Volvo sets goal of 25% recycled plastics by 2025

Alister Doyle|Published

'As far as we know this is a first ? sourcing plastic waste as a raw material for a new vehicle' - UN Environment Programme

Antarctica's remote areas contaminated with waste, chemicals - Greenpeace

Alister Doyle|Published

Plastic waste found in remote parts of the Antarctic this year add to evidence that pollution is spreading to the ends of the Earth, Greenpeace said.

UN calls for plastic bags to be taxed or banned

Alister Doyle|Published

Governments should consider banning or taxing single-use bags or food containers to stem a tide of pollution, a UN report said.

Storks choose landfills over Africa

Alister Doyle|Published

Some white storks are choosing to spend winter in rubbish dumps eating garbage rather than make the exhausting journey south, scientists said.

Heatwave killing coral

Alister Doyle|Published

Ocean heat wave harming world's coral reefs, causing coral bleaching and death - experts

Spread of deserts spurs migrants - study

Alister Doyle|Published

Land degradation costs the world economy trillions of dollars a year, a UN-backed study says.

EU draws up invasive plants ‘black list’

Alister Doyle|Published

Many of the world's plants are turning 'alien', spread by people into new areas where they choke out native vegetation, say scientists.

Endangered wildlife list swells in 2015

Alister Doyle|Published

The Red List of Endangered Species, backed by governments, scientists and conservationists, grew to 22 784 species in 2015.

Arctic ice is smallest ever

Alister Doyle|Published

Maximum ice extent this year is ‘the lowest in the satellite record’ say scientists, who point to global warming as the cause.

Scientists count on marine mysteries

Alister Doyle|Published

Nearly 1 500 new creatures found in our oceans last year, but millions more organisms are still unknown.

Robot ‘dolphins’ give clues to ice melt

Alister Doyle|Published

Dolphin-sized robots are giving clues to a thaw of Antarctica's ice in a sign of how technology is revolutionising data collection in remote polar regions.

Global Biodiversity Outlook looks bleak

Alister Doyle|Published

Governments are failing to meet goals to protect animals and plants set out in a biodiversity plan for 2020, a UN report showed.

How footprint DNA could monitor animals

Alister Doyle|Published

Using 'footprint DNA' could let scientists study animal numbers and movements more cheaply and without disturbing habitats.

Global warming has become 'normal'

Alister Doyle|Published

Decades of climate change bring risks that people will accept higher temperatures, with more heatwaves, downpours and droughts, as normal.

Amazon 'grew' after climate change

Alister Doyle|Published

A new study challenges common belief that the world's biggest tropical forest is far older than 2 000 years.

‘The oceans are a failed state’

Alister Doyle|Published

Many fish stocks in the high seas are under pressure from illegal and unregulated catches, says a new report.

‘Step up action to curb global warming’

Alister Doyle|Published

A report, endorsed by governments, is meant as the main scientific guide for nations working on a UN deal.

Nations wary of extracting CO2 from air

Alister Doyle|Published

Many nations say that a draft UN report should do more to mention drawbacks of bioenergy.

‘Time running out to meet climate target’

Alister Doyle|Published

World powers are running out of time to slash their use of high-polluting fossil fuels, a draft UN study shows.

Underlying rate of sea level rise continues

Alister Doyle|Published

New study rejects theories that shift in rainfall is tied to pause in global warming.

Warming slowdown ‘likely to be brief’

Alister Doyle|Published

A slowdown in the pace of global warming is likely to be only a pause in a longer-term trend, say academics.

Volcanoes responsible for warming hiatus?

Alister Doyle|Published

Eruptions of at least 17 volcanoes ejected sulphur whose sun-blocking effect had been largely ignored until now.

Antarctic glacier to keep raising seas

Alister Doyle|Published

A thawing Antarctic glacier that is the biggest contributor to rising sea levels is likely to continue shrinking for decades.

A step closer to cleaner fuel

Alister Doyle|Published

Scientists have produced hydrogen by accelerating a natural process found in rocks deep below the Earth's surface.

Arctic thaw tied to heatwaves - study

Alister Doyle|Published

The study is part of a drive to work out how climate change affects the frequency of extreme weather, from droughts to floods.