Tootfinder

"‘It’s a great healer’: why being outdoors in nature means so much to us"
#Nature #Environment

Pesticide exposure linked to 150% higher cancer risk in major study #environment

Pesticide exposure linked to 150% higher cancer risk in major study
A major new study finds that living in pesticide-heavy environments could raise cancer risk by up to 150%, even when the chemicals are considered “safe” on their own. The research suggests these mixtures may silently damage cells years before cancer appears.

"Big gains for little terns: how Lindisfarne reserve is helping a rare bird survive tourism"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Lindisfarne

"Cigarette butts for free food? How one group is asking people to rethink litter"
#Netherlands #Litter #Environment

🚬 What happens to cigarette butts after 10 years in the environment
#environment

What happens to cigarette butts after 10 years in the environment
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter worldwide. Trillions are discarded every year in cities, parks, beaches, along railway tracks and roadside environments. Despite their small size, these remnants of smoked cigarettes represent a persistent form of pollution because their filters are made primarily of cellulose acetate—a plastic polymer derived from natural cellulose and highly resistant to environmental degradation and produced as tightly packed microscopic fibers.

"Greece increases the number of beaches where sunbeds are banned to protect the environment"
#Greece #Beaches #Environment

Greece has increased the number of beaches where sunbeds are banned
The ban means that you will not be able to hire umbrellas or sunbeds at some 251 beaches, many of which are marine NATURA 2000 sites.

"As global 30×30 goal lags, Colombia shows how progress can be made"
#Colombia #Environment #Conservation

As global 30x30 goal lags, Colombia shows how progress can be made
In 2022, at the U.N. Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada, 196 nations pledged to conserve 30% of land and inland waters, and 30% of marine and coastal areas, by 2030. Popularly known as “30×30,” and officially known as Target 3, the pledge was one of 23 targets detailed in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), […]

"Wildfires devastating richer areas but fewer hectares burned globally – study"
#Wildfires #Environment

Common pesticide linked to more than double the risk of Parkinson’s disease #environment

Common pesticide linked to more than double the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists at UCLA have linked long-term exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with a sharply increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. People exposed to the chemical near their homes were more than twice as likely to develop the condition. Laboratory studies showed that chlorpyrifos damages dopamine neurons and interferes with the brain’s ability to remove toxic protein buildup.

"Peatlands are vital for tackling climate change, yet scientists still haven’t found them all"
#Peatland #Environment #Nature

Peatlands are vital for tackling climate change, yet scientists still haven’t found them all
Peatlands are central to climate change, yet basic questions remain unanswered. A global research community has mapped out what we most urgently need to know.

"One of the world’s largest deep-sea coral reefs discovered off Argentina"
#Argentina #CoralReef #Environment

One of the world’s largest deep-sea coral reefs discovered off Argentina
Biologist Erik Cordes has spent much of his career studying cold-water reefs — coral systems typically found in chilly, dark waters far below the ocean’s surface. But his latest project took him by surprise when he and a group of colleagues discovered what might be one of the world’s largest deep-sea, cold-water reefs. Over the […]

Customize what happens when you start R: #rstats #environment

Heat waves threaten health of both young and old #environment

Heat waves threaten health of both young and old
A brutal heat wave blanketing much of Europe has prompted reminders that extreme heat poses a particular threat to the health of children and the elderly.

"Coffee giants team up to map and avoid supply chain deforestation"
#Coffee #Environment #Deforestation

One of the world’s most popular weedkillers may be fueling deadly superbugs #environment

One of the world’s most popular weedkillers may be fueling deadly superbugs
Researchers found that highly drug-resistant bacteria from hospitals are also resistant to glyphosate, a commonly used weedkiller. The discovery suggests that agricultural herbicides may be helping antibiotic-resistant microbes survive and spread far beyond healthcare settings.

"How shark tracking data shaped Papua New Guinea’s ocean sanctuary"
#PapuaNewGuinea #Oceans #Environment

How shark tracking data shaped Papua New Guinea’s ocean sanctuary | The Optimist Daily
Papua New Guinea will protect 82,600 square miles of the Bismarck Sea from all fishing, making it the largest no-take marine sanctuary in Melanesia.

