sir Elton John are being joined by one very distinguished visitor at Worthy Farm: a pink and purple 28-metre wind turbine.

Octopus Vitality erected the tall turbine on 13 June, in a transfer they are saying will assist make Glastonbury 2023 the greenest but.

Toyota proclaims new electrical automobile battery which might lower charging time to underneath 10 minutes

Toyota has introduced its plans to make an all solid-state battery as a part of its formidable plans for battery electrical automobiles.

The announcement comes amid mounting criticism that Japan’s prime automaker must do extra to combat local weather change.

Toyota Motor Corp. stated it is aiming for a business solid-state battery as quickly as 2027. 

Magicians, engineers or brokers of chaos? On the rewilding property giving refuge to beavers

A fifth era son of the Argaty property close to Stirling, Bowser (39) fought onerous for the farm to change into the primary privately owned place to relocate beavers in Scotland.

In whole, 14 beavers have been launched on the property for the reason that Scottish authorities allowed the animals to be translocated from battle areas on the River Tay.

“I believed it might need been one massive explosion of biodiversity,” says Bowser of the ecological advantages of beavers. “However it’s extra like a collection of small interventions; a whole bunch of little explosions going off with this accumulative impact.”

Meet the ex-poachers restoring the Indonesian coral reefs they destroyed

Twenty years in the past, the coral reefs within the waters of Spermonde Islands in Indonesia have been nothing greater than particles.

Poachers bombed and poisoned corals to catch fish – strategies dominated unlawful by the federal government and punishable by as much as six years in jail.

Now, the identical poachers have change into conservationists, working collectively to rehabilitate the corals they destroyed. 

Why a ‘virgin’ crocodile being pregnant has ‘tantalising’ implications for dinosaur researchers

Within the first identified case of a ‘virgin start’ among the many species, a crocodile has been discovered to have made herself pregnant.

The 18-year-old American crocodile was evaded different crocodiles in a zoo in Costa Rica. However that didn’t cease her producing a completely shaped foetus inside certainly one of her eggs in 2018.

5 years later, researchers have decided that the foetus was 99.9 per cent genetically similar to the mom, confirming it had no father.

Wind and photo voltaic overtake fossil fuels within the EU as power transition hits ‘hyperdrive’

Wind and photo voltaic produced extra power within the EU throughout Could than all fossil fuels mixed, in line with power assume tank Ember.

That is the primary full month on file the place these renewables produced extra energy – with nearly a 3rd of the bloc’s electrical energy coming from wind and photo voltaic. Fossil fuels generated a file low of 27 per cent.

“Europe’s electrical energy transition has hit hyperdrive,” says Ember’s Europe lead Sarah Brown. “Clear energy retains smashing file after file.”

An actual materials for the long run’: Might houses made from fungi slash emissions from development?

Nearly 40 per cent of annual world CO2 emissions are attributed to the constructed setting, in line with the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA). Of those, 11 per cent are a results of manufacturing constructing supplies reminiscent of metal, cement and glass.

Architects and scientists are engaged on methods to scale back the local weather influence of those necessary supplies. However low-carbon options are wanted to construct a greener future.

One materials that’s displaying actual promise on the planet of development is fungus.

The eagles have landed: widowed white-tailed eagle finds new associate in Eire

A male white-tailed eagle who had been dwelling alone for 4 years after his associate died from avian flu has met a brand new associate – and the pair now have two new chicks.

The male eagle was launched in 2008 by Eire’s Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Service as a part of a programme to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle to the Emerald Isle.

He had beforehand partnered with one other eagle they usually produced chicks – the primary hatching and fledgling within the nation for 110 years.

The world’s most sustainable beer – and easy methods to make it at dwelling

Bottles, cans and kegs stuffed with liquid all carry vital weight. In accordance with the Influence CO2 carbon footprint calculator, packaging and transport account for 70 per cent of the environmental influence of a litre (round two pints) of beer.

So if we will scale back the packaging measurement and due to this fact transport calls for, we will massively scale back the influence of the beer trade.

And that is precisely what the Neuzelle brewery in Germany is making an attempt to do.

Constructive environmental tales from Could 2023

Iceland is our Inexperienced European nation of the month – right here’s why

Iceland generates greater than 86 per cent of its electrical energy from renewable sources in line with Eurostat and round 66 per cent of this comes from its geothermal sources.

Not solely does this scorching water energy houses, but it surely additionally provides a few of Iceland’s hottest vacationer sights together with the well-known Blue Lagoon. 

‘Clear power is shifting quick’: Photo voltaic set to overhaul oil in investments for the primary time ever

Photo voltaic power investments are anticipated to overhaul oil for the primary time ever this yr, in line with the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA).

A brand new report from the company says spending on clear power know-how is now considerably outpacing spending on fossil fuels. This is because of affordability and safety issues triggered by the worldwide power disaster.

Turtle energy: Panama offers authorized rights to sea turtles, defending in opposition to air pollution and poaching

A brand new regulation ensures sea turtles in Panama the proper to dwell and have free passage in a wholesome setting.

It “will enable any Panamanian citizen to be the voice of sea turtles and defend them legally,” says Callie Veelenturf, who based a bunch that works to guard leatherback turtles and pushed for the laws.

“We will maintain governments, firms and public residents legally accountable for violations of the rights of sea turtles.”

Utrecht’s new vertical forest will likely be dwelling to 10,000 vegetation and timber. How will residents profit?

It begins with a currant bush and a pear tree: the primary of 300 timber and 10,000 vegetation that can flip this Dutch tower block right into a dwelling forest.

Utrecht is the newest metropolis to get the inexperienced therapy from celebrated architect Stefano Boeri. The 66-year previous Italian architect stretched the world’s creativeness along with his first vertical forest in Milan a decade in the past.

Giving individuals €5 a day might convey the ‘good life’ to communities and ecosystems in want, examine says

Paying individuals dwelling in fragile forests €5 a day may very well be one of the simplest ways to halt biodiversity loss, a brand new examine suggests.

Just like the idea of a common primary revenue, a conservation primary revenue (CBI) is an unconditional money fee given to individuals dwelling in protected areas or alongside endangered species.

Similar to consuming frogs’ legs? Contained in the European corporations that wish to persuade us to eat bugs

Will bugs be a staple meals sooner or later? A number of corporations in Europe are betting on it.

From decrease emissions to decreased land use and a method to contribute to the round economic system, they declare a spread of advantages. 

Though convincing Europeans to eat bugs isn’t straightforward, nearly 60 per cent of individuals consider that they may change into an alternate and sustainable supply of protein sooner or later, in line with a examine from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya printed earlier this yr.

