Tootfinder

"England’s poorest areas face deepest cuts to green space under planning law changes, report finds"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #England

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.

"Humans Are Changing How Nature Smells, With Risks for Wildlife"
#Nature #Environment
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sm…

Humans Are Changing How Nature Smells, With Risks for Wildlife
A growing body of research shows how air pollution, fertilizers, and fungicides are altering the chemical signals that plants and animals use to communicate. Scientists warn that insect reproduction, foraging, navigation, and even the pollination of crops could be affected.

"A new reuse symbol aims to be as recognisable as the recycling logo – and make more of a difference"
#Recycling #Environment

A new reuse symbol aims to be as recognisable as the recycling logo – and make more of a difference
As part of a more effective network of reuse infrastructure, this new symbol could be a catalyst for more effective waste reduction.

"Easily overlooked small wetlands are a big source of global methane"
#Methane #Wetlands #Environment

Easily overlooked small wetlands are a big source of global methane
Waterlogged land areas such as marshes, bogs and fens are the world's largest natural source of methane. Even the smallest of wetlands emit this powerful greenhouse gas. In a study from The University of Texas at Austin, researchers have identified tens of millions of easily overlooked small wetlands across the globe and found that they have a substantial collective impact, accounting for 24% of the world's total non-forested wetland emissions of methane. This research is published in Nature Cl…

Mining critical materials is creating 'sacrifice zones' that harm water and health of world's poor https://phys.org/news/2026-04-critical-materials-sacrifice-zones-health.html

Mining critical materials is creating 'sacrifice zones' that harm water and health of world's poor
There is a troubling contradiction at the heart of the global transition to a cleaner, greener, tech-driven future: Modern technologies—everything from AI to wind turbines, as well as cellphones, electric vehicles and defense systems—depend on critical minerals. But many of the communities where those minerals are mined end up with polluted water and poorer health because of the mining.

🚬 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.

Europe climate report signals rising extremes #Europe

Europe climate report signals rising extremes
Europe endured a historic heatwave across Nordic countries, shrinking glaciers and record sea temperatures in 2025 as the fast-warming continent faces more frequent climate extremes, a new report showed Wednesday.

"Cocaine exposure drives salmon to alter movements"
#Fish #Animals #Environment

Cocaine exposure drives salmon to alter movements
Young Atlantic salmon exposed to cocaine and its breakdown product, benzoylecgonine, swim farther and more widely in the wild, a new study shows. This behavioral change can put them in risky situations, researchers say. “[T]he effects of illicit drug pollution on aquatic wildlife is not just a laboratory finding — it can measurably alter wildlife […]

"Scotland’s Plastic Wet Wipes Ban is a Win for Beaches, Sewers, and Wildlife"
#Scotland #Plastics #Environment

Scotland's Plastic Wet Wipes Ban is a Win for Beaches, Sewers, and Wildlife | Happy Eco News
Scotland’s plastic wet wipes ban takes effect on August 11, 2027, outlawing the sale of wipes containing plastic fibers. The law targets marine litter, sewer blockages, and microplastic pollution, with exemptions for medical and industrial use.

Record wildfire losses rocked 2025 even as global burned area neared all-time lows #environment

Record wildfire losses rocked 2025 even as global burned area neared all-time lows
A new analysis of global wildfire activity in 2025 reveals the world experienced some of the most destructive and deadly fire events in recent history, despite the second lowest area burned since 2002. It highlights a continued trend toward fires becoming increasingly extreme, costly, and disastrous—both economically and in lives lost.

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

"Papua New Guinea Sets Up Protected Ocean the Size of UK–Over 77,000 Square Miles"
#PapuaNewGuinea #Oceans #Nature

Papua New Guinea Sets Up Protected Ocean the Size of UK–Over 77,000 Square Miles
In Papua New Guinea where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet, 200,000 square kilometers of tropical seas will be off limits to fishing.

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

'Significant change' needed to tackle agri pollution #environment

'Significant change' needed to tackle agri pollution
The Office for Environmental Protection said existing regulations are insufficient to deliver necessary water quality improvements.

"A “good year” for forests changes less than it seems"
#Forests #Environment
https://

A “good year” for forests changes less than it seems
The rate of tropical primary forest loss fell sharply in 2025, reversing the record highs of the year before. On paper, it looks like progress. In reality, the dip is likely only a temporary reprieve. The decline followed an exceptional year for wildfires. In 2024, drought helped drive some of the largest fire-related losses on […]

Wildfire dark brown carbon has strong global warming effects, study finds #environment

Wildfire dark brown carbon has strong global warming effects, study finds
A new international study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that dark brown carbon from wildfires exerts a powerful warming effect on the global climate—potentially matching or even exceeding that of black carbon in the visible spectrum.

