ECO-CLIFTON
CELEBRATING POSITIVE SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
HOW DOGS ARE HELPINGWITH REWILDING
EditedbyJayG
HOW DRONESARE HELPING OUR RAINFORESTS
HOW SOLAR POWER IS REVOLUTIONISING RURAL INDIA
FROMBALLOONSTOBAGS: BRISTOL'S
SeetheSustainabilityPodcastforan exclusiveinterviewwithMartinHartleyanesteemedexpeditionphotographer withover400daysspentonpolar expeditions,includingmorethan25 missionstotheArcticandAntarctic.
COULD DE-EXTINCTION HELP BIODIVSERITY?
HOW DOGS AREHELPINGWITH REWILDING
DogsareextremelycleveranimalswithhighIQsand extremelyhighstamina.Aswellasthesephysical qualities,dogsareveryloyalandcaneasilylearn complextasksquicklyandefficiently.Thesequalities makedogsusefulanimalsthatcanbeusedtoperforma varietyoftasks.Inthepast,dogshavebeenusedfor manyotherjobssuchashuntingandsearching.Dogs continuetobeusefultodayworkingwiththepolice, guidingtheblindandsupportingpatientsinhospitalsfor example.


Recently,dogshavebeenabletohelphumanswiththe importantconservationtaskofrewilding.Rewildingisthe processofrestoringanaturalhabitat’secosystemandfood webbacktohealthylevels.Rewildingisusedtomakethe landscapemoreresilientanditaimstorestorethenatural beautyofaspace.InEastSussex,dogshavebeenhelpingto rewildalocalnaturereserve.Dogsarewearingspecially designedpouchesthatsprinklewildflowerandgrassseeds aroundthegroundsasthedogsgoontheirdailywalks.This methodhelpstorewildthesereservesbyrestoringthe ecosystem,aswellasincreasingtheaestheticappealsofthe reserve.Rewildingandconservingtheseecosystemsis importantbecauseitensuresbiodiversityandhelpstoensure alltheanimalsinthereservecanthrive.Biodiversityis importantformaintainingnaturalprocessessuchaspollination, waterpurificationandnutrientcycling.Restoringecosystems alsocreatespleasantpublicspacesforwalksandrecreation, whichcanincreasementalandphysicalwell-being.
“TheprojectisrunbytheRailwayLandWildlifeTrustinLewesanditaimstoreplicatetheactivityofwolveswhichwould haveroamedtheparkbackin1760.Withwolvesnolongerinthepark,anewalternativeisneeded:incomethedogs!Using dogstosprinkletheseedsmeansthatlargeareascanbecoveredquicklywhilstthedogsareenjoyingtheirwalks.The reservecoversanareaof25acres,quiteamanageableareafordogstonavigatewithouttoomuchexertion.Usingdogsis alsobeneficialbecausetheycanreachareasthathumansormachinesmaynotbeabletogetto.
Inaninterview,projectmanagerDylanWalkersaid“We’vebeensoexcitedaboutthis project,it’saboutgettingdogsanddogwalkersinvolvedinnatureconservationon thereserve”.Dylanalsosaid“Ifwewentback1,000yearswewouldhaveseen wolvesandpossiblybearsroamingthelandscape,theremighthavebeenbison,wild boarandwildhorses.Theyallhadapositiveimpactontheecosystem.”Dylansaid thatthereservewassmallandurbansodidn’thavethespacetothinkaboutbringing backwildboar,horsesorbison.Hebelievesthatdogsaretheidealsubstitute.
OtherrewildingprojectscurrentlyongoingintheUKincludeusingfarmanimalsto managevegetationandrebuildhabitats,communityprojectstorewildtheseaand alsothereintroductionofoldtreespeciesbackintoBritain.
UsingdogsinprojectsliketheoneinLewesiscost-effectiveandalsoagreatwayto involvethepublicwhocanwalktheirdogsinbeautifulareasaswellashelptorewild ourenvironments.Likeweeklylitterpicksandcommunityclear-ups,thisideacould reallytakeoffandbecomeevenmorebeneficialinthelongrun.Ifotherreservesuse thisideawecouldseedogshelpingtorewildreservesalloverthecountry.