Refill shops and bottle deposit schemes: Contained in the UN objective to chop plastic air pollution by 80% by 2040

Plastic air pollution may very well be slashed by 80 per cent by 2040, in line with a brand new report by the UN Surroundings Programme (UNEP).

This formidable goal depends on main coverage modifications and the deployment of current applied sciences in the best way we produce, use and eliminate plastics.

This is what would want to vary in our each day lives to succeed in it.

Spain, Sweden and Belgium: The European nations setting new wind and photo voltaic information

Photo voltaic and wind produced greater than half of Portugal’s electrical energy for the primary time final month, in line with new information from clear power assume tank Ember.

April noticed the renewables attain 51 per cent of electrical energy manufacturing – beating the earlier month-to-month file of 49 per cent in December 2021.

Sturdy photo voltaic deployment, electrical energy imports from Spain and decrease demand saved power generated by fossil fuels to simply 24 per cent – regardless of a drought-driven dip in hydropower.

Deforestation within the Brazilian Amazon fell by 68% in April

Deforestation within the Brazilian Amazon fell by 68 per cent final month in comparison with April 2022.

That is the primary vital drop since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took workplace at the beginning of this yr.

Lula, because the left-leaning President is thought, campaigned on remodeling Brazil right into a ‘inexperienced superpower’. One among his guarantees was to fight unlawful deforestation, which rose to a 15-year excessive underneath former proper wing President Jair Bolsonaro.

‘Take a look at that beast’: This well-fed snapping turtle is a conservation success story

Footage of a plump snapping turtle enjoyable alongside a Chicago waterway has gone viral after the person who filmed the well-fed reptile marveled at its measurement and nicknamed it “Chonkosaurus.”

Conservationists have been finishing up native plant restoration alongside the waterway to fight invasive European species which have cropped up.

“The vegetation and the animals are interrelated – if one is doing nicely, the opposite’s doing nicely, it is ecology,” says Al Scorch, one of many botanists who noticed the enormous turtle.

EU emissions fell by 4% on the finish of final yr – and economies grew, information reveals

Greenhouse gasoline emissions within the EU fell by 4 per cent within the final three months of 2022, in line with Eurostat information launched on 15 Could.

Out of the 27 member states, emissions fell in 23 EU nations.

It additionally discovered that whereas emissions had fallen, GDP hadn’t and had truly elevated by 1.5 per cent throughout these three months.

It reveals that nations are lowering their greenhouse gasoline contribution whereas rising their economies.

Seals are making a comeback in Belgium: This group of volunteers serving to them coexist with people

Seals have gotten an more and more frequent sight on Belgium’s seashores.

On the finish of final century, there have been nearly none of those marine mammals left on the nation’s coast.

However their numbers have been on the rise over the past 20 years, in line with the Royal Belgian Institute of Pure Sciences. Seals aren’t straightforward to rely, however they estimate there are actually between 100 and 200 people from two species: gray seals and harbour seals.

‘New hope’: Tiny Galápagos island birds make promising comeback

Darwin’s flycatchers are on the sting of extinction. However conservation specialists now assume the tiny hen may very well be making a comeback.

Identified for his or her hanging vermillion plumage, the charismatic birds may be discovered solely within the Galápagos Islands.

The Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has labelled them ‘weak.’

However on the island of Santa Cruz, 12 new chicks have been born this yr, officers have revealed.

From water saving to scrub power: Right here’s why floating photo voltaic farms are booming within the US

Producing electrical energy makes use of up big quantities of land and sometimes generates huge portions of climate-heating emissions.

However what if it didn’t have to?

Floating photo voltaic panels are a easy idea however they may present the reply to those issues – and forestall water loss from evaporation on the similar time.

Ecuador strikes world’s greatest ‘debt for nature’ deal to guard the Galápagos Islands

Ecuador has transformed $1.6 billion (€1.5 billion) of debt right into a mortgage which is able to release thousands and thousands for conservation within the Galápagos Islands.

The deal, introduced on Tuesday 9 Could, is the biggest of its sort ever made. It is called a ‘debt for nature’ swap.

“The world’s greatest ocean-friendly debt swap is coming collectively in Ecuador to guard its distinctive pure sources,” says Pablo Arosemena Marriott, Minister of Financial system and Finance.

This millionaire is promoting his non-public jet after studying how polluting it’s

It’s by no means too late to vary – simply ask Stephen Prince. The American multimillionaire is promoting his non-public jet after studying how polluting it’s.

The Georgia businessman began flying in small jets six years in the past, and in contrast the expertise to a cocaine behavior.

The gift-card magnate as soon as owned three jets. Now, he’s promoting his final one.

‘A daring coronary heart’: Meet the bamboo scaffolders bringing down Hong Kong’s carbon footprint

Mo Jia Yu wraps his legs round a pole to stability excessive above the bottom and safe a joint, a ability he should grasp to change into a bamboo scaffolder in Hong Kong.

The metropolis is likely one of the world’s final remaining cities to make use of bamboo scaffolding in fashionable development and constructing restore.

Scaffolders perched on bamboo frames a number of storeys excessive are a standard sight, and are nicknamed “spiders” by Hong Kongers for his or her agility over the web-like latticework.

Austria has helped pay for greater than half 1,000,000 repairs in bid to sort out e-waste

Austrians have been making the most of a scheme to restore damaged electrical gadgets.

Designed to sort out digital waste, the federal government programme covers half the price of repairs. It applies to faulty gadgets reminiscent of smartphones, laptops, espresso makers and dishwashers.

Since being launched one yr in the past, it has seen 560,000 vouchers value as much as €200 redeemed, in line with the Surroundings Ministry.

Europe’s first wild river park is a nature lover’s paradise: Right here’s easy methods to expertise it on a funds

Vjosa River Nationwide Park is one thing of a miracle. After years of campaigning by clothes model Patagonia, the IUCN and none aside from actor Leonardo Dicaprio, this 6,500 square-kilometre basin of tributaries and wild waterways was given the safety it deserves, making it Europe’s first wild river park.

It could be the primary park, however it’s Europe’s final wild river, dwelling to 1,110 species of animals and vegetation, of which two plant species and 13 animals are at risk of disappearing globally. Therefore why official safety is so necessary.

This Nigerian environmentalist is channelling Spider-Man to wage conflict on litter

In Nigeria, environmental waste poses a significant problem, particularly in city areas.

However on the streets of Osogbo in Osun State, Jonathan Olanlokun’s superpower is his willpower to make a distinction in his group.

Dressed as Spider-Man, he picks up garbage to enhance his native setting. He says the costume will get him seen and attracts consideration to the issue of litter on the streets.

