Are ‘best before’ dates on fresh produce necessary?
Every year, 88 million tons of food goes to waste in the EU. To tackle the problem, supermarkets are removing best before dates on fresh produce and encouraging customers to use their senses while shopping - literally. ‘Do you think this milk is still ok?’ my colleagues ask one another...
Current in Planet
Berlin switches off monument lighting to preserve energy
The lights on Berlin’s famous monuments and historic buildings are being shut off in order to save energy amidst Russian energy cuts. Other cities like Hanover are cutting hot water in city-run buildings. If you’re planning to visit Berlin this summer, don’t expect to see its impressive monuments lit up...
Why the response to the monkeypox outbreak is problematic
Monkeypox was just declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation. Why are officials pushing the damaging narrative that it’s only a concern for men in the LGBTQ community? Although we’ve all experienced a heightened awareness towards contagious illnesses over the last few years, it appears that officials...
Modern pesticides are getting bees ‘drunk’
Scientists have warned that exposure to neonicotinoids – the worlds’ most commonly used insecticide – is damaging the vital pollinators’ brains, preventing them from walking in a straight line. As we know, the world’s insects are hurtling towards extinction. Among them – most alarming of all – are a species integral...
Organised crime is a hidden yet major contributor to deforestation
When someone mentions deforestation, you probably think of beef production or the wood industry as being most culpable. A key driver that often goes under the radar, however, is organised crime like drug trafficking and illegal logging. Almost a year on from COP26, there’s definitely work to be done to...
New UK prime minister renews concern over climate nihilism
Since the anointment of Liz Truss as the new Conservative prime minister, a renewed lack of clarity around the continuation of vital research funding and climate measures has experts worried. UK citizens are understandably preoccupied with policies impacting the immediate future. Eco experts, however, are looking to the long term...
The major changes cities need to withstand a warmer planet
With record breaking heatwaves enveloping cities across the world, identifying adaptive measures to cope with the climate crisis has never looked more vital. As I write to you today, I am surrounded by evidence of unfruitful attempts to stay cool: fans, a water-misting bottle, and cold brew coffee rapidly turned lukewarm. Despite already having drank 3L of water before noon, my skin continues to feel like the bottom of my...
Dubai builds world’s largest vertical farm
The city known for importing almost all of its produce will now grow 2 million pounds of leafy greens each year inside the world’s largest vertical farm. As the world begins to turn its back on oil in favour of green energy, the United Arab Emirates must follow suit or risk falling behind. In 2021, the UAE set out plans to solidify itself as a global hub for sustainable technology...
The challenges and opportunities of a growing global population
Before the year is up, the global human population is expected to surpass the 8 billion mark. Along with it will come environmental challenges, but also an opportunity to diversify the global economy. The United Nations global population projection estimates we will reach a global population of 8 billion people by November of this year, with that number increasing to 10 billion by 2080. Surpassing the 8 billion mark is...
‘Forever chemicals’ have made rainwater ‘unsafe to drink’
A new study has uncovered that rainwater almost everywhere on Earth has unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which are hazardous for both people and planet.
In even the most remote parts of the world, the level of ‘forever chemicals’ in the atmosphere has become so high that rainwater is now ‘unsafe to drink.’
This is according to a newly released study conducted by researchers at the