ByLolaS
HOW DRONESAREHELPINGOUR RAINFORESTS
Rainforestscoveronly1%oftheEarth'ssurface,however theUKisoneofthesmallpercentagethatstillhasthem. AlthoughafifthofBritainwasoncecoveredinrainforest landscape,only1%ofthisremainstodaydueto deforestation.Rainforestsareoneofthemostthreatened ecosystemsintheworld,buttheyarecrucialtothe environmentastheyareabiodiversityhotspotandarehome tomanyorganisms-suchas2000speciesoflichen. Especiallyinthesouth-westofEnglandinDevonand Cornwallwhere75%wasoncerainforestbutnowonly10% remains,sorestoringthisecosystemwouldbevitalin addressingtheclimatecrisis.Theclimatecrisisisaproblem thatshouldn'tbeoverlookedandapartinsolvingitshould bedevelopingnewinnovativemethodstorestoreand expandtemperaterainforestsasitisapowerfulstrategyin combatingclimatechangebyincreasingthecarbonstorage andabsorption.

Totacklethisproblem,theWoodlandTrust,whichisthelargestwoodlandconservationcharity,andSouthWestRainforest AllianceledaprojectnearBodmin,Cornwall,scattering75,000seedsusingdronesover11hectaresoflandin8hours. Theyscatteredseedsthatwerenativetothetemperaterainforestwhichincludedpedunculateoak,alder,wildcherry, downybirch,andhazel.
Therearemanybenefitstousingdronesratherthanhumans.Thedrones,whichweighed110kgandcouldcarryupto58kg, wouldbemuchmoreefficientandcheaperthanvolunteersatdispersingseeds.Therewasalsoanaspectofsafetyand accessibilitytoit,asmanypotentialsitesforplantingmightbetoosteep,unsafeorremoteforpeopletoreachorthesoilis toothintodigwithspades.Droneswouldsolvethisproblemastheydonothavesuchrestrictionsandcanremovethe limitationsthathumanshave.However,therearealsoconcernsaboutusingthistechnique,suchasweathermakingthe interventionlesspossibleandlowseedsurvivalrates.Researchhasalsoshownthatalargepopulationofseedsthathave beendroppedbydroneareunlikelytosurviveduetopoorsoilconditions,predation,ortheenvironmentbeingunsuitable. Toaddresstheseconcerns,theprojecthasincludedcontrolareasacrossthesitetocomparedroneseedingandnatural forestregeneration.AimingtorevisitthetrialsitesinintervalsoverthreeyearstheWoodlandTrustwillreviewtherateof seedgerminationandthedevelopmentofplantedtrees.

Theprojectofficer,SamManning,hopesthattheyseea 25%successrateinthistrialwhichwouldinspire practitionersandfunderstoinvesttimeandmoneyinto refiningtheeffectivenessofthedronesfortherainforest project.Achallengethattheycurrentlyfaceisthatvery fewcompanieshavethelegalpermissionfordrones. Anotherproblemtheyhaveisthesupplychainforseed scatteringprojectsofthatscale.Toensureanincreasing supplychain,theyarehopingforincreaseddemandofthe productthatwouldincreasethesupplychain,which wouldhelpthewoodlandcreationimmensely.
Theauthorof OurOakenBones,MerlinHanbury-Tenison ownspartofthelandwheretheplantingtookplaceand saysthat“ifwe’retoreversethisdestruction,thenwewill needtoleverageinnovativetechnology-enabled solutionswhereverpossible.Icannotthinkofabetter exampleofthisthanthedroneseedingprojectthatthe WoodlandTrusthasembarkedonintheCabillaValley.”
