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By Gordon Cairns* A therapist helping an autistic boy.  ©iStock/EyeEm Mobile GmBH When 89-year-old retired banker Donald Triplett died quietly at his home in Forest, Mississippi, in 2023, his passing made headlines for one fact alone: He was the first person ever diagnosed with autism. He was only 10 years old when child psychologist Leo Kanner used the term to describe young Donald’s  range of behaviors, which included an excellent memory, an inability to relate to others, and obsessively repetitive actions. Within the span of Triplett’s life, worldwide diagnosis of autism increased dramatically. As of 2021, an estimated 62 million others globally have been diagnosed as being autistic, according to the most recent study  by The Lancet , published this year. The rise in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) hasn’t been gradual: Global prevalence has actually doubled since the journal’s previous study  published in 2018, in which over 31 million people were described as being on the autism spectrum. An estimated 62 million others have been diagnosed as of 2021, according to the most recent study by The Lancet, published this year. This worldwide increase is mirrored in the US. In a typical class of third-graders, it is statistically likely that one child will have an autism diagnosis, as an estimated 32 out of every 1,000 eight-year-olds were autistic in 2022. This is nearly five times the rate in 2000, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Does this dramatic rise mean aspects of the modern world is causing children to be born with autism? Or does it point to improved awareness and advances in diagnostic practices in identifying the condition? Autism is broadly characterized as affected individuals  lacking in empathy, difficulty interpreting nonverbal communication signals, or struggling to develop, keep, or understand relationships. Improved Awareness and Diagnosis of Autism The answer is a bit of both. Alison Singer, co-founder and president of the Autism Science Foundation, believes the startling increase is due to a wide range of factors. In a recent blog post for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases , she listed a number of causes for the rise, including an increased general awareness of autism coupled with a broader definition of autism introduced just over a decade ago. There is also improved access to services that can help identify autism, and these services have better screening tools and processes available to them. Apart from making it easier to identify, Singer also included other elements such as parents having children at a later age and improved survival rates for preterm babies. Expanding Genetic Factors of Autism in the Family However, the main determining factor of autism has remained the same—one’s genes. The scope of associated genes was updated in a Nature study  published in December 2024 by researchers at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center. In the study, the researchers indicated they found 92 potential variants in 73 known neurodevelopmental disorder genes and 158 potential variants in 120 autism candidate genes. This was based on 222 people with autism from 195 families. “Research suggests that there may be up to 1,000 genes associated with ASD susceptibility, and the genetic variants identified to date represent just a fraction of the disease burden.” “Research suggests that there may be up to 1,000 genes associated with ASD susceptibility, and the genetic variants identified to date represent just a fraction of the disease burden,” said senior author associate professor Maria Chahrour, PhD, in UT Southwestern Medical Center’s press release . The sister on the right is autistic. A Mommy Story (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5) Autism also has an estimated heritability of 70% to 90% , causing it to run in the family. The National Fragile X Foundation , a nonprofit that supports families living with Fragile X syndrome, states that “an identifiable single-gene condition may account for 15% to 20% of all cases of autism” and recommends genetic testing that includes Fragile X syndrome. In addition, autism is estimated to be about 10 times more prevalent in children with an autistic sibling. A 2024 study  by researchers at the University of California Davis found that 20.2% of siblings of children with autism developed autism themselves, based on 1,605 infants with an older autistic sibling. This probability increased to 37%  for a child with multiple siblings with autism. Environmental Risk Factors for Autism But genetics doesn’t explain all the causes of autism. Scientists have also been looking at the environment to see if there is a connection between environmental pollution and autism. Someone working in this field is Heather Volk , associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, who investigates how interactions between environmental factors, such as air pollution, and genetic factors, like mutations, lead to ASD in children. One investigation led by Volk in 2011 found children born of mothers living less than 1,014 feet from a freeway  during their third trimester of pregnancy were twice as likely to develop ASD. Speaking on a webinar in 2023 released by Spark , a US-based organization that researches autism, she said, “Broadly, what we can see is that neurodevelopment is impacted by air pollution exposure that happens during the prenatal period in early life.” In 2011, Volk found that autism was linked with pregnant mothers living near a highway.   ©Altaf Shah She has examined 23 papers published within the last 10 years that looked at the relationship between air quality and autism and concludes: “Outdoor air quality in the neighborhood based on an individual’s address often around the time of birth does seem to be associated with autism.” She adds that higher levels of pollution have an even more detrimental effect. “Among kids with autism,” she explains, “children who live in more polluted areas, particularly in their first year of life, are more likely to have more problems in daily life, communication in particular, in overall functioning as well as in their daily living skills.” Prenatal Health and Autism Volk has also examined five studies on how the diet of the expectant mother might work to reduce the impact of the environment on the possibility of a child developing autism. “For example,” she says, “perhaps moms who take a prenatal vitamin and moms who might live in an area where they might be exposed to a higher level of air pollution or a higher level of pesticides, those two factors might work against each other.” “Maybe, if you take your prenatal vitamin even if you live in an area of poor air quality, that could help protect your child subsequently in your pregnancy. So much research needs to be done here.” “Maybe, if you take your prenatal vitamin even if you live in an area of poor air quality, that could help protect your child subsequently in your pregnancy. So much research needs to be done here.” Legumes can be helpful for improving zinc intake for pregnant mothers.  Photo: Public  Domain A review published in 2024  of a number of studies highlights potential links between autism and the health of the pregnant mother, as well as environmental conditions. A low intake of zinc, magnesium, and selenium during pregnancy was found to be linked with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. One study in the United States and another in Norway reported a nearly 40% decline in autism risk associated with prenatal vitamin use, while the US study also found a significant decrease in ASD tendency with a daily folic acid intake. On the other hand, a Danish study could not find any association between an expectant mother taking these supplements and a reduced risk for their child. Therapy for Autism through Nature Just as the urban environment can impact the probability of a child being born with autism, so too can the natural environment provide support for parents with autistic children, both for the young person themselves and adults who are on the spectrum. While there is little research into this area, a report from Iran found family-centered nature therapy  was effective in improving the parents’ relationship with their children, including reducing conflicts. The offspring showed lower dependence on their parents after receiving the treatment. Another small-scale study  found participants with autism experiencing considerable positive psychological outcomes from engaging in outdoor exercise. For families dealing with autism, consult support groups in one’s community, educational materials, and healthcare providers for more information and recommendations. *Gordon Cairns  is a freelance journalist and teacher of English at the Forest Schools, based in Scotland. For almost two decades, he has been taking groups of teenagers with autism out into the woods, where they build fires and dens, swing in hammocks, and set up camp. Anecdotally, the young people report sleeping better the following night and feeling calmer after spending time in nature and away from restricting walls, artificial lighting and electronic hums.

