What’s going on here? Last week, the Scottish Government announced it was scrapping the country’s legally binding climate target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030. This is despite Scotland having been the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency. What does this mean? This news comes after the Climate Change Committee said that the 2030 target was ‘unachievable’ – and after eight out of the previous 12 annual targets had also been missed. Scotland still has a target of being net zero by 2045  – five years earlier than the UK government’s goal). But Friends of the Earth Sc ..read more

What’s going on here? A group of women in Switzerland are celebrating after winning a landmark case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). They argue that by failing to address climate change, their government is putting them at risk of premature death in a heatwave. In a historic decision last week, the Court agreed with them. What does this mean? The case was brought by a group of Swiss women mostly in their 70s, known as the KlimaSeniorinnen or Senior Women for Climate Protection. Their case argued that they are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of extreme heat. Many of t ..read more

2024 can, and should, be thought of as the year of the election. A record number of voters worldwide will cast their ballots across 64 countries and the European Union, representing around 49% of the global population. The results of these elections will shape the second half of this decade, with wide-reaching consequences. Let’s have a closer look at some of these elections, and how they could affect climate change policy going forward. United States In November, US voters will choose between the Democratic Joe Biden for a second consecutive term, or Republican Donald Trump.  In his firs ..read more

UK emissions fall below Victorian levels. What’s going on here? A recent study conducted by the Carbon Brief recorded a 5.7% fall in the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023 compared to the previous year. Emissions in 2023 fell to their lowest level since 1879, with carbon dioxide emissions dropping below 400MtCO2e (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) for the first time since Victorian times.  The primary cause of the 5.7% fall in GHG emissions is attributed to a 20% reduction in gas as a source of domestic power. With the UK reverting to its long standing positi ..read more

The 20th of March was World Rewilding Day! In honour of this, and to help you beat the post-bank-holiday blues, I have collected a hopeful handful of rewilding wins that 2024 has already witnessed just 3 months in! These range from airlifting tortoises back into the wild to ground-breaking new environmental protection measures. If conservationists, policy-makers, and environmental managers around the world are starting as they mean to go on, then 2024 looks set to be a great year for rewilding. Galapagos tortoise. Image credit: Alexa via Pixabay.Early January- 136 giant Galapagos tortoises rel ..read more

What’s going on here? The first day of April marks the beginning of Citizen Science Month! In this month, we celebrate the valuable contributions of ordinary people, who put great efforts into collecting data and conducting scientific research, regardless of their educational backgrounds. Citizen Science Month strives to raise awareness of environmental challenges and to empower individuals around the globe to contribute in their own way, making positive impacts for the scientific community.   What does this mean? Initiated by SciStarter in 2016 and supported by the National Library ..read more

Though the factors that impact human lifespan are infinitely complex, a handful of regions around the world are defying global odds. People are regularly living into their 100s. They are physically fit and surrounded by loved ones with the lowest rates of dementia. They live long, happy lives with the tools to manage stress and trauma. These are the blue zones. A Danish twin study determined that environmental factors are up to 80 percent more influential on a person’s lifespan than their genetics, and these environments can teach us a lot about how to care for the world as a whole. The term ..read more

What’s going on here? The Panama disease continues to cause grave concern in the global banana supply chain. The recent meeting of the World Banana Forum highlighted some far reaching threats to global food production. The classic yellow fruit that we see on the shelves of supermarkets, perhaps epitomises the frailty of much of the world’s food systems. What does this mean? It is hard to estimate the true number of different cultivars (cultivated varieties) of banana that are grown worldwide, largely due to naming inconsistencies. However some estimates indicate that it is over 1000. What is n ..read more

Welcome to another article from Curious Earth’s ‘Stories on the Frontline’ series, our special features dedicated to giving a voice to the Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA) of climate change. Extractivism, ecocide and the effects of the climate and ecological crisis do not affect the global population equally. As the climate crisis escalates, it is essential we pass the mic, and offer solidarity, strength and solutions to the earth defenders on the frontline around the world.  The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Total Energies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC ..read more

We’ve almost made it through the UK Winter! The days are getting longer and we’re officially on the run-up to Spring and Summer. Here arises the opportunity to connect with nature more than during the colder months – excellent news, considering connecting with nature can have a positive impact on our mental and physical well-being. However, the opportunity to access nature is not equal across the UK. Let’s delve into the reasons why, and explore some ideas of how to connect with nature that don’t involve travelling miles to a national park. What do we mean by ‘nature’ It’s important to clarify ..read more