Are UK Universities going bust?
Following a Channel 4 interview, minister for higher education, Baroness Jacqui Smith, has not ruled out the forced closure of UK universities due to a funding crisis. Record numbers of young people are getting their first-choice universities, and more disadvantaged students are getting places this year. This is excellent in...
Current in Planet
Is food becoming less nutritious?
Measurements of fruits and vegetables show that their minerals, vitamins, and protein content has dropped significantly since the 1950s. As the level of CO2 in the atmosphere continues to rise, researchers believe that human activity is to blame for this rapid decline in plant quality. The nutritional value of some...
Why Europe’s new tethered bottle caps are a necessary evil
Have you been scratched on the face while sipping from a plastic bottle with an attached cap? A significant change has swept across Europe’s beverage industry this summer. Since early July, all plastic drink bottles sold within the European Union are required to feature caps that remain tethered to the...
Biden administration plans to accelerate landfill methane cuts
Given the major concern of methane emissions from landfills, the Biden administration has proposed updates to reduce the nation’s high and often underestimated emissions from these sites. Methane emissions from landfills significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), municipal solid...
Temperatures soar to unprecedented heights
Earth just experienced its hottest day in recorded history. This has raised alarm bells among scientists and policymakers worldwide, who argue that it should serve as a wake-up-call. On Sunday July 21, Earth experienced its hottest day in history, with the planet’s average temperature soaring to a staggering 62.76°F...
The Supreme Court blocks plans to reduce US air pollution
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘Good Neighbour’ plan has been scrapped, signalling a dire shift away from green initiatives in US politics. Just weeks after the US presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump omitted any mention of global warming – despite it being a significant concern amongst Americans...
The global crisis of illegal turtle trade
Recent arrests in Malaysia have drawn attention to the illegal turtle trade – a thriving black market industry worth billions that’s decimating vulnerable turtle populations to meet demand. Earlier this month, Malaysian authorities apprehended six members of an international wildlife smuggling syndicate known as the ‘Ninja Turtle Gang.’ During the raid, they rescued approximately 200 turtles and tortoises, their total value exceeding $52,000. This was the second of two...
Kenya’s coastal communities fight illegal logging with hidden beehives
Stretching along the coastline, the mangrove forests provide a bulwark against coastal erosion, nurture an array of marine life, and play an essential role in the global carbon cycle. Yet, the mangroves face a relentless threat from illegal logging, driven by demand for timber and charcoal. An innovative idea is turning the tide in favour of mangrove conservation. Thought out by locals, the hidden beehives ploy is now spearheaded by...
Deadly mudslides in Southern Ethiopia highlight need for climate adaptation
Southern Ethiopia has witnessed a devastating mudslide triggered by torrential rains, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. The country’s calamity gives an alarm to the East Africa’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events, a grim reality exacerbated by climate change. The recent mudslide in Southern Ethiopia's mountainous region has left behind a trail of destruction, claiming more than 200 lives and sweeping away homes, livestock, and infrastructure. Communities...
What France’s hung parliament means for climate policy
A now hung parliament in France is likely to complicate the country's efforts to address climate change and its path to net zero. French elections have had Europe on the edge of its seat. President Emmanuel Macron called upon the snap elections after the centrist alliance suffered a heavy defeat to the far-right party National Rally (RN) in the European Parliament elections, hoping such a move would catch RN off...