Rethink Food’s No-Cost Meals Combat Poor Health and Food Insecurity Rethink Food’s registered dietitian trains a local meal provider to help with the organization's new medically tailored meals (MTM) program.  ©Rethink Food Rethink Food, a chef-led  nonprofit, is on a mission to transform the intersection of healthcare and nutrition with the launch of its medically tailored meals (MTM) program.   Through partnerships with restaurants, community organizations, and food donors, Rethink Food delivers meals where they’re needed most—revolutionizing not only how communities are fed, but how food can serve as a form of care.   Rooted in the “Food is Medicine” approach, this program delivers nutritious, home-delivered meals crafted by registered dietitians to meet the specific needs of individuals managing chronic illnesses. By integrating nutrition with medical care, the MTM program aims to improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce avoidable hospital visits. Rethink Food’s innovative MTM program, launched in April 2025, offers no-cost, medically tailored meal delivery to eligible Medicaid recipients in New York City, reinforcing the organization’s core belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious food.   "At Rethink Food, we believe nutrition is not a privilege, it’s a prescription for better health. Through our Medically Tailored Meals Program, we are turning food into a tool for healing, dignity, and equity. This isn’t just about meals—it’s about changing the way we care for one another,” says Jordan Correa, Chief Program Officer at Rethink Food.   Who Can Participate in this Program? To qualify for this meal delivery program, individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria, primarily through their enrollment in Medicaid. Specifically, the program targets individuals who are:   Frequent users of emergency or hospital services Enrolled in a New York State Health Home with chronic conditions, such as HIV and diabetes, serious mental illness, or multiple chronic illnesses Managing substance use disorders or developmental disabilities Pregnant or recently postpartum Recently released from incarceration with a chronic condition High-risk children or youth, including those in foster or kinship care   How the Program Works The MTM program engages eligible Medicaid members with chronic health conditions to identify the most appropriate meal plan for their medical needs. Participants receive fully prepared meals designed by their Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to support the management of their health conditions. Each meal plan is customized based on the individual’s dietary preferences, lifestyle, and delivery schedule—offering convenient access to options such as vegetarian, low-sodium, diabetic-friendly, and heart-healthy meals. All meals are 100% halal, ensuring inclusive access for a wider range of dietary and cultural needs. Each eligible member receives a weekly meal box that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal plans are customizable, with the following options: 3-Day Box: 9 meals per week – ideal for partial support 5-Day Box: 15 meals per week – covers most of the week 7-Day Box: 21 meals per week – provides full coverage     For example, breakfast options may include asparagus frittata with roasted potatoes and a banana; zucchini muffins with yogurt, string cheese, and an orange; turkey bacon frittata with an apple; or pumpkin quiche with a quinoa crust and multigrain bread. Lunch selections might feature baked Cajun tilapia with green beans and roasted sweet potato, or beef and lentil chili with asparagus and a whole wheat roll. Dinner options could include baked Parmesan chicken with eggplant caponata and sautéed spinach, or beef fajitas with roasted broccoli and white rice. By providing meals that enhance diet quality, reduce hospital visits, and lower healthcare costs, Rethink Food is tackling several public health and nutrition challenges through a single service. Additionally, these meals are crafted to support local businesses via partnerships with food providers, while promoting sustainability and community engagement.   The goal is to enable recipients to focus on their recovery without worrying about food insecurity.   Public-Private Partnerships Funded by the New York State 1115 Waiver , Rethink Food’s MTM program connects healthcare and social services to address the social drivers of health, starting with food insecurity. The waiver can generate savings through various healthcare reforms, which can be reinvested into the system. In partnership with leading social care networks—including  Public Health Solutions , HEALI , and SOMOS Community Care— Rethink Food ensures that its MTM meals reach those who need them most, where they are. These collaborations strengthen referral pathways, expand access, and make nutrition a powerful tool for healing.   Learn More  For more information about eligibility and how to apply for the Medically Tailored Meals program, visit Rethink Food’s website .

Including Marshes, Swamps, Lakes, and Peatlands According to Report Wetlands, such as swamps, marshes, and bogs , are essential habitats for fish and wildlife, supply nutrient-rich materials to support the food web, and store carbon from the atmosphere. However, wetlands are shrinking, according to the Global Wetland Outlook 2025 . Below are key findings from the report, which was presented at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (or COP15 ) that took place on July 23–31, 2025. There are an estimated 1,425.6 million hectares of wetlands remaining globally , and they provide benefits estimated from $7.98 trillion to $39.01 trillion every year. These benefits include providing food for people, removing water pollutants, protecting local communities from natural disasters, and storing carbon. Of the above area, peatlands occupy the highest area—500 million hectares (or 35%)—followed by inland marshes and swamps (32%) and lakes (19%). Since 1970, the overall average rate of wetland loss has been 0.52% per year. The rate ranges from 0.01% to 1.80% per year, depending on the wetland type. Total wetland loss is about 411.5 million hectares, of which inland marshes and swamps faced the highest loss of 177 million hectares (or 43%). Lakes and peatlands accounted for 30% and 19% of the total loss, respectively. Sources: Global Wetland Outlook 2025 Report National Geographic – Wetlands

Swedish-British  Billionaire Builds Record of Rainforest Conservation   By Mark Smith* Johan Eliasch (second from left) at a tree planting with King Charles II.  © Photographer London He buys up whole swaths of rainforest to save them from destruction. He partners with legendary Hollywood actors to provide green energy for Indian schools. He campaigns to make the Olympic Games more environmentally friendly. Johan Eliasch is a man who gets things done. Having amassed a fortune in the world of business, the Swedish-British billionaire has also become a formidable force in the world of conservation. Born in Sweden in 1962, Eliasch achieved success as the CEO and chairman of sporting goods giant HEAD, with a net worth estimated to be in the region of £4 billion ($5.3 billion), according to the UK’s Sunday Times Rich List.   While some wealthy people spend their money on yachts and cars, Eliasch spent a considerable amount of his fortune on 400,000 acres of endangered Brazilian rainforest to save it from logging and deforestation in 2005. He is also the cofounder of Cool Earth , a charity that invests in Indigenous communities. Cool Earth has given cash to 75 communities in places like Peru, the Congo, and Papua New Guinea to enable them to resist the financial overtures of loggers who want to buy their forests. The tribal village of Urakuza in the Peruvian Amazon receives support from Cool Earth. ©Cool Earth According to the charity , as of 2024, a total of 99% of the rainforests where Cool Earth operates were still intact, and it had helped to protect over 2.1 million acres of rainforest and 380 million trees. These days, it can often be de rigueur for those in high-profile roles to profess a love of conservation, but Eliasch’s is unquestionably long-standing. Indeed, during his childhood in Sweden, he realized the world around him was changing, and that he had to try and do something about it. In an exclusive interview, he told The Earth & I : “As a boy growing up in Stockholm, I would ski from late October to April. As the season grew steadily shorter, I became curious about the impact of climate change on weather patterns and the global policy response to that. Through reading a lot of science and speaking to many people in the climate space, the urgency of the challenge became clear.” “As a boy growing up in Stockholm, I would ski from late October to April. As the season grew steadily shorter, I became curious about the impact of climate change.” Following his success in business and conservation projects, his expertise led him to advise world leaders on climate-related issues. In 2007, the UK government asked him to conduct a review on the role of deforestation in climate change. The resulting Eliasch Review  subsequently informed the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation  framework as part of the international climate change convention. His work has also seen him join forces with famed actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative —of which Eliasch is an advisory board member—focuses on supporting data-led projects all over the world, from financing a photovoltaic system on the roof of an Indian school to providing energy-efficient cooking stoves in Uganda. Eliasch said his approach has always been about “practicality,” as he “prefers workshops to talking shops.” “I was keen to see where I could make the most impact, and for me that has primarily meant involvement in rainforest conservation. Trees are quite simply the lungs of the Earth, vital to biodiversity and our global ecosystem. Hence, my involvement in rainforest preservation over the past 20 years.”   