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

Rare earth mining is poisoning Mekong River tributaries, threatening 'the world's kitchen' #environment

Rare earth mining is poisoning Mekong River tributaries, threatening 'the world's kitchen'
Perched on the bow of his long-tail fishing boat, 75-year-old Sukjai Yana untangled a handful of small fish from his net, disappointed by his catch and fretting over whether he can sell them.

A rush for critical minerals echoes oil extraction injustice as harms fall on world's most vulnerable, scientists warn https://phys.org/news/2026-04-critical-minerals-echoes-oil-injustice.html

A rush for critical minerals echoes oil extraction injustice as harms fall on world's most vulnerable, scientists warn
Mining critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt fuels the "green" energy and digital transitions essential to meeting climate goals. But building the technologies that enable a sustainable future is generating severe, hidden environmental and health crises that the world is failing to track or address, warns a new report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), known as the UN's Think Tank on Water.

"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.

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

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.

"Europe removes record number of dams in 2025 to restore rivers, help species"
#Europe #Environment #Rivers

Europe removes record number of dams in 2025 to restore rivers, help species
A massive slab of wartime concrete blocked the Pčinja River in Kumanovo, North Macedonia for more than 70 years. A 53-meter-long and 30-meter-wide (174 by 98 feet) structure of reinforced concrete packed with salvaged railway steel impeded the free flow of water and fish for at least 70 kilometers (44 miles) upstream. It was considered […]

"Ecosia’s Purpose-Driven Climate Investment Reaches 250M Trees"
#Ecosia #Trees #Environment

Ecosia's Purpose-Driven Climate Investment Reaches 250M Trees | Happy Eco News
Search engine Ecosia has reached 250 million trees planted through a purpose-driven climate investment model, partnering with 125 organizations employing 200,000 tree planters across 35+ countries, planting 1,600 native species, including 144 endangered or vulnerable species.

"Ecosystem of Pansies Thrives on Soil Contaminated by Lead Mining–Turning it into Clean Organic Compounds"
#Plants #Flowers #Environment

Ecosystem of Pansies Thrives on Soil Contaminated by Lead Mining–Turning it into Clean Organic Compounds - Good News Network
For areas contaminated by lead and zinc mining across Europe, a class of plants known as “metallophytes” are helping enrich nature while diminishing pollution. The Guardian reported on this kind of ecological double speak, where wildflowers seemingly grow in healthy abundance on semi-mountainous landscapes in the north of the UK, a place that has seen […]

"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

"Scientists just cleared an endangered species' name — with the help of camera traps"
#Animals #Environment

An endangered species took the blame for vanishing crops. Trail cameras told a different story
The Baird’s tapir had long been accused of cassava theft. Researchers stepped in to see what was really going on.

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.

"Greece is leading the world in wildfire detection thanks to EU-funded satellites and AI"
#Greece #Environment #Wildfires

Greece using satellites and AI to detect wildfires earlier than ever
Four nanosatellites are now fully operational, sending instant alerts to firefighters.

Being a taller tree doesn’t doom you to drought after all #environment

"This first-of-its-kind wildlife overpass crosses a 6-lane highway. People can walk across it, too"
#Animals #Environment

A San Antonio wildlife overpass crosses a 6-lane highway. People can walk across it, too
The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge has won awards for “balancing the needs of humans and non-humans alike.”

"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.

Your 'recycled polyester' leggings are not as sustainable as you think #environment

Your 'recycled polyester' leggings are not as sustainable as you think
Recycled polyester activewear and swimwear are now everywhere. Major global brands sell leggings, swimsuits and puffer jackets with labels that claim they're "made from recycled plastic bottles." Millions of people buy these products believing they're making a more sustainable choice.

"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 […]

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

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.

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.

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

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.

"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 […]

"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

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 […]

"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. 

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.

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.

"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.

"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 […]

"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 […]

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.

"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 […]

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…

"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: […]

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

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.

"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.

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.

"Brazil bill aims to ban satellite tool used to slow Amazon deforestation"
#Brazil #Deforestation #Trees #Environment

Brazil bill aims to ban satellite tool used to slow Amazon deforestation
The agribusiness caucus is pushing restrictions on the technology that has helped halve deforestation since 2023.

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

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.

"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.

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.

"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.

"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.

"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

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

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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 […]

"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

"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.

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

The Best Environmental Photography of the Year

"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.

"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.

"10% of the ocean is protected. Now just 20% more to go"
#Oceans #Environment
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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 […]

"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 […]