The Rivers Trust has introduced a real-time sewage discharge layer to its interactive Sewage Map, spotlighting combined sewer overflows and highlighting those that have released sewage in the last 48 hours. While this tool is a significant development for wild swimming enthusiasts and environmental advocates, its effectiveness depends on active involvement from water companies. Under the UK's 2021 Environment Act, all water suppliers are mandated to disclose real-time data on pollution incidents, but the act lacks a specific deadline for implementation. Currently, Thames Water is the only firm that has initiated the sharing of such data on the platform.
Campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to develop a comprehensive strategy that curbs the demand for materials required in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. A newly released report, "Unearthing Injustice," commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland in collaboration with the London Mining Network, sheds light on the concerning environmental degradation and human rights abuses linked to the extraction of vital transition materials like lithium and steel.
A thought-provoking documentary titled "The Need To GROW" raises the critical question of whether we can achieve global food security while adopting sustainable agricultural practices that respect the environment. The film delves into the potential of organic and circular approaches in agriculture to achieve high yields while supporting vital microorganisms.
In the town of Habbaniyah, Iraq, a distressing reality unfolds as the magnificent Lake Habbaniyah shrinks due to an unrelenting drought, drastically impacting its role as a tourist destination. The once-thriving lakeside retreat has been hit hard, with shrinking shorelines and dwindling water levels repelling holidaymakers who once flocked there during the summer months.
Farmers in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, are adopting climate-friendly agricultural methods under an initiative by Indonesia's Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Since its inception in 2019, the program has brought transformative changes, ending land burning and fostering positive impacts.
New research indicates that the US municipal bond market exhibits systemic mispricing of risk. Specifically, the pricing of municipal debt within this market fails to consider local physical climate risks, while simultaneously demanding higher credit spreads from communities with a greater proportion of Black residents. The study, conducted by Erika Smull and colleagues from Duke University, sheds light on these findings, which are presented in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on August 9.
An investigation conducted jointly by NGOs Oceana and Uplift has raised concerns over the UK Government's plans to permit a series of offshore fossil fuel projects, with 40% of these developments falling within areas designated as off-limits. The analysis focused on potential oil and gas developments in the North Sea, revealing a significant risk of damage to critical marine ecosystems. The report highlighted the potential for harm to the North Norfolk Coast Special Protected Area, The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation, Shetland's Foula Special Protected Area, Liverpool Bay Special Protected Area, and Southern North Sea Special Protected Area. The threats posed include large-scale oil spills, frequent minor spills, microplastics, and destruction of seabed habitats.
The United Nations weather agency, in collaboration with partners, has officially confirmed that July 2023 attained the highest global average temperature ever recorded, potentially reaching levels unseen for over 120,000 years. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director at the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized that July's temperature exceeded the average for the period from 1815 to 1900, an era often considered as pre-industrial times, by around 1.5 degrees Celsius. She also pointed out the occurrence of widespread heatwaves across various regions during the month.
Punjab has significant potential for biomass to combat climate change. Biomass is organic material that can be used to produce energy. It can be derived from a variety of sources, including agricultural waste, wood, and animal manure.
Researchers from the University of Bonn have harnessed cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies to achieve an unparalleled understanding of global water distribution and its changes over the past two decades. By fusing the hydrological model WaterGAP with data from the GRACE satellite mission, the team, led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Kusche, has generated an intricate portrayal of Earth's water balance dynamics. Their groundbreaking findings, soon to be published in the Journal of Geodesy, illuminate the extent and impact of droughts and facilitate forecasts of climate change effects on water systems.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.