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Reports Says Over Three-Quarters of Sub-Saharan Africa Lacked Access The World Health Organization estimated  around 74% of the world population cooks with modern methods, such as electric or gas burner stoves in 2022. However, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) universal access to clean cooking in Africa  report, over 2 billion people—with close to half of them in Africa—rely on traditional stoves and open fires . This cooking style has contributed to around 3 million premature deaths per year from indoor air pollution, said the report, which included additional highlights listed below. In 2023, 963 million people in Africa lacked access to clean cooking , which uses methods such as biogas, electricity, ethanol, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), or natural gas. More than 99% of people without access were in sub-Saharan Africa, where the access rate was 23% compared with North Africa’s access rate of 95%. Two sub-Saharan countries (South Africa with 90% and Gabon with 91%) had relatively high access to clean cooking. Three nations where access was less than 5% were Burundi, Madagascar, and Mali. In Africa, the lack of clean cooking contributes to an estimated 815,000 premature deaths annually due to health impacts of household air pollution and loss of 1.3 million hectares of forest annually to gather wood for cooking. In sub -Saharan Africa as a whole, about 16% of people had access to LPG and 6% had access to electricity for cooking. Southern Africa is an exception, with about 50% of homes with access to electricity and 25% with access to LPG for cooking.   Sources: International Energy Agency – Universal Access to Clean Cooking in Africa Report   International Energy Agency – Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa World Health Organization – Clean Fuels and Technologies World Health Organization – Chapter 2 Access to Clean Fuels and Technologies for Cooking

The Dynamics and Dangers of Rapid Flooding By Gordon Cairns* Flooding of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas, in July 2025.  Wikimedia /USCG Flash floods are one of the world’s most treacherous weather events, as they occur with little warning and can cause severe damage and loss of life. For many Americans, the 2025 July 4th holiday weekend turned into tragedy when a flash flood hit Camp Mystic next to the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas. Some 137 people died,  including 27 young girls and staff who were swept away in the dead of night. This was the 10th-most-devastating flash flood  in US history, according to Yale Climate Connections. In the aftermath, questions arose about unseen flash-flood warnings, a delay in evacuation  by the camp leaders, new cabins built in the floodplain , plus the deadly combination of extreme weather and the region's vulnerability to rapid flooding. Geography Matters Tornado Alley (in red) in the US. Wikimedia /Dan Craggs ( CC BY-SA 3.0 ) In the US, different regions  are vulnerable to flash floods for unique reasons. For example, the flat landscape of the states that make up Tornado Alley—Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska—allows storm systems to build up quickly and then remain over the same area, causing excessive rainfall and flash flooding. The rivers and streams have less capacity to handle sudden surges of water, and this leads to overflows and flooding. Oklahoma is one of the most at-risk states, receiving over 60 flash flood warnings every year. Surprisingly, the dry Southwest is also at risk of flash flooding. Desert soil doesn’t absorb water easily, which is a problem during the monsoon season from mid-June through September. When moisture-laden air from the Gulf of America collides with the hot desert environment, it can cause sudden, concentrated downpours of rainwater. The geographic features of Arizona and New Mexico add to the risk, as steep canyons and arroyos (dry riverbeds) can quickly turn into raging torrents. Urban development … creates large sections of impervious surfaces (such as concrete) that stop water from soaking into the ground. In other parts of the US, human intervention has increased the risk of floods. Urban development in cities like New York and Philadelphia creates large sections of impervious surfaces  (such as concrete) that stop water from soaking into the ground. During a storm, water overwhelms drainage systems, leading to localized flooding. In fact, New York’s mayor  declared a local state of emergency due to heavy rain and flash flooding at the end of July 2025. Slow-moving storms were only one factor in the Kerr County, Texas, disaster. Rainfall that was described as “extraordinary,” falling at up to 4 inches an hour, was supplemented by other sources of moisture. Tropical moisture from the Gulf, monsoonal moisture from the eastern Pacific, and remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Barry—which had made landfall on the east coast of Mexico just a few days earlier—all added up to create the “perfect” storm. "Those are sort of the worst-case ingredients, from a meteorological standpoint,” Marshall Shepherd, director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia and former president of the American Meteorological Society, told ABC News . A view of Enchanted Rock (or Cherokee Rock) in Texas Hill Country.  © Flickr /Ed Schipul ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) The landscape and soil composition of Texas Hill Country , where the Guadalupe River flows, made the situation worse. Texas has the unenviable record of leading the nation in flood deaths, and this part of the state is known as Flash Flood Alley. In the 60 years between 1959 and 2019, 1,069 people died due to flooding; this is over 1.5 times the 693 deaths in flood-prone Louisiana during the same period. This is because the steep hills in Texas make the water flow downhill quickly. As the area is semi-arid, with soils that don’t soak up much water, it causes the shallow creeks to fill with water quickly. When those creeks join a river, they create a surge of water that can destroy everything in its way: homes, cars, and, most devastatingly, humans. As the area is semi-arid with soils that don’t soak up much water, it causes the shallow creeks to fill with water quickly. When those creeks join a river, they create a surge of water that can destroy everything in its way: homes, cars, and, most devastatingly, humans. In the aftermath of the July 4th weekend disaster, many people have questioned what role a local flood warning system would have played to save lives. Forecasters were aware a massive flood was likely a few hours earlier,  but the information wasn’t fully passed on to those at risk, giving them little to no chance to escape. In an area known for flash flooding, it may seem incredible Kerr County rejected—on the basis of cost—the chance to install outdoor warning sirens  at a time when neighboring counties decided to do so. It is believed such a system would have saved lives. On July 9, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced  a special legislative session that included topics like flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, and natural disaster preparation and recovery. A day later, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick  and House Speaker Dustin Burrows created the Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, with the first hearing on July 23 and another on July 31 . “Now the work begins,” said Texas State Senator Charles Perry  at the end of the session. “Let’s get our bills drafted and try to get them over the finish line in the next two weeks.” Flooding and Climate Change Urban expansion of cities from 2000 (in blue) to 2020 (in red). High risk cities for flooding include Guangzhou, Tokyo, Jakarta, Mexico City, and Cairo. Seoul has low to medium risk.  ©Dorcas Idowu and Wendy Zhou/ MDPI  ( CC BY 4.0 ) Sadly, extreme weather events are likely to get worse due to climate  change. As the world heats up, the amount of water in the atmosphere increases, leading to a larger number of extreme rain showers and therefore more flooding.   According to the Clausius–Clapeyron relationship , for every 1°C (1.8°F) rise in air temperature, water evaporation can increase up to 7% given how warmer air holds more moisture. But it is not only climate change increasing the danger; people are also putting themselves at greater risk based on where they choose to live. It is not only climate change increasing the danger; people are also putting themselves at greater risk based on where they choose to live. A study led by Jun Rentschler and published in Nature  in 2023 reveals that over the last 40 years, human settlements around the world keep expanding into places that once would have been avoided due to flooding. These new settlements aren’t only villages; many megacities have been built on flood zones, potentially putting millions of people at risk of tragedy. A separate 2023 study  in the journal Sustainability maps megacity expansion with correlation to urban flood risk.  In some parts of the world, cities are more likely to be built in dangerous flood zones than in safer parts of the country. Research on Flood Response Yet the risk might be worth it if there is a better understanding about flash floods. A growing body of research is focusing on the dynamics of these events with the aim of developing better prediction models and mitigation strategies. A scientific paper  published in 2022, for instance, looked at almost 30,000 other studies and found that while flooding will always be an unavoidable risk, it is also manageable. Floods can be minimized or made to change course through engineering and non-engineering measures. As the risk and frequency of flooding increases, how people respond to them has changed. In the past, governments would try and control flooding through building projects, but as these systems didn’t stop the deluges destroying lives and livelihoods, they switched to trying to manage them, either through structural work such as weirs, dams, and seawalls, or keeping people away from flooding areas. Traditional flood management measures  tend to protect, reduce, or eliminate impacts and actions before an event. Now modeling techniques using probability and statistics  have been found to be successful in predicting when flash flooding could occur. A 2024 study  on an urban area in the sub-Himalayas had a very high accuracy level, and the authors expressed confidence that their results could help hydrologists, engineers, and water management administrators to control areas susceptible to flash floods. In the meantime, ever-expanding cities near water bodies, such as in China, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Argentina, face high risk of flooding, according to the 2023 study  in Sustainability . In the US, the Federal Emergency Management Agency  notes that about 40% of flood insurance claims in the US come from low-to-moderate flood risk areas. The agency recommends various measures to mitigate flood risks. These include elevating one’s property to above the ground, filling areas lower than the ground (such as basements), using sandbags to protect property, and installing water pumps to remove excess water. *Gordon Cairns  is a freelance journalist and teacher of English at the Forest Schools, based in Scotland.

Can These Beach-Fouling Algae Be Turned into Useful Products? By Kate Pugnoli* Buildup of (brown) sargassum in the Cayman Islands.  © iStock /Blue Sky The Caribbean islands, Florida, and the Mexican Riviera are well known as popular vacation hotspots, but since 2011, these beautiful locations can sometimes become blanketed with Sargassum seaweed “rafts” that stretch for miles along coastlines.   As this seaweed rots, it releases a sulfurous stench—which sickens local residents and drives away tourists—and poses risks for adverse health effects and environmental impacts.   To clear the water and the air, various companies are working to harvest Sargassum and turn this unwanted vacation-wrecker into something useful.   Sargassum’s Environmental Concerns Sargassum is a type of floating brown algae that can collect in large masses. Out in the ocean, these huge, floating rafts act as habitat, food, protection, and breeding grounds for various marine species.   Unfortunately for humans, since 2011 , these huge rafts have also floated onto Atlantic coastlines and become trapped. When Sargassum decomposes, it releases hydrogen sulfide , a noxious gas.    At concentrations of 2 to 5 parts per million (ppm), hydrogen sulfide  can cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, headaches, or loss of sleep. A 2020 study  found that patients living near Sargassum-invaded waters may have been exposed to hydrogen sulfide concentrations of greater than 5 ppm for 50 days per year. This could explain why the patients’ most frequent reasons for seeking medical care were for neurological, digestive, and respiratory disorders.   At even higher concentrations —50 to 400 ppm—the fumes can lead to “difficulty in breathing, agitation, confusion, nausea and vomiting, elevated blood pressure, and loss of consciousness,” a 2023 study found. In addition, a 2024 study  found that Sargassum hydrogen sulfide exposure is linked to increased central sleep apnea events.   When it decomposes, Sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide … [which] can cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, headaches, or loss of sleep.   Sargassum also can contain heavy metals and a pathogen (Vibrio bacteria) that can lead to skin infections or gastrointestinal illness. For example, arsenic concentrations in Sargassum that washed up in Mexico along the Gulf of America in 2018 ranged from 29.0 to 65.7 mg/kg, according to the Environmental Protection Agency . This is well above the 3 mg/kg recommendation set by the Algae Technology & Innovation Centre  in France in their 2024 update .   Ever since the first Sargassum bloom  in the Atlantic occurred in 2011—following prevailing wind, ocean currents, and nutrient conditions in 2009 to 2010—huge patches of it have been found from the coast of Africa to the Americas.   When overaccumulations occur—known as Sargassum inundation events —this can adversely impact coastal ecosystems, local tourism, and public health.   Challenges in Handling Sargassum Sargassum can be left on beaches, the Cayman Islands’ Department of Environment  (DOE) notes. The algae, which can occur in small amounts too, “will eventually get washed away or buried in the next storm, with rain easing the smell,” the agency says. “Leaving Sargassum on the beach has proven to be the simplest and lowest cost approach, also helping to nourish the beach and stabilize the shoreline.”   But if the Sargassum has got to go, it should be collected and removed when it is fresh, free-floating, and before it piles up and starts to rapidly deteriorate, environmental experts say.   Removal is not an easy task, though.   The US Environmental Protection Agency , for example, recommends manual or mechanical removal that minimizes sand displacement and doesn’t use chemicals. The Cayman Islands’ DOE  adds that extreme care should be taken to prevent destruction of beach vegetation, turtle nests, and bird nesting habitat. Beaches should be “naturally clean” but not “over-sanitized,” it says.   The Cayman Islands’ Department of Environment adds that [when removing sargassum,] extreme care should be taken to prevent destruction of beach vegetation, turtle nests, and bird nesting habitat. Mechanical and manual removal of sargassum on a beach in Caye Caulker, Belize.  © iStock /Nick Young Unfortunately, using heavy machinery to remove Sargassum mats can negatively impact beach habitats by compacting sand and killing organisms that live there, such as ghost crabs  that keep a beach healthy by aerating the sand. Heavy machinery can also crush potential sea turtle nests.   Converting Sargassum into Useful Products A 2020 report  by the University of the West Indies, funded by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, reviews potential uses and associated challenges of converting Sargassum into commercial products. These include agriculture (such as for animal feed and compost), bioenergy (for bioethanol and biogas), bioplastics, clothing and footwear, construction (bricks), cosmetics, and paper products.   [Sargassum has potential] uses in agriculture …, bioenergy …, bioplastics, clothing and footwear, construction (bricks), cosmetics, and paper products.   For instance, Omar Vázquez Sánchez , who started off with a sargassum cleanup business in 2015 upon his return to Mexico, eventually had a vision that inspired him to construct the “Sargablock”—brick made from 40% sargassum and 60% other organic materials. Equipped with a machine that could make 1,000 Sargablocks per day, Sánchez’s work was part of the UNDP’s Support for Strategic Initiatives to build homes with Sargablocks for those in need.   “The first thing I did was to put myself in other people’s shoes since I was in a similar situation,” Sánchez said . “The irony of life is growing up without a house of your own and now having the opportunity to donate them to people.” Omar Vázquez Sánchez giving his story on making the Sargablock to build homes for those in need.  YouTube Video  by UNDP Accelerator Labs Florida-based company Algas Organics has developed what they call a non-wood kraft pulp  from banana stems, pineapple leaves, and seaweed for application as pulp, textile fiber, and packaging material.   <>   According to company founder Johanan Dujon in an interview last year , “We developed a patented fermentation process to remove heavy metals from the [Sargassum] seaweed, which is a significant barrier for many potential uses.”  If the pilot trial proves successful, this process could be adopted by Miami-Dade County. “The most exciting application is in the paper and pulp industry. If our material can help reduce deforestation, that would have a significant impact,” he said.   In Mexico, researchers at Tec de Monterrey  are developing methods to transform the overabundant mats of Sargassum into an oil that can be used as an additive in synthetic lubricants commonly used in car engines and industrial machinery. The researchers tested a formula that had 10% Sargassum oil and 90% conventional lubricant, which resulted in a 26% higher viscosity index and “improved metal part protection in engines by up to 10%” compared to pure PAO6 , a common lubricant.   However, not all projects are bearing fruit. In 2019, a company called Renovare developed an eco-friendly shoe using five PET bottles for the shoe’s upper part and 100 grams of Sargassum for the shoe’s sole, according to Mexico News Daily . They had sales of about 20,000 pairs  per month. While a patent was filed in 2020  and assigned to Renovare USA LLC in 2024, the company’s website and social media are no longer active as of late 2024.   Prospects of Sargassum While new research and innovations with Sargassum are ongoing, there is hope that it can be used to make alternatives to fossil fuel–based products.   Whether it be through Carbonwave’s  efforts to make Sargassum-based fertilizers and cosmetic emulsifiers; Seafields’  efforts to grow and produce Sargassum to make bioplastics, fertilizers, and emulsifiers; or Seaweed Green’s  Sargassum-based soil enhancer, there appears to be great potential for converting a beach-fouling nuisance into sustainable products. *Kate Pugnoli  is an Arizona-based freelance journalist and former educator who works with nonprofit organizations. Her area of interest is in addressing environmental issues impacting marine biodiversity and conservation.