BySarahP
HOW SOLAR POWER IS REVOLUTIONISING RURAL INDIA
Remotelocations,suchasthevillageofBasavanagiriHadi,andtheforestedhillsofMysore,inthesouthernIndianstateof Karnataka,arebeingtransformedbyasolar-poweredprogramme.ThisschemeisspearheadedbytheSelcoFoundation andbackedbytheIKEAFoundation,andshowshowdecentralisedsolarsolutionscandramaticallyimproveeducation, safetyandeconomicopportunityinruralareas,providingasuccessfulmodeltobeusedaroundtheglobe.Theschemeis designedtoprovidereliable,cleanandaffordableelectricityto25,000ofthecountry’sstate-runprimaryhealthcare centres,aswellastoexploreentirelynewwaysofdeliveringhealthservices–likethe‘tele-clinic’intheMysorevillage,a healthcarecenterwheremedicalequipmentandmobileconnectionstodoctorsareavailable.Solarenergywaschosenas amorestableandcosteffectiveoption,eveninthegridconnectedareas,astheelectricitywasunreliableintheserural townsandvillages
Howthiswasachieved:
Transformationinhealthcare:
Beforethisprogramme,thenearestdoctorwasaday'sjourney byfootandbusaway,andtherewasnomainselectricity.This drasticallyincreasedthehealthrisksimposedevenbyminor injuriesandtherewasnoeasyfixorsolution
“InthepastIhadtotravelalongwaytoseeadoctor.Ittookall dayanditcostafairbit,too.NowIjustwalkuptotheclinic.It’s somucheasier”-localresidentofBhanumathi,Chikkamani Kullaiah.
Butthroughthisprogramme,localshavetheopportunitytowalk ahundredmeterstoahealthclinicpoweredbysolarpanels, whereaspeciallytrainedhealthworkercanprovideacheckup, runatests,taketheirbloodpressureormaybegivethemsome lifesavingtreatmentormedicineandconnectthemtoadoctor onlinewhichwouldotherwisebenearimpossible
Healthclinicswerecreatedandupdatedtocontainandharnesssolarenergybyusingsolarpanelsandbatteries, enablingtele-consultationswithdoctorsindistanthospitals.
ThetrainingoflocalhealthworkersincludedhowtooperateequipmentsuchasECGmachinesanddigital stethoscopes,aswellastoperformtests,reducingthetimeandcostsneededtotraveltohospitalsinlessruralareas.
Theprogrammealsopowersprimaryhealthcenters,keepingtheelectricityconstantandreliableduringprocedures suchaschildbirth,andallowingstorageofsuppliesandvaccines,forexample.
Theabilityforhealthworkerstoserveremoteandisolatedpatients,e.gpregnantwomen,usingmobilesolar-powered kits.
Changinglivelihoods:
Theuptakeofskillssuchassewingandphoto-IDbusinesses,usingsolarpoweredmachines,predominantlybywomen in‘self-helpgroups’togainfinancialindependenceandboostlivingconditions.
Solarenergyisusedinenablingartisanssuchasblacksmiths,tailors,anddairyfarmerstoworkmoreefficientlyand thereforebooststheirincome
Socialbenefits:
Streetsandhomesarenowbeinglit,reducingtheriskpresentedbywildlife,andincreasingsafetyforchildrenand othermembersofthecommunitiesatnight Childrenarealsoabletostudyafterdark,givingthemmorefreedomwith theirtime
Theprogrammeinvolveslocalresidentsintheclinicsandemploysthemtoprovideservicestotherestofthe community,improvingtrustwithinthevillagesandtowns.
Thispositivestoryprovesthatwecanbringconnectionandpowertoothercommunitiesandthatwecandoitsustainably Thisideacouldalsobeharnessedinlessrurallocations…
“NevermindremoteruralIndia,Ithought,wecouldusethisincrowdedurbanEngland”-SunilKumar,health facilitator. Toreducethelikelihoodofpowercutsandrelianceonfossilfuels,thisprojectprovedthattheswitchtorenewableenergy ispossible,providinghopeandinspirationinindustryandhealthcare.
ByAlanaP
FROM BALLOONS TO BAGS: BRISTOL’S BOLDTAKEONSUSTAINABLE STREETWEAR
Oneofthefirstthingsthatcomestomindwhenyouthinkabout Bristol(otherthantheCliftonSuspensionBridgeandslightlyiffy weather)ishotairballoons,andrightfullyso.Bristolisconsideredto bethebirthplaceofmodernhotairballooninginEurope,andhoststhe BristolBalloonFiestaannuallyinAugust-attractinghundredsof thousandsofvisitors.It’salsohometoCameronBalloons,theworld's largestmanufacturerofhotairballoons,foundedin1971.
