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When animals inadvertently consume pharmaceuticals: a lesson in Ecotoxicology

Sustainable Leaders | Global, March 29th, 2023

Researchers from Sweden, the United States and Austria have collaborated to understand the impacts of chemical pollutants on wildlife. Here are their perspectives on how animal behavioural ecology is influenced by pharmaceuticals.

Does the loss and damage fund represent a new dawn in climate justice?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, 23r, 2022

An agreement reached at COP27 to establish a ‘loss and damage’ fund was hailed as ‘historic’, as industrialised countries finally acknowledged some responsibility for the climate disasters affecting developing nations. But should they temper their optimism? There are doubts the fund will bring in additional money.

Record-high investments in alternative proteins: who are the key players?

Sustainable Leaders | Global , October 28th, 2022

The demand for animal-based product replacements is growing. Recent data by the Good Food Institute show that 2021 was a record-breaking year for the alternative protein industry, with $5 billion invested in companies that develop and distribute alternatives to animal products.

A spark in sustainable logistics: An overview of electrification

Sustainable Leaders | Global, August 7th, 2022

Logistics is known to be not-so eco-friendly. However, it appears that many companies in this sector are attempting to become more sustainable with the help of innovative solutions such as electrification. Despite progress, what stands in the way of the future of sustainable logistics?

Bonn Climate Conference: key takeaways

Sustainable Leaders | Global, 14th July, 2022

The Bonn Climate Conference ended on the 16th June 2022, after 10 days of work towards preparing for any technical issues that may arise during negotiations for the next UN Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Algal Fuel Cells: is generating electricity from wastewater too good to be true?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, June 18th, 2022

Wastewater treatment is both an energy and carbon intensive process. Algal fuel cells are devices that implement the use of algae, in order to harness the chemical energy in wastewater to generate electricity.

Environmental influencers: Asian American and Pacific Warriors

Sustainable Leaders | Global, June 16th, 2022

This article explores the activism of young people across the globe, as part of a series called ‘Environmental influencers’. There is a lot we can learn from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities through their history, heritage and contributions to society during difficult times. In this article, learn about the first environmental talk show, how a climate group in the Pacific Islands blocked the world’s biggest coal port, an award-winning climate activist and more.

Robots can make offshore wind farms marine-friendly

Sustainable Leaders | Global, June 2nd, 2022

Offshore wind farms aim to provide a never-ending supply of ‘green’ energy. Its role in climate change mitigation is clear, but the recent introduction of robotic technologies is advancing the potential of this energy sector even further. Juggling all the opportunities and barriers, what does the future hold?

Natural Capital: how commodifying nature changes our understanding of it

Sustainable Leaders | Global, May 25th, 2022

As we head towards a 2.4°C warmer climate, policymakers and conservationists continue to pioneer methods to try to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change. One of these methods, promoted by the Natural Capital Project and the United Nations, is commodifying nature in order to save it.

How can we fight world hunger without relying on fertilisers?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, May 23rd, 2022

As world hunger is increasingly considered in the context of climate change, it is crucial to adapt our methods of tackling it. Can we replace conventional fertilisers with innovations which increase yields without degrading the environment?

The vital bloom of corporate climate leadership

Sustainable Leaders | Global, May 15th, 2022

Thousands of companies across the world are joining the collective movement of corporate climate activism, including IKEA and H&M. Despite the associated challenges, it is critical that businesses take a leading role in sustainability transformations, in order to address their negative global, regional or national impacts on the environment.

Cultured meat: the future of food

Sustainable Leaders | Global, April 26th, 2022

A sci-fi-like diet trend may be on the rise. Cell biologists and engineers are collaborating to produce cultured meat via cell engineering techniques. Though artificial, it may be the silver bullet for solving the environmental impacts associated with the livestock industry. A closer look into the laboratory process shows potential downsides for cultured meat.

Could the war in Ukraine derail the EU’s net-zero transition?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, March 18th, 2022

As the EU scrambles to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, many are concerned it could threaten the green energy transition. But while the conflict could increase near-term emissions, in the long run, it may accelerate the green energy revolution.

Zero100: A radical supply chain strategy, or corporate greenwashing?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, March 4th, 2022

Announced in January of this year, Zero100 is an industry-led platform that aims to generate resources and research with the goal of achieving a carbon-negative supply chain. At first glance, their website is an impressive endeavour, blending Gen-Z approved aesthetics with ambitious climate-conscious plans of changing the supply chain through technology and improved efficiency. But, is it all too good to be true?