Combining Sport and the Environment Eliasch is also a major figure in the sporting world. Since 2021, he has served as the president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a council member of the Association of International Winter Olympic Federations, and a board member of the British Olympic Association. FIS President and avid sportsman Johan Eliasch. ©Johan Eliasch Since becoming FIS President, he has been an advocate of the Race to Zero  campaign, led by Climate Champions. This project is sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., which commits to halving FIS emissions by 2030. He also oversees initiatives like smarter venue design, athlete travel-emissions tracking, and event-level offsets through reforestation programs like the FIS Rainforest Initiative . “As a member of the IOC’s Sustainability and Legacy Commission, we are working to ensure that future Olympic and Paralympic Games are as environmentally friendly as possible,” he said. “As a member of the IOC’s legacy and sustainability committee, we are working to ensure that future Olympic and Paralympic Games are as environmentally friendly as possible.” “For example, I have been advocating for the rotation of the Olympic Winter Games between permanent venues, which would mean a significant reduction in construction emissions and less waste overall.” This year also saw him enter the race for president of the IOC, positioning himself as the climate-conscious candidate. Although he did not win, the bid was seen as a signal that environmental sustainability is now a major issue in top-level sport. Criticisms But there has been some criticism leveled at Cool Earth’s approach in the past, with claims of “green colonialism”—an assertion he rejects. “The charge makes little sense in the context of rainforest preservation,” he said. “Traditional colonialism is about ownership and exploitation; conserving rainforest is about supporting Indigenous people and preserving vital global resources for us all. Indeed, the Cool Earth strategy  is to ensure Indigenous people are at the center of everything it does. They make the decisions, they decide what they need and how problems can be solved. They are, after all, the guardians of the forest and they know how to protect it far better than ‘outsiders’ do.” Indigenous tribes like the Ashaninka of Peru are conservation experts. Cool Earth trusts them with unconditional cash donations. ©Cool Earth In a similar vein, when the ultrawealthy set out to do good it can be met with cynicism—perhaps sometimes justifiably. The practice of “greenwashing” has gained notoriety in recent years, where wealthy people or companies promote what appears to be a pro-environment project to get good PR. But as with most things, Eliasch’s attitude to this is a practical one. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I agree sometimes there may be ulterior motives. But if people are trying to do good—regardless of their wealth—I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt.” “I would look at the data, look at the facts, look at the scientific or humanitarian arguments being made for the ‘good work,’ and then decide if it is worthy of support.” He added, “Ultimately, the ‘greenwashing’ charge can only be applied if grandstanding is happening with no discernible impact being made. I would look at the data, look at the facts, look at the scientific or humanitarian arguments being made for the ‘good work,’ and then decide if it is worthy of support.” ‘Highly Concerning’ Future But what does the future hold compared to when Eliasch first took up the fight for conservation? According to him, it’s not in a good place. “The threats are clearly getting worse,” he said. “It’s simple. Our planet is not designed to support 8 billion people living the way we do. Climate change is leading to extreme weather conditions, which in turn is placing pressure on food and water supply, which in turn is driving migration and conflict. The picture is highly concerning. The threats come from a lack of unified global action, based on the science.” Despite this, he said he remains optimistic and feels Net Zero is an attainable goal in the next 30 years. “We have the capability in terms of scientific and technological knowledge to overcome our challenges,” he said. “Mankind has achieved extraordinary things before, and I am sure we will again.” *Mark Smith   is a journalist and author from the UK. He has written on subjects ranging from business and technology to world affairs, history, and popular culture for the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, and magazines in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Gathering to Boost Progress in Meeting UN Goals of ‘Clean Water, Sanitation for All’ Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Wikimedia The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Senegal are set to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference , scheduled for December 2–4, 2026, in the UAE. This pivotal event aims to accelerate progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6  (SDG 6), ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.   According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation services.   Preparatory Efforts and Stakeholder Engagement Preparations for the conference have been underway since 2024, with the UAE and Senegal leading a consultation process involving governments, international organizations, civil society leaders, NGOs, the private sector, and academia. A significant milestone was the organizational session held on March 3, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York, where conference stakeholders worked on details for the event. Then, in July 2025, a high-level preparatory meeting, convened by the president of the UN General Assembly, led to the formal adoption of the six interactive dialogue themes  by consensus. These themes  are:   Water for People Water for Prosperity Water for Planet Water for Cooperation Water in Multilateral Processes Investments for Water   Conference dialogues will use these themes to discuss global water challenges and how to achieve SDG 6 goals.   Rights and Inclusivity The UAE has emphasized that ensuring equitable access to water is not only a development priority but a fundamental human right. During a high-level discussion panel at the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to advancing human rights to water and sanitation. The country highlighted its leadership in expanding access to clean water through national strategies and international development initiatives, including the “UAE Water Security Strategy 2036” and the “Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.”   Looking Ahead The preparatory process  will culminate in a high-level international meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in January 2026, to assess progress on SDG 6.   His Excellency Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, said in a statement addressing the significance of the 2026 UN conference: “Water connects us all, and our actions must reflect that shared responsibility.” He added, “This Conference is our moment to course-correct—to set the world on a pathway of accelerated, coordinated, and sustained water action.” For more information, visit the official conference website: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2026 .

Except for Deep-Sea Fishes, Almost Two-Thirds of Fished Populations Sustainable Global seafood consumption has risen to 162 million tons in 2021—nearly six times the 28 million tons in 1961—according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) latest report in 2024 . With a per capita consumption of 20.6 kg (about 45.4 lbs.) per year, this trend raises concern over overfishing. In June, the UN FAO released a review on global fisheries  to assess the sustainable use of fish stocks, or “living resources in the community or population from which catches are taken in a fishery” according to the FAO . Below are key findings from the report. In 2021, 64.5% of fish stocks were fished within biologically sustainable levels, while the remaining 35.5% were classified as overfished. About 77.2% of the fishery landings (the amount of fish brought back to land from the sea) were estimated to be from biologically sustainable stocks. However, only 29% of deep-sea stocks were sustainably fished. These kinds of fish, which live at hundreds of feet below the surface and are prized for various cuisines, have low reproduction rates and are susceptible to overfishing. Deep-sea fish stocks from the Antarctic Area were an exception to overfishing—100% of these stocks are being sustainably exploited. Of the top 10 species* of desired fish, 60% came from sustainable stocks, while 85.8% of the fish landings were deemed to be from biologically sustainable stocks. For tunas and tuna-like species, 87% of the stocks were considered sustainable, while 99.3% of their landings were from biologically sustainable stocks. The Northeast Pacific and Southwest Pacific had high sustainability rates of 92.7% and 85.5%, respectively, given the strong fishing management systems put in place in those regions.   *Alaska pollock, anchoveta, skipjack tuna, Pacific chub mackerel, Atlantic herring, yellowfin tuna, Pacific sardine, European pilchard, blue whiting, and Atlantic cod   Sources:   UN Report - Review of the state of the world marine fishery resources - 2025   UN Report - The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024   UN FAO - Definition of Key Terms