How Reprocessing Spent Fuel Can Unlock More Clean Energy, Cut Radioactive Waste, and Protect Natural Lands By Rick Laezman* A view of the La Hague reprocessing facility in France. The plant reprocesses nearly half of the world’s nuclear waste produced by conventional reactors. © Wikimedia , Truizguiladh Reprocessing  spent nuclear fuel can wring carbon-free electricity from uranium and its fissile byproducts —and drastically shrink the volume and toxicity of radioactive waste, and sharply reduce the need for uranium mining that scars natural landscapes. This isn’t futuristic theory—it’s a proven technology now used in France, India, Japan, Russia, and other nations , but not yet in the United States. Nuclear energy already generates  19% of US electricity without emitting carbon dioxide or soot particles. While uranium fuel is finite, like oil and coal, it produces no greenhouse gases during operation, putting it in the same emissions-free category as wind and solar. The challenge is that America’s nuclear plants run  on what’s called a once-through  or open fuel cycle: They burn a small fraction of their fuel, and then the plant operators store the rest indefinitely. More than 90% of the fissile material in “spent” fuel rods could still be used  to generate power. “Recycling waste nuclear fuel could produce “hundreds of years of energy from the uranium that we have already mined” from the earth. According to the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory , recycling waste nuclear fuel could produce  “hundreds of years of energy from the uranium that we have already mined” from the earth. The DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) compares  the current US practice to filling a car with 10 gallons of gas, driving far enough to burn half a gallon, then throwing away the rest—over and over again. Reprocessing changes that equation: It recovers usable uranium and plutonium from spent fuel, turns it into new reactor fuel, and repeats the process multiple times in a closed  fuel cycle. The reason  US power plants have been throwing away “spent” nuclear fuel rods is because as uranium-235 fuel atoms split, they produce a variety of radioactive fission byproducts that absorb neutrons and poison the chain reaction, making the fuel less efficient over time. Eventually, the reactor can’t sustain power output without replacing the fuel. Considering the world’s dueling challenges of eliminating carbon emissions and expanding electricity generation, says Amanda Lines , a PNNL chemist, “perhaps these challenges have the same solution—recycling spent nuclear fuel to make new fuel.” The Rössing open-pit uranium mine in Namibia. Wikimedia Recycling Nuclear Waste Besides multiplying the energy yield from each ton of uranium, reprocessing reduces  the total radioactive waste volume by 80% and its long-term radioactivity by 90%. That slashes the time and cost of managing  spent fuel, which now must be cooled in pools, encased in heavy concrete casks, and guarded for thousands of years. It also lessens demand for fresh uranium, avoiding the environmental degradation  associated with mining and milling  operations in countries where significant uranium ore deposits are found, such as Australia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, Namibia, and the United States. The main commercial method in use today is the plutonium-uranium extraction process (PUREX), which produces a blended “mixed-oxide” fuel (MOX). This so-called aqueous method   utilizes liquid solutions in several steps to separate reusable uranium and plutonium from spent fuel. Other emerging methods, such as pyroprocessing , use very-high-temperature molten salts and electricity to separate reusable metals without the large liquid waste streams of aqueous techniques. The benefits are clear, but only two countries  currently reprocess at a large scale. France is the leader: Its La Hague facility in Normandy, operated by the Orano Group conglomerate, has reprocessed  over 40,000 tons of spent fuel since 1976, supplying roughly 17% of the country’s electricity from recycled material. France’s nuclear fleet provides  about 61% of national power, so recycling plays an outsized role. The plant also handles fuel for other nations, returning reprocessed batches to Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. Russia, by contrast, reprocesses  about 100 metric tons a year at its Mayak facility in the Ural Mountains—just a fraction of its total spent fuel—but has plans to expand. Japan, China, India, and the United Kingdom have also pursued reprocessing programs, with varying degrees of success and continuity. US Lags in Reprocessing Waste The United States took a different path . In the early nuclear era, reprocessing was developed under the Manhattan Project to produce plutonium for thermonuclear weapons, and later eyed for extending commercial fuel supplies when uranium seemed scarce. But private-sector reprocessing efforts collapsed under high costs, technical difficulties, and tight regulation. In 1976, President Gerald Ford halted  the commercial push, citing nuclear weapons proliferation risks, and subsequent presidents maintained that stance. Proliferation in the context of nuclear energy means the spread to non-nuclear-weapons nations of plutonium, a metal that is recovered and concentrated by the PUREX process. The policy began to thaw in 2006 with the DOE’s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership , which called for international collaboration on waste recycling. More recently, under the Biden administration, DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) launched programs such as ONWARDS  and CURIE  (named for radium discoverer Marie Curie) to fund development of proliferation-resistant reprocessing technologies. An example of a molten-salt reactor scheme. Note the human figure toward the top left for size comparison. © US Department of Energy Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee New-Generation Reactors to the Rescue Still, the US has no commercial-scale reprocessing plants, and its current fleet of light-water reactors is not optimized for MOX or other recycled fuels. Retrofitting them would be prohibitively expensive. The more promising fit is the new generation  of “fast” and advanced reactors—such as sodium-cooled fast reactors, very-high-temperature reactors, and molten-salt reactors—which can efficiently run on “spent” fuel and even consume some long-lived waste byproducts in the process.   Fast reactors  use “fast neutrons” (not slowed by a moderator like water), which allows them to fission a broader range of isotopes, including plutonium and minor radioactive elements found in spent fuel; recycle fuel in a closed fuel cycle, dramatically reducing the volume and toxicity of nuclear waste; and breed new fuel from uranium-238, extending fuel supplies for centuries. Fast reactors use “fast neutrons” (not slowed by a moderator like water), which allows them to fission a broader range of isotopes. Fast reactors, for example, use  liquid sodium—instead of water—to cool the reactor core. This enables higher efficiency and the ability to “burn” waste actinides, which are the byproduct elements that poison the fission chain reaction. Since fast reactors burn  the plutonium produced by conventional power plants, they make proliferation issues moot. Very-high-temperature reactors  use graphite to moderate reactions and helium gas for cooling, also tolerating the use of recycled fuels. Molten-salt reactors  mix nuclear fuel into a hot salt coolant, achieving high burn-up rates and inherent safety advantages. None are yet operating commercially in the United States, though multiple projects are in the pipeline, with the first expected around 2030. The reactor core of Russia’s BN-800 fast-neutron reactor. Wikimedia , Rosatom. Empresa Estatal de Energía Atómica Rusa Other countries have been quicker to deploy such designs. According to the World Nuclear Association , advanced Generation III  reactors were first introduced in Japan in 1996. Russia’s BN-600  sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor has run since 1980; its successor BN-800 came online in 2016, with a BN-1200 planned for 2027. Generation III facilities, which are far safer and more economical than previous types, rely on automatic physical processes to shut down in emergencies rather than the sometimes-unreliable operator response. China launched the world’s first Generation IV very-high-temperature reactor at Shidao Bay in 2021. Generation IV  reactors are almost entirely in the design and planning stages right now, though China launched  the world’s first Generation IV very-high-temperature reactor at Shidao Bay in 2021. Both Russia and China are also exploring floating nuclear plants, which have many advantages . They are prefabricated in modules in a factory, rather than on-site, and shipped to the location, which can save time and money compared with traditional reactors. They also can deliver clean power to remote areas where it is impractical and costly to import other fuels. Floating reactors can service populations and industrial operations—like mining—in coastal and isolated locations. The US reprocessing gap has left it dependent on once-through fuel cycles, long-term waste storage, and fresh uranium mining. Advocates like Ed McGinnis, CEO of the start-up Curio  (recipient of a $5 million CURIE grant), argue  that it is imperative to close the fuel cycle. “To unlock the full potential of nuclear energy,” McGinnis says, “it is essential that we address the challenges of the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle by recycling the spent nuclear fuel.” Playing Catch-up Despite their potential, no advanced nuclear reactors have been deployed commercially in the US. Many projects are under development, and the federal government has taken steps to support the growth of this technology. In May 2025, President Trump signed an executive order  intended to ensure the “rapid deployment” of this technology. However, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute , an advocacy group for the commercial nuclear industry, the first advanced nuclear plants in North America are not expected to begin operations before 2030. For the United States, adopting reprocessing at scale could mean: more energy from uranium already mined—potentially hundreds of years’ worth less waste to guard and store for millennia less land destroyed by new uranium mining a stronger, cleaner, more secure domestic energy supply. In summary, nuclear power is regaining momentum as countries around the world confront the urgency of climate change and the limitations of wind and solar alone in meeting stable electricity demand. Recycling nuclear waste is not a silver bullet, but it can make the technology far more resource-efficient, climate-friendly, and environmentally responsible. With supportive policies, targeted investment, and public acceptance, nuclear fuel reprocessing could transform a costly waste liability into a strategic clean-energy asset—helping to power the transition away from fossil fuels without sacrificing reliability or the landscape. *Rick Laezman is a freelance writer in Los Angeles, California, US. He has a passion for energy efficiency and innovation. He has been covering renewable power and other related subjects for more than 10 years.

