Author page: Jonny Wilkinson

Deep-sea mining could get greenlight without rules to protect underwater life

Fish in an underwater cave

What’s going on here? The International Seabed Authority (ISA) missed an important deadline last week to agree exploitation regulations for deep-sea mining. The UN authority is now racing to finalise them or find another plan before the mining industry starts applying for exploitation permits. What does this mean?  The missed deadline means companies could rush to the ocean floor to dig up…

Air quality filters accidentally collecting biodiversity data

A badger in the wild

Whatʼs going on here? Air quality monitoring stations dotted around the planet have been inadvertently collecting airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) without anybody noticing, finds a new report. The remarkable discovery reveals that thousands of filters routinely testing for pollutants are unintentionally breathing in trace eDNA shed by animals, plants, and fungi. What does this mean? In recent years, researchers have discovered eDNA…

Indigenous leaders call for policies to end ‘green colonialism’

A copper mine in Utah, USA.

What’s going on here? Indigenous leaders are putting pressure on clean energy mining projects to consult them before they extract minerals on their lands. At the 22nd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, they are calling for binding policies. Mining projects should have to obtain their ‘free, prior, and informed consent’ (FPIC) before breaking ground. What does this mean? …

Pressure mounts at COP15 for business to disclose harm to nature

Rainforest in Costa Rica

What’s going on here? The UN biodiversity conference COP15 closes on 19 December and there’s mounting pressure for the agreement to require companies to disclose their harm to nature. What does this mean? Target 15 in the draft Global Biodiversity Framework would require all large business and financial institutions to disclose their impacts and dependencies on nature. It also contains an objective…

Climate anxiety common in young people all over the world

Someone looking anxious and holding their head in their hands

What’s going on here? New research has revealed that climate anxiety is common in young people on almost every continent – not just in western countries. What does this mean? The most international study on climate anxiety ever asked over 10,000 university students in 32 countries to disclose their feelings about climate change. The recently published findings found that climate breakdown scares…

Solar panel sales through the roof

Someone installing solar panels on a roof

What’s going on here? Escalating energy bills have boosted solar panel sales in the UK, reports the BBC. The trade association Solar Energy UK says “more solar panels are being put on British roofs than ever before.” What does this mean? Solar panel providers are carrying out more than 3,000 installations a week, according to Solar Energy UK. Those 3,000 setups are…