How the ‘carbon footprint’ originated as a PR campaign for big oil
One of the most successful marketing ploys of the 20th century was when BP framed you for climate change. It’s a well-known fact that the most effective defence in a criminal trial is an alternative suspect. British Petroleum, the second largest private oil company in the world, was certainly...
Current in Planet
Major retailers are ditching glitter this Christmas
In response to recent findings that biodegradable glitter is actually no better for the environment than traditional plastic options, major retailers are removing it from their products this festive season. Major British retailers have announced they’re committed to banning glitter from their own-brand festive products this Christmas. The move is part...
Microwaving plastic waste is generating clean reusable hydrogen
Chemists have successfully converted plastic waste into a clean reusable source of hydrogen. Could this become a viable way of reversing the damage caused by plastic pollution? A team of chemists at the University of Oxford have developed a potentially revolutionary way of repurposing plastic waste sustainably and quickly...
Carbon Capture: a controversial solution to the climate crisis?
As the world collectively pushes to meet emission reduction goals by 2030, controversial ‘Carbon Capture’ projects are being backed with huge investment. When it comes to saving the planet from an impending climate crisis, is there really room for cutting corners? The answer so far is a solid maybe. We’re now...
Exclusive report – Illegal air pollution in Texas rises 155% in 5 years
According to a recent report, unauthorised emissions from industrial facilities in Texas have tripled since 2015 as the EPA continues to roll back protective measures. At the beginning of the week, Thred Media and Global Citizen were given early access to a report sounding the alarm on rising rates...
Why we shouldn’t celebrate China’s carbon pledge just yet
China has promised that it will begin lowering emissions by 2030 and will be carbon neutral by 2060, but is it all just political posturing? Xi Jinping has stated that China will aim to be completely carbon neutral by 2060 in an address to the UN General Assembly in New...
Animal farming: a bigger EU climate crisis than automobiles
The rearing of livestock for meat and dairy is producing more total emissions right now than all vehicles on the road in the EU, according to new reports. At Thred we’re constantly highlighting food reform as a key part of the fight to keep global temperatures from rising 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. With the potential to mitigate 20 percent of the global emission reduction needed by 2050, policy makers...
Greenpeace urges supermarkets to halve plastic use by 2025
The environmental organisation is pressuring the UK to rethink its supermarket packaging, pushing for new refill services to halve plastic production. Greenpeace has created a lengthy proposal report that asks the government to put new measures in place to halve how much plastic we use by 2025, focusing on refill services and halting the sale of unnecessary items. Plastic has become one of the biggest enemies of the climate crisis...
AI vessels to make ocean research greener and more efficient
The biggest ever AI-powered autonomous vessel is set to traverse the Atlantic to gather vital oceanic research on microplastics. Marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower launch in 1620, computing conglomerate IBM and non-profit research firm ProMare have unveiled their autonomous vessel of the same name. Without so much as a pilgrim on board this time around, 2020’s 15-meter trimaran is officially the biggest captainless ship on record. Just last week...
Trackers show wildfires decimating Western America in real time
As wildfires continue to ravage California, Oregon, and Washington, climate experts are utilising data tools to double down suppression efforts. As you’re reading this more than 85 fires are raging across California, Oregon, and Washington. Amber skies hang above the parts of the region as some 3.1 million acres are destroyed, forcing entire communities to either evacuate their homes or contend with the most toxic air quality in state record. Igniting...