"As Amazon oil drilling begins, scientists warn of risks to a little-known reef"
#Amazon #FossilFuels #Environment

As Amazon oil drilling begins, scientists warn of risks to a little-known reef
The Amazon region always invites superlatives: the world’s largest tropical forest, the planet’s largest continuous mangrove belt, the river with the largest water volume and length on Earth. That makes any kind of exploratory activity in the region — and its potential impacts on this unique ecosystem — cause for great concern. That’s the case […]

Sea level rise is speeding up and scientists now know exactly why #environment

Sea level rise is speeding up and scientists now know exactly why
The world’s oceans are rising at an accelerating pace, and scientists now say they can fully explain what’s driving it. Warming seawater is the biggest factor, while melting glaciers and polar ice sheets are increasingly pouring more water into the oceans each year. Researchers also solved a puzzling mismatch in sea level measurements that had lingered for years.

"Urban areas host 80% of England’s homes at high risk of flooding, study finds"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #England #Environment

"Everglades Restoration Project Ongoing for 20-Plus Years Sees Huge Rewilding Success"
#Nature #Environment #Restoration

Everglades Restoration Project Ongoing for 20-Plus Years Sees Huge Rewilding Success
Picayune Strand is a big, almost perfect rectangle of south Florida wetland located northwest of Everglades National Park

Five things to know about heat waves in Europe #Europe #environment

Five things to know about heat waves in Europe
The scorching weather that has smashed temperature records across Europe this week shows the growing number and intensity of heat waves on the continent.

"Why cities are becoming an unlikely refuge for wildflowers"
#Wildflowers #Nature #Environment

Why cities are becoming an unlikely refuge for wildflowers | The Optimist Daily
Britain has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows. Now cities, with their stressed soils and forgotten corners, may be where wildflowers stage their comeback.

"Rainforests Can Bounce Back Much Faster Than Thought, Researchers Say"
#Rainforests #Nature #Environment

Rainforests Can Bounce Back Much Faster Than Thought, Researchers Say
Scientists long believed it would take more than a century for animals to return to deforested land. New research shows that’s not always the case.

"Italy’s Forest Cover is Larger Than Agriculture Land for the First Time Since the Middle Ages"
#Italy #Nature #Environment

Italy's Forests Larger Than Agriculture Land for the First Time Since the Middle Ages
For locally endangered species like bears and wolves, more woods in mountain areas will go a long way toward supporting their populations. 

Why forest conservation is also public health #environment

Why forest conservation is also public health
  In a lowland forest in southeastern Madagascar, what was missing proved as telling as what was found. Researchers trapping small mammals in the Manombo Special Reserve caught tuft-tailed rats in the intact interior forest. In the nearby littoral forest, despite repeated efforts, they found none. The traps held black rats instead. The observation appears […]

"‘Mega-consumers’ of food and energy cost environment $5.7tn a year, study finds"
#Energy #Environment #Climate

"Michelin scraps ‘Green Star’ for sustainable restaurants"
#Food #Environment #Restaurants

Michelin scraps ‘Green Star’ for sustainable restaurants
The Michelin Guide is retiring its sustainability accolade, which was launched in 2020 to recognise eco-friendly practices in the restaurant industry.

From birds to fish, how extreme heat causes wildlife to suffer #environment

From birds to fish, how extreme heat causes wildlife to suffer
Like humans, wildlife is increasingly vulnerable as climate change fuels longer and more intense heat waves, disrupting feeding and breeding and, in extreme cases, proving fatal.