Cooling the African Continent with Nature-Based Solutions   By Becky Hoag* Recent video of Justdiggit’s regreening efforts. The land is everything to the Maasai people. These seminomadic pastoralists have called Kenya home for centuries, drawing their food, shelter, culture, and livelihood from their largely dry land—80% of Kenya is designated as arid or semi-arid.   Today, some parts of the nation are in need of rejuvenation, as the lands have become degraded through environmental changes and human activity.   In fact, the land is now so dry that when the rain falls, it washes away fertile topsoil instead of replenishing it. Both the dry and wet seasons have become sources of disruption—with intense droughts and then flooding, according to the World Bank  and the Climate Reality Project —and the people struggle to predict the weather because the seasons are more erratic.   Trees are few and far between, and the cattle and goats the Maasai rely on for food and income are having to roam farther to find grassland. “When I was growing up, it was very different from what we are experiencing now—like we have the prolonged drought seasons. There [used to be] a lot of trees, a lot of vegetation. There was a lot of milk [and] healthy cattle compared to now,” Lanoi Meitekini, a livelihood coordinator for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, said in a 2017 documentary called  Rainmakers II: Seeds of Change .   Enter Justdiggit About a decade ago, a Dutch nonprofit named Justdiggit began engaging people in Kenya to “regreen” their lands. Their progress is now visible. Trees can be few and far between in portions of Kenya. Pexels Justdiggit struck a partnership with the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust  and one of the local Maasai tribes in southern Kenya, the Kuku Group Ranch , to help deploy proven land management methods to revive the area. Justdiggit’s greening methods are turning drought-stricken lands into hydrologic corridors. ©Justdiggit The organization, which works in many sub-Saharan nations, advises interested communities on strategies and then steps back to allow the people living there to choose what path to take and how much time and effort they want to invest in each project.   In the case of the Kuku Group Ranch, the partnership has already restored nearly 13,000 acres  of land (5,200 hectares).   In the case of the Kuku Group Ranch, the partnership has already restored nearly  13,000 acres  of land (5,200 hectares), retaining over 475.5 million gallons (1.8 billion liters) of water, and providing an economic opportunity for 252 Maasai women.   “What I love about [this work] is it’s positive. … It’s a lot of positive stories, which in the age of climate anxiety is very refreshing to see,” Rebecca Blinston-Jones, head of Justdiggit’s UK PR and marketing team, told The Earth & I .   Roots and Roadmap According to the UN, land degradation is a huge issue worldwide, with Earth losing about 30 million acres (12 million hectares) of fertile land every year. This creates a destructive feedback loop: The more the land dries out, the hotter the global climate becomes, causing more degradation. That being said, scientists have determined that about 5 billion acres (2 billion hectares) of degraded land can be restored, and a huge chunk of that viable space is in Africa.   Australian Peter Westerveld and Dennis Karpes of the Netherlands developed Justdiggit (originally called the NAGA Foundation) in 2009 after visiting different parts of Africa and seeing potential in the dry landscapes for developing hydrologic corridors , or large-scale restoration projects that trap rainwater, encourage vegetation growth, and prevent erosion.   Relying on research and personal experience, Westerveld, Karpes, and their team created a menu of methods to achieve their goals—methods that have been deployed in nine regions within Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal. Here are examples they suggest to local communities: Mapping out and digging water bunds. ©Justdiggit “Earth smiles”: Conventionally known as water bunds, these semicircular pits are dug into a slope to optimize rainwater capture and allow local vegetation to grow. Resembling a smile, they typically measure about 8.2 feet by 16.4 feet (about 2.5 meters long and 5 meters wide). Westerveld introduced this regenerative method from Australia where “bunding” is a common practice. It only takes about six months to see impressive results from digging these formations. Justdiggit recommends that local communities dig anywhere from 18,000 to 36,000 earth smiles to fully restore their land. Thus far, the Kuku Group Ranch has dug more than 490,000 water bunds on their land to replenish the soil.   Conventionally known as water bunds, these semicircular pits are dug into a slope to optimize rainwater capture and allow local vegetation to grow. Water bunds bringing vegetation to Kenya’s drylands. ©Justdiggit “Treecovery”: Locally known in Africa as Kisiki Hai  (which means tree stump in Swahili) and conventionally known as Farmer Management Natural Regeneration (FMNR), this forgotten native agroforestry technique was formally developed by Justdiggit’s partner, NGO World Vision, in the 1980s. “For Western audiences, we call this ‘treecovery’ because it has a nice ring to it,” Blinston-Jones said.   This method involves selecting tree stumps the community wants to protect, prioritizing the best shoots (growing from the trunks) to propagate, marking the tree so others know not to disturb it, and nurturing the tree back to maturity. It’s an effective method compared to planting new trees because these trees have already developed root systems to survive in certain climates. Increasing tree canopy in this way cools the local environment, provides decaying leaves to nourish the topsoil, and promotes biodiversity. Justdiggit works with the LEAD Foundation  in Tanzania to promote treecovery, and locals can see a difference in just one year. "Treecovery" is a simple, practical, and effective regreening technique. ©Justdiggit Grass seed banks: Promoting the growth of indigenous grasses provides food for livestock, promotes biodiversity and water absorption, and develops income for Maasai women in particular. It’s a relatively simple concept: Promote grassland growth by fencing off an area, sell the hay to local farmers during the dry season, collect the seeds to sell at local markets, and choose when to open up the land to let livestock graze.   Right now, Maasai women sell the seeds back to Justdiggit to plant in other locations, but the organization is working with local partners to determine the proper procedures for the women to sell seeds in the open market. So far, the Kuku Group Ranch has developed 13 grass seed banks . Because these banks are tended by the women of the community, this method improves women’s social status within their communities and empowers them to provide for their families, which can result in upward mobility. For example, the money can be used to buy schoolbooks for children. Separately, the Save the Elephants  organization urges the owners of grass seed banks  to surround them with beehives to ward off elephants from munching on the vegetation. As it turns out, elephants are scared of bees. And the Maasai women score a second form of income: honey!   Other techniques: The methods above are just some of the options offered by Justdiggit to the communities they work with. Others include grazing management techniques to minimize overgrazing and building stone creeks to promote rainwater absorption and reduce erosion. Getting the Word Out Justdiggit, which reported  $7.5 million (Euro 6.5 million) in income in 2024, advertises through local African media and influencers to reach interested communities. The organization also does “movie roadshows” where they travel to different communities to show videos on the benefits of regreening methods. If a community shows interest, Justdiggit’s experts listen to the community’s main concerns before providing a list of options customized for the region’s particular conditions. Justdiggit will then help develop pilot projects to show the community what to do and why, with the goal of community members taking ownership of the work. Justdiggit emphasizes community agency and encourages locals to reinvigorate traditional farming methods like Kisiki Hai.   “When the Justdiggit team came, mixing the science and the local knowledge, it was very easy to say, ‘Let’s give it a try!’”   “When the Justdiggit team came, mixing the science and the local knowledge, it was very easy to say, ‘Let’s give it a try!’” Benson Leyian, general manager of the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust , said in Justdiggit’s 2017 documentary .   A Decade of Doing Justdiggit considers this decade “the decade of doing,” creating the ambitious goal of working with 350 million farmers and pastoralists by 2030 to regreen sub-Saharan Africa. According to their 2024 impact report , they have so far recruited 2,200 farmers to take up restoration efforts. Through this, the organization’s regreening projects have restored almost 1.2 million acres (478,000 hectares) of land in sub-Saharan Africa, which is enough land to cover New York City five times over. They reached this goal by adding 60 new villages from Senegal and Tanzania to their program, bringing their total to 636 villages or more than 190,000 households.   Since the start of the project, Justdiggit has helped African communities develop 36 grass seed banks, empowering 770 female entrepreneurs. The organization says none of this could have been done without the help of their large group of partners and donors in Africa and Europe. For example, groups like Seqanna have helped provide satellite data so Justdiggit can monitor project progress throughout the year. This is only one of the emerging technologies that Justdiggit is engaged in. To work with so many farmers at once, Justdiggit deployed the Kijani app . This app provides information to farmers, via their smartphones, on how to deploy different nature-based solutions like the ones mentioned previously. The app is currently available in English and Swahili, but Justdiggit is working on making it soon available in French. Additionally, Justdiggit is working on developing AI people who can communicate farming methods on the app in whatever language needed. AI provides the opportunity to add new languages without having to rerecord scripts each time.   Justdiggit is also utilizing virtual reality on their website to allow donors and funders to see real-time progress without having to physically go to Africa. This is part of their effort to increase donations from Europe to multiply their projects. One way individuals can get involved is by purchasing earth smiles  to help support on-the-ground efforts.   “I see the results that would not have been possible without the Justdiggit intervention,” Benson said in the 2017 documentary , “and I am always excited because I know that if you see people copying an idea, that is an idea that is worth spreading across the country.” A savannah transformed with Justdiggit’s help. ©Justdiggit *Becky Hoag is a freelance environmental reporter. You can find her work on her site beckyhoag.com  and through her YouTube channel https://youtube.com/beckisphere

