Environment

Reducing household refrigerator CO2 emissions

Refrigerators contribute about 4% of a home's carbon emissions, equivalent to 89 kg of CO2 per year. Recent updates highlight ways to lower this impact through maintenance, efficient settings and choosing low-GWP models. Global efforts, including the Kigali Amendment, aim to phase out high-impact refrigerants by 2036.

New eu quotas for baltic herring fishing may cause stock collapse

After tough negotiations, eu fisheries ministers have agreed on new fishing quotas for the baltic sea. The decision sets quotas at higher levels than proposed by the eu commission and could lead to the collapse of the stock in the gulf of bothnia, according to the council's own background material. The council thereby overrules the commission and sweden in the final talks.

Guilds criticize declaration of 99 priority sites for conservation

29 अक्टूबर 2025 Ana Torres

Chile's Ministry of Environment aims to protect 99 priority sites covering nearly 4 million hectares to meet the goal of conserving 30% of the national territory. However, guilds such as Sonami, CPC, and SalmonChile have criticized the initiative, arguing it creates uncertainty for existing productive activities. Aarón Cavieres, director of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service, defends that it does not affect regularized projects.

Scientists warn of grim new chapter in Earth's climate crisis

An international team of researchers has issued a stark report on the planet's vital signs, declaring that humanity is hurtling toward climate chaos. The analysis of 2025 data reveals record extremes in 22 of 34 tracked indicators, from ocean heat to Antarctic ice loss. While the situation is dire, experts emphasize that bold action can still avert catastrophe.

Antarctic robot reveals thousands of icefish nests in Weddell Sea

Scientists using a robotic explorer have discovered over a thousand organized fish nests beneath Antarctica's Weddell Sea, exposed after a massive iceberg calved in 2017. The nests, built by yellowfin noties, form geometric patterns on the seafloor and highlight a thriving ecosystem in extreme conditions. This finding underscores the need to protect the region as a marine sanctuary.

U.S. power outages increase due to aging grid and severe weather

Power outages in the United States grew more frequent in 2024, exceeding 2023 levels by over 50%, primarily from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A 2025 Department of Energy report warns that blackout hours could rise 100-fold by 2030 amid an aging infrastructure and climate pressures. Rural areas and homeowners face higher risks than urban dwellers and renters.

Hoy no circula imposes restrictions on October 29 in CDMX and Edomex

28 अक्टूबर 2025 Juan Pérez

The Hoy No Circula program will restrict vehicles with red stickers and plate endings 3 and 4 in Mexico City and the State of Mexico on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The measure, in effect from 5:00 to 22:00, aims to reduce air pollution in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Violators face fines up to 3,000 pesos.

Breakup of supercontinent Nuna enabled complex life evolution

The breakup of the ancient supercontinent Nuna around 1.5 billion years ago reshaped Earth's surface, reducing volcanic carbon emissions and expanding shallow seas that fostered oxygen-rich environments. Scientists from the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide link this tectonic event to the rise of early eukaryotic life. Their study challenges the notion of a stagnant 'Boring Billion' period in Earth's history.

QUT scientists reveal coral attachment process for reef restoration

Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have discovered a three-phase biological process that allows coral fragments to reattach to reefs, offering new insights for global restoration efforts. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, highlights species-specific differences that affect attachment speed and strength. This finding could help predict which corals will recover best in damaged ecosystems.

Oklahoma oil wastewater purges persist despite regulatory efforts

Toxic wastewater from oil fields continues to surface across Oklahoma, known as 'purges,' contaminating land and water sources. State regulators at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission identified high-pressure injection wells and orphan wells as key causes but have struggled to enforce prevention and cleanup. A yearlong investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica highlights over 150 such incidents in the past five years.