"Elephants adjust what they eat in altered habitats, signaling growing pressure"
#Elephants #Environment #Food

Elephants adjust what they eat in altered habitats, signaling growing pressure
Asian elephants are adapting to rapidly changing landscapes by diversifying their diets — a sign of resilience, but also a warning about the pressures reshaping their habitats, according to a recent study from Malaysia. Researchers collected feces from wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across two distinct landscapes in Peninsular Malaysia: one with primary and secondary […]

Heat waves increase wildfire risk—a new study explains how much, and it's not a small number #environment

Heat waves increase wildfire risk—a new study explains how much, and it's not a small number
When heat waves hit the Western United States, the risk of wildfires quickly rises. The prolonged heat dries out vegetation, but that's only part of the cause—heat waves also play other roles in spreading wildfires.

"Study finds bottom trawling nets 3,000 marine fish species, including threatened ones"
#Fish #Boats #Environment

Study finds bottom trawling nets 3,000 marine fish species, including threatened ones
How many marine fish species do bottom trawls catch? Researchers now have a list, and it’s long, running to some 3,000 species, according to a recent study. Bottom trawling is a commercially popular, and controversial, fishing method in which boats drag weighted nets along the seafloor. Usually they target commercially valuable marine life at the […]

"Chile’s plan to protect another 10% of its ocean is stalled by the new government"
#Chile #Oceans #Environment

Chile’s plan to protect another 10% of its ocean is stalled by the new government
The expansion of two vast Pacific marine parks near Chile has been suspended for six weeks, leaving protections for around 337,000 square kilometers (130,000 square miles) of ocean in limbo. Former President Gabriel Boric signed a decree creating marine parks Juan Fernández II and Nazca-Desventuradas II on March 10, his last day in office. Together […]

Bad for health and the environment: Lung experts highlight environmental impact of tobacco product waste https://phys.org/news/2026-06-bad-health-environment-lung-experts.html

Bad for health and the environment: Lung experts highlight environmental impact of tobacco product waste
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day May 31, the American Thoracic Society and our Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) partners reiterate the need for countries to urgently implement decisions made at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

"Germany’s coal mines are now Europe’s largest lake district"
#Germany #Environment
https://ww…

Germany’s coal mines are now Europe’s largest lake district | The Optimist Daily
Eastern Germany’s Lusatia region spent a century digging coal. Now it’s nearly finished building Europe’s largest artificial lake district.

"Six marine sanctuaries recognized as Blue Parks, four of them in Africa"
#Africa #Environment

Six marine sanctuaries recognized as Blue Parks, four of them in Africa
MOMBASA — At the Our Ocean conference in Mombasa, Kenya, a message echoed across sessions: Effective marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical to safeguarding oceans. The Blue Park Awards, instituted by the U.S.-based Marine Conservation Institute, shine a light on MPAs that are delivering on their promise. This year, six of them made the cut: […]

"Not all coral reefs are doomed as a result of climate change, study suggests"
#Coral #Coralreef #Environment

Not all coral reefs are doomed as a result of climate change, study suggests
A new study suggests roughly a third of coral may be able to survive climate change in over the next two decades.

Deep-rooted grass stores significantly more carbon, says new study #environment…

Deep-rooted grass stores significantly more carbon, says new study
Soil biologist Eric Slessarev has some advice for conservationists, landscapers, and farmers with fallow fields: Go touch deep-rooted grass. Or better yet, go plant some. Slessarev, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is the first author of a new study in Earth's Future showing that deep-rooted grasses store significantly more carbon in their root biomass than shallow-rooted crops—without harming the existing organic material alre…

"Deforestation is surging in Indonesia"
#Indonesia #Deforestation #Trees #Environment

Deforestation is surging in Indonesia
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. Indonesia’s forests, long held up as a case of tentative progress, are again under pressure. New analysis shows deforestation rose sharply in 2025, reversing several years of decline and returning to levels not seen in nearly a decade, […]

The tiny highway helping the capital's hedgehogs #environment

The Barnes highway helping the capital's urban hedgehogs
A hedgehog highway is a network of small holes and gaps that allows hedgehogs to move freely.

"How Kigali Wetland Restoration is Helping Rwanda’s Capital Beat the Floods"
#Rwanda #Environment #Wetland

How Kigali Wetland Restoration is Helping Rwanda's Capital Beat the Floods | Happy Eco News
Kigali wetland restoration is rebuilding Rwanda's natural flood defenses across 18,000 acres, protecting over 220,000 residents, creating thousands of jobs, and offering a replicable model for African cities facing worsening storms and urban growth.