By Kate Pugnoli* Two cruise ships at a port.  Photo: Pixabay  (Free for use) Whether on a honeymoon or family get-together, a cruise can be an idyllic way to spend a few days, a week, or longer enjoying a variety of cuisines, entertainment, informative lectures, and activities for young and old. While in port, one can enjoy excursions featuring picturesque sites, local culture, nature tours and unique shops.   Globally, there are now 350 cruise ships  in operation, 70% of which are small or mid-sized, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).   The trade group has announced that its member cruise lines will pursue net-zero emissions by 2050 , but there still are environmental concerns involving both air and water that need to be addressed.   Cruise Ships—Lucrative and Popular According to the 2024 State of the Cruising Report published by the CLIA, there were 31.7 million passengers globally in 2023, up 6.8% from 29.7 million in 2019. Just over half (16.9 million) were from the United States. COVID-19 impacted cruising resulting in fewer sailings, but the post-pandemic number of passengers is projected to increase to 39.7 million in 2027.   According to the report, 12% of cruise travelers cruise twice a year, 10% of cruise travelers take three to five cruises a year, 82% of those who have cruised will cruise again, and 71% of international travelers are considering taking their first cruise.   Amid their popularity, cruise ships create a spectrum of impacts to the environment including emissions, water pollution, and potential damage to environmentally sensitive marine areas. These negative impacts are not limited to the ocean, air, and marine life, but affect residents and local businesses in ports.   Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Climate TRACE , a nonprofit coalition of organizations that monitors worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, stated that  carbon dioxide emissions from cruise ships plummeted in March 2020—due to COVID-19 travel restrictions—but then rebounded to about 30% below pre-pandemic levels. By December 2022, however, these emissions reached new heights at “almost 6% higher than pre-pandemic levels.”   Carbon dioxide emissions from cruise ships plummeted in March 2020—due to COVID-19 travel restrictions—but then rebounded to about 30% below pre-pandemic levels. By December 2022, however, these emissions reached new heights at “almost 6% higher than pre-pandemic levels.”   European regulations require cruise ships that stop in Europe to report carbon dioxide emissions through the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA’s) THETIS MRV (The Hybrid European Targeting and Inspection System Monitoring, Reporting and Verification). According to data from EMSA’s THETIS MRV , for example, MSC Cruises’ ships had emissions ranging from 189 grams of CO2 per passenger per nautical mile (g CO2 / pax-n miles) for its Euribia line to 500.8 g CO2 / pax-n miles for its Orchestra line. Emissions in this regard were generally higher for Norwegian Cruise Line Holding’s ships’ emissions, ranging from 364.9 g CO2 / pax-n miles (Norwegian Breakaway) to 644.5 g CO2 / pax-n miles (Norwegian Sun).      Data from four cruise lines are provided below from their respective most recent environmental reports for 2023.    Royal Caribbean Group ( 2023 report ) MSC Cruises ( 2023 report ) Carnival Corporation ( 2023 report ) Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd ( 2023 report ) Passengers 7,646,203 4,089,573 (guests) 12.5 million 2,716,546 Total GHG Emissions 11.38 MT CO2e 2.64 MT CO2 17.21 MT CO2e 5.81 MT CO2e Scope 1 5.37 MT CO2e 2.64 MT CO2 9.61 MT CO2e 3.16 MT CO2e Scope 2 10,219 metric tons CO2e 370 metric tons CO2e 38,000 metric tons CO2e 5,675 metric tons CO2e Scope 3 5.99 MT CO2e - 7.56 MT CO2e 2.65 MT CO2e Sulfur oxides (SOx) 275,717 metric tons 2,373 metric tons 7,000 metric tons - Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 73,271 metric tons 38,597 metric tons 165,000 metric tons - Particulate Matter 8,014 metric tons - 6,000 metric tons - Discharged Water 13.33 MT 6.23 MT 23.69 MT - Treated discharged water 10.47 MT (79%) 3.71 MT (60%) - - Untreated discharged water 2.86 MT (21%) 72,869 metric tons (1%) - - Table 1 . Emissions and pollutants based on cruise lines’ environmental reports. MT = million tons; CO2e = carbon dioxide-equivalent. Note that MSC Cruises’ greenhouse gas emissions do not include Scope 3 emissions.   Sulfur and Ship Scrubbers Emissions from a cruise ship at a port in Malaysia. © Flickr /Jason Thien ( CC BY 2.0 ) Sulfur emissions are also a concern, so the International Maritime Organization set the sulfur limit to 0.5% mass to mass ratio  for ship fuel in 2020 and reduced it to 0.1% in the Mediterranean as of May 2025. To work around using low-sulfur fuel, ships use “ scrubbers ” on their smokestacks that “scrub” some of the sulfur out of the exhaust air with seawater instead. Unfortunately, the product of this process (washwater) is often discharged into the ocean (in an open loop system) without prior treatment. In contrast, in a closed-loop system, washwater is collected on board, treated, and disposed of in the next port. There are also hybrid systems with open- and closed-loop system modes. However, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), about 80% of all ships in 2020 had open-loop systems, while 17% had hybrid systems, and less than 2% had closed-loop systems.   In a 2024 report  by Pacific Environment , a nonprofit that provides funding and technical skills to environmental grassroots movements, scrubbers and their environmental impacts were explained through a review of various studies. Scrubber washwater is acidic (from sulfuric acid) and contains heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), suspended particulate matter, and nitrates. For example, scrubber discharge has led to higher mortality rates for copepods and microplanktonic species, and accumulation of carcinogenic PAHs in residential killer whales .                    Sewage and Wastewater Cruise ships  have other waste streams, including bilge water (containing oil, grease, and other contaminants), sewage, greywater (from showers, sinks, laundries, and kitchens), ballast water (used to stabilize ships), and solid waste. Ballast water can carry invasive species , such as the Asian kelp, cholera, and European green crab, that can disrupt ecosystems, but it has to be treated based on the Ballast Water Management Convention enforced since 2017 . Ballast water can carry invasive species, such as the Asian kelp, cholera, and European green crab, that can disrupt ecosystems, but it has to be treated based on the Ballast Water Management Convention enforced from 2017. A ship discharging ballast water from its anchor’s hub.  © iStock /MagioreStock Although ships are required to treat sewage on board, the International Maritime Organization  (IMO) states treated sewage can be discharged at a distance more than 3 nautical miles from shore. This extends to 12 nautical miles for raw sewage. In the US, however, treated sewage can be discharged within 3 miles , excluding no-discharge zones and freshwater sources. Threats to Marine Life and Coral Reefs A humpback whale struck by a ship. Photo : NOAA  (Public Domain) Ships also generate noise that can disrupt marine life , such as in the Arctic. According to the Port of Vancouver , most underwater noise comes from ships’ propellers, and this noise can negatively affect marine animals’ ability to find prey, mate and reproduce, and navigate. The IMO also has guidelines to reduce underwater noise  for ships. There is also the threat of physical injury to whales, dolphins, and sea turtles due to collisions with large vessels. Cruise ships can also cause significant damage to coral reefs because of the size of the vessels and weight of the chain and anchors needed to hold them. In 2020, for example, cruise ships stopping in Barbados  caused “thousands of square meters of structural damage to the island’s valuable coral reefs.” In Cozumel , cruise ships have contributed to coral damage through their propellers stirring up sediment, which settles on the coral and effectively blocks their photosynthesis and starves them to death. Ballast water also introduced stony coral tissue loss disease  to Cozumel’s coral in 2018, resulting in the death of over 60% of its coral. In Cozumel, cruise ships have contributed to coral damage through their propellers stirring up sediment, which settles on the coral and effectively blocks their photosynthesis and starves them to death. Corals in Cozumel, Mexico.  © Flickr /Amanda ( CC BY 2.0 ) Alternatives and Flying With a heightened environmental awareness among potential cruisers, cruise lines are being challenged to improve their practices. Greener alternatives for travel may include smaller cruise ships with sustainable practices. For example, Hurtigruten is in the research and development stage of its “Sea Zero”  project, a proposed “zero-emission propulsion” ship with a potential 60 megawatt-hour battery bank and retractable wind and solar sails. As a smaller ship with a capacity for 500 passengers , the company hopes it can begin sailing in 2030. However, battery and charging capacities at destinations is a concern, as “for ships that sail to the Galápagos, or the Arctic, batteries would be too heavy,” said Sönke Diesener, of Germany-based NGO the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union, to The Guardian . Friends of the Earth , an international federation of autonomous environmental advocacy organizations, also has a Cruise Report Card  that graded 243 cruise ships from 21 major cruise lines based on their sewage treatment, air pollution reduction, water quality or scrubber use, and transparency. Hurtigruten ranked highest overall for 2024.  Alternatively, travelers can directly fly to desirable destinations and take part in local hotels, restaurants, museums, shops, and activities. The ICCT stated in a blog  that CO2 emissions from flying are generally lower than that of cruise ships, at about 10 g CO2/pax-km to 130 g CO2/pax-km versus 250 g CO2/pax-km for cruise ships, although calculations would change if other pollutants were taken into account. *Kate Pugnoli is an Arizona-based freelance journalist and former educator who works with nonprofit organizations. Her area of interest is in addressing environmental issues impacting marine biodiversity and conservation.

How Airborne and Space-Based Imaging Technologies Inform Conservation, Climate Mitigation By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe* NASA’s ECOSTRESS imaging technology as seen from the ISS. © Wikimedia /NASA Space-based and other remote imaging technologies are a powerful, out-of-this-world tool in the fight to protect Earth’s ecosystems. Thanks to the latest developments in remote imaging, distance from an object on the planet’s surface is no longer a hindrance to monitoring its status.   Airborne thermal imaging is a type of remote sensing used to monitor various types of environments—from forests to cities to oceans—to record and understand the thermal properties of both objects and surfaces. The data collected gives scientists and policymakers more pieces to the puzzle of climate change and better insights into ecosystem health.   The rise of this application is no accident. Pressing ecological challenges such as the acceleration of climate change, the destruction of natural landscapes, and the growth of densely populated urban environments, have been the drivers of thermal imaging advancements.   A New Way of ‘Seeing’  Remote sensing enables users to “see” in a way that human eyes cannot and to extract and understand information that would otherwise be hidden. “This allows us to work in completely new ways and to better understand the systems around us,” Tereza Pohankova, PhD candidate, Department of Geoinformatics at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, told The Earth & I .   Infrared and thermal images, acquired from both airborne and hand-held devices, are the most prominent remote sensing tools used today for environmental monitoring. Infrared light (heat) is detected by sensors mounted on a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), allowing scientists to monitor surface temperatures of city streets, for instance, or a body of water. Thermal infrared image of a forest, meadow, and pond. ©rdonar/ i Stock   How Thermal Imagery Works Thermal imagery is based on the premise that all objects with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emit radiation. The specific wavelength and amount of radiation depend on the object’s temperature. Researchers can detect a broad spectrum of radiation, including visible and infrared.   Thermal imagery is based on the premise that all objects with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emit radiation.   Thermal imaging typically requires calibration and atmospheric correction to remove atmospheric influence. Using this method enables researchers to compare images. After the calibration and correction, lighter (brighter) and darker spots are visible. Light spots indicate areas with a higher amount of emitted radiation, indicating warmer regions, while darker areas show cooler ones.   How Thermal Imagery Is Being Applied One way scientists are using thermal imagery is to identify the presence of wildfires, particularly early-stage fires that humans have yet to detect. In   June 2024 , using thermal imagery, researchers examined the lifecycle of wildfires, from evaluating pre-fire fuel conditions to understanding active fire locations and emissions, and assessing after-fire effects on air quality, vegetation, and the broader climate. Infrared images of 2025 Alabama wildfires taken by NASA’s AVIRIS-3. The images were taken of three different wavelengths visible to the human eye. © NASA /JPL-Caltech, NASA Earth Observatory Researchers are also applying drone-based thermal imaging to identify wildlife carcasses, which can spread diseases to human and domestic animal populations. For instance, in Africa, people routinely search for wild boar carcasses because if they are infected with African swine fever, even their dead bodies can spread the disease. In a 2023 research study , scientists showed how and why a drone-based thermal camera could successfully locate 42 of these carcasses, plus analyze their state of decomposition and assist with ground searches to collect them.   Depending on thermal images’ pixel size, they can reveal to researchers the precise locations where temperatures are higher. Due to long-running space satellite missions, such as Sentinel by the European Space Agency or Landsat by NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), scientists can create temporal maps and comparisons. Local decision-makers can then utilize these insights to adapt their strategies and adjust for thermal comfort.    The AVUELO Project NASA’s AVUELO (Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean) project , a collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ( STRI ) and the Costa Rican Fisheries Federation, along with universities and institutes in the US and Panama, is undertaking groundbreaking work in airborne thermal imaging. AVUELO’s goal is to “calibrate a new class of space-borne imagers for tropical vegetation and oceans research.” According to STRI , this is achieved by combining data collected via fieldwork with “airborne imaging spectroscopy” collected aboard a small airplane for sites in Panama and Costa Rica.   AVUELO’s goal is to “calibrate a new class of space-borne imagers for tropical vegetation and oceans research.”   With a specific focus on rainforests in Panama and Costa Rica, the project aims to use data to help researchers understand how “ thousands of tree species and marine organisms create unique ecosystems .” Other goals are to understand the effects of habitat fragmentation, species interactions, and biodiversity threats, particularly in the context of nocturnal species and their conservation.   On February 6, 2025,   the AVUELO team initiated its first tropical survey,  which involved scientists collecting and measuring leaves from a 50-mile core study site within the rainforest. Additional ground crews analyzed samples in the laboratory while an aircraft carrying NASA’s AVIRIS imager collected data from above. (Left to right:) Leaf sampling, lab analysis, NASA’s AVIRIS airborne imager. ©NASA The AVUELO project showcases the use of state-of-the-art technology to help overcome human limitations in studying and conserving large ecosystems. The difficulties involved in land-based research were evident as AVUELO researchers on the ground navigated dense rainforests, coastal mangroves, rivers, and lakes. Fortunately, despite cloudy skies, most of the collection sites were clear, allowing researchers to obtain relevant data.    The application of remote sensing technology can differ per ecosystem. For instance, maintaining data continuity is a challenge for infrared and thermal imagery during a rainy season in a rainforest, as no images will be available. That’s because infrared and thermal imagery are types of what is known as optical remote sensing. Unlike radar satellite remote sensing, optical remote sensing cannot see through clouds or fog, as infrared radiation is affected by clouds. “The main difference for the usage of thermal imagery is the presence of clouds,” Pohankova explained.      Climate Protection Linked to IT Progress Vast amounts of data are generated daily worldwide from imaging. In 2020, reports indicate that commercial satellite imaging companies were gathering 100-plus terabytes of data every day . “The potential for the amount of information we receive is basically infinite,” said Pohankova.   The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped accelerate the thermal imaging evaluation process. “Remote sensing is tightly connected to IT progress.”   The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped accelerate the thermal imaging evaluation process. “Remote sensing is tightly connected to IT progress,” Pohankova added.   With the development of AI, scientists can classify large amounts of images more efficiently, identifying surface types and progressing to the next research stage more quickly. The problem is that most of the data is not publicly available, as it is produced by commercial companies that require payment for sharing their data. “And it is, of course, not cheap to buy,” said Pohankova.   Researchers can, however, access satellite images, a universally accessible data source. From a single image, they can make multiple calculations, deducing information about the surface or atmosphere, thereby maximizing the applications associated with these images. Airborne thermal image of Zagreb, Croatia. ©ivansmusk/iStock Urban Applications of Thermal Imaging Remote sensing technology and the data it produces also support urban climate research. Urban applications of thermal imaging typically target   Urban Heat Islands (UHI) . The term refers to the warmer temperatures that urban environments often experience compared to surrounding rural areas.   UHIs are typically found in cities and areas with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, often due to the use of impervious (not allowing liquid to pass through) materials that absorb large amounts of heat, such as asphalt and concrete. Major metro areas like New York, London, and Delhi, with large populations and extensive transportation, are hotspots for UHIs.   Researchers use thermal imagery to measure the cooling effects of specific surfaces within UHIs, such as vegetation cover in parks, or urban forests and water bodies.    Use in Weapons Detection Airborne thermal imaging also has the potential to enhance the detection and destruction of contaminated, man-made weapons.   In a   2020 study  in the Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction , researchers highlighted the challenges associated with sensing and detecting these weapons. New technologies targeting weapons detection will need to overcome challenging terrains, dense vegetation, and metal and plastic materials routinely encountered in what is called humanitarian mine action (HMA). Urban Case Study: Remote Sensing in the Czech Republic The European Space Agency has used images of European cities—including   the Czech Republic’s capital, Prague — captured aboard the International Space Station by NASA’s thermal infrared ECOSTRESS  technology, to better understand temperature extremes. Thermal imaging of building in the Czech Republic. ©rdnor/iStock   Researchers in 2019 reviewed a high-resolution thermal mosaic of Olomouc, Czech Republic, using low-altitude airborne remote sensing, and analyzed urban climate research data. In their paper, published in the European Journal of Remote Sensing , a 5°C (9 °F) temperature increase was found during the day at the city’s building canopy layer compared to its ground level. Researchers also concluded that natural materials heat at a lower rate than artificial ones. In her studies, Pohankova has focused on the evapotranspiration of vegetation connected to urban climates. Since 2019, when she began studying the topic for her master’s thesis, she noted a limited understanding of this technology within the Czech Republic. “Even today, detailed studies for the Czech Republic are scarce,” said Pohankova. “I wanted to show that this topic matters and should be addressed,” she added.   Pohankova has been involved in several academic projects that were delivered to various organizations in the Czech Republic, including the Ministry of the Environment and the town of Černovice.“ The outputs were used to enable better decision-making policy regarding water management,” Pohankova said. *Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe   is a freelance journalist and editor. Over the past 10 years, Natasha has reported for a host of publications, exploring the wider world and industries from environmental, scientific, business, legal, and sociological perspectives. Natasha has also been interviewed as an insight provider for research institutes and conferences. Source:   Interview with Tereza Pohankova, PhD candidate, Department of Geoinformatics, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic .

By Yasmin Prabhudas* A Mexican long-tongued bat feeding on agave. ©USFWS There are 1,400 species of bats in the world, and they have been around for more than 50 million years, according to nonprofit Bat Conservation International  (BCI), an organization dedicated to the conservation and survival of the world’s bats and their habitats. Found across six continents—all except Antarctica—bats are incredibly diverse. They contribute to the health of the planet by eating insect pests, acting as pollinators, and helping with seed dispersal.   But more than 200 species are in trouble—23 species of bats are critically endangered, 85 are endangered, while 113 are vulnerable.   There are many reasons why bat populations are shrinking. Bats in North America—in 35 US states and seven Canadian provinces—have been affected by a fungal pathogen called white-nose syndrome , which has led to millions of mortalities.   Other dangers stem from human activity, such as the destruction of bats’ forest and cave habitats and the proliferation of wind turbines. On the African island of Mauritius, many people believe fruit bats are damaging fruit harvests, and the government has ordered that 10% of the nation’s 80,000 fruit bats  be culled every year, even though the species is endangered.   These creatures are also affected by climate change through tropical storms and drought conditions, for example. Diversity Mylea Bayless, chief of strategic partnerships at BCI, is fascinated by bats’ diversity. “Some of them eat insects, some of them eat fruit. There are bats with little suckers on their feet which allow them to hike up the side of leaves. There are bats that eat frogs and fish, and vampire bats are sanguivores, so they rely on blood. When you look at the diversity, they’re just incredibly amazing.”   According to BCI , they range from the bumblebee bat, the smallest bat in the world measuring up to 3 inches in length and weighing in at 0.071 ounces, to the giant golden-crowned flying fox bat, which has a wingspan of 6 feet.   Lifecycle Uniquely, most bat species only give birth to one pup per year on average, which makes them the slowest-reproducing mammal when their size is considered.    Bayless also says: “Bats are just this anomaly in terms of how long they’re living—some bats might live 40 years, which is crazy for a mammal of 15 grams [0.5 ounces]. So, scientifically, we have a ton to learn from their unique systems. They can also survive when exposed to a variety of viruses.”   They often also use a single roost  (where bats live), sometimes for decades or longer.   Environmental Benefit “In some places, [bats] eat so many insects that it makes an economic difference for our agricultural crops.”   Bats are valuable for the environment, especially when it comes to insect predation. “In some places, they eat so many insects that it makes an economic difference for our agricultural crops,” Bayless explains. Mexican long-nosed bat drinks nectar from blooming agave flower. ©Horizonline Pictures/Bat Conservation International In addition, “the pollination services that bats provide in the tropics and the warmer regions of the world also become incredibly important for many of our agricultural varieties that are economically important,” she says.   They are also “re-foresters.” “One of the unique things about bats is that when they’re eating seeds and fruits, they’re able to fly across large open areas at night and deposit those seeds,” claims Bayless. White-Nose Syndrome The BCI carries out research into white nose syndrome … [that] threatens to wipe out two endangered species—the gray bat and the Indiana bat—as well as the northern long-eared bat, which is considered threatened.”   The BCI carries out research into white nose syndrome, a devastating disease that is prevalent across the US and Canada. It threatens to wipe out two endangered species—the gray bat and the Indiana bat—as well as the northern long-eared bat, which is considered threatened. White nose syndrome on a cluster of little brown myotis in Canoe Creek Mine. ©Michael Schirmacher/Bat Conservation International The disease attacks when bats are hibernating ( or in torpor ), as they shut down all non-essential functions to maintain a low metabolic rate to help them survive over the winter without feeding. While the bat’s immune system is suppressed, the fungus invades its skin tissues, resulting in tissue damage, increased metabolic rate, and water loss .   But there could be a solution. BCI is investigating whether it might be possible to create a “food buffet”  as they enter hibernation “so that they can go into hibernation fatter,” states Bayless. “One of the things we’ve noticed is that […] bats that are really fat when they go into hibernation, have a higher rate of survival.”   Is it possible to create artificially or to augment the insect community outside the bats’ hibernacula  before they go into hibernation, to promote a feeding frenzy? That is one of the questions being examined. Wind Turbines As green energy becomes popular, more and more wind farms are being developed. But they create problems for bats, particularly North America’s hoary bats. During migration, they are attracted to the wind turbines and are struck by the spinning blades. Dr. Winifred Frick, BCI’s chief scientist, has claimed that without interventions, this species could decline by 50% by 2028. A paper on fatalities at wind turbines , to which Frick was a contributor, points to estimates that more than 500,000 bats could be killed by wind turbines every year across Canada and the US. A bat killed by a wind turbine on Buffalo Mountain in Tennessee. ©Chris M. Morris/Flickr (CC BY 2.0 DEED) The BCI is working with the wind industry and US and Canadian governments to establish whether minimization measures can protect bats. Bats are most active at lower wind speeds—once the wind speed increases, it’s more difficult for them to fly. This means that “feathering” the blades to prevent them from spinning at lower wind speeds, when not much electricity is being generated, might help. This method has the potential to prevent 50% to 75% of bat mortality. The strategy is already being used, but research continues. [For more information on the effect of wind turbines on birds, see the article “Offshore Wind Energy Faces Headwind—Concern for Effects on Marine Life,” in this issue.]   This means that “feathering” the [wind turbine] blades to prevent them from spinning at lower wind speeds … has the potential to prevent 50% to 75% percent of bat mortality.   Meanwhile, BCI is also involved in collaborative data collection and information sharing to inform decisions on the best way to protect bats—which includes t he North American Bat Monitoring Program . Projects  The organization has a number of projects focusing on restoring habitat and protecting endangered species. For example, it works with local people in Mexico  to cultivate sugar-rich agave plants across the landscape, which are a critical nectar resource and a key component in the diet of the Mexican long-nosed bat and the lesser long-nosed bat. The bats are the main pollinators of desert plants in Mexico and the southwestern US. Investments are made in community greenhouses, where the agave is grown. Agave planting. ©Horizonline Pictures/Bat Conservation International “We’re providing not only agaves for the bats, but creating a long-term partnership with these people to help us restore the landscape and also provide some economic benefit in terms of plants that they can sell or use for all their own purposes,” says Bayless. Agave is used in drinks and alcoholic beverages like tequila.   BCI is also involved in a partnership in Fiji  with the National Trust of Fiji and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti  to protect the “only known roosting site” of the endangered Fijian free-tailed bat, Nakanacagi Cave on the island of Vanua Levu. The cave has been disrupted and degraded through practices like tourism, mining, and logging. The program involves acquiring the land and putting in place conservation measures. Fiji Nakanacagi Cave. ©Bat Conservation International Fijian free-tailed bat. ©Winifred Frick (CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED) Education  BCI is a founding partner of Bat Week  in the US, Canada, and Mexico, which takes place in the last week of October. A range of activities is organized to inform people about these animals and to encourage people to become involved in conservation.   Also aiming to inspire others to develop a love of bats, BCI has several education initiatives. The Bat Walks program, which involves trained volunteers leading nature walks, is popular. During the walks, bat species are identified and awareness is raised about the threats to their survival. *Yasmin Prabhudas is a freelance journalist working mainly for non-profit organizations, labor unions, the education sector, and government agencies.