Unmindful Pet Ownership Can Be Hazardous to Nature By Mal Cole* A family with their dog in nature.  © iStock /Valerii Apetoraiei Dogs’ enthusiasm for the world around them can be contagious, and there’s no doubt that owning a dog can foster an appreciation for nature.   But Fido and Luna are still predators, and a new study shows that dog ownership can come at a cost to the environment, with impacts on bird populations, land, and waterways, and even through the massive pet food industry.   These impacts are serious enough to have been described as “insidious” in a new study, but dog owners can mitigate them with conscientious care of their pets.     ‘Owned’ Dogs Studied Owned dogs (ones that are considered domesticated pets and not wild, feral, or semi-feral) are the most popular pets in the world. There are an estimated 900 million pet dogs worldwide, including 13.5 million in the UK, over 62 million in Brazil, and almost 6.4 million in Australia, according to an analysis  of the America Pet Products Association’s 2025 report. However, the purpose of a comprehensive review published in Pacific Conservation Biology was not to detail the benefits of dog ownership but to examine the impact of pet dogs on the environment. What the Australian researchers found was that pet dogs are “implicated in direct killing and disturbance of multiple species, particularly shore birds.” Also, dog feces and urine “can transfer zoonoses to wildlife and, when accumulated, can pollute waterways and impact plant growth.” Finally, pet dogs who have been treated for fleas or ticks can transfer those chemicals to waterways, endangering local wildlife.   “While the impact of cats, both feral and owned, on biodiversity has been relatively well-studied, by contrast, the comparative effect of owned dogs has been poorly acknowledged.”   “While the impact of cats, both feral and owned, on biodiversity has been relatively well-studied, by contrast, the comparative effect of owned dogs has been poorly acknowledged,” wrote study authors Curtin University Associate Professor Bill Bateman and colleague Lauren Gilson.   Shore Birds and Dogs According to data collected from wildlife rehab centers referenced in the review, dogs are responsible for more attacks on wildlife than cats.   In an interview for this article, Bateman described this disparity as part of the motivation for his research.   “I was particularly interested in pet dogs because I think we give them a free pass,” he said. “I thought it would be interesting to dig down into the data and see if there’s any evidence that, specifically, pet dogs can have a negative effect on biodiversity.”   But it wasn’t just scientific curiosity that inspired Bateman—he also wanted to help members of his community who were noticing the negative effects of dogs and wanted scientific evidence to back up their concerns.   “I had spoken to people who would say things like, there are dogs chasing birds on beaches, and I want to talk to my local council and be able to say: Look, here is evidence that shows that dogs chasing birds on beaches has a negative effect.”   Bateman found that, indeed, pet dogs can have a marked effect on shore bird populations. The chasing instinct of dogs poses a particular threat to wildlife, and the study cites several examples of owned dogs causing devastating effects on endangered shore birds internationally, from little blue penguins in Tasmania to snowy plovers in California.   “We argue that the impact of owned dogs on the environment is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognized.”   In Australia, owned dogs “have been recorded as catching a higher proportion of native animal prey” than owned cats, and also take larger prey, the study said. “We argue that the impact of owned dogs on the environment is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognized,” Bateman and Gilson concluded. A Labrador retriever with a snow goose in its mouth.  © iStock /miker8863 Historically, the effects of dog attacks have been devastating to some sensitive bird populations. A 2024 study  cited in Bateman’s review attributed a stunning 91% of reported penguin deaths in Tasmania from 1980 to 2020 to dog attacks. In 1987 , a particularly brutal attack by wild dogs on brown kiwis in New Zealand reduced their population from an estimated 900 to just 400. “One animal … can have an effect on a whole population of a rare breeding animal,” said Bateman. A dog chasing a flying bird on the beach.  © iStock /Valdeci Lima Being subject to disturbances (including a dog’s chase instinct) can have a significant impact on migratory shore birds who travel hundreds of miles to breeding grounds they have used for generations. After an arduous journey, the stress of being disturbed or chased by a dog may not kill the bird but could deter breeding behavior by making birds expend more energy to flying away . Although the effects of this kind of stress are difficult to measure, they can be severe.   “It’s actually having an effect on [the birds’] breeding potential, and therefore affects the survival of the species,” said Bateman.   Leash Laws The idea that a beloved pet could cause destruction is sobering, but it also suggests that individual actions can make a big difference.   Leash laws can help protect endangered birds if the laws are obeyed, but the study found several examples of how dog owners skirt these laws. A 2014 study  on free-ranging dogs and wildlife conservation cited in Bateman’s review showed that some wildlife perceived human-and-dog pairs as a greater threat than humans alone.   These direct effects of dogs on wildlife were part of what Bateman expected to find when he began his research. What surprised him was the unintended, cascading effects of dog ownership.   “It’s very easy to think, if a dog chases an animal, then that’s going to have a negative effect. But then, when we started digging into it, we started seeing things like just leaving a glandular scent mark had an effect on animals,” he said.   Diseases spread from dog waste are also a concern: Eighty percent of pathogens that infect domesticated pets could be spread to wildlife, including diseases and parasites found in dog feces, Bateman claims. Urine from dogs can affect other animals and impact soil chemistry.  Pixabay /pcdazero (Free for use) Other studies showed that the scent that dogs leave behind through glandular secretions, urine, and feces can cause wild animals to avoid the areas where dogs are commonly walked. Diseases spread from dog waste are also a concern. Per the study, eighty percent of pathogens that infect domesticated pets could be spread to wildlife, including diseases and parasites found in dog feces. Urine from dogs in urban areas was also shown to impact soil chemistry and contributed to excess nitrogen in waterways. Common topical medications that dog owners use to protect their pets from fleas and ticks can wash off when a dog enters a waterway and harm the freshwater ecosystem. These medications were shown to be toxic to freshwater invertebrates  even at low concentrations. Moreover, fur from domestic animals is also frequently used by birds as a soft liner for nests . Pesticides can persist in treated fur for weeks after application, and this residue was shown to impact breeding populations of birds, causing more dead offspring and unhatched eggs .   The “Pawprint” of Pet Food Bateman’s review included the environmental impact of dog food production.                                                                                                                                                                                   “I never thought that I would be talking about things like the carbon footprint of the pet food industry, the effects of just the feces and urine that dogs produce—all this becomes very cumulative,” he said.   His study cited greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural land use, and freshwater use as elements of concern with dog food production.   As a 2020 study  cited in the review noted, the environmental footprint (or “pawprint”) of the pet food industry was “equivalent to the footprint of almost twice the UK land area” (or about 24 Mha) and has the greenhouse gas emissions of “around the 60th-highest emitting country [in 2019].” Raising Awareness Can Make a Difference So, what’s a dog lover to do? Bateman recommends dog owners obey leash laws, use designated dog parks, always pick up dog waste, and find environmentally friendly pet food options.   Pet ownership carries many benefits from companionship to medical services, but dog populations far outnumber other predators, and some people may want to rethink owning a dog.   Per Bateman, one of the biggest issues is the sheer number of dogs.   “Ultimately, it’s about, do you really need a dog? And that’s not just about the environmental effect. That’s also about the welfare of the dog.”   “Ultimately, it’s about, do you really need a dog? And that’s not just about the environmental effect. That’s also about the welfare of the dog,” he says. He recommends that dog owners look after their dogs as best they can and consider owning only one dog.   Bateman himself has owned dogs in the past—and may again in the future, he says. He hopes that this study wouldn’t discourage a conscientious dog lover from owning a dog. Instead, he aims for this work to inform the public about a complex issue and empower advocates who want scientific evidence to back up the little-known negative effects of dog ownership.    “Please see this as a way of raising awareness, because it certainly raised our awareness,” said Bateman. Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of humans, not dogs, to make sure that biodiversity and the natural world remain a resource for everyone.  *Mal Cole is a freelance science and nature writer based in Massachusetts.