"Toxins from Great Salt Lake dust are absorbed by plants, soils and human bodies"
#Plants #Environment
https://

Toxins from Great Salt Lake dust are absorbed by plants, soils and human bodies
Shrinking water levels at the Great Salt Lake are not just about Utah's water supply—they may pose a serious risk to public health. New research from a team at Utah State University and the University of Utah documents the ways metal-laden dust from the drying lakebed may find its way into human bodies—directly through ingestion and indirectly through food systems.

Glaciers rapidly declining, with extreme losses in 2025 #environment

Glaciers rapidly declining, with extreme losses in 2025
Earth's glaciers are continuing to shrink at alarming rates, with new international research revealing that 2025 was among the worst years on record for global ice loss. Published in the Climate Chronicles collection of Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the study provides the latest global assessment of glacier mass change, showing an accelerating trend driven by rising temperatures.

"8 Acres of Rewilding Completed Along Santa Monica Coastline: ‘It’s Still Your Beach, Only Better’'"
#Environment #Nature #LosAngeles

8 Acres of Rewilding Completed Along Santa Monica Coastline: 'It's Still Your Beach, Only Better'
It's part of The Bay Foundation's effort to rebuild the ecosystems of Southern California's dune landscapes, lost, but not forgotten.

Common plastic chemical linked to lifelong anxiety in new study #environment

Common plastic chemical linked to lifelong anxiety in new study
Exposure to a common plastic chemical before and shortly after birth may have lasting effects on behavior. Researchers found that male rats exposed early in life to DEHP—a plasticizer used in products ranging from medical devices to toys—showed significantly higher anxiety as adults, even long after exposure had ended. The animals were more hesitant to explore open spaces and spent more time frozen in place, classic signs of anxiety in rodents.

Microplastics in over 75% of pet food, study finds #environment

Microplastics in over 75% of pet food, study finds
Researchers say certain brands and kinds of cat and dog food have more microplastics than others.

Scientists warn that the world’s rivers are running out of oxygen #environment

Scientists warn that the world’s rivers are running out of oxygen
Rivers around the world are quietly running out of oxygen — and climate change is emerging as the main culprit. A sweeping global analysis of more than 21,000 river systems found that nearly 80% have been steadily losing dissolved oxygen over the past four decades, threatening fish, biodiversity, and the overall health of freshwater ecosystems. Surprisingly, tropical rivers are being hit the hardest, even more than rivers in rapidly warming polar regions.

"Say no to pesticides, mix up your lawn – and six more ways to help bees to thrive"
#Environment #Bees #Insects

Heat waves are now everyday disasters. Governments need to do more to protect people #environment

Heat waves are now everyday disasters. Governments need to do more to protect people
Heat waves are a growing global threat to human health, well-being and livelihoods. Across 12 major European cities during the summer of 2025, a 10-day period of extreme heat led to 2,300 deaths—1,500 of them were attributed to climate change amplifying temperatures by 1°C–4°C. Heat waves were responsible for nearly half a million global deaths every year from 2000 to 2019.

Here's what we know about the climate cost of white trails aircraft leave in the sky #environment

Here's what we know about the climate cost of white trails aircraft leave in the sky
Contrails, short for condensation trails, are the white streaks often seen in the sky behind aircraft. The International Cloud Atlas, which classifies clouds, has a category just for them: cirrus homogenitus, an example of man-made clouds.

"Salt Water Restores Native Queensland Ecosystems After Dozens of Tidal Gates Removed"
#Australia #Queensland #Environment

Salt Water Restores Native Queensland Ecosystems After Dozens of Tidal Gates Removed
It's definitely a worldwide trend: removing dams, restoring natural water movement and displacement, and in Queensland it's no different.

