Microplastics stunting growth of worms
Commonly used plastics can affect earthworms, plant growth and the pH of soil, finds a new study. New research from Anglia Ruskin University has found that the presence of microplastics can stunt the growth...
Category: Daily News
Micromobility has massive potential in cities worldwide
Shared bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters have the potential to replace over half of short-distance car trips in cities around the world, a new study finds. For its report Micromobility Potential in the US, UK...
Extreme weather events impact mental health
People whose homes are damaged by storms or flooding are significantly more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, according to new research. Emergency planning needs to include mental health...
World Urban Forum to be held in Arab city for first time
The tenth World Urban Forum will be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2020. Urban stakeholders from the Arab region will be highlighted at the event. The Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum...
Revolutionizing agriculture with vertical farming
Swiss startup Growcer AG is currently building an automated urban vertical farm. Robots sow, water and fertilize the vegetables, which are then harvested by humans. The concept promises to drastically reduce carbon emissions, water...
Fuels cells to power long-distance FlixBus fleet
FlixMobility, which operates Europe’s largest long-distance bus fleet under the FlixBus brand, is working to put fuel cell-powered coaches on the road in an effort to go climate neutral by 2030. FlixMobility has set...
Plants help combat urban heat islands
A team of American and Swiss researchers studied which factors best reduce temperature differences between cities and their surrounding environments. Their results could help urban planners keep cities cool. Urban heat islands are a...
Marks & Spencer sparkles with glitter-free Christmas
British retailer M&S has removed glitter from its entire Christmas range this year in an effort to boost recyclability and reduce microplastics. While it seems too early to be talking about Christmas, M&S has...
Amazon deforestation warming local Brazilian climate
The loss of forest cover in the Amazon is having a significant impact on the local climate in Brazil – and making forests more susceptible to burning, according to a new study. The 2019...
Denser doesn’t mean greener when it comes to urban air pollution
New research from the London School of Economics finds that denser cities are more likely to have higher levels of harmful air pollution. Urban planners need to address this if we are to have...
Fairphone 3 now for sale
The third generation modular phone from Fairphone is now available across Europe from selected online retailers and operators. The modular Fairphone 3 is more reliable and durable and comes in a sleeker and slimmer...
Hasbro to phase out plastic packaging in toys and games
Hasbro will begin phasing out plastic from new toy and game packaging beginning in 2020. Its brands include Monopoly, Nerf and My Little Pony. Game manufacturer Hasbro has announced that it will begin phasing...
New institute to focus on challenges facing future cities
Lancaster University in the UK and Sunway University in Malaysia have launched the Future Cities Research Initiative, which will develop collaborative urban solutions facing future cities. The new Future Cities Research Institute (FCRI) is...
The right to a healthy environment is a human right
The UN environment agency and the UN Human Rights Office have signed a new cooperation agreement to promote and protect environmental and human rights. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Rights...
Wooden skyscrapers growing in place of concrete ones
Cities around the world are building skyscrapers out of wood amid growing concerns about concrete’s environmental footprint. According to an article by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, cities from Amsterdam to Tokyo are in a...
Overeating is ecologically worse than food waste
Researchers in Italy have found a way to measure the ecological impact of overeating. It shows that overeating wastes far more food that we throw away. While it is well established by now that...
Singapore offers lessons for sustainable cities
The Asian city-state is proof that integrated urban planning is the key to creating sustainable, attractive and liveable cities, says Xiao Wu from the World Bank. Xiao Wu, who works in the Social, Urban,...
Green chemists turn cashew nut shells into sunscreen
A team of international scientists has found an environmentally friendly way of producing potential sunscreens by using cashew nut shells, a waste material. A team of ‘green chemists’ from the University of the Witwatersrand...
World’s largest electric ferry completes maiden voyage
The world’s largest all-electric ferry made its first commercial trip last week in southern Denmark. It is powered by a battery system with an unprecedented 4.3MWh capacity from Swiss energy storage company Leclanché. E-ferry...
Manufacturers should pay for plastic waste disposal, says Germany
The German environment ministry wants manufacturers of disposable products to contribute to the costs of keeping cities clean. In a first step, it is launching a study aimed at determining how many fast-food packaging,...