Analysis Finds Increase in Frequency and Economic Costs   Natural disasters—including the recent flooding in Texas in early July —are of pressing concern, given the possibility of increased frequency and damage from climate change. Climate Central , a policy-neutral nonprofit that researches “our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives,” released data on billion-dollar natural disasters  in the US from 1980 to 2024. Climate Central found an increase in the frequency of disasters, less time between disasters, and more economically costly disasters over time. There was a total of 403 disasters, with an average of nine disasters per year. These disasters resulted in a total of $2.918 trillion in damages and 16,941 deaths. Of these disasters, just over half (203) were severe storms that accounted for about 18% ($514 billion) of the total cost. About one-sixth (67) were tropical cyclones, but these accounted for over half ($1.543 trillion) of the total cost and 7,211 (about 42%) of total deaths. The 1980s had 33 disasters (3.3 disasters per year), and this increased to 131 disasters (13.1 disasters per year) in the 2010s. However, there have already been 115 disasters in 2020 to 2024, of which 27 (close to one-quarter) occurred in 2024 alone. Although the average number of days between disasters varied by year, there has been an overall decline—meaning fewer days between disasters—from 59.5 days in 1980 to 11.9 days in 2024.   Sources: Climate Central – U.S. Billion-Dollar Disasters: 1980-2024   Texas Department of Emergency Management – July Flooding

Potential Benefits from Omega-3s, St. John’s Wort, Saffron, Probiotics, and Vitamin D According to the World Health Organization’s 2022 report , an estimated 970 million people were affected by mental health conditions in 2019, of which 28.9% were depressive disorders. Treatment typically includes therapy and use of an antidepressant, according to the American Psychological Association . A 2025 review  by researchers, of 404 studies with 209 trials, looked at various over-the-counter products to combat depression. Five products showed evidence for depression treatment in more than 10 trials; more research is needed for products with less than 10 trials. Products evaluated in more than 10 trials with substantive evidence for depression treatment include omega-3s, St. John’s Wort, saffron, probiotics, and vitamin D. Products evaluated in two to nine trials that appeared promising for depression treatment included folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, rhodiola, and lemon balm. In addition, mixed results were found for melatonin, magnesium, curcumin, cinnamon, echium, vitamin C, and vitamin D with calcium. Products evaluated in one trial with positive effects compared to placebo were rosemary, green tea, lotus seeds, ulva, basil, chromium, Nigella sativa L . ( black cumin ), and flavonoid-rich orange juice. No trials were conducted with homeopathic products.   Sources: Review: Over-the-Counter Herbal Products for Depressive Symptoms in Adults (2025) World Health Organization – World Mental Health Report (2022) American Psychological Association – Depression Guideline Black Cumin – A Comprehensive Review (2021 )

A Swiss Pilot Project Puts PV Panels between the Rails By Deborah Harvey* The Sun-Ways solar panels are clamped between the rails on a section of Line 221 of the Swiss national rail network. © Sun-Ways In a quiet village in western Switzerland, an unassuming stretch of railway has become a proving ground for an ambitious idea: turning train tracks into linear solar farms.   This tactic aims to harness unused space for clean energy, all while trains continue to run. It is a feat that could reshape how people think about renewable power and transportation infrastructure. If adopted globally, it could conceivably become a pillar of the world’s renewable energy production, lowering household electricity costs and providing greater energy security.   As with all new technologies, there are challenges: Photovoltaic (PV) panels need to be clean—and snow-free—to work optimally, and routine rail maintenance would require the solar panels to be temporarily removed and reinstalled. The potential for expansion to hundreds of thousands of miles of train track is exciting, but the actual costs and durability of the systems are not yet known.   Still, there is growing global interest in generating vast amounts of electricity on infrastructure that already exists—and without train conductors or travelers noticing it.   From Inspiration to Installment The Sun-Ways concept was born in 2020 when Joseph Scuderi, the startup’s founder, was waiting for a train in Renens, near Lausanne, Switzerland. Looking at the empty gap between the rails, he wondered, “Why not use that space to produce solar power?”   That simple question sparked five years of development, culminating in a pilot installation of 48 removable solar panels on a 100-meter (328-foot) section of track in Buttes, canton Neuchâtel.   “We installed solar panels as we would on the roof of a house,” Scuderi said at the rain-soaked unveiling of the project in April 2025, adding that getting this far “has been a miracle.”   Asked by The Earth & I  what triggered his innovation, he credited a Walt Disney character. “Ever since I was a little boy, I've been fascinated by the world of inventions, and my hero was Gyro Gearloose!” The 1950s-era comic book about a “madcap inventor” was built around one of the characters in the Donald Duck universe. Scuderi’s inclination to always look for a solution to everyday problems never left him, he said, “and I have a notebook with dozens of inventions that sleeps at the bottom of a drawer.”   Beyond his youthful comic book hero inspiration, he eventually became head of communication and marketing for 11 years for a major Swiss electricity group. “I was responsible for promoting photovoltaics,” he told The Earth & I , “a field I'm passionate about.” The Sun-Ways pilot array sits on Line 221 of the Swiss national rail network and feeds electricity into the local grid . Each panel is a standard 380-watt module, and together the 48 panels are expected to produce about 16,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year—roughly the annual consumption of four to six  average Swiss households.   Sun-Ways secured approval from the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) after extensive safety studies, as regulators were initially cautious about putting equipment on active tracks. In fact, the FOT rejected the plan in 2023 until independent experts verified that the specially designed panels would not interfere with trains or signaling.   Ultimately, authorities gave a green light for a three-year trial in Buttes under the condition that the system be monitored through all seasons. Starting in late April, passenger trains began rolling over this unique solar power plant as part of the long-term test.   Fitting Solar Panels into Rail Infrastructure Installing solar panels onto active railways requires precise engineering. In the Sun-Ways system, each module lies flat between the rails on the ties (also known as sleepers ), secured by a patented rail-to-rail fastening mechanism. This setup allows trains to pass safely above while enabling easy removal for maintenance, such as rail grinding or ballast tamping.   