From vegetable oil to t-shirts: circular economies and reimagining consumption

Sustainable Leaders | Global, February 17th, 2022

Dominant societal consumption patterns are linear; an item goes from production, to consumption, to waste. Circular economies offer a chance to break out of this ecologically damaging pattern and reframe our relationship with objects, consumption and waste.

Behind the Scenes of Climate Policy

Sustainable Leaders | Global, February 2nd, 2022

How do world leaders know what to do about climate change? And how are tens of thousands of scientific papers summarised into one concise report? First-hand discussion with climate scientists reveals how climate data gets from scientist, to author, to government, to news headlines.

Money talks: the business of biodiversity

Sustainable Leaders | Global, January 31st, 2022

Protecting Earth’s natural habitats should be among our top priorities for the future, but we are failing to meet key targets. What, then, is needed to juice up our conservation efforts?

The female scientists protecting the Southern Ocean

Sustainable Leaders | Global, January 7th, 2022

Global warming, pollution and plastics are threatening the Southern Ocean and its marine life. A group of scientists are collecting samples and researching how these factors affect phytoplankton, the main source of carbon for life in the frigid oceans of the South Pole.

Gardening clams: Indigenous ingenuity and resilience in the face of climate change

Sustainable Leaders | Global, December 9th, 2021

Climate change has taken up its position on the world stage as one of the most pressing issues addressed at COP26. The conference was primed to showcase the coming together of the international community to combat the current climate crisis through innovative and intensive solutions.

Mineral Mining: the dark side of the green energy revolution

Sustainable Leaders | Global, November 29th, 2021

The genuine momentum around a ‘green revolution’ towards a low-carbon economy is undoubtedly a hugely positive development. Although not all is rosy. Green technologies typically require more minerals than their more carbon intensive predecessors and these minerals are frequently sourced from mines associated with a huge suite of environmental, social, and ethical problems.

The ‘phase-down’ of coal: A radical agreement or underwhelming let-down?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, November 18th, 2021

The climate agreement reached at COP26 is the first to explicitly address our global addiction to coal, but to many, the watered-down text represents a serious failure. While the last-minute reversal is unfortunate and is a hammer-blow to any hopes of remaining below 1.5°C, it is important to consider why India and China remain reluctant to a rapid phase-out.

Why climate finance must be reformed at COP26

Sustainable Leaders | Global, November 4th, 2021

Wealthy nations have long reaped the benefits of unconstrained pollution, often at the expense of others. Now within the context of climate change, all have a moral duty to assist lower-income countries to ensure their economies can develop in a sustainable manner. Yet it is these nations which continue to fail to meet their own climate finance targets.

Biomimicry: how nature can inspire a sustainable world

Sustainable Leaders | Global, October 28th, 2021

From the complex colonies of ants to the very bones inside our bodies, so much can be learned from natural systems and applied to human life. Biomimicry can be an effective tool for innovation and creating a more sustainable future.

Why intensive livestock farming has no place in a greener future

Sustainable Leaders | Global, August 27th, 2021

Livestock husbandry is amongst the largest growing subsectors of the agricultural industry. This is particularly evident in developing countries, where the increase for the demand of livestock products is closely linked to rapid population growth, income growth and infrastructural development.

COP26: Last chance to save the world?

Sustainable Leaders | Global, August 9th, 2021

COP26 could be a turning point in the fight to curb climate change or simply an excuse for flag-waving and greenwashing. It has to be the former, and even then this will be only one step in the direction of climate justice.

The ‘sustainable’ Tokyo 2020 Olympic games seem to lack one thing: sustainability

Sustainable Leaders | Global, August 2nd, 2021

If you have tuned into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games you may have seen that the event is being branded as the ‘greenest Olympics yet’. With the media praising the Committee’s green-orientated actions, including recycled cardboard beds for athletes and the hydrogen-fueled Olympic cauldron—how come these games have also been deemed the third least sustainable Olympics since 1992?

The buzz for green cities: urban spaces for people and pollinators

Sustainable Leaders | Global, July 11th, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown many city-dwellers tucked away indoors the enormous mental health benefits of spending time in nature. And as urbanisation takes over the world—with 5.2 billion people estimated to live on 1.9 million kilometers-squared of urban land by 2030—it is increasingly important to design city spaces to accommodate for the health of their inhabitants, both human and animal.

