The huge problem caused by plastic pollution is now well known and how governments and industry deal with the problem is still a “work in progress”. The most common form of plastic produced today is polyethylene terephthalate, commonly called PET. PET is a strong, lightweight plastic used for packaging foods and beverages. It is recycled …
Significant benefits from enzyme-based plastic recycling possible Read More »
Waste management, even of general household waste, is a challenge in many low-income countries. Hazardous waste management is often aspirational, and treating and disposing of hazardous waste, or requires cross border transportation to a suitable facility, is costly. As a result, hazardous waste may be buried on-site or disposed of in the local waste dump …
About 30 percent of the world’s population live in dry areas covering more than 40 percent of the world’s land surface. These dry areas, referred to as drylands, are characterised by water scarcity, affecting natural ecosystems and limiting agricultural activities and production. Despite the challenges, many people depend on the livestock and food produced in …
Desertification threatens the livelihoods of people living in dry environments Read More »
AMD from coal mining is a significant environmental problem. When pyrite rock, which contains iron sulfide, comes into contact with water and air, it oxidises, creating sulfuric acid. The acid can then break down the surrounding rock releasing heavy metals into the water. Researchers at Penn State University have developed a way to extract up …
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD – new treatment extracts Rare Earth Elements Read More »
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that approximately 160 million children between the ages of 7 and 17 are victims of child labour. The definition of child labour is “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” Causes of child labour include …
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is intended to bring benefits to communities and ecosystems. A case study undertaken in Lake Victoria Basin, East Africa, found that EbA approaches have trade-offs (risks and costs) and synergies (co-benefits), which may not be equally distributed between different stakeholders. EbA is a management approach to help protect and maintain healthy ecosystems …
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) may distribute benefits unequally Read More »
Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation into smaller and smaller pieces are significant threats to terrestrial biodiversity. Human activities such as farming and urban expansion are just two causes. Another cause of habitat fragmentation in remote rural areas is when a new road is constructed to allow easier access to a new mine. Access roads benefit …
Habitat fragmentation effects have long-term consequences Read More »
A critical safety issue for open cast mines is slope stability and subsidence. Space geodetic techniques were used by researchers to monitor surface deformation over three open-pit mines in Germany. Significant land subsidence was observed over reclaimed areas ranging from 310 mm per year to over 500 mm per year. Mining areas reclaimed for agriculture …
Soil stability in opencast mining areas monitored by satellite Read More »
Battery technologies are improving rapidly, and so is the search for batteries with lower environmental impacts. New lithium batteries developed for use in electric cars, for example, have a longer life and are up to 90 percent recyclable. The number of wearables is increasing, requiring energy storage to operate, and adding to the growing e-waste …
Information on people’s cultural values in different states in the US can inform conservation efforts. A recent study found that people supporting conservation efforts have values that tend to favour habitat protection and animal rights. Those people who support hunting, for example, are more likely to believe that animals are for the benefit of people.