Debris Surrounding Earth Sparks Safety and Environmental Concerns By Robert Selle * An illustration of a satellite breaking up in space.  © European Space Agency  ( CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO ) Gazing at the night sky, it is spread with the peaceful glitter of thousands of far-off stars. But what is unseen in the darkness is a slowly increasing clutter of space junk just a few hundred miles over people’s heads. For decades, dozens of nations have been launching satellites into Earth’s orbit for everything from communication and navigation to weather forecasting and scientific research. But when these instruments finish their work, many become debris that continues to circle the planet. This growing array of old rocket stages, dead satellites, and even tiny fragments from collisions is creating a serious problem in low Earth orbit (LEO), a region extending from about 100 miles to 660 miles aboveground. NASA’s Orbital Debris Program tracks over 30,000 large LEO objects that are 10 cm (4 in) and more in diameter. However, there are plenty more—an estimated 500,000 objects are between 1 (0.4 in) and 10 cm, while the number of objects bigger than 1 mm (0.04 in) exceeds 100 million. These objects travel at speeds up to 7.8 km/s (28,000 km/h; 17,500 mph), so even a small impact can severely damage a spacecraft. It’s estimated that a half-inch paint chip whizzing in space would have the same impact as a 550-pound object traveling 60 mph on Earth. Model of the distribution of space debris around Earth.  © European Space Agency  ( non-commercial use ) Since the turn of the century, 91 countries  have sent satellites into LEO. Before that, only 14 countries—led by the US, Russia, and China—had fielded satellites. Ominous Future Compared to the immense vastness of open space in the LEO region, the quantity of debris objects is small. Nonetheless, the number of such items and their dangerous speed are raising alarms about the possibility of a chain reaction known as the Kessler Syndrome . Proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, this scenario suggests that as the number of objects in LEO increases, collisions between debris will become more frequent, creating even more fragments. These new pieces of debris would then increase the likelihood of further collisions, potentially leading to a geometrically expanding effect that could make certain orbital regions unusable for generations. “The worst-case scenario is you end up creating enough debris where it’s not cost-effective to depend on space [any longer],” Kessler warned in a 2019 video . “Now, that may take a long time. But because it’s a nonreversible process, once you’ve reached a certain threshold where you’re generating debris from these collisions faster than it can be cleaned out, it’ll just continually get worse.” This “space jam” not only threatens current and future satellite operations, but it also raises unimagined environmental concerns  on Earth. Humanity’s increasing reliance on satellite services for everything from weather forecasting to Global Positioning System navigation underscores the urgency of addressing the orbital scrapyard. NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office  and the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Space Debris Office continually scan the LEO region to ensure the safety of operational satellites and the International Space Station. They must do so in light of the steady growth of the debris population due to both accidental fragmentations (like satellite breakups and explosive collisions ) and intentional destructions (such as antisatellite missile tests  conducted by the US, China, and Russia). “If we continue operating the way we do [in space] today, we will have a disaster in 50 years or 100 years,” states Dr. Holger Krag, head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Office. “If we continue operating the way we do [in space] today, we will have a disaster in 50 years or 100 years,” states  Dr. Holger Krag, head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Office. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs also recognizes space debris as a critical issue for the long-term sustainability of space activities. Cleaning Up Space Debris Recognizing the growing threat, various entities are actively developing technologies and strategies for space debris remediation or removal. Several innovative companies are at the forefront of this effort. One such firm is Paladin Space . Their proposed approach involves using a specialized satellite payload called Triton that “swallows” space junk. These Triton satellites are designed to rendezvous with semi-large pieces of debris (in the 1–10 cm range), capture them, and then either deorbit them, causing them to burn up safely in Earth’s atmosphere, or move them to a graveyard orbit high above LEO and far away from operational spacecraft. Triton will also allow for in-orbit debris characterization and even recycling. “The team at Paladin Space are driving a change in perspective on debris, as we see it as a future resource worth utilizing,” Paladin Space CEO Harrison Box said in an email exchange with The Earth & I . Paladin Space team members from left to right. Harrison Box (CEO), Cameron Flannery (technical advisor), Jake Delyster (electronics engineer), and Thomas Wolinski (mechatronics engineer).  ©Paladin Space Paladin Space’s main mechanism is still in the development and testing phases, so the effectiveness of the company’s efforts will depend on the successful deployment and operation of their satellites and their ability to safely and efficiently secure a variety of debris shapes and sizes. Another intriguing concept comes from Orbital Lasers , a Japanese company. Their approach explores the use of powerful lasers, either ground-based or space-based, to gently nudge smaller pieces of debris. By precisely targeting a laser beam onto a debris object, the laser’s energy can create a small amount of thrust, gradually altering the object’s trajectory so it eventually reenters the atmosphere and burns up. Orbital Lasers’ main mechanism is noncontact, aiming to address the vast number of smaller-but-still-dangerous fragments. The effectiveness of this method hinges on the laser’s accuracy, power, and ability to track and target numerous objects efficiently. However, “Currently, laser ablation is only hypothetical, as are many other space debris removal proposals,” according to Chloe Wang of the California Institute of Technology in 2021. “Only a few missions have been approved so far to remove space debris, and they are generally geared toward removing large pieces of debris or preventing the abandonment of future satellites.” Is Space Cleanup Too Expensive? The question arises as to whether removing space scrap is really worth the likely enormous cost over many years—or even decades. “One collision could cause the destruction of multiple satellites and potentially threaten the lives of astronauts in orbit, so the cost of removing that debris to stop that from happening could be described as ‘priceless’.” “The ‘cost-efficiency’ argument can be framed in terms of the potential costs of debris collisions instead,” says Box. “One collision could cause the destruction of multiple satellites and potentially threaten the lives of astronauts in orbit, so the cost of removing that debris to stop that from happening could be described as ‘priceless.’ Currently, debris is simply burned up in the atmosphere after it is caught because there is not enough infrastructure in orbit to recycle this debris for other uses, but this area is rapidly developing—so stay tuned!” Actions by Governmental Agencies Beyond individual companies, governmental bodies and international organizations are also taking action. The ESA’s Clean Space initiative  actively supports the development of technologies for preventing and removing space debris. They are exploring various concepts, including harpoons  and inflatable drag sails  that can accelerate a satellite’s deorbiting process at the end of its life. According to the ESA’s Space Safety website , “In order to realize a Zero Debris future, ESA will continue to study the impact of space technology on our orbital environment and assist the development of technologies that do not exist today but are needed for a responsible, sustainable use of space.” On the policy front, the United States has also recognized the importance of targeting scrap in space. A House bill called the Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023  aimed to establish a framework for managing and mitigating the risks associated with space debris. This act, along with earlier directives like the Trump Administration’s Space Policy Directive 3  in 2018 and the Biden administration’s focus on Novel Space Activities  in 2023, signal a growing awareness among national leaders of the need for responsible behavior in space. These policies often emphasize the importance of international cooperation, data sharing, and development of best practices for satellite design and operation to minimize the creation of new debris. In addition, Congressman Nick Begich  from Alaska spoke on the concern of space debris for national security in February 2025: “Additionally, Clear Space Force Station near Fairbanks is pivotal in space situational awareness and missile defense. This facility is crucial for tracking objects in orbit, ensuring that America maintains a vigilant eye on potential threats and space debris that could endanger critical infrastructure. These efforts are vital to protecting our Nation's interests and maintaining a leading presence in space.” Possible Environmental Impact of Space Debris An artist’s impression of a cluster satellite reentering Earth’s atmosphere.  © European Space Agency  ( non-commercial use ) While the immediate threat of space debris is to orbital assets, there are growing environmental concerns related to its eventual return to Earth. Most debris burns up in the atmosphere due to friction. However, the sheer volume and increasing size of some reentering objects are raising questions about their potential effects on the planet. One concern revolves around air quality. As debris burns up, it releases various materials into the upper atmosphere, including vaporized metals and other chemicals, as indicated in a 2023 study . The long-term effects of this constant influx of artificial particles on atmospheric composition and chemistry are not yet fully understood and require further research. Some materials commonly used in satellites and rocket bodies contain substances that, when broken down in the upper atmosphere—to, for example, aluminum oxide—could contribute to ozone depletion. Model of an ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) megaconstellation.  © European Space Agency  ( non-commercial use ) Perhaps the most discussed environmental concern is the potential impact on the ozone layer . Some materials commonly used in satellites and rocket bodies contain substances that, when broken down in the upper atmosphere—to, for example, aluminum oxide—could contribute to ozone depletion. As the amount of space debris increases, the cumulative effect of these reentries on the delicate ozone layer warrants careful monitoring and assessment. “While researchers have raised concerns about the potential for megaconstellations [e.g., Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system] to pollute LEO, they have largely accepted deorbiting of dead satellites without considering the potential atmospheric pollution from routine burning of various carbon compounds and aerosolization of metal components,” noted  Dr. Laura Ratliff of the Space Policy Institute at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs in 2022. Space: A Global Commons The atmosphere is a shared global resource, and any significant alteration to its composition or structure could have far-reaching consequences for climate patterns, weather systems, and even human health. Ignoring the potential environmental impacts of space debris today could lead to unforeseen and potentially harmful consequences for future generations. The challenge of space debris is significant, but the growing awareness and innovative efforts toward remediation offer a glimmer of hope. As technologies for capturing and deorbiting debris mature and international policies strengthen, humanity can look forward to a future where the orbital environment is safer and more sustainable. This progress is crucial not only for protecting vital space-based infrastructure, which underpins so much of modern life, but also for ensuring the long-term viability of space exploration and the ability to unlock the vast potential that lies beyond Earth. The journey to clean up the LEO region has just begun, but it is a necessary path to secure humanity’s future among the stars. *Robert Selle is a freelance writer and editor based in Bowie, Maryland.

Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss Are at Crisis Points—Adopting a New Worldview Is Essential to Resolving Environmental Issues  Presenter: Professor Cliff Davidson Resolving the environmental crisis requires a multifaceted approach, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using renewable energy, and preserving biodiversity amid economic development.  ©iStock/metamorworks Human civilization today is not on a path to a sustainable future, as evidenced by continuing climate change, losses in biodiversity, consumption of huge amounts of natural resources, and an ever-increasing population. Changing to a sustainable path is not just a good idea—it is necessary if we are to provide future generations with the resources they need to live productive and happy lives.   Yet the systems we have established to create comfortable and satisfying lifestyles are inconsistent with achieving sustainability. Thus, we need nothing short of a new global vision that redefines our relationship with the natural environment. Such a new worldview can guide our activities to help us change how we use the world’s resources, how we spend our time, and make thoughtful decisions on what we value most.   A solid understanding of science and technology is a key part of a transition to a sustainable future, but it cannot be considered in isolation. Human attitudes toward the environment as well as human preferences for the use of technology are equally important. Upon exploring people’s use of science and technology throughout history and examining how those technological advances have impacted the environment and our attitudes toward the environment, we consider what we can learn from this complex history that can help us overcome some of the challenges we face today.   Technology and the Rise of Environmental Concerns As technology has grown throughout history, environmental damage has grown but in complex ways: Essentially there has been an inverse relationship between human development and environmental damage. In times of human progress, the damage grows significantly. But in times of economic strife and lack of progress, natural systems recover and even thrive.   Environmental damage accelerated with the invention of the steam engine. London and other cities in England became choked with smoke, and factory workers endured long hours and dangerous working conditions. The environmental deterioration was severe in the colonies as well—natural ecosystems were replaced by monoculture farms where crops like cotton, spices, tea and coffee could bring in maximum profits. Development of science and technology since the Industrial Revolution.  ©Cliff Davidson In the 1960s and 10970s, the first space travelers helped spark unprecedented environmental awareness. Below is the famous “blue marble” photo taken by astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission from 29,400 km (over 18,200 miles) on December 7, 1972. It has become one of the most reproduced photos in history. People all over the planet have been influenced by this picture, and it has heightened awareness of the fragile environment we depend on. The “blue marble” photo of Earth taken by astronauts aboard the Apollo 17 spaceship. NASA (Public Domain) Concern about the environment has risen enormously over the last century. There are now over 100,000 chemicals produced for industrial and household use that are unknown in nature, and the number is increasing at about 1,000 new chemicals per year (Colburn et al, 1996). The new compound tetraethyl lead, soluble in gasoline, was invented in the 1920s. Despite well-known health effects caused by lead, which include serious neurological disorders, this human-made form of lead was added to gasoline starting in 1922 so cars could drive faster. After spewing millions of tons of lead worldwide, and spending millions of dollars of research showing the health effects of lead on a planetary scale, such as in northern Greenland and Antarctica and on classroom children, lead was finally banned as a gasoline additive in the U.S. in the late 20th century, followed by most other countries around the world (Davidson, 1999; Denworth, 2009). Ozone hole over the Antarctic on September 9, 2000, with the highest area of 29.9 million square kilometers based on records from 1979 to 2024. NASA (Public Domain) The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants grew quickly, but it wasn’t until some 50 years later that the British Antarctic Survey collected data showing chlorine atoms in CFCs were reducing ozone concentrations in the stratosphere. The resulting “ozone hole” can allow ultraviolet radiation from the sun to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere and reach human beings, and cause severe sunburn and possibly skin cancer. CFCs have now been banned around the globe.   Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change Two broad global problems have highlighted the dangers of continuing current human activities without major changes, namely loss of biodiversity and climate change. We depend on ecosystem services for our survival, so biodiversity must be maintained. Many human activities threaten biodiversity.   