Rerun:APioneerBrandofSustainableStreetwear.
RerunisaBristolbasedcompanyfoundedbyTobyThorpeandWilf Hastings,whometinoneofBristol’sskateparks.Theircompany startedbyreworkingvintageworkwearandhassinceexpandedinto upcyclingtextiles.TheirtravelstotextilewastehubsinIndiaand Indonesiawasaturningpoint-there,theysawthevastscaleof clothingwaste.Thorpedescribeditas‘eyeopening….Thesheermass ofwarehousesfulltothebrimwithsecondhandclothesthatpeople felloutoflovewith30yearsago.’Thisreinforcedtheircommitmentto makingsustainablefashion,andtheirskateboardingrootshelpedto influenceRerun’suniquestreetwearaesthetic.Sincethen,Rerunhas upcycledcargopantsintomessengerbandsanduseddeadstock fabricsforshortsandshirts.

Rerun’sLatestProject:TakingBristol’sIconicBallooningIndustryinaNewDirection. TheirlatestprojecthastakenBristol’siconicballooningindustryinanunexpectednewdirection:thestreets.Hotair balloonsmustbemadewithhighquality,lightweightmaterials,butduringproduction,lotsofthisendsupgoingtowaste. RerunhaspartneredwithCameronBalloonstosalvagehighperformance,nylonfabricoffcuts,whicharelightweight, durableandUVresistant.Thoughthelightweight,slipperyfabricposedchallenges,RerundesignerTheoFort-Schaale embracedthesecreativelimitationstodevelopdistinctiveandfunctionalbags.
Theresult?40-litre,colourfulmessengerbags,whichweredesignedwithcyclistsinmind(anodtoBristol’slargecycling community).Theyarelightweight,andofferdurabilityandweatherresistance,muchneededforcommutinginthecity.
EnvironmentalBenefits
Byutilisingfabricoffcutsthatwouldotherwiseendupin landfillsortextilewastehubs(liketheonestheyvisited), Rerunhelpstoactivelyreduceindustrialwaste.Repurposing existingmaterialsremovestheneedforvirgintextile production,whichtypicallyusesvastamountsofwater, energyandchemicals.Ontopofthat,theysourcetheir materialslocally-CameronBalloonsisamerefiveminute cyclefromRerun’swarehouse,minimizingtransportation costsandcarbonemissions,andreinforcingalocalised supplychain.
FROM BALLOONS TO BAGS: BRISTOL’S BOLDTAKEONSUSTAINABLE STREETWEAR
Additional
ProductBenefits
Theirbagsaredesignedandconstructedtobeeasilyrepairedwithastandardsewingmachine,whichencouragestheir customerstomendthemratherthandiscardthem.Eachbagismadefromsmallerpatternpieces,allowingReruntoreduce wasteevenfurther.Leftoverscrapsfromonedesigncanbeusedinthenext-makingeachpiecepartofalongerstory (showingthebasisofthecirculareconomytheory).Plus,eachbag’suniquecoloursandpatchworkdesignmeanthat repairsaddtotheitem’sdistinctivecharacter,ratherthandetractingfromitsappearance.
CommunityFocus
Reunisabrandcommittedtocommunityengagement,throughworkshopsandeducation.Incollaborationwiththeethical clothingcompanyFinisterre,theyhostsewingandscreenprintingworkshopstoteachpeopleaboutupcyclingandrepair skills.Theseworkshopsfosteracultureofsustainabilityandself-sufficiencyinBristol’scommunities,andcelebrate creativity.Bydemonstratingthevalueofrepurposedmaterials,Rerunencouragesotherstoimplementsustainable practicesintotheirownlives,andtoseethevalueinwhatistypicallydiscarded.
AModelforSustainableFashion
Rerun’sapproachtofashionisapowerfulexampleofacirculareconomywherematerialsarekeptinuseforaslongaspossibletoreducewaste. Theirinnovativewayofusingindustrialhotairballoonoffcutssetsan exampleforotherfashionbrandstoexploreusingalternativematerials, andtousesustainablepracticeswhilstmanufacturingaswell.Iflarger brandsadoptedevenjustafractionofRerun’swaste-reductionstrategies, theindustry’senvironmentalfootprintcouldshrinksignificantly.