Constructive environmental tales from April 2023

Denmark is our Inexperienced European nation of the month – right here’s why

It ought to come as no shock that Denmark is on our radar as certainly one of Europe’s greenest nations.

The Scandinavian nation is a constant frontrunner in rankings just like the Local weather Change Efficiency Index (CCPI) and Yale’s Environmental Efficiency Index.

Final yr Denmark had the very best share of renewables in its electrical energy combine out of 78 completely different nations. Its emissions targets are additionally extremely formidable. And it is not resting on its laurels.

How the Netherlands plans to spend €28bn on slashing emissions by 2030

The Dutch authorities says it would spend €28 billion within the coming years to ensure it meets its 2030 local weather targets.

The federal government introduced a spread of measures which it stated would be sure that CO2 emissions within the Netherlands will likely be 55 per cent decrease than in 1990 by 2030. They vary from constructing massive offshore solar energy fields to lifting taxes for polluting industries.

Final yr, emissions have been round 30 per cent decrease within the euro zone’s fifth largest economic system than in 1990.

Meet the trollhunters who obtained 600 local weather change deniers banned from Twitter

Peter and Tom are a part of a bunch of on-line activists dubbed the Staff Ninja Trollhunters (TNT). Created in 2019, their mission is to combat local weather change trolls on Twitter.

These ‘trollhunters’ search for viral tweets or distinguished accounts on Twitter which have been spreading local weather disinformation and reply to them by debunking their claims utilizing factual info and scientific articles.

Local weather change denial just isn’t forbidden on Twitter, nonetheless different kinds of content material – threats, harassment and hate speech – are. 

US Supreme Court docket will not rule on native local weather circumstances in a ‘essential victory’ for activists

Cities and states within the US will be capable to sue large fossil gas polluters because of a Supreme Court docket determination.

Because the local weather disaster worsens, native governments are taking power giants to courtroom.

Huge Oil appealed 5 of those native circumstances to America’s Supreme Court docket. However the courtroom declined to listen to them- setting an necessary precedent for future lawsuits.

From vibrant floats to cleanups: Creativity and color have been in every single place on Earth Day

Greater than a billion individuals celebrated Earth Day on Saturday 22 April.

From parades to mass die-ins and four-metre-tall floats, individuals from 190 completely different nations obtained inventive to induce politicians to “Spend money on Our Planet.”

“That is the second to vary all of it!” the Earth Day Community declared.

‘Extinct’ lion noticed in Chad’s Sena Oura Nationwide Park for first time in 20 years

A lion has been noticed in a Chad’s Sena Oura Nationwide Park – the primary sighting in nearly 20 years.

Researchers beforehand believed the animals to be extinct within the space, which is near Chad’s border with Cameroon.

The sighting – the primary since 2004 – is an early signal that massive cat populations within the space may very well be rising.

World’s greatest cross-border energy line will ship clear power to 1.8 million houses in Europe

The Netherlands and the UK plan to construct Europe’s greatest cross-border energy line to ship clear power and enhance power safety.

Linked to an offshore wind farm, the ‘LionLink’ interconnector will be capable to switch 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of electrical energy – sufficient to energy 1.8 million houses.

Photo voltaic baking: How the solar helps to scale back the price of bread in Lebanon

Meals costs have skyrocketed in Lebanon throughout a three-year financial disaster.

In an effort to scale back manufacturing prices and emissions, inventor Toufic Hamdan has created a business bakery oven powered by the solar’s warmth.

“This oven will save bakery house owners about 80 per cent of their month-to-month utilization of diesel, and due to this fact it will scale back the worth of the bread bundle that reaches the buyer,” says Hitaf Ghazal, co-founder and operations supervisor of Companions With Solar.

‘A Herculean activity’: How is Luxembourg utilizing individuals energy to shift its power targets?

Greater than a 3rd of Luxembourg’s power will come from renewables by the top of the last decade, underneath a brand new local weather plan unveiled yesterday.

All EU nations need to submit an up to date nationwide power and local weather plan (NECP) by June, displaying how they’ll obtain the bloc’s objective of chopping CO2 emissions by 55 per cent by 2030.

Europe’s richest nation has stepped up its inexperienced power and effectivity targets, partly because of public motivation.

‘Now we will breathe just a little’: How Gaza is bringing its wetlands again to life

A long time of decreased freshwater inflows, creeping city growth and air pollution have crippled Wadi Gaza’s fragile setting. But regardless of being buried underneath layers of sewage and waste, the valley continues to be alive.

A current venture by the United Nations’ Improvement Programme (UNDP) goals to rehabilitate the world as a nature reserve and coastal wetland.

Since launching in 2021, an internationally-funded wastewater therapy plant in central Gaza has allowed cleaner water to circulation into the valley.

‘Finish of the fossil age’: Wind and photo voltaic broke power information final yr, report reveals

Consultants are calling time on the fossil age as new evaluation reveals wind and solar energy produced a file quantity of the world’s electrical energy final yr.

The renewables generated 12 per cent of world electrical energy in 2022, up from 10 per cent the earlier yr, in line with the report from clear power assume tank Ember.

And whereas a small improve in coal burning pushed electrical energy emissions as much as an all-time excessive, analysts predict this would be the peak of air pollution.

‘Pure buffer’: Might this tiny purple crab assist defend the Nice Barrier Reef?

Scientists combating to avoid wasting the Nice Barrier Reef have found a brand new secret weapon – a tiny purple crab.

The Nice Barrier Reef is likely one of the pure wonders of the world. However lots of its reef-building corals have been devoured by plagues of poisonous crown-of-thorns (COTS) starfish.

A bit crab might assist to cease that. The purple decorator crab – or ‘Schizophrys aspera’ – has a voracious urge for food for the juvenile starfish, analysis from the College of Queensland has proven.

‘Actually encouraging’: Plastic bag bans work, say campaigners

Plastic baggage are in every single place – littering our streets, clogging up our rivers, and choking wildlife within the ocean.

However after years of campaigning from environmental teams, many locations have banned them fully.

Over 100 nations now have a full or partial ban on single-use plastic baggage. Between 2010 and 2019, the variety of public insurance policies supposed to section out plastic carryout baggage tripled.

The outcomes of such powerful guidelines are beginning to present.

Wildlife crossings: US rolls out $350 million in funding to stop collisions and enhance habitats

The US Division of Transportation is rolling out funding for wildlife crossings alongside busy roads.

Research present than greater than 350 million vertebrate animals are killed by visitors within the US every year.

In the meantime, about 200 individuals are killed every year in collisions involving wildlife and automobiles within the US, in line with federal officers.

Now, Indigenous teams in addition to state and native governments could have entry to $350 million (€320) to fight the difficulty.

