Does Brockwell Park battle prove festivals are another form of gentrification?
When London’s green sanctuaries become private playgrounds, who truly holds the key to public space? Last month, Brockwell Park underwent its annual transformation from local haven to festival fortress. Surrounded by temporary fencing and housing a swathe of stages and food vans, tens of thousands prepared to descend on the...
Current in Planet
Scientists discover new marine species in the Southern Ocean
While exploring the Southern ocean’s deepest trench, scientists encountered hydrothermal vents, lush coral gardens, and more previously unseen marine species. While many of us grew up hearing spooky stories about giant squid lurking in the deepest parts of the ocean, scientists had never been able to confirm the existence of...
Subglacial groundwater in Antarctica may accelerate sea level rise
Scientists recently uncovered a vast hidden groundwater system beneath Antarctica’s ice that could potentially change how we understand and predict rising sea levels. For a long time, experts around the world hypothesised the possible existence of deep groundwater beneath the ice sheet. However, there was no direct evidence or detailed mapping...
Dartmoor ‘Right to Roam’ reinstated in nature milestone for UK
After a lengthy legal battle with wealthy landowner, Alexander Darwall, the right to roam, picnic, and camp in Dartmoor National Park has been reinstated by the Supreme Court. Earlier today, the Supreme Court made the decision to fully reinstate the ‘Right to Roam’ within Dartmoor National Park. The decision comes...
The UK’s River Ouse becomes the first river to be granted legal rights
Earlier this year, the River Ouse in Sussex became the first river in all of England and Wales to be granted legal rights. Could this be a turning point in the protection of the UK’s rivers, or will the lack of official ‘personhood’ hinder the movement? In February of this...
Amazon boss says UK needs more nuclear power for AI
If the UK wants to keep up with the demands of AI services, it will need to invest in nuclear power to run its data centres, says Amazon boss Matt Garman. The UK needs to invest in nuclear power if it wants to build AI infrastructure, Amazon Web Services boss...
Dutch climate campaigners vow to take Shell to court again
Originally arguing that Shell should reduce its emissions by 45% in line with the Paris climate agreement, Dutch climate non-profit Milieudefensie has vowed to take Shell to court for a second time in quick succession. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again. Abiding by this mantra, Dutch climate non-profit ‘Milieudefensie’ is hoping that getting Shell back in court will prove more fruitful than the last time out. Initially...
Danish company Ørsted cancels big UK windfarm project
The fourth stage of a project at Hornsea windfarm in Yorkshire has been cancelled. The intention was to build enough wind turbines to power 1 million homes in the UK. Ørsted, the world’s biggest wind power developer, has cancelled plans for project Hornsea 4. Based in Yorkshire, Hornsea 4 would have installed enough wind turbines at the windfarm site to power over 1 million homes. The Danish company said the...
Trump halts development of annual US Climate Assessment report
In a world where climate reports are central to driving environmental action, Trump has chosen to undermine his country’s efforts to produce one of its most vital climate assessments. For a long time, environmental assessment reports have been the backbone of global climate action. These reports are meant to aid policymakers by identifying, predicting, and assessing the environmental impacts of human action. However, as marked by the chaotic governing of...
Nearly all of the world’s coral reefs are being hit by mass bleaching
The large-scale bleaching of coral reefs is being observed from diverse locations such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the shallow reefs of the Caribbean and the coastal stretches of East Africa. An underwater crisis is unfolding silently, far from the global spotlight. A recent report from the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) revealed that 84% of the world's coral reefs are being hit by an ongoing...