"Prescribed Burns and Forest Thinning Averted Millions of Tons of Emissions and Billions in Damages"
#Environment #Nature #Emissions

Prescribed Burns and Forest Thinning Averted Millions of Tons of Emissions and Billions in Damages - Inside Climate News
In addition to preventing an estimated 2.7 million tons of carbon emissions and $2.8 billion in damages, UC Davis researchers determined that fuel treatments prevented nearly 60 premature deaths.

"Oil slick from bombed Iranian ship threatens protected wetland"
#Iran #Environment
https://ww…

What happens to microplastics when swallowed? In earthworms, they do not leave the digestive tract https://phys.org/news/2026-06-microplastics-swallowed-earthworms-digestive-tract.html

What happens to microplastics when swallowed? In earthworms, they do not leave the digestive tract
Globally, humanity now produces a staggering 450 million tonnes of plastic every year. From food and drink containers to cosmetics packaging, sewage pipes, window frames and polyester clothing, we use plastics in almost every area of life. And nearly one-quarter of them end up in the environment, where they very slowly degrade into microscopic pieces.

"China’s Decade-Long Yangtze River Fishing Ban Reverses 70 Years of Decline"
#China #Environment
https://

China's Decade-Long Yangtze River Fishing Ban Reverses 70 Years of Decline | Happy Eco News
Yangtze River fishing ban recovery demonstrates fish biomass doubling and 13% diversity increase within five years as China's unprecedented 10-year moratorium on commercial fishing reverses 70 years of biodiversity decline with a US$3 billion fisher transition program.

"Earth Prize 2026 part I: teenage teams tackling big global problems"
#EarthShotPrize #Environment

Earth Prize 2026 part I: teenage teams tackling big global problems | The Optimist Daily
The Earth Prize 2026 named four regional winners this week. Teenagers from Ireland, Kenya, Gaza, and India are solving problems in incredibly innovative ways.

Earth Prize 2026 part II: seaweed fabric, hornbill nests, and a healing bandage
#EarthShotPrize #Environment

Earth Prize 2026 part II: seaweed fabric, hornbill nests, and a healing bandage | The Optimist Daily
The Earth Prize 2026’s final three regional winners tackled sargassum overload, hornbill extinction, and plastic bandage waste. They’re all 17.

Heat stress exposure climbed from 16% to 22% worldwide over 50 years, study shows #environment

Heat stress exposure climbed from 16% to 22% worldwide over 50 years, study shows
The number of people exposed to dangerous heat stress worldwide has risen sharply over the past half-century, propelled by climate change, according to a study released Monday as Europe sweltered through a punishing heat wave.

"Malawi government suspends coal miner’s license over river pollution"
#Malawi #Pollution #Environment

Malawi government suspends coal miner’s license over river pollution
The Malawi government has suspended the mining license of a coal company for dumping mining waste into two rivers that communities rely on for water. The suspension follows an uproar by one of the communities in Malawi’s coal mining heartland in the north of the country. Community members demanded the closure of the mine for […]

"Hair salons in Europe are dumping their clippings into forests and it’s miraculous"
#Europe #Hair #Environment

Hair salons in Europe are dumping their clippings into forests and it’s miraculous
Salons generate an enormous amount of discarded hair each year. But those clippings are now part of a brilliant environmental fix.

"Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals
Plastic food packaging, caps and lids, and plastic bottles are the planet's predominant items of marine litter, according to the world's first overview of marine litter by usage type.

Common cleaning sponge found to release trillions of microplastic fibers #environment

Common cleaning sponge found to release trillions of microplastic fibers
That “magic” sponge under your sink may be hiding an environmental downside. While melamine sponges are famous for effortlessly scrubbing away stubborn stains, they slowly break down as you use them—shedding tiny plastic fibers that wash into water systems. Researchers estimate that globally, these sponges could release over a trillion microplastic fibers every month, potentially entering the food chain and affecting wildlife.

"20 years on, what has the B Corp movement achieved?"
#BCorp #Environment
https://www.e…

20 years on, what has the B Corp movement achieved?
As the B Corp movement marks its 20th anniversary, edie looks at how it grew from a niche certification into a global business movement, what it has achieved so far and where it is heading next.

