Climate Change

England set to introduce a ban on single-use plastics

What’s going on here?  The UK government has set out plans to ban the sale of certain single-use plastics. This includes items such as plastic cutlery, plates, and polystyrene trays. The ban is set to come into effect by October 2023. What does this mean? The environmental impact of plastic pollution is well understood. Plastic pollution is so pervasive that it has…

Germany – energy vs. the environment

Lützerath and Garzweiler coal mine

Back in 2021 Germany was celebrating the election of a new coalition government (which includes the Green party) and hopes were high for a new era of environmental action. But now, Germany, like much of Europe, is struggling with energy supply issues due to the war on Ukraine. As a result, it looks extremely likely that climate policies will fall, as short term solutions for this more immediate issue take priority. A small town called Lützerath has become a key site in this battle between energy and the environment…

Nigeria’s mangrove forests under threat from oil spills and development

Mangrove Forest in Nigeria

What’s going on here?  Nigeria’s mangrove forests are threatened by oil spills and development projects, damaging these precious ecosystems and causing coastal erosion. The Niger Delta mangroves have been so depleted due to these activities that experts warn that without urgent action they will be lost entirely by the year 2050. What does this mean? Nigeria’s mangrove forests provide habitats for wildlife,…

A happy, healthy, and green New Year!

So, here we are, 2023! The last few years have been tough for everyone, and whilst we can’t promise things will get easier, we do know that taking action for the climate can help to improve our mental health as well as benefit the environment – it’s a win win! With that in mind, we asked some of the Curious.Earth team to share their New Year Resolutions to give you some inspiration…

The United States will Provide Millions in Funding to Native American Lands Threatened by Climate Change

River and Mountains in Alaska, USA.

What’s Going on Here?  The Biden Administration announced last Wednesday (Nov 30th) that it would provide USD $135 million (£110m) to Native American tribes facing imminent threats from climate change. The funding represents one of the largest efforts by the United States to relocate communities due to the physical impacts from global warming.  What Does This Mean? The funds are being provided…

Carbon neutral claims based on ‘useless’ offsets, reveals Bloomberg

wind farm

What’s going on here? Many large companies, including airlines and energy companies – notoriously big emitters – claim to be carbon neutral. They do so by purchasing carbon offsets: paying to reduce carbon somewhere else to compensate for their own emissions. But a new report by Bloomberg Green uncovers that these offsets are mostly low quality, and potentially useless. What does this…

There’s not mushroom in our net zero goals for concrete – revolutionising the construction industry with mycelium bricks

Close up image of mushroom. Its colour is yellow/orange and the fibres are visible. Black background.

There’s always going to be a need for construction, whether that’s homes, hospitals or offices. But, the environmental impacts of construction materials such as concrete are alarming. It’s time for the construction industry to be revolutionised to keep up with global targets of reducing emissions. This is a realistic goal too, as alternative sustainable materials already exist.  Creating mush-less-room for concrete  So,…

Global population hits 8 billion

Crowd of people crossing street

What’s Going On Here? On the 15th November the global population reached 8 billion, according to the United Nations. It’s just 12 years since the world celebrated the birth of its 7 billionth resident. But look closer and this data contains some trends which might surprise you. What Does This Mean? The world’s population is still growing, but slower than before. It’s…