When animals inadvertently consume pharmaceuticals: a lesson in Ecotoxicology

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Does the loss and damage fund represent a new dawn in climate justice?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Record-high investments in alternative proteins: who are the key players?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

A spark in sustainable logistics: An overview of electrification

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Bonn Climate Conference: key takeaways

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The Great Green Wall: Africa’s big plan to fight climate change

Sustainable Leaders | Africa

Algal Fuel Cells: is generating electricity from wastewater too good to be true?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Environmental influencers: Asian American and Pacific Warriors

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Robots can make offshore wind farms marine-friendly

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Natural Capital: how commodifying nature changes our understanding of it

Sustainable Leaders | Global

How can we fight world hunger without relying on fertilisers?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

How can we fight world hunger without relying on fertilisers?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The vital bloom of corporate climate leadership

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Cultured meat: the future of food

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Could the war in Ukraine derail the EU’s net-zero transition?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Zero100: A radical supply chain strategy, or corporate greenwashing?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

From vegetable oil to t-shirts: circular economies and reimagining consumption

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Behind the Scenes of Climate Policy

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Money talks: the business of biodiversity

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The female scientists protecting the Southern Ocean

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Gardening clams: Indigenous ingenuity and resilience in the face of climate change

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Mineral Mining: the dark side of the green energy revolution

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The ‘phase-down’ of coal: A radical agreement or underwhelming let-down?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Why climate finance must be reformed at COP26

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Biomimicry: how nature can inspire a sustainable world

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Why intensive livestock farming has no place in a greener future

Sustainable Leaders | Global

COP26: Last chance to save the world?

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The ‘sustainable’ Tokyo 2020 Olympic games seem to lack one thing: sustainability

Sustainable Leaders | Global

The buzz for green cities: urban spaces for people and pollinators

Sustainable Leaders | Global

Even agricultural conservation might not save Midwestern freshwater biodiversity

Sustainable Leaders | North America, March 13th, 2024

Agriculture is a major driver of land-use changes and can intensify the impacts of climate change on temperature and groundwater. The loss of riparian cover or vegetation can affect the ecosystem’s health of the Mississippi River Basin in the Midwestern US, particularly the fish population.

Night-time light could be harming the monarch butterfly

Sustainable Leaders | North America, February 23rd, 2023

Artificial light during night-time hours has become commonplace but it is known to negatively impact wildlife. What insights can a 2021 study give into how it affects migratory species such as the monarch butterfly?

Biomonitoring the environmental effects of mining on Mexico’s rivers

Sustainable Leaders | North America, March 29th, 2022

Scientists from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico and the CONACYT laboratories have put forward a biomonitoring method to assess the pollution from mining on the rivers of the Central Mexican Plateau. Results showed the negative impacts of heavy metal pollutants in aquatic organisms’ biodiversity and habitat.

Artificial photosynthesis: the energy source of the future

Sustainable Leaders | North America, March 5th, 2022

The United States Department of Energy has invested $100 million in the development of artificial photosynthesis. This technology takes inspiration from the process through which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into energy in order to produce clean and sustainable fuels.

A big move to boost green consumerism in skincare

Sustainable Leaders | North America, January 15th, 2022

Hyram Yarbro, known as YouTube’s skincare guru, has launched his product line that focuses particularly on sustainability. Through planet-saving partnerships and standards, Hyram’s brand paves the way for a sustainable skincare industry.

Enbridge ignores Michigan’s shutdown deadline and continues to transport propane across Line 5.

Sustainable Leaders | North America, June 2nd, 2021

In November 2020, Governor Whitmer of Michigan ordered Enbridge to shut down their operations of the Line 5 pipelines by May 12th 2021. Now in June 2021, Enbridge has defied the order and continues to transport 23 million gallons of oil daily across the Straits of Mackinac.

The limitations of conservation agriculture in Latin America facing an ever-changing global environmental crisis

Sustainable Leaders | South America, September 22nd, 2021

Even though conservation agriculture seems to be the solution to the adverse environmental effects of agroecosystems, socio-economic and political factors impede its successful adoption. This is most evident in developing countries, where access to financial capital and human resources is limited, depriving farmers of converting their systems into more sustainable ones.

The inspiring transforming of Medellín: from murder capital to sustainable leader

Sustainable Leaders | South America, July 13th, 2021

Medellín, Colombia’s second most populous city, is considered a leading example in terms of its environmental policies and sustainable initiatives. Whilst there are other green cities around the globe, the transformation of Medellín is truly remarkable; considering just a few years ago it was a stronghold for Pablo Escobar’s drug crimes and deemed the ‘murder capital of the world’.

Why is rewilding so controversial in the UK?

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, April 21st, 2023

A hit new BBC documentary ‘Wild Isles’ about UK wildlife has been caught up in a row over rewilding, with reports suggesting an episode was pulled over fears of a political and press backlash. But what is rewilding? And why is it such a controversial topic in the UK?

