Four multi-national companies – Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever are responsible for half a million tonnes of plastic pollution in six countries per year. A study by international relief agency Tearfund is the first to quantify the amount of plastic waste burnt in Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, India, China and The Philippines. The plastic being burnt by the … Read more
Air pollution in India has plummeted to its lowest levels amid the coronavirus lockdown, in stark contrast to record high levels last year. People in Delhi, the country’s capital, awoke to clear blue skies at the weekend, a matter of days into the nationwide lockdown owing to Covid-19. The Air Quality Index (AQI) indicated levels … Read more
Emissions Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. After the gas is released into the atmosphere it stays there, making it difficult for heat to escape – and warming up the planet in the process. It is primarily released from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and … Read more
Microbe that can break down hard-to-recycle plastics used in products ranging from furniture to fridges could be the answer to plastic pollution Scientists identified a tiny organism that can break down polyurethane plastic These are very difficult to recycle plastics as they don’t melt down when heated This type of plastic is used in a … Read more
Botanists have created a ‘plant selection guide’ of tree species and their traits that can help to combat air pollution. The black pine, the common yew, the Spanish oak and Turner’s oak all combat air pollution caused by road traffic, including harmful nitrogen oxides. UK researchers identified 12 ‘influential’ traits for 61 tree species that … Read more
Levels of smog have plummeted in a number of European cities under coronavirus lockdown, including Paris and Italian cities Rome, Milan and Bergamo, the epicenter of the European coronavirus outbreak. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) data has confirmed a large decrease in air pollutant concentrations – in particular of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The agency has … Read more
Emissions Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. After the gas is released into the atmosphere it stays there, making it difficult for heat to escape – and warming up the planet in the process. It is primarily released from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and … Read more
Air pollution has declined in parts of the US as millions of Americans are forced into lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak. California has experienced the biggest improvement in air quality, specifically over the Bay Area and Central Valley where stricter social distancing guidelines have been implemented. Other metropolitan areas, including Seattle, New York, Chicago … Read more
What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more
What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more