One prominent activity is our use of dangerous chemicals in the environment, e.g., pesticides to kill insect pests and herbicides to kill weeds. Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (Carson, 1962) summarized results from many individual studies showing that pesticides and herbicides can biomagnify as they move through the ecosystem, reaching concentrations high enough to kill fauna at the top of the food chain. Climate change can be understood as a failure to maintain greenhouse gas concentrations at a constant level, essentially a balance between emissions of greenhouse gases on one hand, and removal of these gases by carbon “sinks,” mainly trees and other vegetation. 2024 was the warmest year on record (from 1880 to 2024), with higher temperature anomalies (relative to the 1951 to 1980 baseline) in red.  NASA (Public Domain) Climate change can be understood as a failure to maintain greenhouse gas concentrations at a constant level, essentially a balance between emissions of greenhouse gases on one hand, and removal of these gases by carbon “sinks,” mainly trees and other vegetation.   Despite tremendous efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and hold regular global conferences to negotiate among countries of the world, we have been unsuccessful on both sides of this balance. We have increased emissions from fossil fuel combustion in our cars, aircraft, ships, trains, and other forms of transportation as well as fossil fuel combustion in our electric power generation plants, factories, homes, and other stationary sources. We have also reduced the amount of uptake of carbon dioxide by cutting down trees and other vegetation so we can use the wood for various needs and use the land for farms, industries, human habitat, and other purposes. We are thus changing both sides of the balance in undesirable ways, resulting in increasing carbon dioxide concentrations. There are also other greenhouse gases, such as CFCs discussed earlier, which are much more potent than carbon dioxide. Furthermore, melting of the permafrost in the polar regions can release huge amounts of methane, another greenhouse gas which is more potent than carbon dioxide. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released reports regularly about the status of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the changes in climate resulting from them; in fact, both carbon dioxide concentrations and global temperatures have been increasing, thus accelerating a changing climate, according to IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report in 2023.   Nevertheless, there have been many successful environmental regulations that have greatly reduced toxic air and water pollution in the U.S. and other countries. These regulations are the direct result of tremendous efforts by numerous individuals and organizations over many years. Principles Toward Environmental Sustainability Based on current knowledge about the resources of the planet and the needs of people, there are many who believe we can support the current population based on resources available and current technology. But our existing economic, industrial, and political systems are not able to account for the uneven distribution of wealth, nor do they account for the lack of sustainability in the way we use the resources available.   In short, it is thus difficult to define an adequate endpoint for an acceptable sustainable lifestyle, and it is even more difficult to find a way to get there. We can, however, describe some ideas proposed by researchers to make use of technologies to become closer to solving our environmental problems.   One of the earliest well-known sets of principles are those published by The Natural Step (TNS) to offer general guidance. The four principles are given below:   1. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive buildup of substances extracted from the ground. 2. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive buildup of chemicals and compounds produced by society. 3. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive physical degradation and destruction of nature and natural processes. 4. Eliminate our contribution to conditions that systematically undermine people’s ability to meet their basic needs.   Note that the last TNS principle addresses social sustainability—undermining selected groups due to prejudice, selfishness, or other human flaws cannot lead to sustainability. In fact, poverty of any type and for any reason is not sustainable. The impoverished are often merely surviving, which does not give them a choice to live sustainably. As we saw earlier, there have been skirmishes and wars throughout history, and many of these conflicts are ultimately about resources. Survival in poverty does not grant room for environmental sustainability. ©iStock/IVANVIEITO In fact, poverty of any type and for any reason is not sustainable. The impoverished are often merely surviving, which does not give them a choice to live sustainably. Hawken (1993) moves one step further by challenging business to consider a new roadmap for their operations, so they are promoting sustainability while they promote their own goals for meeting the needs of people and making a profit. This is one of the early calls for a “circular economy” consistent with reduce-reuse-recycle to transform the one-way “linear economy,” which moves from raw materials-to-manufacturing-to-landfill.   In a later volume, Hawken, Lovins and Lovins (2000) present the circular economy applied to many case studies, where they emphasize careful and limited use of “Natural Capital,” namely the resources built by the planet over billions of years of evolution. To enable far more efficient use of those resources, they propose products with far less mass where every component is reusable or recyclable. They also point out the benefits of switching from an economy where people buy things to an economy where most items are rented, so companies have a vested interest in building cars, household appliances, and other consumer products with long lives and less need for frequent servicing.   There are also sets of principles specific to a particular discipline. For example, the nine Hannover Principles are most relevant to architects and designers of buildings. The list of principles is followed by the statement, “The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves.” Anastas and Warner (2000) describe the new field of green chemistry to assist those developing chemicals for a wide variety of uses. Similarly, Anastas and Zimmerman provide a set of principles for engineers designing products for industry and consumers. Both sets of principles are directly relevant to our industrial and engineering design efforts around the world. Jeanine Benyus (1997) provides ideas for biomimicry, where products are designed to mimic the way plants and animals have evolved to accomplish certain functions. The link to nature is described in her book: “In a biomimetic world, we would manufacture the way animals and plants do, using sun and simple compounds to produce totally biodegradable fibers, ceramics, plastics, and chemicals. Our farms, modeled on prairies, would be self-fertilizing and pest-resistant.” The field of industrial ecology helps designers consider how certain products and processes can fit into overall frameworks of change for society. Several books by Graedel and Allenby (e.g., 2010) describe industrial ecology as a way of organizing our industries in the way natural ecosystems are organized by connected trophic levels.   Green plants at the top of ecosystem gain energy from the sun by photosynthesis, and this energy makes its way through the entire ecosystem. Herbivores eat green plants, primary carnivores eat herbivores, and secondary carnivores eat primary carnivores. All of these organisms die and decompose by bacteria and fungi so that their remains are recycled as nutrients in the soil for the next generation of green plants. There is no waste of mass anywhere in the system. If we can organize our industries so that wastes from one industry become inputs to another industry, we can reduce wastes. Consistent with the ideas above, renewable energy can replace everything we do with fossil fuels. Some authors believe we can do that with current technology, just by expanding the scale of use of wind, water, and solar. Consistent with the ideas above, renewable energy can replace everything we do with fossil fuels. Some authors believe we can do that with current technology, just by expanding the scale of use of wind, water, and solar (Jacobson, 2023). We may even have enough capacity to transition from gasoline and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles. The ability to store energy for intermittent periods of calm winds, lower water flow, and darkness at night can be achieved through batteries, pumping water uphill to be released later, and other innovations. A New Worldview for Resolving the Environmental Crisis The world faces an environmental crisis. We have more than 8 billion people on the planet, and our use of resources has never been greater.   Although many countries have limited discharges of toxic pollutants in air and water, the use of specific chemical poisons and loss of habitat have significantly reduced biodiversity. For example, populations of bees, butterflies, and many other insects have dropped compared with the 20th century. Populations of birds have fallen, and some species of amphibians and reptiles are endangered. Ecosystems are the only sustainable systems we know of, and modeling our industrial systems after ecosystems will hopefully bring us closer to sustainability. Much more effort to stop the reduction in biodiversity is important since we depend on many ecosystem services.   Finally, climate change is increasing and its impact on our civilization could be enormous. Significant reductions in greenhouse gas concentrations in the air must be achieved, despite the challenges in doing so. Replacing fossil fuel combustion with renewable energy is almost certainly part of the solution, and sequestering carbon dioxide to reduce emissions may be another part. Both mobile and stationary sources must be targeted for change. Unfortunately, time is not on our side—time will be needed to make real changes in our industries, in heating and cooling our homes, in transportation, and in other activities that produce carbon dioxide. The sooner we can start planning and implementing these changes, the better our chances of avoiding the worst effects of changing climate.   Efforts up to now have not been successful in implementing the scale of change required for significant progress on any of the environmental problems we have discussed. With a new worldview that emphasizes success if we can change our economic trajectory and if we can work together toward a common goal, we can make real progress. Combined with strong leadership in countries around the world, we can do what is needed to solve the environmental crisis we now face. Cliff Davidson, PhD, is a professor emeritus and director of the Center for Sustainable Engineering at Syracuse University. With a PhD in environmental engineering science from the California Institute of Technology, he specializes in research in “environmental transport and fate of air pollutants, assessment of performance of green infrastructure for stormwater management, and protection of cities from extreme weather events due to climate change.” Commentary on 'Advances in Science and Technology: The Demand for a New Worldview' Environmental Solutions Through the Human-Nature Connection Commentator: Professor Arnaud Delorme Prof. Delorme (left) with Prof. Bahng (middle) and Prof. Davidson (right).  ©HJIFEP Prof. Cliff Davidson’s speech presents a compelling case for the necessity of a new global vision—one that redefines humanity’s relationship with the environment to secure a sustainable future. He outlines how technological advancements have shaped civilization, both positively and negatively, and how our past choices have often led to environmental degradation. Prof. Davidson rightly emphasizes that while science and technology are essential to addressing these problems, they are not sufficient on their own. Our attitudes, values, and willingness to act decisively are equally critical.   His central argument is difficult to refute: We are not on a sustainable trajectory. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion all point to an urgent need for systemic change. However, history shows that humans tend to act only when crises become unavoidable. This pattern is troubling, as climate change operates on a scale that is not well suited to human cognition. It unfolds gradually over decades and centuries, making it difficult for people to perceive the immediate urgency. Unlike sudden disasters like earthquakes or floods, which demand and receive immediate responses, climate change remains a creeping catastrophe, one we acknowledge intellectually but struggle to internalize emotionally.   This pattern needs to change. Prof. Davidson highlights various approaches to mitigate environmental harm, such as green chemistry, green engineering, the circular economy, and industrial ecology. These frameworks are crucial, but they require widespread adoption and, more importantly, a paradigm change in how humanity views these innovations. This is linked to our work at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), where we focus on “global mindshift.” We cannot merely rely on policy changes, scientific breakthroughs, or corporate responsibility; a deeper transformation in how we see ourselves in relation to nature is necessary. These frameworks are crucial, but they require widespread adoption and, more importantly, a paradigm change. One of the most profound needs is for human connection—both with one another and with the environment. This is key. Too often, environmental discourse is framed in abstract terms—carbon footprints, emissions targets, biodiversity indices. While these are essential concepts, they do not resonate deeply with most people. Numbers and policies alone do not create change. What creates change is a sense of belonging to something larger than oneself. If people feel truly connected to the natural world—not just intellectually, but emotionally and physically—they will be far more inclined to protect it.   A study published in the journal Global Environmental Change found that individuals are significantly happier in natural environments compared to urban settings. The research revealed that participants experienced greater happiness outdoors in all green or natural habitats than in urban environments. This is where healing must occur. The modern world has disconnected individuals from nature and from each other. Many people live in cities, surrounded by concrete, experiencing nature as something distant or recreational rather than as an essential, intimate part of their lives. This disconnection fosters apathy and inaction. However, when people spend time in nature, engage in community-driven environmental efforts, and feel a personal stake in the well-being of their surroundings, their motivation shifts. They do not act simply because they are told it is necessary; they act because they feel, deeply, that it is right.   Humans are intrinsically connected to Earth’s electromagnetic environment, including its geomagnetic field, which has been shown to influence physiological processes such as heart rate variability. Research suggests that fluctuations in the Earth’s geomagnetic activity, often driven by solar phenomena such as sunspots, correlate with changes in human autonomic nervous system function, potentially affecting emotional and cognitive states. EEG: electroencephalogram.  ©Arnaud Delorme The Interconnectivity Tree Research Project of the HeartMath Institute aims to demonstrate that trees exhibit unique electrophysiological signatures in response to environmental and energetic shifts, suggesting a bioelectromagnetic network that connects all living systems. Furthermore, research at IONS has explored telepathic phenomena, providing evidence that consciousness may be capable of nonlocal interactions, indicating that human minds can synchronize beyond conventional physical boundaries (Radin, 2006). These findings collectively support the idea that humans are deeply embedded within nature’s rhythms, resonating with the dynamic forces of Earth and the cosmos. These findings collectively support the idea that humans are deeply embedded within nature’s rhythms, resonating with the dynamic forces of Earth and the cosmos. ©Arnaud Delorme The concept of nature-based solutions, such as biomimicry, is particularly powerful in this regard. Rather than forcing nature to conform to human needs, we should learn from nature’s efficiency, resilience, and balance. By designing systems that mimic natural processes, we not only reduce environmental harm but also reinforce the idea that we are a part of nature, not separate from it. There are also radical movements advocating that humans should take what they need from nature, but not more, and not profit from nature.   In conclusion, Prof. Davidson’s speech highlights both the dangers of our current trajectory and the potential for a better future. The key takeaway is that solutions exist, but they require more than scientific innovation—they require a transformation in human consciousness. We must recognize that the environment is not an external resource to be exploited but an integral part of our collective existence. The question is, will we act before it is too late? Arnaud Delorme, PhD, is a professor at Paul Sabatier University in France and a faculty member at the Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego. He is also a scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, specializing in the study of human consciousness, evidential mediumship, and statistical analysis of electroencephalographic signals.