UK proposes ban on plastic moist wipes to sort out water air pollution

The UK is seeking to ban plastic moist wipes that clog up the nation’s sewers.

Underneath a plan to sort out water air pollution, the federal government is launching a public session on whether or not to do away with plastic wipes. Some retailers like grocery store Tesco and well being and wonder firm Boots have already stopped promoting them in favour of biodegradable options.

Though these options can be found, most merchandise nonetheless include plastic which doesn’t break down, sticks collectively and may create one thing generally known as a fatberg.

Constructive environmental tales from March 2023

Albania is our Inexperienced European nation of the month

The local weather and nature crises have thrown European nations into a brand new form of wholesome rivalry with one another.

Within the race to succeed in web zero emissions and restore depleted ecosystems, any nation’s win is a victory for all of us. However seeking to essentially the most constructive examples on the continent can assist encourage and strain our personal politicians to comply with go well with.

In March, we’re celebrating a European nation that has achieved the proper factor for certainly one of its most treasured pure options: Albania.

‘Safeguard our future’: Australia passes regulation capping oil and gasoline emissions for the primary time

Australia has handed powerful new legal guidelines capping oil and gasoline emissions.

The breakthrough laws requires coal mines and oil refineries to curb their emissions by about 5 per cent every year.

The centre-left Labor authorities behind the brand new legal guidelines estimate it would forestall 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the following decade.

‘A win for local weather justice of epic proportions’: UN vote might push nations to take local weather motion

United Nations member states have adopted a historic decision on local weather justice. 

It goals to carry extremely polluting nations legally liable for failing to deal with the local weather disaster.

Greater than 130 UN member states voted for the decision on the Basic Meeting in New York on Wednesday.

It calls on the world’s highest courtroom, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice, to make clear states’ obligations to sort out the local weather emergency.

Gravity batteries: Deserted mines might retailer sufficient power to energy ‘your complete earth’

Repurposed underground mines might retailer sufficient power to energy “your complete earth” for a day, new analysis suggests.

Throughout good climate situations, wind and photo voltaic typically generate extra energy than a grid can use. So the place can we retailer this extra power?

In accordance with scientists on the Worldwide Institute for Utilized Programs Evaluation (IIASA), deserted mines might present an answer.

This Danish artist has hidden large, recycled picket trolls the world over

Danish artist Thomas Dambo is thought for utilizing recycled wooden to create massive, formidable sculptures.

After developing 99 picket trolls throughout Denmark, Belgium, Germany, the USA, Puerto Rico and South Korea, he’s simply added a one centesimal to the collection. However it’s in a thriller location.

To seek out the one centesimal troll you need to discover all 99 others first. Might this be the world’s greatest treasure hunt?

Might this vibrant plant-based movie substitute the necessity for air-con?

Vitality-intensive, chemical-leaking air-con items take a devastating toll on our planet.

Now, scientists at Cambridge College within the UK are engaged on an eco-friendly different. Their invention consists of a plant-based movie that stays cool when uncovered to daylight.

The fabric might sometime be used to maintain buildings and vehicles cool with out the necessity for exterior energy. Coming in a spread of textures and vivid iridescent colors, it’s aesthetically pleasing too.

How the EU’s new power system might prevent cash

After nearly two years of huge power payments dropping onto European doorsteps, the EU has proposed modifications to its electrical energy market to ease strain on shoppers and enhance renewable energy manufacturing.

The proposed reform introduces new protections for households and small companies in addition to giving them extra selections round their electrical energy contracts.

It additionally helps extra secure, long-term contracts between EU industries or EU governments and renewable energy producers to spice up low-cost, inexperienced energy manufacturing and restrict risky costs brought on by fossil fuels.

This firm has give you a cutting-edge method to recycle EV batteries

As the entire of Europe strikes in direction of the power transition, French mining group Eramet is creating strategies to recycle essential metals utilized in electrical vehicles.

The purpose is to reuse metals reminiscent of nickel, cobalt and lithium to make new batteries.

It’s all a part of the trouble to stay to The European Parliament’s new regulation banning the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles from 2035.

The rise of electrical automobiles has led to a ban on new petrol stations on this US metropolis

A US metropolis is banning new petrol stations as lawmakers say they really feel an “obligation” to sort out local weather change.

Lousiville, close to Denver within the state of Colorado, is dwelling to round 21,000 individuals and at present has 5 stations. A sixth was not too long ago permitted but it surely may very well be town’s final.

The brand new native laws notes that “gasoline station bans may be seen as selling the usage of Electrical Autos (EVs), thus, lowering car emissions and inspiring low-carbon and cleaner power choices for transportation.”

The richest nation in Europe is celebrating three years of free public transport

If you happen to’ve been dwelling within the tiny EU state of Luxembourg you’ll have already got had entry to free public transport for the final three years.

Unsurprisingly on the anniversary of this novel and seemingly very costly public initiative, nearly everybody who makes use of trams, buses and trains within the tiny EU state says they’re proud of it.

“Because it’s free, it is simpler to decide shortly, to decide on between public transport or a personal automobile. Which means it is extremely constructive for the setting and sensible,” one man stated while utilizing the tram in Luxembourg Metropolis.

Good boy turned dangerous: Anxious canine discovered his eternally dwelling in an unlikely place

Inmates in a Tasmanian jail have adopted a canine that was so anxious nobody else needed him.

“Caesar would fret a lot when he went out that he was truly solely pleased when he was right here,” says jail officer Wayne Schulze.

Ten-year-old Caesar suffers from such excessive separation anxiousness, he can’t be left alone for greater than half-hour.

He’s now having fun with a contented, safe life behind bars, showered with consideration.

Shark within the water: This robotic can acquire 21,000 plastic bottles in a day

Richard Hardiman first got here up with the concept for a water-cleaning robotic after seeing two males wrestle to catch garbage from their boat in his dwelling metropolis of Cape City, South Africa.

Impressed by a whale shark’s vast mouth – which scoops up no matter is in entrance of it – his firm Ran Marine created the WasteShark.

“I liken it to a Roomba for water. It is an autonomous machine that scoops up air pollution out of water on the floor stage,” says Richard.

Photo voltaic panels may very well be put in within the areas between railway tracks in world first

Photo voltaic panels are being rolled out “like carpet” on railway tracks in Switzerland.

Swiss start-up Solar-Methods is putting in panels close to Buttes practice station within the west of the nation in Could, pending sign-off from the Federal Workplace of Transport.

Because the local weather disaster calls for that we pace up Europe’s power transition, builders have been seeing new potential in uncommon surfaces.

