Researchers at the Mauna Loa Observatory – the global standard for CO2 measurements – announced with dismay that atmospheric CO2 levels had again reached an all-time record this May at 411 ppm. The continued increase has been attributed to record emissions from coal and gas. The last time CO2 levels have been this high was 3 million years ago.

June 18, 2018

A report published by REN21 found that renewable energy made up 70% of new global power generating capacity in 2017 - the largest increase in renewable power capacity in modern history. The authors note that a 100% renewable electricity future may be just around the corner, but the progress in transport, cooling and heating is much less encouraging.

June 11, 2018

Resale was suspected to be gaining ground, but a recent report by Thredup found that resale disruptors are outpacing regular retail growth at an astounding pace: by a factor of 24. Nearly half of resale sales are apparel and if the trend continues, resale is set to overtake fast fashion's market share within a decade, then occupying one-third of people's closets.

June 4, 2018

The UN has announced it has partnered with CBL Markets to provide access to emissions reduction credits (CERs) resulting from registered projects under the UN's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The goal is to assist actors to offset their emissions either on a voluntary basis or as required by various compliance programmes.

May 28, 2018

The global ban of ozone-depleting substances is one of the greatest environmental success stories, but scientists have recently discovered that despite the ban, atmospheric concentrations of one such banned substance, CFC-11, are on the rise. This means someone is cheating, and until the culprit is found the ozone layer and global health is again at risk.

May 21, 2018

The finer nuances of implementing a low-carbon economy from 2020 onwards and the urgency of this task were the topics at the recently concluded UN Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany. Here, experts discussed the circular economy and emphasized how technology and business innovation are crucial to achieving the Paris Agreement's goals.

May 14, 2018

Last week, the birthplace of the coal-fired engine and the cradle of the industrial revolution went over two days without using any coal power in their electricity grid. This is the first time the UK has been powered for so long without coal in 136 years.

April 30, 2018

On its 80th birthday REI Co-op, America's largest outdoor retailer, announced the introduction of standards that will apply to each of the more than 1,000 brands sold in its stores. The standards focus on how brands handle environmental, social and animal welfare impacts, and aim to both make it easier for customers to choose sustainable products and to elevate the sustainability of the outdoor industry at large.

April 23, 2018

In a recent report published in Nature Climate Change, researchers found that further glacial mass loss can no longer be prevented this century - even if all emissions were to cease - and will likely continue well beyond the 21st century. They estimated that at least 36% of all glacial ice will melt even under the most optimistic emission scenario, with significant implications on anticipated sea level rise.

April 16, 2018

Attention Scandinavian Swappers: Make space on your calendar the 14th of April and start digging through your closets for tradeable clothes - the Nordic Swap Day has come again! Hundreds of swap markets are planned by various actors, so for more information and to find an event near you, visit the websites of Naturskyddsforeningen.se for Sweden, Byttemarked.nu for Denmark and Naturvernforbundet.no for Norway.

April 9, 2018

In our last issue’s article “Save Our Seas,” we covered the threat of plastic pollution to marine environments, and what people are doing about it. Researchers have now determined that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is up to 16 times larger than first estimated – covering an area two to three times the size of France.

April 3, 2018

California state assembly member Richard Bloom has introduced a new bill that, if passed, would require all clothing containing more than 50% synthetic fiber to have a label that clearly warns of the threat microfibers pose to the environment. Bloom was also the author of the state’s successful microbead ban, which was later passed into federal law.

March 26, 2018