This month’s edition of Environment news

all the environmental highlights from across the globe. Including new legislations in Wales, revolutionary zero-emission flights in Sweeden, the re-appearance of extinct creatures, new innovations to tackle food waste, and lastly the devastating floods in Pakistan. Read on to find out more!  

 

Wales Set out to ban single-use plastic  

 

Single-use plastics are one of the major polluting items across the globe, as they have a devastating impact on our wildlife and environment. Many countries have or are implementing bans on single-use plastic such as cutlery, straws, polystyrene food containers etc. Even more recently, Wales will be the first country in the UK to ban single-use plastic carrier bags. In 2011, Wales became one of the first countries in the world to introduce a charge for single-use carrier bags. Banning single-use is a great step to fight the negative impacts of climate change. 

 

Source The Guardian

 

 

 

Devastating floods in Pakistan  

 

Floods have been a frequent phenomenon in Pakistan, each flood has killed and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The impact of climate change, the history of poor water resource planning and poor infrastructure development have turned the famous river Indus into a symbol of danger. However, the 2022 floods have been the worst out of all of them. Pakistan has experienced extreme heat, with temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius for extended periods during the summer and melting glaciers in the high Himalayas brought excess meltwater into Pakistan’s river systems. Therefore, in September 2022, the floods killed eight million animals and destroyed around two million acres of crops — 90 per cent of the country’s crops and 8 million animals have perished. The recovery from the catastrophe will be difficult as crops and livestock comprise an essential part of Pakistan’s rural economy and livelihoods.  

 

 

Source: The Guardian

 

 

Zero emission flights in Sweeden  

 

In Sweeden, the airline Braathens Regional Airlines and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplier Neste Oyj have collaborated and created the first commercial aircraft entirely on SAF and specifically renewable energy.  The aviation industry accounts for more than two per cent of total global emissions. Sustainable aviation fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions.  In September 2022, the SAF flight had its first successful practice trip. This is a great step to fully decarbonize the aviation industry. 

 

Source: Euro News

 

 

 

Pine Marten spotted in London for the first time in over 100 years 

 

A small animal called pine marten has been spotted in London for the first time since the late 19th century. A pine marten belongs to the Mustelidae family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, minks and wolverines. It is important to note that the pine marten used to be Great Britain’s second most common carnivore. Their extinction was caused due to loss of habitat as well as hunting in the Victorian era. Now, the endangered pine marten has been spotted in the South-West woodland. All in all, the return of wildlife to an area can be positive as it indicates that habitat quality is improving, or the natural food sources are increasing.  

 

 

Source: The Guardian

 

 

UK Student develops a carbon-footprint detector for rotting food and offers cooking methods  

 

Harriet Almond, a recent graduate of Northumbria University, has created a prototype for a detector that can identify gases generated by rotting food and offers cooking methods based on how fresh the ingredient is. The two-piece design includes a little mouth-shaped printer and a handheld sensor that resembles a snout and is called ‘Snoot’. Based on the data collected by the fragrance detector, it can tell how fresh the item is and then, the printer spews forth recipe recommendations. Using this information, Snoot then shares suggestions on how the food should be prepared in order to extend its life. Future versions of the product could integrate multiple detection modules for different gases so that it could be used for all types of food – if they are fresh rather than dried or preserved.
 

Source Dezeen

 

Conclusion:  

 

That’s a wrap of this month’s top environmental news! Keep an eye on our website for our next upcoming blog with more eco news from across the world.  

 

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