World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses…
The IEA has released a fresh update on coal, and the numbers are remarkable: in 2026, the world is expected to burn a record 8.94 billion tonnes of coal, 1.2% more than last year’s record. Just nine months ago, the…
Wastewater treatment plants could become infrastructure for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Microsoft has signed a long-term agreement with CREW Carbon to purchase carbon removals using exactly this approach. The technology is integrated into existing water-treatment systems: alkaline minerals are…
EU packaging rules have become mandatory for businesses. On 12 August, the EU-wide Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force, replacing the previous 1994 directive. The key difference is that PPWR is a regulation, not a directive. It…
In June 2026, the U.S. reported that 39.9% of honey bee colonies had died during the 2025/2026 season. Extreme heat, pesticides, habitat loss and parasites are putting pollinators under growing pressure worldwide. In Russia, beekeepers have reportedly lost around 200,000…
Europe’s extreme heat this summer could reduce the European Union’s economic output by about 1% in 2026, effectively erasing most of the bloc’s projected growth, according to an assessment by Dutch bank Triodos Bank. The estimated hit of around €180…
Global electricity consumption is forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to grow by 3.6% in 2026 and a further 3.8% in 2027, following 3% growth in 2025. Key drivers include industry, air conditioning, electric vehicles, household appliances and data…
A study by the European Space Agency has found that since 2018, each hectare of disturbed forest in Europe has experienced 46% more biomass loss than before. The main cause is drought, which has weakened trees and been followed by massive outbreaks…
The largest field experiment to date in Wales evaluating methods to improve the growth of young forests has been completed. Scientists from Imperial College London tested two approaches: applying crushed basalt to the soil and introducing a microbiome from mature…
In South Korea’s Chilgok County, melon peels are being turned into an innovative material for bags and wallets. Chilgok is one of the country’s major melon-growing regions, but tons of low-quality fruit are discarded every rainy season, with some ending…