An invisible forever chemical rain is falling across the planet #environment

An invisible forever chemical rain is falling across the planet
A surprising study suggests that chemicals introduced to protect the ozone layer may have unintentionally created a growing global pollution problem. Researchers found that refrigerants and certain anesthetic gases have generated more than 335,000 tonnes of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent "forever chemical," that has been deposited across Earth's surface since 2000. The pollutant is now showing up everywhere from rainwater to remote Arctic ice, and scientists expect levels to ke…

"Study offers first map of Amazon’s climate-resilient upslope corridors"
#Amazon #Environment

Study offers first map of Amazon’s climate-resilient upslope corridors
Amazon-based scientists have long known that rapidly rising temperatures mean that places where species live today won’t be where they live tomorrow. For a vast number of species — ranging from insects, birds and primates to all manner of plants — upslope migration could present a potential, though perilous, pathway to resilience and survival during […]

"Energy crisis revives push to drill in Philippines’ largest intact wetland"
#Phillippines #Environment #Energy

Energy crisis revives push to drill in Philippines’ largest intact wetland
MINDANAO, Philippines — There’s been a renewed push in the Philippines to develop oil and gas deposits in the southern Liguasan Marsh, prompted by the energy crisis caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has drawn criticism from environmental groups. The 288,000-hectare (712,000-acre) Liguasan Marsh, the largest intact wetland in the Philippines and home […]

Ensure healthy water for all #environment

"Young inventor plans to stop 90% of floating sea plastic by 2040"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Young inventor plans to stop 90% of floating sea plastic by 2040
In an era of climate anxiety, a Dutch nonprofit is developing river-based technology that could dramatically cut ocean plastic within decades

Global warming hit 1.37°C in 2025, with Earth accumulating heat at an accelerating rate #environment

Global warming hit 1.37°C in 2025, with Earth accumulating heat at an accelerating rate
Strong and consistent evidence shows that the entire climate system is continuing to heat, driving rapid global warming. Human activities pushed global warming to 1.37°C in 2025, and its level is projected to surpass 1.5°C in about four years. Crucially, the rate at which heat is accumulating in Earth's system suggests high levels of future warming. These are some of the key findings from the latest Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC) report, published in Earth System Science Data.

"Starmer has a strong green record – but a rightwing backlash weakened his plans"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Environment

Starmer has a strong green record – but a rightwing backlash weakened his plans
Prime minister was forced to row back on some policies despite strong support among voters for climate action

Extreme coastal flooding surges worldwide as rising seas rewrite 100-year odds #environment

Extreme coastal flooding surges worldwide as rising seas rewrite 100-year odds
Human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide, according to a new study led by a Tulane University researcher. The research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that coastal flooding events expected only once every 100 years are now, on average, about 12 times more likely to occur.

"New research aims to reduce microfiber pollution released from cruise and hotel laundry"
#Clothes #Textiles #Environment

New research aims to reduce microfiber pollution released from cruise and hotel laundry
Microfiber pollution from large-scale laundry operations is emerging as a significant and largely unseen environmental issue. New research led by the University of Portsmouth is using Cleaner Seas Group's industrial filtration technology—already deployed in commercial settings to better understand the scale of the problem and how it can be prevented before it reaches our waterways.

"Global sand demand is outpacing nature’s ability to replenish it, UN says"
#UN #UnitedNations #Sand #Environment

Global sand demand is outpacing nature's ability to replenish it, UN says
The global sand mining industry removes around 50 billion metric tons of material each year, outpacing the rate at which sand replenishes.

"Festivalgoers’ urine to fertilise trees in Brecon Beacons restoration scheme"
#Environment #Trees

"Zambia Under Pressure to Clean Up Shuttered Lead Mine Poisoning Town"
#Zambia #Environment
https://e360.yale.edu/d…

Zambia Under Pressure to Clean Up Shuttered Lead Mine Poisoning Town

"Think before you flush: expert advice on how and when to save water at home"
#Water #Environment

Think before you flush: expert advice on how and when to save water at home
The heatwave in May meant people started to use more water to stay cool, and on their plants.