As Scuderi explains, the real challenge wasn’t producing energy but doing so safely between active rails. The panels’ quick-detach design makes that possible. This video  shows the rail-car solar panel–laying system created by a collaboration between Sun-Ways and the Scheuchzer company. To streamline installation, Sun-Ways partnered with the Scheuchzer company, which developed a mechanized vehicle capable of laying or removing 1,000 square meters (10,760 sq ft) of panels per day. Each panel is designed to fit standard-gauge tracks—1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in), the most common rail size in Europe and North America—but they can also be adapted  for wider or narrower gauges.   Railroad gauges vary widely  around the world, which presents both a design challenge and an opportunity for broader adoption .   India  runs on broad gauge (1,676 mm or 5 ft 6 in), while parts of Japan  and several African countries  operate narrow-gauge lines as tight as 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). Sun-Ways designed its system to be modular and adjustable, and this flexibility means the core concept is globally viable, though each country’s network may still need tailored solutions and new rounds of certification before solar panels can hit the rails.   Engineered for resilience, the system remains stable  under speeds up to 150 km/h (93 mph) and winds of 240 km/h (149 mph), using low-profile, anti-reflective black PV panels to reduce glare . To ensure efficiency, brush-equipped trains can clean the panels as they pass.   Once installed, the panels can feed power into railway infrastructure, the public grid, or the traction system that powers electric trains. This eliminates the need for additional inverters. For now, the Buttes pilot connects to the local grid, but future versions may link directly to railway substations for maximum impact.   Benefits of Solar-on-Rail Technology      A maintenance worker checks the positioning of the solar panels. © Sun-Ways An obvious benefit of using railway tracks as a platform for solar generation is the efficient land use. The vast footprint of rail corridors, which are typically off-limits for other development, can be dual-purposed to produce clean energy without consuming new land or marring natural landscapes. “By exploiting the vast unexploited surface along railways, [we] aim to revolutionize photovoltaic energy production,” Sun-Ways says . In Europe alone, there is an estimated 260,000 km  (161,556 miles) of train tracks, representing huge untapped solar potential.   “Exploiting railroad tracks to produce solar power is a great idea,” agrees researcher Martin Heinrich . PhD, of Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute ,  noting that it’s smarter to put panels in built environments than to spread them over untouched land.   Another advantage  of the Sun-Ways system is its synergy with existing infrastructure. Since rail companies are major electricity consumers, they can directly use the solar power generated on their tracks. In Switzerland alone, where over 5,300 km (3,293 miles) of railway exists, Sun-Ways estimates that solar panels could produce about 1 billion kWh annually. This would account for roughly 2% of national electricity consumption, equivalent to powering 300,000 households. The Swiss FOT believes  public transit systems could eventually self-generate 20%–30% of their electricity needs with solar installations.   The modular nature of the technology also enables swift, scalable deployment , with panels installed during regular maintenance schedules and easily repositioned when needed. With minimal visual impact and no new land required, solar-equipped rail corridors offer a sustainable solution without disrupting scenery or farmland. Solar panels could produce about 1 billion kWh annually [in Switzerland]. This would account for roughly 2% of national electricity consumption.   Potential Drawbacks Despite its promise, the solar-on-rail concept presents several technical and logistical challenges . Maintenance remains a central concern, as solar panels must be removed during regular rail work, such as tamping or grinding. This is why Sun-Ways developed a removable system, though it does require extra operational steps.   Repeated handling could lead to damage or wear. Dirt, grease, and snow also pose issues for performance. Although brush attachments help clean the panels, snow accumulation may still halt production in winter. The panels are built to withstand harsh rail environments, including strong vibrations and high-speed traffic, but real-world durability remains under observation throughout the multiyear trial.   Costs and scalability are additional hurdles. The 100-meter Buttes pilot cost CHF 585,000  ($723,000) (which includes R&D, studies, prototypes, construction, and installation), and future scale should reduce per-unit costs.   The panels are built to withstand harsh rail environments, including strong vibrations and high-speed traffic, but real-world durability remains under observation. A train passes over the between-the-rails solar panels. © Sun-Ways Global Interest Growing While the Sun-Ways pilot in Switzerland is the first to operate solar panels on an active railway line, interest in rail-based solar power is growing internationally.   In France, railway operator SNCF launched the Solveig project  in early 2025, deploying containerized solar-plus-battery systems on unused rail lines. A proof-of-concept at the Achères Technical Center tested eight solar panels on a dormant track, with plans to expand across low-traffic segments identified through solar mapping.   Other countries expressing interest include Spain and Romania, with pilot installations expected soon, as well as China and the United States, which are exploring the concept for their larger rail systems. Even without direct collaboration, several nations have begun parallel experiments. In Italy, startup Greenrail has been testing solar-embedded sleepers , while in Germany a British firm trialed between-rail panels on a Deutsche Bahn test track . Japan has also explored  placing panels between rails on commuter lines. These projects highlight growing recognition of the potential for the world’s rail networks serving as large-scale solar platforms.   Meanwhile, Sun-Ways is pursuing partnerships abroad and has confirmed pilot projects with multiple countries. The Swiss firm says South Korea is one of those nations.   [The] broader goal is to transform global railways into a vast solar power network.   For Scuderi and his team at Sun-Ways, the Buttes pilot marks just the starting point of what he believes could be a vast solar power network.   In Switzerland alone, with 5,300 km (3,293 miles) of track, Scuderi estimates  that installing 2.5 million panels could yield approximately 1 terawatt-hour of solar electricity annually. That would represent about 20% of the country’s current PV output.   With the Swiss project underway, Sun-Ways is already seeking faster international adoption through partnerships . In countries with flexible or private railway systems, implementation could proceed more rapidly. Over the next five years, the company plans to equip 10–100 km (about 6.2 to 62 miles) of Swiss rail, while simultaneously pursuing projects in France, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, India, and elsewhere.   Scuderi envisions an even more ambitious future: a world where much of the Earth’s rail infrastructure serves as a renewable energy backbone, quietly producing terawatt-hours of green power. But achieving that vision will require continued engineering improvements, reduced production costs, committed transportation partners, and strong policy support. *Deborah Harvey is a writer and researcher focused on science, technology, sustainability, and global innovation. Her work explores how emerging ideas shape the future of energy, infrastructure, and the environment.