Trendlines Show Climate Change Is an Urgent Threat—NDCs and International Cooperation Are Key to a Turnaround  Presenter: Professor Soonchang Yoon The industrial revolution, which began in England around the mid-1700s, had a profound impact on societies worldwide, leading to industrialization and urbanization on an unprecedented scale. The increased use of fossil fuels and industrial processes led to pollution and environmental crises that threaten the sustainability of the planet.   Today, air pollution, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels and industrial activities, is responsible for millions of premature deaths each year.   Also, climate change, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is causing global temperatures to rise, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods, and typhoons/hurricanes. Environmental Crises Air Pollution.  According to the World Health Organization, the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution was estimated to be 6.7 million in 2019, of which 4.2 million were from ambient (outdoor) air pollution. This mortality is due to exposure to fine particles smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). According to the World Health Organization, the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution was estimated to be 6.7 million in 2019, of which 4.2 million were from ambient (outdoor) air pollution. Meanwhile, some “68% of outdoor air pollution related premature deaths were due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, 14% were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 14% were due to acute lower respiratory infections, and 4% of deaths were due to lung cancers.”   Household (indoor) air pollution was also responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year, including over 237,000 deaths of children under the age of 5. Among these deaths, 32% were due to IHD, 23% were due to stroke, 21% were due to lower respiratory infection, 19% were due to COPD, and 6% were due to lung cancers.   Contemporary research indicates that ultra-fine particulate matter, particles smaller than 0.1 μm (PM0.1), can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and induce neuroinflammation. This neuroinflammation is potentially associated with the development and progression of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, clinical depression, and may even contribute to juvenile suicide.   Climate Change and Emerging Risks.  Imagine Earth without an atmosphere that traps heat—no greenhouse gases. In this scenario, the planet's equilibrium temperature would plummet to approximately -18°C (0°F). This stark temperature is a direct result of the balance between incoming sunlight and the unrestricted escape of infrared radiation.     However, the atmosphere contains greenhouse gases, which are transparent to incoming solar radiation, allowing sunlight to reach the Earth’s surface. But they act as a thermal blanket, absorbing the terrestrial radiation emitted from the Earth. This absorption traps heat within the atmosphere, preventing its escape into space and causing the surface temperature to rise. This greenhouse effect elevates Earth's average temperature to a comfortable 15°C (59°F). Greenhouse gases retain radiation from the Earth, trapping heat in the atmosphere. IR = infrared; TE = equilibrium temperature ©Soonchang Yoon In 1958, Charles D. Keeling, PhD, former atmospheric chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego, initiated a pioneering work to measure CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. His observations revealed two key trends: a seasonal fluctuation in CO2 levels and a consistent annual increase in the average concentration. This long-term monitoring, which continues to this day at Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii, provides invaluable data on the global rise of CO2. The resulting graph, depicting the continuous increase in CO2 at Mauna Loa, is now widely recognized as the Keeling Curve. The full record of the Keeling Curve from 1958 to 2025.  ©Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego (CC BY 4.0) The Keeling Curve reveals a consistent annual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, averaging approximately 2 parts per million (ppm) over the past 30 years. And this rate of increase is accelerating. The Keeling Curve reveals a consistent annual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, averaging approximately 2 parts per million (ppm) over the past 30 years. And this rate of increase is accelerating. Ice core data shows that CO2 concentration in Antarctica has never exceeded 300ppm during the past 800,000 years. This means that for the first time, human activities are the dominant driver of CO2 increase and global temperature rise. The global average temperature increased by approximately 1.1°C above 1850–1900 levels in 2011–2020, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) AR6 Report. Carbon dioxide levels based on ice cores to 800,000 years ago. NASA (Public Domain) Satellite data show ice sheets in Antarctica have been losing mass, approximately 200 gigatons (Gt) each year during the past 20 years.   The sea level has risen by about 20 cm (~7.8 in) since 1900, which is caused by thermal expansion of sea water due to global warming and by melting of glaciers and ice sheets on land. The rate of sea level rise has accelerated also in recent decades and is now 3.3 mm (~0.13 in) per year. Sea level rise relative to 1900 levels.  NASA (Public Domain) All this evidence clearly shows that climate change is real.   International Cooperation to Mitigate Climate Change  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  As the evidence for CO2 increase and global warming became increasingly clear since after 1960s, the IPCC was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The IPCC's work is essential for informing global efforts to address climate change. Its assessments provide a scientific foundation for international climate negotiations and policymaking, and its reports help raise public awareness and understanding of this critical issue.     Its key activities are: • Preparation of Assessment Reports (AR): The IPCC produces comprehensive assessment reports on climate change every five to seven years. These reports synthesize the latest scientific knowledge and provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of climate change. The IPCC has published six ARs so far, and is now in its seventh assessment cycle after the Sixth Assessment Report in 2021–2023. • Development of Special Reports: The IPCC also produces special reports on specific topics related to climate change, such as the impacts of 1.5°C of global warming or the relationship between climate change and land.   • Refinement of Methodologies: The IPCC develops and refines methodologies for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals, providing guidance for countries to develop national greenhouse gas inventories.     The Paris Agreement 2015 (COP21).  The Paris Agreement is a landmark international climate accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris to address climate change and its negative impacts. The agreement aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit global warming to “well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels” while pursuing efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.”   One of the key aspects of the Paris Agreement is Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that embody each country's commitment to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The requirement for countries to update their NDCs every five years ensures that climate action is dynamic and progressively ambitious. The principle of “progression” within NDCs means that each updated NDC should be more ambitious than its predecessor. This mechanism encourages countries to continuously ratchet up their efforts and strive for the highest possible ambition in tackling climate change. The requirement for countries to update their NDCs every five years ensures that climate action is dynamic and progressively ambitious. The principle of “progression” within NDCs means that each updated NDC should be more ambitious than its predecessor. Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin handed over Brazil’s NDCs to UNFCCC’s executive secretary Simon Stiell in 2024.  ©Flickr/UNclimatechange (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Another key aspect is climate finance, that developed countries commit to providing financial resources to developing countries to assist them in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. This is a critical aspect of the Paris Agreement, recognizing the historical responsibility of developed nations and the need for equitable climate action. The agreement also emphasizes the mobilization of climate finance from various sources, including public and private, bilateral and multilateral channels.   According to the IPCC report, to limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest, and require a reduction of global net anthropogenic CO2 emissions by about 43% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero around 2050.   However, global carbon emissions from fossil fuels reached a record high in 2024 and there is still “no sign of decreasing emissions in the recent decades, apart from in the most recent decade,” according to new research by the Global Carbon Project—one of the contributors to WMO’s United in Science reports.    The 2024 Global Carbon Budget projects fossil CO2 emissions of 37.4 billion tons, up 0.8% from 2023. With projected emissions from land-use change (such as deforestation) of 4.2 billion tons, total CO2 emissions are projected to be 41.6 billion tons in 2024, up from 40.6 billion tons in 2023.   With over 40 billion tons released each year at present, the level of CO2 in the atmosphere continues to rise—driving increasingly dangerous climate change.   Therefore, immediate and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential to meet the 1.5°C target. This requires the urgent need for global cooperation to cut emissions to slow climate change. International Cooperation is Urgently Needed Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit updated national climate plans or NDCs every five years to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat since 2020. However, as of the February 10, 2025 deadline, only 13 out of 195 countries have submitted updated NDCs. Even among the submitted NDCs, the planned emission reductions fall far short of what is required to meet the Paris Agreement's goals. This underscores the urgent need for countries to significantly increase their ambition and implement more aggressive policies and measures to achieve the necessary emission cuts.   The explosive increase in electricity demand anticipated in the AI era also necessitates a rapid shift away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy sources, including renewables and nuclear energy. This transition is crucial not only to meet the growing energy needs but also to mitigate the environmental impact of increased electricity consumption.   The window of opportunity to limit climate change to safe levels is rapidly closing. Delaying action will only increase the risks and costs of climate change.   International collaboration is far more crucial now than ever before in tackling the urgent threat of climate change and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. Soonchang Yoon, PhD, is a professor emeritus at Seoul National University and current chair of the National Committee of Future Earth. With a PhD in atmospheric sciences from Oregon State University, he specializes in research in atmospheric aerosols and their impact on regional climate, the long-range transport of air pollutants, and numerical modeling of Asian dust. Characteristics of the Paris Agreement and Response to the Climate Crisis Not a Cost Burden or Hindrance to Development if Implemented Correctly Commentator: Professor Suh-Yong Chung   Renewable energy technologies include wind turbines, solar panels, and hydroelectric dams.  ©iStock/bombermoon The danger of climate change is not limited to Korea but is a global phenomenon that can be seen from the Los Angeles wildfires past January, the heightened sense of danger of national extinction due to rising sea levels in Pacific Island countries, and the threat of the recession and death of Arctic glaciers. The international community is a system composed of more than 200 sovereign states, which are based on territorial sovereignty. The Paris Agreement, which is the most important foundation for responding to the global climate crisis, can only be participated in by sovereign states. Responding to climate change requires the cooperation of all stakeholders—including local governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society—as well as sovereign states. But the current reality is that such cooperation must be done through the central governments of sovereign states. The Paris Agreement is a universal system in which almost all countries in the global society participate. Article 2 of the Paris Agreement states that the purpose is to not only reduce and adapt to greenhouse gas emissions, but also secure a good flow of financial resources. The approach of the new Paris Agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ensuring sustainable economic development through the deployment of low-carbon or carbon-neutral technologies that provide opportunities for promoting national interests, while considering the characteristics of those countries. In other words, the Paris Agreement requires all countries to establish and implement their own climate change response plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in order to limit the global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius as in the Paris Agreement. Such NDCs must include implementation plans, including financial resources, technology, and (in the case of developing countries) capacity building. Depending on the country, the international community's carbon market (or Article 6 mechanisms) can be used to achieve national goals cooperatively. These NDCs are to be resubmitted every five years to ensure that they continue to be developed and improved, and to ensure this, a five-year reviewing procedure called the global stocktake is in place. For this implementation and review, the state submits an implementation report, called the biennial transparency report, every two years, and conducts a technical review by a third party. Currently, if the Paris Agreement is implemented well, various clean energy technologies such as energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are expected to be commercialized around the world, creating new markets that account for about 2~8 percent of the world's GDP. Currently, if the Paris Agreement is implemented well, various clean energy technologies such as energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are expected to be commercialized around the world, creating new markets that account for about 2~8 percent of the world's GDP. It is expected that such innovative opportunities will be created in various fields such as electric power, forestry, industrial processes, transportation, and buildings. Shares of greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector in 2022, out of the total emissions of 6,343 million metric tons. These percentages do not include emissions from electricity end-use. US Environmental Protection Agency (Public Domain) One reason interest in the electric vehicle industry is increasing in the US is that its transportation sector is a major greenhouse gas emitter. There are thus efforts by the government to achieve a large-scale reduction of national greenhouse gas emissions through the electrification of the transportation sector. Since the private sector has already formed a real market as a result of these efforts to some extent, it is expected that it will be difficult to completely change the trend of forming new markets through climate change response, even under the current Trump administration. There is a common misunderstanding that responding to climate change is a matter of cost burden and hinders social development, but if the Paris Agreement is correctly understood, new opportunities can be created for sustainable development through job creation from the discovery of new growth engines as part of climate change response. In the case of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), it is necessary to prepare an effective national climate change response plan in the context of a very energy-intensive industrial structure that serves as an important production plant of the global economic order in modern times and processes. South Korea, which has a large population and scarce resources in a small land area, has developed its economy through international trade. Therefore, it is necessary for South Korea to actively utilize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This includes the carbon market and legal ground to engage in international cooperation to implement NDCs, securing financial resources for our climate change response technologies through various methods such as ODA (official development assistance) and private investment, and promoting cooperation with developed countries as well as developing countries. This will help achieve Korea's greenhouse gas reduction goals, preempt new international climate markets, and consolidate global leadership through climate change. Suh-Yong Chung, JSD, is a professor of the Division of International Studies at Korea University. He is also the director of the Center for Global Climate and Marine Governance, affiliated with Korea University, and director of the Center for Climate and Sustainable Development Law and Policy in Korea.

'Every Time We Eat, We Choose the World We Want to Live In' *By Mark Smith UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and chef Mauro Colagreco shows off his permaculture gardens at his prize-winning restaurant, Mirazur, in France.  ©UNESCO World-renowned chef Mauro Colagreco is passionate about two things: great food and the environment. And he doesn’t see why anyone should be forced to choose one over the other. As he puts it, it is all about  “eating without eating the planet.” Chef Colagreco has forged a reputation not only as a culinary maestro but as someone whose fierce commitment to sustainability saw him become the first chef ever to be named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay presenting chef Mauro Colagreco with the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador award.  ©UNESCO/Christelle ALIX Beginnings His journey started at home in Argentina. As the son of an accountant, it once seemed sensible for him to follow in his father’s footsteps—but it was cooking where his passions truly lay. He quit his economics studies and headed to the home of fine dining, Paris, to start training as a chef. In 2006, just nine months after opening his first restaurant, Mirazur, in Menton, France, he won his first Michelin Star, the crème de le crème of culinary awards. In 2006, just nine months after opening his first restaurant, Mirazur, in Menton, France, he won his first Michelin Star, the crème de le crème of culinary awards. The view from Mirazur restaurant in Menton, France.  ©Matteo Carassale And success didn’t stop there. The following year he was named chef of the year by iconic French restaurant guide Gault Millau, the first time they had given the honor to a non-French chef. He has since earned two more Michelin stars, the first time in over a century that three stars have been given to a non-French chef. Changing an Industry But for Colagreco, breaking boundaries is not just about food; it is about changing how the industry works in relation to the natural world around us.                                                 Even as his culinary career was heading for the stratosphere, he was embedding his own personal philosophy on sustainability into how he and his employees worked. Caring for the soil is paramount, as is preserving plant and animal biodiversity, recycling, eliminating single-use plastics, supporting the community, and working to offset carbon footprints. Known as ”circular gastronomy,” his philosophy embodies a holistic mindset that calls for always making choices in favor of nature. In practical terms, this means consuming produce from organic sources or biodynamic foraging. Caring for the soil is paramount, as is preserving plant and animal biodiversity, recycling, eliminating single-use plastics, supporting the community, and working to offset carbon footprints. Education is also important. “Change is now. Solutions exist,” he says. “To motivate others, one must be totally convinced. It seems to me that to get others on board, we need to raise awareness of course—make people understand the issues, why they are so important—but we also need to reassure them, explaining that it is one step at a time, and that the only imperative is to start now and commit.” Mirazur’s Permaculture Gardens The chef has been running an agricultural project at Mirazur to cultivate his five-hectare (12.35 acres) permaculture and biodynamic gardens. His focus is not just on production but also soil regeneration and preservation of ancient varieties. In this way, Mirazur is built like a Mediterranean estate, but it is also a place for research and development for food and agriculture. Colagreco has created a research and development space with a team made up of a gastronome and ethnobotanist, an anthropologist and archaeologist, chefs, a writer and an art historian. Chef Colagreco gathers ingredients from the permaculture gardens of his restaurant Mirazur.  ©Matteo Carassale Mirazur’s R&D cellar has experiments with sustainable vinegars ©Coline Ciais-Soulhat Mirazur's fermentation experiments. ©Coline Ciais-Soulhat Chef Colagreco’s commitment to the environment has also been recognized. In 2022, he became the first chef named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity . The award, presented by Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, makes Colagreco a representative of the institution on issues of biodiversity and ecology, responsible for “mobilizing public interest and support for UNESCO's objectives and principles.” “We do not all start with the same level of awareness, so the educational aspect is essential,” he adds. “I believe in encouraging good practice and promoting concrete results as soon as they emerge.” “I believe in encouraging good practice and promoting concrete results as soon as they emerge; the subject is so vast that it is easy to be overwhelmed by what ‘should’ be done—in this case more and more and on all fronts,” he adds. A UNESCO spokesman said the move was part of its desire to “give a voice” to those who are working to build a more sustainable world, to conserve biodiversity and use it sustainably, to reconcile humans with living things, and “whose activities help to strengthen the relationship between nature and culture.” Chef Colagreco shares about the link between cuisine and biodiversity © UNESCO In March 2025, Colagreco spoke at a landmark food conference in Brighton, United Kingdom, that focused on nature, food, and community. He also visited a local school and community gardens under his UNESCO mandate. He has also continued to set sustainability standards. Mirazur has become the first three-star Michelin restaurant in the world to achieve B Corp Accreditation, which is seen as the “gold standard” of sustainability credentials. [B]eyond circular gastronomy, Colagreco took up another challenge dedicated to helping the environment: eliminating plastic use in his restaurants. Finally, going beyond circular gastronomy, Colagreco took up another challenge dedicated to helping the environment: eliminating plastic use in his restaurants.  It all stemmed from a family trip to Mexico. Discovering a beach littered with rubbish and plastic, Colagreco realized that he used most of this type of rubbish every day in his home and restaurant. When he returned home, he set about tackling the plastic problem. For almost three years, he monitored his consumption, refused unnecessary products, and thought about alternatives. He adapted the menu, for example, by eliminating vacuum-packed meals. He encouraged suppliers to change with him and stopped working with those who did not want to join the effort. He also set up a sorting system and an on-site composting system for compostable plastics. Throughout this process, Mirazur has eliminated: 10,000 km (about 6,200 miles) of cling film per year 90% of nitrile gloves 90% of disinfectant use, thanks to water ozonation 100% of vacuum bags have been replaced with sustainable containers, mainly glass. All pastry bags are now reusable. 75% of bin liners, with the remainder now plant-based   Moreover, all cardboard and paper from the restaurant is recycled in France by a partner organization that provides a biannual report on the energy saved by the solution. In recognition of these achievements, in 2020, Mirazur became the first restaurant in the world to be certified plastic-free. Colagreco now has over 25 restaurants around the world, with locations such as London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Palm Beach, and Buenos Aires. All employ his philosophy of respect for the environment. While it may not be in everyone’s ability to make such massive, lasting changes, even smaller interventions can have a big impact. “My main message is that each small action is valuable, and that it is the sum of these small actions that will contribute significantly to the end,” he says. “The power of circular gastronomy, which I promote so passionately, is that it is perfectly adaptable to all types of gastronomy—from the simplest to the most elaborate—and that it sets a benchmark for ethical gastronomy on a large scale. It shows that the paradigm of mass food production can be changed by changing habits.” “There is hope!” he adds. The view from Mirazur’s gardens.  ©Matteo Carassale *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.