Bycreatingdesirableproductsfromrecycledmaterials,Rerunisnotjust reducingwaste,they’rechallengingconsumerperceptions,andpromoting environmentallyconsciouspurchasingdecisions.Theirsuccessproves thatsustainabilitydoesn’thavetocompromisestyle.Inaworldwherefast fashionisthenorm,Rerun’sapproachtofashionoffersabreathoffreshair, oreven,ahotairballoonliftingusintotheirsustainablefuture.
ByFlowerY
THE BENEFITSOFEXERCISINGINNATURE
Wecanalladmitthatnatureisbeautifultolookat,withthetreesandbirdsongandflowers,buthowmanyofusactually enjoyit?Doyoufeelclaustrophobicorsafeindoors?Around80-90%ofourlivesarespentunderroofs.Asstudentsand membersofsociety,wespendthemajorityofourtimeindoors,learning,workingandrelaxing;weevenexerciseindoors asgymshavebecomethedefaultplacetoworkout.So,isthereadifferencebetweenexercisingoutdoorsorindoors?
Whydoweyearntobeunderthesun?Historically,humansevolvedinnature, withitprovidingourshelter,foodandsecurity.Thereforeourdesiretobe outsidecorrelateswiththisancientneedtobewherewearemadetobe.Not onlydoesbeinginnaturebenefitourmentalhealth,asmentioned,butour bodiesneedit.FromthesunwereceivevitaminD,andjustfrombeingoutside wereduceourbloodpressure.Thisshowsusthatwearemadetobeamongthe trees,listeningtobirdsong,feelingthebreathsofnature.
Whilstgymsofferconvenienceintheirstability,sincetheirconditionsdonot dependontheweatherortemperature,itlacksthoseessentialsensorybenefits thatbeingoutsideprovides.Throughexercise,wereceivedopamineand endorphinswhichelevateyourmood,butalsohelpsyousleepandthinkbetter andclearer.Sowithallthesebenefits,howcanexercisingoutsideenhancethe alreadymarvellousmentaladvantagesandobviousphysicalones?Studies showspendingmoretimeoutdoorsboostsyourmentalhealth,reducingstress levels,anxietyanddepression-allofwhichcannegativelyaffectyourphysical healthtoo.Adifferentstudystatedthat90%ofpeoplefelttheiroverallwellbeingimprovebyjustbeingoutdoors.Byinvestingineveryaspectofyour health,youareincreasingthechancesofthepositivechangesbroughtby exercisetoyourphysicalhealth,withlongerlastingresults.Also,exercisedoes notneedtobedifficultorlong,itcanbeassimpleastakinga15minutestrollor cyclingtoworkorschool,whichismoresustainablethancars,quickerthan walkingandmostlyaccessible!

Whetheryoufindnatureanescapeorawaytoreconnectwithfriendsandfamily,therearemultiplewaystoincorporate naturethroughchangesinyourlifestyle,thisdoesn’tmeanreschedulingyourdayaroundbeingoutside,butitcanifyou wantto!Thismightincludechoosingtowalktoschoolorworkifyouareable(andweatherpermitting!),orsittingoutside forlunch,teaorwhilstdoingasedentaryactivity.Insteadofgoingtothegym,workingoutinanaccessiblegardenor outsideareaisagoodalternative,howeversomepreferthemachinesinaspecialisedfacilitylikethegym.Ifyoudoneed totraininagym,thinkaboutstretchingorrunningoutdoorsratherthanonatreadmill.Eveniftheweatherisabitdismal, coats,umbrellasandwelliesallowforamorecomfortableexperiencewhennotdoingverystrenuousexercise,andasthe Germansayinggoes,youarenotmadeofsugar!
Exercisinginnaturehasnumerousstrengthsthatoutvalueworkingoutinasweatygym.Beingoutdoorsallowsyouto personaliseyourworkouttoyourself,andisamoreaffordableoptiontopayingforagymmembership.Fromincreased cognitivefunctioning,mentalhealthandlowerstresslevels,natureisabalmtothesoul.
