Ecology
European Commission Concludes Palm Oil Is Environmentally Damaging
The European Commission has concluded palm oil is environmentally damaging and results in excessive deforestation. The decision means it is likely to be removed from transport biofuels as it will not contribute to EU renewable transport targets for national governments.…
Industrial Fishing Ushers the Albatross Closer to Extinction, Say Researchers
Industrial fishing vessels that accidentally kill tens of thousands of albatrosses each year routinely ignore regulations designed to save the birds from extinction, according to research. Using satellite data, investigators found that vessels employing longline fishing techniques showed a “low…
By 2050, Winter Will No Longer Exist in Australia, Say Researchers
Winter Blues A team of scientists and designers recently teamed up to create a tool that would show Australians what the climate is expected to be like in their cities in the year 2050 — and it led to a…
Prominent Environment Experts Die in Ethiopian Airlines Crash
India’s external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, was among the first to confirm that a United Nations consultant working with her government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests died aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 on Sunday. From the UK, it was British…
‘Rubbish Police’ Check Bin Bags to Drive Up Recycling Rates
A pair of council officers in hi-vis jackets scrutinise a clipboard before approaching a bungalow on a windswept estate on the western outskirts of Swansea. They are looking for residents who have sneaked recyclables into black bin bags destined for…
Lidl Trials Removal of 9p Plastic Bags in Wales
Lidl is trialling the removal of 9p plastic bags from 54 of its shops in Wales. The brand says it discovered the cheap reusable bags were frequently being used just once before being thrown away – to combat this, it…
‘More Frequent Rainfall Is Speeding Up Greenland’s Ice-Melt’
More frequent rainfall in Greenland is accelerating the melting of ice formations. That’s according to a new study published in scientific journal The Cryosphere, which suggests warmer temperatures mean precipitation is increasingly falling in the form of rain rather than…