What’s happening to Antarctic sea ice?
It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, when sea ice typically forms around Antarctica. This year, however, that growth has been stunted, hitting a record low by a wide margin. It’s deep winter in Antarctica, the time of year that the continent is shrouded in darkness and surrounded by millions of...
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Spain harnesses the power of horses to tackle uncontrollable wildfires
Free-roaming horses might seem like unlikely aides in the face of such a challenging foe, but ecologists believe they have a critical role to play in mitigating future wildfire risks. Thousands are currently trapped in an inferno that’s gripping the Mediterranean. This is expected to last for weeks as global temperatures...
Italy is removing LGBTQIA+ parents from birth certificates
It’s one of many crackdowns on the queer community since far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni came to power. Italy is often seen as the land of love. Breathtaking seascapes, decadent food, and an intoxicating language have earned it this status of romantic mecca. But the country’s government seems to be...
Understanding Uganda’s TotalEnergies’ lawsuit
Ugandan activists are legally fighting TotalEnergies, the French multinational oil and gas company. This lawsuit shines a spotlight on the human rights and environmental concerns surrounding the company’s operations in Uganda. Uganda has become an attractive destination for multinational corporations seeking to exploit its abundance of resources. This rush for...
Artificial grass a huge contributor to marine plastic pollution crisis
A recent study has uncovered that tiny plastic fibres used to produce AstroTurf often wind up in water bodies close to major cities, posing a substantial threat to ocean ecology. AstroTurf (AT) is a surfacing material that simulates natural grass by using synthetic, primarily plastic, fibres in different shapes, sizes,...
Scientists warn the Gulf Stream shutdown could happen this century
According to a new study, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) – which helps regulate the Northern Hemisphere’s climate – could collapse any time between 2025 and 2095. A critical system of ocean currents could collapse far sooner than previously predicted under the pressure of human-driven climate change; an alarming...
Europe set to bake under extreme heat for weeks
Temperatures across the globe are predicted to break records and exacerbate wildfires as the dire consequences of climate change become more apparent with each passing year. At present, thousands find themselves trapped in the inferno that’s gripping the Mediterranean. This is expected to last for weeks as global temperatures soar and records continue being broken. In Greece, which is currently battling to contain wildfires that have prompted authorities to...
Japan to release radioactive water into ocean
The Japanese government plans to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean, but the plan doesn’t come without controversy. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, triggered a massive tsunami along Japan’s Pacific coastline. The incident caused the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster. The Investigation Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations (ICANPS) was...
Consultation launched to make period products free in Northern Ireland
Last Monday, the Executive Office of Stormont (Northern Irish Assembly) launched a public consultation to make period products free to all. The consultation follows the passing of the Period Products Act last year, which made products freely available in schools, colleges and all public buildings, including governmental buildings. The bill was introduced by Social Democratic and Labour Party politician Pat Catney in an attempt to tackle period poverty, which has increased...
Scotland wants to decriminalise drug possession
Under the new policies and proposed legislative changes, the country’s government wants to allow people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded.
As part of a new effort to tackle Scotland’s chronically high drug death rates, the country’s government is challenging Westminster to decriminalise all illicit substances for personal use.
During a press conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland’s drugs policy minister