Roadsides, reservoirs and farms are all discovering area for photo voltaic techniques. And Germany’s Deutsche Bahn can also be experimenting with including photo voltaic cells to railway sleepers.

York Minster, Pompeii, the Vatican: How heritage websites are discreetly making solar energy

Photo voltaic panels will quickly be fitted on the roof of York Minster in northern England.

Confronted with rising payments and local weather issues, the historic cathedral is popping to renewable power – and following within the footsteps of different historic websites throughout Europe together with the Vatican and Pompeii.

The 199 photovoltaic (PV) tiles, not too long ago permitted by the Metropolis of York Council, will generate 75,000 KwH of energy yearly – or sufficient electrical energy for round 25 common UK households. 

US to restrict poisonous ‘eternally chemical compounds’ in ingesting water

The USA has proposed inserting the primary ever federal limits on poisonous ‘eternally chemical compounds’ in ingesting water.

The chemical compounds have been discovered to be harmful in quantities so small as to be undetectable.

Limiting them will save 1000’s of lives and forestall critical sicknesses, together with most cancers, the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) says.

Household of huge cats are actually dwelling a ‘tiger-worthy life’ after 15 years inside a practice carriage

A yr in the past 4 Bengal tigers have been rescued from a practice carriage on a farm in Argentina.

The cats have tailored nicely to their new life and are having fun with roaming (and lazing) of their new dwelling.

“Huge cats are so resilient. It’s actually great to see how they’re rehabilitated they usually have began blooming and stepping into their very own persona,” says head caretaker at LIONSROCK Huge Cat Sanctuary, Hildegard Pilker.

French islanders rejoice sixth egg-laying of ‘Emma’, a 150kg inexperienced turtle

Three centuries of human settlement on Reunion Island close to Mauritius have been sufficient to eradicate child turtles from the seashores till 2004.

However years of conservation work have as soon as once more made the French abroad division a hospitable place for the globally endangered species.

Weighing 150kg, 30-year-old Emma is certainly one of two reproductive turtles in Reunion. She has not too long ago given start to her sixth spherical of eggs. 

‘Float-ovoltaics’: How floating photo voltaic panels in reservoirs might revolutionise world energy

Floating photo voltaic panels on reservoirs might produce 3 times as a lot electrical energy as your complete EU, a brand new examine has proven.

In accordance with the examine printed within the journal Nature, overlaying 30 per cent of the floor of the world’s 115,000 reservoirs with photo voltaic might generate 9,434 terawatt hours of energy yearly.

That’s greater than triple the power manufacturing of the EU, which reached 2,785.44 terawatt hours in 2021.

EU agrees to push for worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels at COP28

European Union nations have agreed to push for the worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels at COP28.

It’s a part of the bloc’s promise to help and speed up the power transition forward of the local weather summit in Dubai this November.

Confronted with local weather change, biodiversity loss, air pollution and the fallout of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, the EU says that our dependence on fossil fuels leaves us weak.

Household of huge cats are actually dwelling a ‘tiger-worthy life’ after 15 years inside a practice carriage

A yr in the past 4 Bengal tigers have been discovered trapped a practice carriage on a farm in Argentina, the place that they had been dwelling for 15 years.

The 2 eldest animals had been left behind by a circus who now not deemed them worthy of performing. 

The household of 4 have been rescued and transported to LIONSROCK Huge Cat Sanctuary in South Africa final yr and are actually on the highway to restoration.

Electrical ferries and vehicles may very well be charged like toothbrushes with this tech breakthrough

Electrical ferries and automobiles might quickly be charged wirelessly after an thrilling technological breakthrough.

Till now, inductive charging – the place there’s no contact between the machine and conductor – has been unable to ship the excessive energy that electrical car batteries want. The tactic has solely labored for small gadgets, like electrical toothbrushes and a few cellphones.

However new elements have enabled scientists at a Swedish college to point out that the recharging of city ferries and metropolis buses is feasible with out human or robotic palms.

German mayors on why they’re giving local weather activists (a few of) what they need

Throughout Germany, cities are hanging offers with local weather activists to cease roads from being blocked by protests.

In Hannover, Mayor Belit Onay introduced final week that he helps a few of environmental protest group Final Era’s calls for. Not lengthy after, the cities of Tübingen and Marburg adopted go well with.

“You’ll be able to’t do this – glue your self to the highway. But when I get upset about it, I will not get an inch additional. If I converse to individuals and discover a resolution, one which meets the pursuits of town in each approach, that appears to me a wise method to go,” says Marburg’s Dr Thomas Spies.

Floating photo voltaic and trash mountains: How the Netherlands grew to become Europe’s solar energy chief

The land-stretched Netherlands is discovering progressive locations to place new renewable power capability. 

A 25-metre-tall hill of family and enterprise waste coated in photo voltaic panels generates sufficient electrical energy for about 2,500 households. Automotive parks, business lakes, sheep grazing fields, strawberry farms, disused church buildings, practice stations and airfields are additionally lined with panels.

The nation now has greater than 48 million photo voltaic panels put in – a mean of two per inhabitant.

Recycling useless photo voltaic panels isn’t straightforward. These Australian scientists might need discovered an answer

Photo voltaic panels are key to the clear power transition. However 90 per cent at present find yourself in landfill as soon as they’ve stopped working.

A group of researchers from Australia’s Deakin College are working to vary that.

They’ve developed a brand new thermal and chemical method to extract silicon from the out of date panels.

Automotive-free future: Europe’s longest cycle tunnel goals to chop visitors on this Norwegian metropolis

Norway’s Bergen is gearing as much as open the world’s longest purpose-built pedestrian and bicycle tunnel.

On 15 April 2023, the two.9km tunnel will open to the general public with operating and biking occasions. It takes round 10 minutes to cycle by and 30 to 45 minutes to stroll by.

Generally known as the Fyllingsdalstunnelen, the tunnel cuts by the Løvstakken mountain within the southwest Norwegian metropolis, linking the residential areas of Fyllingsdalen and Mindemyren. Cyclists can proceed on to the centre of Bergen utilizing current routes.

US obtained a record-breaking 40% of its power from carbon-free sources in 2022, report reveals

Carbon-free sources provided over 40 per cent of the US’s whole power output in 2022, a brand new report reveals. That is an all-time excessive.

The determine combines renewable era – reminiscent of photo voltaic, wind and hydro – and nuclear energy. Nuclear and hydropower remained at comparable ranges to earlier years, so nearly all of this improve comes from wind and photo voltaic.

Scotland turns into the primary nation to ban the high-emissions anaesthetic desflurane

Scotland has banned the inhaled anaesthetic desflurane because of its devastating influence on the local weather. It’s the first nation on the planet to take action.