A bird's eye view on avian flu: concerns over migrating species

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, February 13th, 2023

Avian flu has swept through Europe this year, devastating seabird colonies and causing the death toll of wild bird populations to sky-rocket. With the onset of winter, concerns are rising over the impacts of migratory birds spreading the virus further afield.

The environmental impact of the Nord Stream leak

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, February 7th, 2023

On September 26th 2022, subsequent explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines caused several large methane gas leaks in the Baltic Sea. This unprecedented leak has raised concerns in the international community about the event's environmental impact.

South West England and South Wales to become the UK’s first Hydrogen Ecosystem

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, January 9th, 2022

The South West of England and Wales is set to become the UK’s first hydrogen ecosystem, as unveiled in transformative plans by the Western Gateway partnership and the GW4 alliance.

Rewilding our cities could reduce the impact of extreme weather

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, November 16th, 2022

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have released a report outlining the potential benefits of rewilding urban cities, including benefits to the economy and wildlife recovery, along with the potential reduction of pollution and mitigation of harm caused by extreme weather events.

REPowerEU: the EU’s strategy to gain independence from Russian fossil fuels and to accelerate the green transition

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, September 19th, 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of this year not only brought war to the European continent for the first time in decades, but it destabilised global energy systems. On May 18th, the European Commission presented REPowerEU; the EU’s plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to green energy. But what is this plan and how will it affect both energy security and the climate crisis?

The future of sustainable aviation is hydrogen power

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, July 10th, 2022

The future of sustainable aviation might at last have its champion. If we want to decarbonise our energy system and replace fossil fuels swiftly we need to focus our attention on hydrogen power. Fortunately, this change is already in motion.

Why will the new North Sea production not deliver UK energy security?

Sustainable leaders | Europe, April 14th, 2022

On March 20th 2022, climate campaigners from Fossil Free London protested outside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) against the continued expansion of oil and gas. To illustrate the issue, activists used a large oil barrel with a tiny windmill on top to represent the UK's over-reliance on fossil fuels. The demonstration came ahead of on March 23rd 2022 and amid rising fuel prices, not to mention the Energy Security Strategy by the Prime Minister, which was published last week.

A not-so-neutral path towards carbon neutrality

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, April 24th, 2022

The past month has seen the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalate into a devastating war, forcing the EU Member States—particularly Germany—to re-think its relationship with the largest country in the world. However, because of Russia’s dominance in EU energy imports, this break-up could significantly impact the EU’s energy and climate targets.

How is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affecting the Nord Stream 2 pipelines’ grip on Europe?

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, March 21st, 2022

On February 22nd, 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This decision adds to the questions surrounding the future of European energy security and whether Russia’s war on Ukraine has evoked a turning point in Europe’s dependency on Russian energy.

The Cambo oil field has been paused, now we must prioritise a just transition to end fossil fuels once and for all

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, January 3rd, 2022

The oil giant Shell has withdrawn from the Cambo oil field. The Cambo site, west of Shetland, in the Northern Atlantic, in waters 1,000 metres deep, was first given government approval in 2001. It could deliver 170 million barrels of oil over 25 years, equivalent to the annual emissions of 18 coal-fired power plants. What does this news mean for the main stakeholder Siccar Point Energy and the dozens of other projects in the pipeline?

Bristol: green giant or litter bug?

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, December 13th, 2021

In 2015, the city of Bristol was named The European Green Capital. Today, 74% of Bristolians say the city has a litter problem, and the city ranks as just the fifth greenest city in the UK. While many Bristolians are striving to clean the city’s streets and environmental record, it seems that the city’s larger organisations are the ones letting Bristol’s green standards slide.

Environmental influencers: Intersectionality and COP26

Sustainable leaders | Europe, October 26th, 2021

More and more young people are demonstrating their talents in communication, research and leadership through social media, utilising the power of activism to educate the public about climate change.

Environmental influencers: climate justice activism

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, September 8th, 2021

More and more young people are demonstrating their talents in communication, research and leadership through social media, utilising the power of activism to educate the public about climate change.

How effective is Bath’s Clean Air Zone strategy?

Sustainable Leaders | Europe, July 3rd, 2021

Since March 15th 2021, Bath, United Kingdom, has begun to fine highly polluting vehicles driving within their ‘Clean Air Zone’ in an effort to bring the city’s atmospheric nitrogen dioxide levels below the legal limit.