"The Best Environmental Photography of the Year"
#Environment #Photography
https://e360.yale.edu…

The Best Environmental Photography of the Year

"Earth Day at 56: why the 2026 theme carries more weight than usual"
#EarthDay #Nature #Environment

Earth Day at 56: why the 2026 theme carries more weight than usual | The Optimist Daily
Earth Day turns 56 with a theme that does double duty: "Our Power, Our Planet" is about energy, and also about something harder to measure.

"Brazil's reserves run on too little funding, with Amazon getting just 20% needed"
#Brazil #Amazon #Environment

Brazil's reserves run on too little funding, with Amazon getting just 20% needed
Human development is driving numerous global species to the brink of extinction, threatening essential resources like water and soil, and contributing to climate change. Conservationists have shown that putting critically threatened areas under protection is vital if nations are to slow or reverse these trends, and global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity have identified the creation and maintenance of protected areas as the cornerstone of such efforts.

"Another Trawling Ban, Another Big Recovery for Sea Life"
#Oceans #Environment #Fishing

Another Trawling Ban, Another Big Recovery for Sea Life
Marine life was capable of recolonizing the area comparatively quickly, as seen in both the diversity and abundance of life recorded.

"Industrial chemical leaks could push ozone layer recovery back by 7 years"
#Ozone #Environment #Emissions

Industrial chemical leaks could push ozone layer recovery back by 7 years
The recovery of the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere could be delayed by several years, according to an international study led by Swiss research institution Empa which included contributions from University of Bristol researchers. The cause is persistent emissions of so-called feedstock chemicals, which are still permitted as raw materials in industry. These ozone-depleting substances have so far been excluded from international agreements because, according to the current study, their emis…

"Community-led ecotourism protects rebounding wild cattle in Thailand"
#Thailand #Environment

Community-led ecotourism protects rebounding wild cattle in Thailand
The critically endangered banteng is making a comeback in Thailand’s Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, and has become a conservation icon.

"Europe removed a record 602 river barriers last year"
#Europe #Rivers #Environment

Europe removed a record 602 river barriers last year | The Optimist Daily
A record 602 dams, weirs, and culverts were dismantled across Europe in 2025, reconnecting 2,324 miles of rivers and helping wildlife recover.

"Hair salons in Europe are dumping their clippings into forests and it’s miraculous"
#Europe #Hair #Environment

Hair salons in Europe are dumping their clippings into forests and it’s miraculous
Salons generate an enormous amount of discarded hair each year. But those clippings are now part of a brilliant environmental fix.

"Conservation efforts by families displaced for national park sees success in DRC"
#DRC #Conservation #Environment

Conservation efforts by families displaced for national park sees success in DRC
Descendants of families forcibly displaced during the creation of Maiko National Park in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo back in the 1970s are now leading a new wave of community-led conservation. Gangala Yafali Mangusa Jr., from one such displaced family, is the head of the Bamasobha Local Community Forest Concession (CFCL), […]

"Blue Flag beaches: Spain hits a new record with 794 sandy stretches awarded, followed by Greece"
#Greece #Spain #Environment

Blue flag beaches: All the newly awarded sandy stretches in Europe
Mediterranean beaches have swept the Blue Flag awards again this year.

"Is No Mow May helping bees or just overgrown hype? Here’s what the experts say"
#Grass #Environment #Lawns

Is No Mow May helping bees or just overgrown hype? Here’s what the experts say | The Optimist Daily
No Mow May is buzzy, but is it good for bees? Experts weigh in on the benefits, the flaws, and how to make your lawn truly pollinator-friendly.