Touting Path to International and Environmental Peace The Earth & I Editorial Team South Korea and North Korea are still divided by the Demilitarized Zone: North Korean border fortifications and guard posts viewed from the Goseong reunification center.  ©loeskieboom/iStock Perhaps no place on Earth yearns more for peace than the mountainous Korean Peninsula. Bordering China to its northwest, Korea is a land where citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) have lived as a divided people for over seven decades. What better place than Korea, then, to gather stakeholders to discuss new approaches to peacemaking and environmental restoration? And what better time to do so than the Spring of 2025, when political tensions on the peninsula had been especially high, and choking dust clouds from the deserts of China and Mongolia and drought-driven wildfires darkened South Korean skies amidst the continent’s first signs of spring.   Peace Summit Near the DMZ Not far from the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas—a narrow strip of no-man's land where nature is enjoying an undisturbed, post-Korean War renaissance—current and former heads of state, environmental and social activists, and leaders of every field from 117 nations gathered from April 10 to April 15 in Seoul, South Korea. They came to mark and honor innovative peacemaking efforts on a multitude of fronts. A central concern of many participants was ending humanity’s assault on nature and restoring Earth’s natural environment. Cheon Won Gung (World Peace Education Center). The gathering commemorated the opening of Cheon Won Gung (CWG), expressed as the World Peace Education Center. The center includes an inner sanctum, called the Cheonil Sanctum, with lofty walls that display 14 magnificent works of art, each created using mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer techniques. The display offers a record of the highly sacrificial life course and substantial achievements of the founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Rev. Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon (Holy Mother Han), in their dedicated efforts to build a peaceful world. By contemplating on the founders’ lives, one can feel God’s heart of true love, recognize God’s dream and ideal of creation, and understand God’s providence of salvation in the course of human history. The multi-event affair was sponsored by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, also called Heavenly Parents’ Holy Community. Global Parliamentarians Form Organization for World Peace Of note was the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) via an inaugural assembly of current and former parliamentarians from around the world. ISC is dedicated to addressing “critical areas such as population dynamics, climate change, and environmental conservation by fostering collaboration among governments, institutions, and communities.” There were 150 parliamentary and diplomatic leaders, including 39 incumbent speakers of national assemblies. They elected Pakistan’s former President and current Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, H.E. Yusuf Raza Gilani, as the first ISC chairman. The gathering, sponsored by the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of ISC, was held on April 11-12 at Lotte Hotel World and on April 12 at the Korean Parliamentary Building, when they announced the Seoul Declaration. Current and former parliamentarians from around the world at the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC). ©ISC Former President of Pakistan and Current Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, H.E. Yusuf Raza Gilani, is ISC’s chairman.  ©ISC Honoring Humanity’s and Nature’s Heroes Another significant event was an award ceremony for the Sixth Sunhak Peace Prize—on behalf of the founder—to three individuals deemed to be exemplary peacemakers. In addition, two international leaders received the special 2025 Founders’ Award. The sponsoring organization was the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation. The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded in 2013 and “established to help resolve worldwide suffering, conflict, poverty and threats to the environment by promoting a comprehensive, future-oriented vision of peace.” The Prize recognizes achievements in three areas: respect for human development, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a recipient of the 2020 Sunhak Founders’ Award and guiding hand behind the Paris Climate Accords, introduced and congratulated the 2025 awardees. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a recipient of the 2020 Sunhak Founders’ Award and guiding hand behind the Paris Climate Accords, introduced and congratulated the 2025 awardees. He began by recognizing Sunhak Laureate Wanjira Mathai of Kenya for her work as chair of the Green Belt Movement, praising her as someone who “has advanced environmental sustainability through land restoration across Africa.” Wanjira Mathai dedicated her award “to Africa’s young people, Africa’s youth who remind me every single day that we will do it. We will build a future that reflects the greatness of Africa, rooted indeed in accountability, resilience, and courage.” (On a separate occasion, she sat down with editors of The Earth & I for an exclusive interview and talked about her work. See “Wanjira Mathai Sees Green in Africa’s Future” in this issue.) Sunhak Peace Prize Winners at the Global Summit 2025. From left to right: H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, Prophet Samuel Radebe, Holy Mother Hak Ja Han Moon (founder), Wanjira Mathai, Hugh Evans, Dr. Patrick Awuah.  ©Sunhak Peace Prize Committee The former UN Secretary-General then recognized two more Sunhak Laureates: Australia’s Hugh Evans, founder and CEO of Global Citizen (an advocacy platform), for leading “impactful global campaigns to alleviate poverty and inequality,” and Dr. Patrick Awuah, president and founder of Ghana’s Ashesi University, for “empower[ing] African youth with ethical leadership and tech-based education.”  Ban Ki-moon concluded his remarks with praise for the 2025 Sunhak Founders’ Award winners: former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (for “significant contributions to democracy in Africa”) and South Africa’s Prophet Radebe (for fostering “religious harmony and spiritual renewal to promote global peace”).  Three Conferences on Peacemaking Featured among the prominent programs was World Summit 2025, sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation. On April 12, participants of the World Summit tackled three crucial arenas of peacemaking: the environment (Session I), women as champions of peace (Session II), and the role of religion in peacemaking (Session III). Session I was on the theme, “Climate Change, Environmental Crises and the Future of the Earth.” It was held that morning at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul. The conference attracted around 260 environmental scholars and leaders from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe to discuss the need for a new scientific paradigm for solving environmental problems—a model that would empower traditional science with expanded insights from post-materialist research. This session was organized by the Hyo Jeong International Foundation for Environmental Peace (HJIFEP). Session I consisted of two topics. The first topic was “Climate Change, Environmental Crises and the International Community’s Response.” The main presentation was given by Professor Emeritus Soonchang Yoon of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Seoul National University. It was followed by a commentary by Professor Suh-Yong Chung of Korea University, and a discussion with the audience. [For a summary of Topic 1, see “Climate Change, Environmental Crises and the International Community’s Response,” in this issue.]   The second topic was “Advances in Science and Technology: The Demand for a New Worldview.” The main presentation was given by Professor Emeritus Cliff Davidson of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Syracuse University in New York. It was followed by a commentary by Professor Arnaud Delorme of Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France, and a discussion with the audience. [For a summary of Topic 2, see “Advances in Science and Technology: The Demand for a New Worldview,” in this issue.] Session I ended with concluding remarks by the session chair, Professor GunWoong Bahng of The State University of New York in Korea. He thanked the speakers and participants, saying, “We are in a critical situation right now, as was pointed out by the two speakers. ... I think that awakening and recognizing the current crises is a must, and the first step that we can take at the individual level.” Session II was held on the afternoon of the same day at the same location. Approximately 120 women leaders from around the world shared diverse opinions on the theme “The Role of Women toward a Hopeful Future of Peace and Prosperity.” Session III was held concurrently at the Hyo Jeong Cultural Center in Gyeonggi Province, with the theme, “The Role of Religion for Global Coexistence and Prosperity: The Need and Role of Establishing an International Organization with a Bicameral System (Politics and Religion).” On this day, approximately 800 religious leaders from around the world with diverse religious backgrounds, including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Sikhism, and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification held an Interreligious Prayer Meeting. Exploring New Paths to Environmental Peace In Session I, Dr. Douglas Joo, chairman of HJIFEP, greeted the conference participants, explaining that HJIFEP was founded in 2017 by Holy Mother Hak Ja Han Moon, with “the mission to identify the best possible solutions to … environmental problems.” He encouraged the participants, saying, “You are already actively participating in many projects in nearly every sector of society. Guided by the knowledge and insights we gain from this meeting, let us commit ourselves to taking a big step toward achieving the goal of establishing environmental peace in the world.” Dr. Sun Jin Moon addresses the conference on behalf of the Founder.  ©HJIFEP Dr. Sun Jin Moon, deeply concerned about environmental issues, delivered her mother’s Founder’s Greetings to the gathering. She observed that "to live in peace with one another, we also need to live in peace with the environment. This is because we are interconnected with our natural environment just as we are with other people in the world." Identifying the underlying issue, she said, "Unfortunately, human activities have been conducted often without much concern for their effects on the environment. Our apathy toward and abusive use of the natural world have led to the enormous growth of problems such as pollution, loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, and climate change, which are threatening our very existence." From that perspective, she concluded, "Ultimately, the fundamental solution to environmental problems is based on elevating our consciousness and establishing harmonious relationships between humans and nature.” South Korea’s Ambassador for Climate Change and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Keeyong Chung welcomes the conference participants.  ©HJIFEP South Korea’s Ambassador for Climate Change and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honorable Keeyong Chung, gave congratulatory remarks for the environmental session. He mentioned the need for all countries to focus on four priorities. “To drive climate progress in today’s complex environment, four priorities stand out—not just as goals, but as essential conditions for credible progress: market opportunity, global solidarity, technological innovation, and effective governance." He said that South Korea is committed to reducing emissions and achieving net zero. “Our renewable electricity share has surpassed 10%, and we are advancing a more ambitious NDC for 2035 and deepening the role of our emissions trading scheme." “Korea is also dedicated to serving as a green ladder for developing countries—particularly vulnerable communities in Africa and the Pacific Islands—helping them access the tools, finance, and technologies needed for a just and resilient transition.” “Korea is … dedicated to serving as a green ladder for developing countries … helping them access the tools, finance, and technologies needed for a just and resilient transition." He concluded with a call to action for all participants, saying, “Those least responsible for this crisis are bearing its heaviest burdens—from Pacific islanders facing rising seas to African farmers confronting failed rains. We do not need perfect solutions—only shared commitment. Let us strengthen trust, invest in innovation, and walk together on a path toward a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.” His Excellency Macky Sall, former President of Senegal, addresses the conference.  ©HJIFEP Former President of Senegal Macky Sall was next to address the conference participants, saying that “Although Africa is responsible for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains the continent most exposed to the effects of global warming. In the face of this injustice, African countries are striving to implement sustainable solutions through green projects. ... Our countries, which contribute the least to the climate crisis, are forced to bear alone the cost of its consequences. It is a double burden, a double injustice. "The fight against global warming must be a shared fight. As the least polluting continent, Africa wants to contribute to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we should not be forced to choose between development and environmental protection, and we should not go into debt to shoulder the costs of adaptation alone." “The fight against global warming must be a shared fight. As the least polluting continent, Africa wants to contribute to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." On the issue of an energy transition, he said, "In the energy sector, the implementation of JETPs (Just Energy Transition Partnerships) in Africa represents an opportunity for an innovative and equitable energy transition. It involves a gradual shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, taking into account local economic and social realities. It is crucial to ensure that JETPs do not sacrifice jobs or development needs. To be credible and effective, JETPs must prioritize concessional financing, promote technology transfer, strengthen local capacity, and ensure inclusive governance. Only under these conditions can they truly drive an equitable and sustainable energy transition in Africa.”