Global temperatures rises
17 June 2020
Global surface temperatures have been exceptionally warm over the first half of 2020, tying with the record warmth seen in 2016. This is particularly remarkable because El Niño conditions have been largely “neutral” in 2020 to-date,
unlike 2016 which was considerably boosted by an extremely strong El Niño event in the tropical Pacific. Additionally, June 2020 was the warmest or second warmest June since records began in 1850 across most of the surface temperature
datasets analysed by Carbon Brief.
Less plastic?
30 June 2020
Plastic bottles, disposable coffee cups, single-use take-away packaging, cling film, plastic sandwich bags… These are just some of the everyday items many of us use (and throw away) without questioning whether they are healthy for
us. However, recent research has revealed that plastic containers, wrap and packaging (even those marketed as ‘BPA-free’) all contain a range of toxic chemicals that leach into our food and drink, and have been linked to health
issues ranging from hormone disruption to cancer.
Electrical cars 2020
02 July 2020
Electric cars (or electric vehicles, EVs) have several environmental benefits compared to conventional internal combustion engine cars. They produce little or no tailpipe emissions, reduce dependence on petroleum and also have the
potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and health effects from air pollution, depending on the source of electricity used to charge them and other factors. Electric motors are significantly more efficient than internal combustion
engines and thus, even accounting for typical power plan efficiencies and distribution losses, less energy is required to operate an EV
