Cuba’s Tobacco Growers Confront Climate Change
Looking at the plain, one-story wooden shacks that dot the countryside in Cuba’s vuelta abajo region, one would never guess that the farmers here grow one of the island’s most valuable natural resources: cigar tobacco. Though Cuban cigars are famous…
Saving the Environment One Hair Wash at a Time
In the ongoing dialogue surrounding water consumption and saving water, the length of your shower, how you water your yard and even your toothbrush usage probably come up. But there is another water-thirsty activity that should be added to the…
Scientists Have an Inkling Squids Could Help Cut Plastic Pollution
A recently-discovered squid protein could be used to stop microplastic fibres leaking into the environment. A review published in Frontiers in Chemistry, conducted by scientists at Penn State University in US, suggests material found in the ringed teeth of a…
Tourists Are Trashing the World’s Tallest Mountain, So China Has Banned Them From Its Base Camp
China has closed its Everest base camp to tourists because of a buildup of trash on the world’s tallest mountain. The move comes as the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau said it had collected 8.4 metric tons (approximately 9.3 U.S.…
Decarbonisation ‘Could Leave Fossil-Fuel Economies Stranded’
Global decarbonisation could turn fossil fuel-reliant economies into ‘stranded nations’ unable to unlock the value of carbon-based assets and infrastructure. These are the findings of a new World Economic Forum study, which shows the world’s sovereign wealth funds collectively own…
EU Gets Heavy-Duty on Emissions from Trucks
The European Union has agreed to reduce emissions from new trucks by 30% by 2030. The European Parliament and the Council, which represents the 28 member states, reached a provisional agreement which ensures between 2025 and 2029, new trucks will…
First Mammal Species Recognized as Extinct Due to Climate Change
A small rodent that lived only on a single island off Australia is likely the world’s first mammal to become a casualty of climate change, scientists reported in June 2016. The government of Australia has now officially recognized the Bramble…