"Salt marsh recovery isn’t enough to offset destroyed older wetlands, study finds"
#Wetlands #Environment

Salt marsh recovery isn’t enough to offset destroyed older wetlands, study finds
Along Earth’s coastlines, grassy wetlands flooded by seawater, called salt marshes, trap and store carbon at rates roughly 40 times higher than forests on land. As salt marshes have expanded in some regions, scientists were hopeful their carbon stores might have largely recovered as well, but a new study found that’s not the case. Researchers […]

"MSPs not told about collapse of funding deal for Scottish nature restoration"
#Scotland #Environment #Nature

"A reforestation corridor in Madagascar offers a future for lemurs and locals"
#Madagascar #Environment #Animals

A reforestation corridor in Madagascar offers a future for lemurs and locals
In eastern Madagascar, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and the Analamazoatra Special Reserve shelter around a dozen species of lemurs, alongside an extraordinary array of animals and plants, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Once connected by continuous rainforest, the landscape was fractured in the 1960s, when large stretches were cleared for agriculture and […]

"10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go"
#Oceans #Environment
https://

10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go
More than 10% of the world’s ocean is now protected to some degree, marking significant progress in global ocean conservation efforts, according to an Apr. 1. annoucement from the U.N. Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). However, this accomplishment comes six years behind schedule, and experts warn that efforts must pick up speed to […]

"10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go"
#Oceans #Environment
https://

10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go
More than 10% of the world’s ocean is now protected to some degree, marking significant progress in global ocean conservation efforts, according to an Apr. 1. annoucement from the U.N. Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). However, this accomplishment comes six years behind schedule, and experts warn that efforts must pick up speed to […]

"Spain’s donkey brigade has kept Doñana fire-free for nine years"
#Spain #Donkeys #Animals #Environment

Spain’s donkey brigade has kept Doñana fire-free for nine years | The Optimist Daily
Spain burned nearly one million hectares in 2025. In one national park, the solution has been 18 rescued donkeys, working for nine years running.

"Conserving 30% of the planet will only succeed if people are part of the plan"
#Conservation #Environment

Conserving 30% of the planet will only succeed if people are part of the plan
People are central to conservation.

"44 Miles of Major Balkan River Freed from Wartime Concrete Obstruction – LOOK"
#Conservation #Environment

44 Miles of Major Balkan River Freed from Wartime Concrete Obstruction – LOOK
More than 40 miles of its path were interrupted by a mound of concrete built to allow battle tanks to cross the river during World War II.

"‘Protected’ seagrass meadows aren’t necessarily healthy – because pollution doesn’t stop at the shoreline"
#Oceans #Seagrass #Environment

‘Protected’ seagrass meadows aren’t necessarily healthy – because pollution doesn’t stop at the shoreline
Marine protected areas can’t stop pollution flowing in from the land and Northern Ireland’s seagrass meadows are paying the price.

"Natural history GCSE to teach teenagers to plant wildflower-friendly gardens"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Environment #Education

"Planting 30,000 Trees Surpasses Goal for Regenerating a Rainforest on the Isle of Man"
#IsleOfMan #Trees #Environment

By Planting 30,000 Trees, Trust Surpasses its Goal for Rainforest Reforestation on the Isle of Man
Temperate rainforests are one of the rarest kinds of ecosystems, and in the UK are found in Wales, on the Isle of Man, and a few other locations. 

"A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View"
#Oceans #Environment
https://e360.y…

A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a "blind spot" in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.

"Reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 is critical to avoid disastrous effects on human well-being, researchers warn"
#Biodiversity #Environment

Reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 is critical to avoid disastrous effects on human well-being, researchers warn
Halting and reversing the global decline in biodiversity is now urgent to avoid destabilizing Earth's vital systems that support human well-being. That's the stark message of a new paper published today in Frontiers in Science. The authors warn that without protecting remaining intact biomes and ecosystems, climate and development goals will be impossible to achieve.

"Efforts to Save Kelp Forests from Ocean Warming Are Ramping Up"
#Kelp #Oceans #Environment

Efforts to Save Kelp Forests from Ocean Warming Are Ramping Up
At one time, kelp forests — which shelter fish, slow erosion, and sequester carbon — grew along a third of the world’s coastlines. Now, scientists are working to bolster heat-stressed kelp by attacking the urchins that prey on them and transplanting hardier kelp varieties.