Reflecting on ICAN 2022 and what it means to represent your nation: Nyombi Morris

Sustainable Leaders | Africa, November 22nd, 2022

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Conference took place in Austria from the 18th to the 23rd of June 2022. The event brought together activists from all corners of the world to bring awareness to the risk of nuclear weapons. Nyombi Morris shares his experience attending the event and what possible humanitarian consequences of war mean for Africa.

The Great Green Wall: Africa’s big plan to fight climate change

Sustainable Leaders | Africa, 12th July, 2022

Forty-six percent of African land is degraded. In an attempt to combat this desertification, along with all of the socio-economic issues that come with it, the African Union began the Great Green Wall initiative. For the past 15 years, Africans have been planting trees across 8,000 kilometres of the continent and hope to continue to ‘re-green’ its landscapes.

African heritage sites are threatened as sea levels continue to rise

Sustainable Leaders | Africa, May 11th, 2022

A study has identified 213 natural and 71 cultural African heritage sites at risk from coastal flooding and erosion. Iconic ruins, such as the Tipasa in Algeria and the North Sinai Archaeological Sites Zone in Egypt, could disappear completely underwater.

Environmental influencers: Africans making history

Sustainable Leaders | Africa, February 25th, 2022

Young people are demonstrating their talents in communication, research and leadership through social media. This Black History Month, celebrate and support young activists from various African countries 一history in the making.

The Namibia bio-trade initiative increases the value of biodiversity-derived products

Sustainable Leaders | Africa, July 12th, 2021

Under the guidance of the BioTrade Initiative, the Eudafano Women’s Cooperative, a community organization in Namibia, has provided a secure economic income for 2500 women and their indigenous communities.

Desert rodents evolved specific adaptative mechanisms to dry and arid environments

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, January 10th, 2024

Asian-led research uncovered divergent adaptations in rodent species through genetic sequencing and found how they have adapted to the arid lands and extreme climate of the deserts of Inner Mongolia, China. The study showcases a path to understanding how climate change may challenge animals at a genetic level. Could this field protect species against future extinctions?

Stopping a 'Near Threatened' species from being sold as luxury shawls

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, December 31st, 2023

For every Shahtoosh shawl made, between three and five Tibetan antelopes get hunted. Listed as ‘Near Threatened’ under IUCN’s Red List of Species and put under Appendix 1 of CITES, the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), locally known as Chiru, has long been hunted for its underfur.

The Millet Revolution In India: A Paradigm Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, June 15th, 2023

The year 2023 has been declared the ‘International Year of Millets’ by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation to recognise the importance of millets, a group of small-grained crops that have been integral to Indian diets and farming systems for centuries.

Indigenous insights on human–wildlife coexistence in southern India

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, March 5th, 2023

Human-wildlife conflict poses a complex problem as humans and wild animals share space in an increasingly resource-constrained world. Insights from southern India show how Indigenous perspectives can improve human-wildlife coexistence.

How India took the lead in decentralising electricity through rural off-grid solar panels

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, June 8th, 2022

The transition to clean energy has been taking precedence in the efforts to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate poverty. India has been at the forefront of off-grid solar power, against a backdrop of narratives on rural poverty, climate change and sustainable development.

What will environmental conservation look like under Taliban rule?

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, September 25th, 2021

‘Plant one or several fruit or non-fruit trees for the beautification of earth and the benefit of almighty Allah's creations.’

Singapore is one-bite ahead of the rest of the world for cultured meat approval

Sustainable Leaders | Asia, July 15th, 2021

Food is a right and necessity for all living organisms. However, with the projected exponential population growth of humans and a somewhat ‘unpredictable’ changing climate, our world is facing food insecurity.

Study finds lead from ammunition threatens ‘scavenging raptors’

Sustainable Leaders | Oceania, January 26th, 2024

Renowned for being one of the most toxic heavy metals, lead exposure can have a detrimental impact on wildlife and is contributing to the collapse of raptor populations around the world. The use of lead-based ammunition, in particular, is currently impacting one of Australia’s top avian predators.

Identifying 'genomic vulnerability': many species cannot adapt to future climate conditions

Sustainable Leaders | Oceania, February 7th, 2022

A group of researchers from the University of Melbourne reviewed how global climate changes threaten biodiversity. Genomic vulnerabilities can help researchers assess if certain species will make the necessary genetic changes to adapt to future extreme temperatures, rainfall and other climate conditions.

How Canberra is keeping cool within a sea of wildfires

Sustainable Leaders | Oceania, August 20th, 2021

Australia’s capital, Canberra, is regarded as one of the world’s leading sustainable cities. Whilst 88.9% of Canberra’s public transport is run on green energy, the capital is striving for a zero-emission transport fleet by 2040.

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