The gasoline, which is used to place sufferers to sleep safely throughout surgical procedure, has a worldwide warming potential 2,500 occasions better than carbon dioxide, in line with the UK’s Nationwide Well being Service (NHS).

Numerous hospitals in different elements of the UK have already begun phasing out the anaesthetic. NHS England plans to cease utilizing desflurane utterly by early 2024, besides in distinctive

Catching poachers was nearly unattainable till this Dutch firm invented a brand new sort of digital camera

Poachers are the long-standing enemy of wildlife conservation.

In nationwide parks throughout Africa it may be nearly unattainable to catch them red-handed. That’s the place Dutch tech firm Hack the Planet is available in.

“We developed a sensible digital camera system that may, in actual time, observe down individuals or animals in big distant areas,” explains Hack the Planet’s engineer, Thijs Suijten.

Constructive environmental tales from February 2023

First pangolin born in Europe ‘doing nicely’ after zookeepers fed her cat milk

A Chinese language pangolin has been born at a European zoo for the primary time.

Welcomed into the world at Prague Zoo, the pangolin child is the primary of her critically endangered species to be born in captivity in Europe.

The tiny scaly-skinned mammal – nicknamed ‘Little Cone’ as a result of she resembles a spruce cone – is doing nicely after some preliminary troubles, the park in February.

How breeding low-emissions sheep might convey down farming’s methane footprint

In a bid to sort out local weather change, British farmers are attempting to breed low-methane emitting sheep.

When sheep fart and belch, they launch methane gasoline. Over a 20 yr interval, this highly effective substance is about 80 occasions worse highly effective than carbon dioxide for trapping warmth within the ambiance, thereby inflicting world warming.

However farmers are turning to genetic engineering to convey these emissions down.

Funga: How does the world’s first fungi-powered carbon elimination venture work?

How will we help our timber, whereas on the similar time tightening up the offset schemes that depend on them?

The reply lies in a “galaxy under our ft”, in line with the enterprising ecologists behind Funga, the world’s first firm utilizing the fungal microbiome to create business carbon offsetting credit.

Analysis has proven that the reintroduction of untamed soil microbial biodiversity can speed up plant progress by a mean of 64 per cent.

World’s oldest European hedgehog might present hope for the way forward for the species

The world’s oldest European hedgehog has been discovered at a Danish volunteer venture.

The posthumous discovery was the results of the Danish Hedgehog Challenge, a citizen science initiative that requested volunteers to gather useless hedgehogs within the identify of conservation analysis.

They have been shocked to find that one of many hogs was 16 years previous, making it the oldest scientifically documented European hedgehog ever discovered.

“If a hedgehog can attain an age of 16 years, there’s nonetheless hope for the inhabitants,” says Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, who led the College of Oxford analysis venture.

Warmth pumps prevented 8m tonnes of CO2 emissions in Europe final yr

A file variety of warmth pumps have been bought final yr in Europe.

Knowledge from Europe reveals that 3 million items changed round 4 billion cubic metres of pure gasoline in 2022 – the equal of avoiding 8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

It signifies that warmth pumps are actually serving to Europe to keep away from 54 megatonnes of CO2 or roughly the equal annual emissions of Greece.

Stay in an house? This new photo voltaic know-how lower might your payments in half

A housing block in Wales has been fitted with a ‘world-first’ photo voltaic system that connects all of the flats to the identical rooftop panels.

The residents of Odet Court docket in Cardiff are set to avoid wasting 50 per cent off their power payments because of the brand new know-how, which might meet as much as 75 per cent of every flat’s electrical energy demand.

Australian producer Allume Vitality claims that its ‘SolShare’ mannequin is the one know-how that allows photo voltaic power from a single rooftop system to be shared by a number of houses in the identical constructing.

Child kangaroo poo may very well be the key to stopping cows’ methane farts, researchers say

Kangaroo poo may very well be a stunning ally within the combat in opposition to methane-spewing cow farts.

It could sound like science fiction from the mind of a ten yr previous, however scientists at Washington State College are placing the roo poo to the check.

The researchers added a microbial tradition produced from child kangaroo faeces plus a identified methane inhibitor to a cow abdomen simulator. The end result? It produced acetic acid as an alternative of methane.

In contrast to the greenhouse gasoline, acetic acid isn’t emitted as flatulence and really advantages cows by aiding muscle progress. So it’s one thing of a win-win scenario.

Gentle air pollution: Metropolis of London to ask high-rise buildings to change off their lights at night time

London’s night-time skyline may quickly look very completely different, as metropolis authorities draft guidelines requiring skyscrapers to dim their lights in a single day.

The initiative will “lower mild air pollution and save power”, promised the Metropolis of London Company, the monetary district governing physique.

If the brand new plans are adopted, buildings within the Sq. Mile – the London space the place most of its excessive rise buildings are clustered – will likely be requested to change off pointless constructing lights after darkish.

Wildlife Photographer of the 12 months: ‘Dream’ shot of elusive snow leopard wins individuals’s alternative award

An elusive snow leopard is the successful topic of the newest Wildlife Photographer of the 12 months’s Individuals’s Selection Award.

It’s not straightforward to seize a ‘ghost of the mountain’ as they’re identified within the Indian Himalayas.

German photographer Sascha Fonseca launched into a three-year bait-free digital camera entice venture with a view to pose the massive cat so completely in opposition to the pink and purple sundown.

‘Tipping level’: Renewable power to change into the world’s prime supply of electrical energy by 2025

In accordance with the Worldwide Vitality Company’s Electrical energy Market Report 2023, 90 per cent of recent electrical energy demand between now and 2025 will likely be coated by clear power sources like wind and photo voltaic, together with nuclear power.

This progress in output signifies that renewables will change into the world’s largest electrical energy supply inside three years – offering 35 per cent of the world’s electrical energy and overtaking coal.

Local weather win: Australia blocks new coal mine 10km from Nice Barrier Reef

Australia has blocked a proposal for a brand new coal mine close to the Nice Barrier Reef.

In February, the Australian authorities declined to grant permission for a brand new thermal coal venture simply off the coast of central Queensland.

The information comes after public outcry over potential dangers to the UNCECO World Heritage-listed reef.

Beavers are returning to London – they usually may defend a neighborhood practice station from flooding

Beavers will return to London for the primary time in 400 years – they usually might cease flooding at a neighborhood practice station.

Extensively hunted for his or her fur and meat, beavers went extinct in England in the course of the sixteenth century. However after a decade of profitable breeding packages, the semi-aquatic mammal is again. Now, they’re being reintroduced to London.

Switzerland’s photo voltaic dam: Why are mountains and snow the proper combine for photo voltaic power?

