First-of-its-kind waste trading platform launches in Scotland
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A tech startup has created a Bloomberg-style trading platform to support a range of sectors in Scotland with their net zero and sustainability goals, simplifying transactions intended to see that the organic waste from one industry become another’s gold. Edinburgh-based Vaste is currently collaborating with computing science experts from Edinburgh College, on an Industrial Biotechnology […]
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Online fashion exploits plastic bag loophole prompting calls for change
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Ten years after the introduction of the UK’s plastic bag levy, online fashion is failing to keep pace with progress made on the high street, with the majority of UK consumers still receiving plastic with every order, according to new analysis. Polling commissioned by packaging business DS Smith appears to show that over three quarters […]
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Councils warn against industry bids to control local waste services
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Government must resist calls from the waste packaging industry to take control of household waste and recycling services and ensure local communities remain at the heart of deciding how rubbish is collected in their neighbourhood, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned. A 29 September statement from the group said: “Decisions about collections and services […]
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Can We Reduce Our Vehicle Emissions Without Buying an EV?
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Photo by Adil Sattarov on Unsplash Despite many people wanting to own electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce their CO2 emissions, the initial upfront cost can be substantial. Not everyone is in a financial position to purchase a new car, despite it being better for the environment and their wallet. When EV ownership is not yet […]
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AI maps how a new antibiotic targets gut bacteria
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For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotics can be a double-edged sword. The broad-spectrum drugs often prescribed for gut flare-ups can kill helpful microbes alongside harmful ones, sometimes worsening symptoms over time. When fighting gut inflammation, you don’t always want to bring a sledgehammer to a knife fight. Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial […]
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Climate Change in the Courtroom: UNEP and Sabin Center’s Global Climate Litigation Report 2025
Today, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School have released the Global Climate Litigation Report 2025: Status Review. This fourth edition of our joint survey builds on earlier reports published in 2017, 2020, and 2023, continuing our collaborative effort to track how litigation is […]
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DeBriefed 3 October 2025: UK political gap on climate widens; Fossil-fuelled Typhoon Ragasa; ‘Overshoot’ unknowns
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed. An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change. This week Shattered climate consensus FRACKING BAN: UK energy secretary Ed Miliband has announced that the government will bring forward its plans to permanently ban fracking, in a move designed to counter a promise from the hard-right Reform party […]
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New report warns skills shortages threaten circular economy progress
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A new report warns that skills shortages will hold back the UK’s efforts to move towards a circular economy, drawing upon the appraisal of key member organisations in chemicals and materials science. Published on 2 October by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the Royal Society […]
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How manufacturers are ensuring leak tightness in drainage seals and pipes
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Future-proofing plastic drainage pipes starts at the manufacturing stage By Paul Grills, BPF Pipes Group There is plenty of talk about preventing leaks in below ground water and drainage pipes and the importance of good installation; however, ensuring the quality and long-term performance of these pipes starts well before they are actually installed. British Plastics […]
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Repairing the irreparable: addressing non-economic loss and damage in climate reparations
As climate change effects are revealing themselves at a rampant pace, there is no denying that mitigation commitments and adaptation policies are insufficient. Consequently, loss and damage is gaining traction in the climate governance agenda, but this complex notion is still in the process of being outlined. One particularly challenging issue is how to deal […]
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Q&A: What the ‘controversial’ GWP* methane metric means for farming emissions
A controversial way of measuring how much methane warms the planet has stirred debate in recent years – particularly around assessing the climate impact of livestock farming. The metric – known as GWP* (global warming potential star) – was designed to more precisely account for the warming impact of short-lived greenhouse gases, such as methane. […]
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EAT-Lancet report: Three key takeaways on climate and diet change
A global shift towards “healthier” diets could cut non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane, from agriculture by 15% by 2050, according to a new report. The EAT-Lancet Commission report on “healthy, sustainable and just food systems” says this diet would require producing more fruit, vegetables and nuts, as well as fewer livestock. The findings […]
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Lincoln Lab unveils the most powerful AI supercomputer at any US university
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The new TX-Generative AI Next (TX-GAIN) computing system at the Lincoln Laboratory Supercomputing Center (LLSC) is the most powerful AI supercomputer at any U.S. university. With its recent ranking from TOP500, which biannually publishes a list of the top supercomputers in various categories, TX-GAIN joins the ranks of other powerful systems at the LLSC, all supporting […]
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Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship welcomes Ana Bakshi as new executive director
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The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship announced that Ana Bakshi has been named its new executive director. Bakshi stepped into the role at the start of the fall semester and will collaborate closely with the managing director, Ethernet Inventors Professor of the Practice Bill Aulet, to elevate the center to higher levels. “Ana is uniquely […]
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China Briefing 2 October 2025: China’s new pledge; electricity demand slows; steel overcapacity
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s China Briefing. China Briefing handpicks and explains the most important climate and energy stories from China over the past fortnight. Subscribe for free here. Key developments China’s first-ever pledge to cut emissions NEW CLIMATE TARGETS: In a video address to the UN last week, China’s president Xi Jinping personally pledged to cut […]
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Looking for an African perspective on the ICJ’s Climate Advisory Opinion
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Africa has the lowest per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of any region in the world but is already facing widespread and devastating climate impacts. Despite contributing so little and suffering so much, the continent receives only a very small proportion of global climate finance and […]
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Climate Governance under the London Convention and Protocol: Due Diligence and Environmental Impact Assessments
Introduction We are at a moment of profound development in understanding how international law applies to climate change. Recently issued advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), and regional human rights courts have clarified country obligations, under international law, to mitigate and adapt […]
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Antarctic sea ice winter peak in 2025 is third smallest on record
Antarctic sea ice has recorded its third-smallest winter peak extent since satellite records began 47 years ago, new data reveals. Provisional data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows that Antarctic sea ice reached a winter maximum of 17.81m square kilometres (km2) on 17 September. This is 900,000km2 below the 1981-2010 […]