Companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans 31/12/2021

From filters to bags to balls, the number of products aimed at stopping the torrent of microplastic fibres being flushed out of washing machines and into rivers and oceans is increasing rapidly. ...more

Germany will probably miss climate targets -environment minister 30/12/2021

Germany will probably miss its carbon emissions reduction targets in the coming two years, Economy and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck told Die Zeit newspaper. ...more

China c.bank issues first loans to back financing for emissions cuts 30/12/2021

China has issued the first 85.5 billion yuan ($13.4 billion) batch of low-cost loans to financial institutions to promote green projects and corporate efforts to cut carbon emissions, the central bank said on Thursday. ...more

Hurricanes to expand into more populated regions 30/12/2021

Climate change will expand the range of tropical cyclones, making millions more people vulnerable to these devastating storms, a new study says. ...more

Scientists develop biodegradable, antimicrobial food packaging 30/12/2021

Scientists have developed biodegradable food packaging material that kills microbes that contaminate foods. The waterproof packaging uses a type of corn protein called zein, plus starch and other natural compounds. ...more

8 positive environmental stories from 2021 30/12/2021

All too often, headlines are built strictly from terrible and shocking stories. It’s easy to lose track of the kindness and generosity of humanity, as well as efforts to do good for the planet. ...more

Which countries are still cutting down trees? 29/12/2021

World leaders have pledged to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. ...more

Fish struggle with warming oceans and acidification 29/12/2021

Fish face a new threat — ocean acidification caused by global warming. In a recent study published in Global Change Biology, researchers found that warming waters and acidification could adversely affect how fish interact in groups. ...more

Global warming is coming for polar bears 29/12/2021

Global warming and receding ice sheets threaten the lives of polar bears. But that’s not where the issues end. A new study published in Ecosphere established that the foraging range for polar bears in the Beaufort Sea area has increased by 64% between 1999 and 2016 compared to the period 1986-1998. The change is being driven by food scarcity. ...more

Rainfall prediction app helps Indonesia’s farmers 29/12/2021

A new rainfall app is helping farmers in Indonesia’s Sumbawa Island navigate climate change. A collaboration between Bandung Institute of Technology, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and an international development nonprofit called World Neighbors is giving farmers important data on maximizing their crops. ...more