Who Decides, Who Pays, and Who Bears the Risk? By Jana Perez-Angelo* In this photo of Earth’s atmosphere (with a Soyuz craft reentering from space), the orange is the troposphere (rising to an average of about 40,000 feet) and the blue the stratosphere (extending to an average of some 100,000 feet above Earth), which is where climate geoengineers envision sulfur dioxide gas being released to form sun-reflective sulfate particles. © NASA /Scott Kelly As wildfires burn with unprecedented intensity, heat waves strain power grids, and droughts disrupt food systems, one thing has become painfully clear: Humanity may be running out of time . Despite decades of warnings, summits, and pledges, according to organizations like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, humankind is failing  to curb global emissions at the pace required to stave off increasing climate crisis. The window to avoid catastrophic climate disruption is narrowing, they say, and with it, public conversations are beginning to entertain once-unthinkable ideas.   Enter geoengineering, the bold and controversial concept of deliberately manipulating Earth’s climate systems to counteract global warming. Once relegated to the realm of dystopian fiction, geoengineering is now being debated  in scientific journals, government meetings, and even corporate boardrooms. From creating vast clouds of sun-reflective particles in the atmosphere to building Brazil-sized space mirrors or installing underwater curtains beneath the polar ice, these climate intervention strategies are moving  from speculative concepts to real research programs.   Some see them as humanity’s last-ditch safety net. Others warn they’re a dangerous gamble, one that could trigger unintended and irreversible consequences—or act like “climate methadone” that, if stopped, would send the Earth into a catastrophic “termination shock,” as explained in The Guardian .   At the heart of this growing debate lie deeper questions : not just what can be done, but what should  be done and who gets to decide.   Engineering the Sky Among the most discussed proposals is stratospheric aerosol injection  (SAI). This method involves injecting sulfur dioxide gas into the stratosphere, which reacts with water vapor to form tiny reflective particles of hydrogen sulfate to reflect sunlight and cool the planet. It’s inspired by natural phenomena. For example, when Mount Pinatubo  erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed millions of tons of ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to drop by 0.5°C (about 1°F) for more than a year. Marine cloud brightening proposals envision unleashing plumes of salt spray into low-lying marine clouds, transforming them into radiant shields that bounce sunlight back into space—blunting the ocean’s heat intake and rewriting the energy balance of the planet’s surface. © iStock /CelsoDiniz SAI is not the only idea on the table. Scientists are also researching:   Marine cloud brightening , which involves  spraying seawater into the air to whiten clouds and increase their reflectivity. Space-based reflectors , in which   giant mirrors  orbiting Earth deflect solar radiation before it even enters the atmosphere. Underwater ice curtains , which aim  to slow the melting of polar ice by blocking warm ocean currents.   Several field tests have already begun. Marine cloud brightening has seen small-scale experimentation, while SAI remains under theoretical and lab-scale study due to its immense risk and global ramifications, says Prof. Clive Hamilton, an ethicist at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, Australia, and author of the book Earthmasters .   Can Human Beings Actually Do This? This video  shows and describes the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, which spread a sulfate aerosol throughout Earth’s atmosphere, cooling the planet. Technically, some methods are feasible, at least on paper. SAI could be deployed  using aircraft, balloons, or even high-altitude drones. But the real challenge lies in controlling the outcome. How much to inject? Where? How often? And how will it affect different parts of the world?   The “brute reality” is that solar geoengineering “does seem to provide a significant way to reduce climate risk at very low cost [and] is going to be very powerful,” said David Keith , PhD, professor of geophysical science at the University of Chicago and one of the leading researchers in solar geoengineering.   “I think it’s going to be hard to stop people from rushing to do it,”  he adds. However,  d espite the appeal of Earth-engineering methods, critics say the techniques won’t solve carbon emissions , biodiversity loss, or economic inequality.   “SAI could potentially reduce the amount of global heating and some of the changes in extreme events that it brings,”  Prof. Hamilton said in an interview with The Earth & I .   But “it has all kinds of risks, and it will not reduce acidification of the oceans” or slow CO 2  accumulation, which he says is the real root of the problem. In other words, geoengineering might cool the planet, but it won’t reverse the centuries of damage already done.   Meanwhile, private companies are jumping ahead. Startups like Make Sunsets  have already launched test flights releasing sulfur dioxide gas into the atmosphere without public input, international oversight, or scientific review. This kind of unregulated experimentation has drawn sharp criticism  from environmental groups, ethicists, and international organizations. Promises vs. Reality At first glance, geoengineering seems like a tempting fix. In theory, it could lower  temperatures quickly, potentially preventing the collapse of key ecosystems and reducing the severity of extreme weather events, said the Columbia Climate School.   But those benefits won’t be evenly shared. Geoengineering could create  winners and losers. A cooling effect that benefits crops in one region might bring devastating droughts to another. The same intervention that reduces hurricanes might disrupt vital rainfall patterns elsewhere.   “Indigenous peoples, peasants, fisherfolks, and rural communities are among those on the front lines of impacts from geoengineering experimentation and deployment, and their perspectives are under-represented in research, discourse, and decision-making,” said the Center for International Environmental Law in a 2024 report . Bleached branching coral (foreground) and normal branching coral (background), Keppel Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The bleaching is thought to be caused by ocean warming and acidification, which current climate geoengineering techniques do not address. © Wikimedia  ( CC BY 3.0 ) In addition, no current geoengineering method addresses ocean acidification , a silent crisis caused by excess CO₂ being absorbed by seawater. This threatens marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and the entire ocean food chain. So, while the planet might cool, the oceans could still die.   And once geoengineering starts, it may need to continue for decades or even centuries. Sudden termination whether due to war, economic collapse, or political upheaval could cause global temperatures to spike rapidly, triggering what some scientists call “termination shock.”   Earth scientists often use computer models to predict how the planet will react to particular variables, such as atmospheric CO 2 buildup or sulfate particles in the air from geoengineering. But “it is impossible to capture all the likely effects in a model, no matter how sophisticated,” Prof. Hamilton told The Earth & I . “And tests can only provide some evidence. We would only discover the unintended effects of SAI with full-scale implementation—and even then, it might take a decade before we have a good idea.” Who Controls the Thermostat? World leaders’ photo op at the 2024 Climate Action Summit at COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Many smaller, less-developed nations are skeptical of the rich and powerful making climate geoengineering decisions without their input. © Wikipedia /President of Azerbaijan ( CC BY 4.0 )   Perhaps the most complex question isn’t “Can we?” but “Who gets to decide?”   Imagine this: One country—such as a wealthy, climate-vulnerable nation—decides to go ahead with solar geoengineering. It has the money, the technology, and the political will. But in doing so, it inadvertently disrupts rainfall patterns in another country, triggering crop failure and famine.   What happens next? Without a global governance system, one country’s decision could spark conflict   or even war. Not only that, warns th e Carnegie Climate Geoengineering Governance Initiative , but geoengineering could be weaponized to attack enemy nations or extort concessions from them.   Solar engineering “makes me nervous because mega-solutions typically have not tended to work as planned,” Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School Sheila Jasanoff said  in 2015.   “There are many things one can get wrong in modeling large-scale projects, and also those mega-solutions are often very difficult to govern and quite anti-democratic,” she said.   In a world already grappling with distrust, inequality, and geopolitical instability, the idea of a single nation or billionaire tech mogul controlling the global climate is deeply troubling  to many.   Ethics on a Global Scale At its core, geoengineering is not just a scientific issue, it’s a moral one , according to many observers . Who has the right,  or even the ability, to decide the fate of Earth’s climate? Should a handful of researchers, governments, or corporations be allowed to experiment with atmospheric systems that affect everyone? What about the rights of Indigenous communities, future generations, and nonhuman life?   The United Nations Environment Programme released a 2023 report title d “ One   Atmosphere: An Independent Expert Review on Solar Radiation Modification Research and Deployment .” It called for global consent, inclusive dialogue, and transparent governance before any form of solar radiation modification is attempted. And even then, the models are limited. Climate systems are incredibly complex and interconnected. Unintended consequences   may become apparent only decades later when it’s too late to reverse them.   Still, some argue that the world can’t wait and that the greatest risk may be doing nothing at all. But the National Academies of Sciences and other leading institutions advocate a middle path: Invest in research and governance now but hold off on deployment until the world has proper systems in place to manage the consequences collectively.   “While geoengineering holds promise for mitigating some of the worst impacts of climate change, it also raises profound risks and ethical concerns.”   Geoengineering is slowly but surely entering the mainstream , fueled by fear, urgency, and technological ambition. But it comes at a cost, not just in dollars, but in trust, sovereignty, and the fragile balance of the planet’s ecosystems. As summarized by the Live to Plant website, “ While geoengineering holds promise for mitigating some of the worst impacts of climate change, it also raises profound risks and ethical concerns. These range from environmental uncertainties and geopolitical tensions to moral questions about human intervention in nature.”   Ultimately, as the climate clock ticks louder, the real question may not be whether humankind can fix the sky but whether societies should engineer their way out of a crisis they engineered themselves into. *Jana Perez-Angelo is a Denver-based writer and multidisciplinary creative and digital strategist passionate about brand storytelling and purpose-driven content. Her work has been featured in Relevant Magazine, Medium, and Faithful Life.