Japanese scientists find microplastics in Earth’s clouds
Tiny particles of plastic have been found in clouds for the first time. Scientists in Japan say their presence risks exacerbating climate change and contaminating ‘everything we eat and drink’. Is nowhere on Earth sacred anymore? Nope, not even the clouds above us. When surveying cloud water near Mount Fuji...
Current in Planet
Corporations soon have to report their carbon emissions in California
California is about to sign off on a deal to become the first US state requiring large companies to report their carbon emissions. This will affect around 5,400 firms which make more than $1bn in annual revenue. Considering filling out tax forms for the prior year proves too difficult a...
How the G20 summit addressed member nations’ top challenges
The annual G20 summit tackled major global challenges, while also providing India with an opportunity to showcase its growing global stature as the host nation. The 18th G20 Summit was held in Delhi, India over a two-day period. The summit was attended by leaders from member countries, as well as...
Could preserving remote work options help society reach net zero?
As the pandemic becomes a distant memory, remote work is starting to dwindle – especially in the corporate world. A new study warns against this backward trend, pointing to work-from-home options as a viable strategy for minimising our carbon footprint. Throughout the global pandemic, millions of people were forced...
Catastrophic flooding is occurring in ten countries simultaneously
Storms of unprecedented strength and ferocity have cropped up unexpectedly around the world. Though countries in conflict and poverty have been the hardest hit by these events, climate scientists have warned that ‘nowhere is immune.’ For those looking for a positive news story to start the week, I apologise in...
UN warns that ‘climate breakdown has begun’
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Earth just had its hottest summer on record, prompting calls for global leaders to ‘turn up the heat now’ on solutions. The summer of 2023, which saw heatwaves, fires, and floods destroy livelihoods across the globe, from North and South America, to Europe, India,...
Biden cancels Trump-approved oil and gas leases in the Arctic
In a massive win for the planet, the Biden administration has confirmed the cancellation of seven controversial oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, citing the need to conserve nature and protect Indigenous rights. This week, the Biden administration confirmed its intent to cancel seven controversial oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, originally authorised in the waning days of the Trump administration. The leases...
Africa’s first Climate Summit 2023 resolutions, criticisms, and challenges
The just concluded Africa Climate Summit, a significant gathering of leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, unfolded for 3 days against the backdrop of pressing environmental challenges. Governments, organisations, and heads of African states deliberated on crucial resolutions to address climate change, carbon credits, and various environmental issues, amid a backdrop of criticism from young activists. The inaugural Africa Climate Summit, which concluded on Wednesday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in...
Antarctica’s pollution crisis demands global attention
As the world grapples with the ever-pressing issue of environmental degradation, an unexpected frontier comes into focus – Antarctica, where the alarming presence of contaminants challenges its ecology. At the northern tip of Antarctica lies the Casey research station, one of the three biggest stations overseen by the Australian Antarctic Division. The base has long provided a staging ground for scientists to research the region's geology and polar seafloor. In recent...
A new policy could end low-cost flights in the EU
France's Transport Minister has said ‘€10 flights aren’t possible anymore,’ because they do not properly reflect plane travel’s impact on the environment. He plans to propose a new minimum flight price policy to the EU. Europeans may soon be waving goodbye to cheap city breaks if a new proposal aimed at ending low-cost flights within the EU is accepted. Putting forward the idea is Clément Beaune, France’s Transport Minister. His aim...