A snaking wall of photo voltaic panels has been hooked up to Switzerland’s Lake Muttsee dam, serving to the landlocked nation maximise its inexperienced power manufacturing within the winter months.

Over 7,800 ft (2,400 metres) above sea stage and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the dam’s nearly 5,000 photo voltaic panels produce 3.3 million kilowatt hours of power per yr, sufficient to produce round 700 homes. 

Putting in photo voltaic panels on these household houses led to spare money and extra free time

Again in 2014, seven households of UK social housing tenants have been stunned to be provided PV panels by their native authority.

Regardless of their preliminary scepticism, the households took possession of the chance to change into prosumers – each producing and consuming rooftop photo voltaic power – gaining cheaper entry to electrical energy and sharing it with their communities.

Watch the hunt for an elusive gray wolf as soon as considered extinct in France

The European gray wolf was as soon as widespread throughout the French countryside. By the nineteenth century, it solely occupied half of its historic territory. People decreased their habitat and hunted the species nearly to extinction. Then it disappeared fully in 1937.

However now the variety of wolves is rising once more in France with its inhabitants on the verge of exceeding 1,000 people.

World’s oldest canine narrowly escaped demise as a pet, proprietor reveals

A Portuguese pup has smashed the file for the oldest canine ever.

30-year-old Bobi has lived his whole life within the rural village of Conqueiros, in Leiria, western Portugal, in line with Guinness World Data.

Proprietor Leonel Costa has revealed Bobi’s rocky begin to life and his secret to longevity.

From a beef farm gone vegan to Scottish seaweed: All of the winners of PETA’s new Farming Awards

Agriculture is a significant supply of greenhouse gasoline emissions. To assist UK shoppers of their seek for local weather and animal-friendly meals, rights group Individuals for the Moral Remedy of Animals (PETA) has launched its first ever Farming Awards.

Specializing in moral, animal-free farming, the awards highlight producers for his or her eco-friendly practices and merchandise, from a seaweed farm in Scotland to a beef farmer who not too long ago moved all his cows to a sanctuary.

This French village enjoys ‘no payments’ after constructing wind generators and photo voltaic panels

Electrical energy payments rose throughout France on 1 February and steadily over the previous yr. However in tiny Muttersholtz – a French village with simply 2,200 inhabitants – the price-hike was greeted with some nonchalance.

Their municipal payments have been already close to zero because of pioneering use of solar energy and hydropower.

Constructive environmental tales from January 2023

Main milestone for EU power: Wind and photo voltaic produced extra electrical energy than gasoline in 2022

Wind and solar energy produced extra of the EU’s electrical energy than fossil gasoline for the primary time final yr.

The renewable energies have been liable for a file fifth (22 per cent) of the bloc’s electrical energy, a brand new report from clear power assume tank Ember reveals.

Portugal is buying and selling Cape Verde’s nationwide debt for local weather investments

Portugal has signed an settlement to swap Cape Verde’s debt for environmental investments.

Such ‘debt-for-nature’ offers are rising in different nations as a method to scale back the influence of local weather change. Additionally they contact on the dilemma of who ought to foot the invoice for local weather change mitigation.

Cape Verde owes round €140 million to the Portuguese state and over €400 million to its banks and different entities. In the end, this may now find yourself in an environmental and local weather fund established by Cape Verde.

Bees may very well be ensured protected flight round Europe by way of ‘buzz traces’

Making a community of ecological corridors is certainly one of a variety of measures within the European Fee’s ‘New Deal for Pollinators’.

One in three bee, butterfly and hoverfly species are at present disappearing within the EU, so we urgently have to reverse their decline by 2030.

The deal goals to do this by concentrating on their key adversaries: pesticides, air pollution, invasive alien species, altering land use and local weather change.

Invoice Gates is taking up cow burps by backing an Australian local weather tech start-up

Invoice Gates is funding an Australian start-up that hopes to fight methane-emitting cow burps.

Agriculture is the primary offender for human-caused methane emissions, one of many greatest drivers of world warming.

Australian local weather know-how start-up Rumin8 needs to sort out this situation by feeding cows seaweed.

Designer pets that undergo ‘depressing’ well being issues might quickly be banned within the Netherlands

The breeding of designer pets was banned within the Netherlands in 2014. Now the federal government is seeking to shut a loophole to cease the import and commerce of those breeds.

“Immediately we’re taking the massive step in direction of a Netherlands the place no pet has to undergo from his or her look,” the nation’s Minister of Tradition, Nature and Meals High quality, Piet Adema, stated in a press release.

The Minister stated he’s seeking to ban the possession of designer breeds in addition to images of them in promoting and on social media.

Greater than a fifth of power used within the European Union in 2021 got here from renewables

New Eurostat information reveals that photo voltaic, wind and different ‘inexperienced’ sources contributed 21.8 per cent to the EU’s whole power consumption.

Though this was a 0.3 per cent drop on 2020, the report reveals that Europe’s power infrastructure continues to be on target, spurred on by current world occasions.

Final month, the Worldwide Vitality Company revealed that the world is ready so as to add as a lot renewable energy within the subsequent 5 years because it did within the final 20.

Scientists identify three straightforward and low-cost options that would drastically lower emissions

New analysis has named three small interventions that would set off a cascade of decarbonisation and will be the quickest method to drive world motion.

These constructive tipping factors might have a snowball impact in a great way, drastically chopping carbon emissions in a few of the world’s most polluting sectors and giving us “believable grounds” for hope.

Paris makes headway on web zero as commuters cycle to work

Paris commuters took benefit of the capital’s newly expanded community of bicycle lanes to bypass public transport disruptions ensuing from a nationwide strike.

Bike lane visitors has typically surged throughout current strikes. The final Paris metro strike on 10 November boosted bike lane utilization by 80 per cent from common each day use that month. 

In a bid to make Paris a ‘biking metropolis’ and transfer in direction of carbon neutrality, Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo has invested greater than €150 million into new bike infrastructure in recent times.

France votes to ban deep-sea mining in its waters

The French Parliament has voted in favour of banning deep-sea mining in its waters, in an emphatic transfer in opposition to the controversial apply.

Deep-sea mining would see heavy equipment getting used on the ocean flooring to suck up small rocks containing uncommon metals. Although it’s nonetheless at an exploratory stage, corporations are very within the cobalt, nickel and manganese which may very well be extracted for automobile batteries.

However scientists are involved concerning the doubtlessly devastating influence on marine ecosystems. In addition to the local weather, given the huge quantities of CO2 saved at these depths.

Nicholas Thierry, the Inexperienced MP who tabled the movement, welcomed the vote as a “victory for the seabed and environmentalists.”

Edinburgh has endorsed the Plant Based mostly Treaty to fight local weather change

Edinburgh has change into the primary European capital to endorse a plant-based food plan to sort out the local weather emergency.

Town council has signed on to the Plant Based mostly Treaty, an initiative which goals to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions from animal agriculture.

The treaty might finally see the council introduce some carbon labelling on menus and transition to extra plant based mostly meals in faculties and council buildings.

Common journeys to the park might scale back individuals’s reliance on antidepressants

Visiting inexperienced areas can dramatically decrease psychological well being drug use, analysis has discovered.

Dropping right into a park, group backyard or different city inexperienced area between three and 4 occasions every week can lower individuals’s possibilities of taking medicine for anxiousness or melancholy by a 3rd.

The constructive influence – documented by researchers on the Finnish Institute for Well being and Welfare – additionally extends to bodily well being. Visiting inexperienced areas reduces the possibilities of a metropolis resident having to take bronchial asthma or hypertension medicine by a 3rd and 1 / 4, respectively.

Corporations will quickly need to show that they are surely taking local weather motion, underneath draft EU regulation

A draft European Union regulation would require corporations to again up inexperienced claims with proof.

The proposal will clamp down on corporations selling their merchandise as ‘local weather impartial’ or ‘containing recycled supplies’ if such labels are usually not substantiated. It goals to combat deceptive environmental commercials.

“By combating greenwashing, the proposal will guarantee a stage enjoying discipline for companies when advertising and marketing their greenness,” the draft doc states.

German solar energy agency sees hovering demand as householders search to chop power payments

Hovering demand for dwelling solar energy techniques in Germany might enhance revenues at Solarwatt by greater than 50 per cent this yr to €500 million. 

By putting in photo voltaic panels, batteries and warmth pumps, householders are in search of to chop their power payments after big value hikes final yr when Russia lower fossil gas exports to the West.

“We’re a life-long provider to individuals who wish to change into self-reliant on renewable power,” says solarwatt chief government Detlef Neuhaus. The corporate ought to attain profitability this yr.

Finland: Wind energy elevated by 75% final yr, boosting power safety and local weather targets

Finland’s wind energy capability elevated by 75 per cent final yr, in line with the Finnish Wind Vitality Affiliation (FWPA).

With nearly half of Finland’s wind energy domestically owned, the renewable power supply is offering a major lifeline in the course of the present power disaster.

The expansion in renewables can also be serving to Finland obtain its formidable local weather targets. The nation hopes to be one of many first in Europe to succeed in web zero, setting a 2035 goal – nicely forward of the EU’s 2050 objective.

‘Love Island’: Hit UK TV present to advertise sustainable style in newest collection

Hit UK actuality TV present ‘Love Island’ is again on 16 January – and pre-loved style is ready to steal the present as soon as once more.

In 2022, the collection ditched its quick style picture by partnering with eBay – the primary ever pre-loved style partnership on a TV present. Clothes from eBay’s on-line second hand market was worn by contestants as they descended on an unique location to search out love.

Searches for ‘pre-loved clothes’ soared by 1,600 per cent on eBay after the present aired.

New solar-powered know-how can remodel plastic waste into sustainable fuels and cosmetics

Scientists have developed a approach of remodeling plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels utilizing solar energy.

The system, developed by researchers on the College of Cambridge, might tackle plastic air pollution and change into a “game-changer” within the growth of a round economic system.

Ozone layer on observe to get better inside many years, UN stories

Human emissions of sure chemical compounds trigger a gap to open up within the ozone layer every year over the Antarctic. This impacts the flexibility of the ozone to guard life on Earth from the solar’s dangerous radiation.

Now, the 1987 Montreal Protocol, underneath which 197 nations pledged to section out ozone depleting chemical compounds, is paying off.

A UN-backed panel of specialists, presenting on the American Meteorological Society’s annual assembly yesterday, stated the ozone would heal by round 2066 over the Antarctic, by 2045 over the Arctic and by 2040 for the remainder of the world. 

Antalya goes photo voltaic: How this Turkish metropolis is remodeling its power provide

A big solar energy plant has been inbuilt Dağbeli, on the outskirts of Antalya, Turkey, to offer free power to native farmers.

Native growers within the fruit and vegetable farming hub say they as soon as avoided irrigating their crops correctly due to the excessive power costs. Some 60,000 individuals now profit from the help scheme, which provides farmers the means to run irrigation techniques and improve crop manufacturing.

Tobacco corporations should pay for clear up of discarded cigarettes in Spain

Spain has dominated that tobacco corporations should pay to scrub up cigarette butts.

Tens of millions of cigarette ends are tossed onto Spain’s streets and seashores by people who smoke every year.

The brand new environmental rules additionally embody bans on single-use plastic cutlery and plastic straws. The rulings are a part of an EU-wide drive to scale back waste and promote recycling.

England bans some single-use plastics

Single-use plastic objects together with cutlery and plates will quickly be banned in England, the federal government has introduced.

Every year, the nation makes use of round 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion objects of cutlery, in line with authorities estimates. Solely 10 per cent of those are recycled.

Now, setting secretary Thérèse Coffey has confirmed that such objects will likely be outlawed in England.

Round economic system: Human hair recycled to scrub waterways in Belgium

A Belgian NGO is utilizing human hair clippings to soak up environmental pollution.

Clippings are collected from hairdressers throughout the nation then changed into matted squares. These can be utilized to soak up oil and different hydrocarbons polluting the setting. 

The mats may be positioned in drains to take in air pollution in water earlier than it reaches a river. They will also be used to take care of air pollution issues because of flooding and to scrub up oil spills.

Lula plans to finish deforestation and make Brazil a inexperienced superpower

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president in January marking a brand new period for the nation’s environmental insurance policies.

Lula’s plans for presidency present a stark distinction to far-right former chief Jair Bolsonaro, whose 4 years in workplace have been characterised by backsliding on environmental protections.

The brand new president says he needs to show Brazil, one of many world’s prime meals producers, right into a inexperienced superpower.

Our favorite constructive environmental story from 2022

World’s oldest two-headed tortoise celebrates his twenty fifth birthday

Within the wild, a two-headed tortoise wouldn’t ordinarily survive lengthy since it will probably’t retract its heads into its shell to shelter from predators. However this month, Janus – named after the two-faced Roman God – grew to become the world’s oldest two-headed tortoise at 25.

Lovingly cared for at Geneva Pure Historical past Museum, he’s handled to a personalised care regime – together with each day massages and inexperienced tea baths – that retains him in good well being.

For extra excellent news on the setting from final yr, try all of Euronews Inexperienced’s constructive environmental tales from 2022.