ByEvelinaL
THE CULTURE BEHINDSUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
Peoplehavealwaysthoughtthatgreenenergytariffsweregame-changing,butuntilnow,theywerenothingbut greenwashing.
Agreenenergytariffisaformofcontractthatisbeingmadeincreasinglyavailablebymanymoreenergyproviderswhere householdsandbusinessesareabletoconsciouslychoosetousesustainableenergyfromrenewablesources!That soundsperfect,doesn’tit?
But,asalways,there’sacatch.
Eversincethe1990s,whenthesetariffsfirstappeared,mostwellmeaningconsumerswereundertheimpressionthatthiswouldmeanthat 100%,orattheveryleastthemajority,oftheenergythattheyconsumed wouldbesolelyfromrenewablesources.Sadly,thiswasnever,andstill isn’t,areality.Weareonlynow,afteralmostfourdecadesofdeception, realisingthatwe’vebeenhoodwinked.Thisisbecause,regardlessofany extrafeespaid,thereisnofeasiblewayofguaranteeingthesourceofthe energyweuseasitallcomesfromtheUKgrid,amixingpotofrenewable, non-renewableandimportedenergy.
Asweallknow,thisisacommonoccurrenceincapitalist,profitdrivensocietiessuchasours.Greenwashingandother lackluster,emptyattemptsatprovidingsustainablealternativesareunderstandablydesirabletocompanies,asthe promiseofprofitandpraisethataccompaniesagreenimageisdesirableenoughtooverpoweranyformofmorality.
Soyoumaybethinking,aregreenenergytariffscompletelyuseless?AmIwastingmymoneybypayingextratobuyinto thesedeceptiveschemes?Theshortanswerisno.Whilegreenenergytariffsarenotasrevolutionaryastheyinitially appear,theyaren’ttotallywithoutmerit.
Thetwomainformsofgreenenergytariffare:StandardGreenTariffsandGreenPlusTariffs.Butwhatdotheseactually do?Inmostcases,astandardgreentariffwillbewhatisknownas“100%RenewableMatching”.Thismeansthatthe electricityprovidermustpurchaseavolumeofrenewableenergyequivalenttothecustomer'susageinkilowatt-hours. Whilethiscannotensurealltheenergyyoudirectlyuseisgeneratedfromrenewablesources,itdoesproportionally increasedemandforrenewableswhich,intheory,hasasimilareffect.Ontheotherhand,Greenplustariffs,otherwise knownas“FullyRenewablewithDirectInvestment”plans,meanthatyourenergyproviderwillpledgeanunspecified amountofmoneyforinvestmentinrenewableinfrastructure,aswellasrenewable-matchingyourenergyconsumption.
Luckily,thesituationisn’tfullofdoom,gloomandhalfbakedpromises.Policymakersandregulatorshavefinallytakena standandaretakingstepstoremovethemetaphoricalsmokescreenthatweknowasenergygreenwashing.
TheUKgovernmentrespondedtoasurveybyGoodEnergythatshowedthat73%ofUKconsumersdesiredstricter regulationsbydoingjustthat.Thegovernmenthasalreadyinitiatedmass-scalereviewsandinvestigationstodetermine whetherUKenergyprovidersareoverexaggeratingboththepricesandenvironmentalbenefitsofthegreenenergytariffs theyprovide.Additionally,thegovernmenthasconsciouslydecidedtoenhancestandardsoftransparencyand, consequently,asofMarch2025,theyhavepledgedtoreformandrefinethesystemsusedintheenvironmentalpermitting regimeusedbyenergyproviders.Furthermore,goodenergyhasintroducedthe“GoodGreenSupplyStandard,”which clearlysplitsenergyintothecategoriesof:
‘TrueGreen’-where100%ofenergyissourceddirectlyfromrenewableplants.
‘NewGreen’-whereagivenproportion(often40%)ofenergyissourcedfromnewlybuiltrenewableplants.
‘TimeMatchedGreen’-whereyourenergyusageismatchedtorenewableenergyeveryhourorhalfhour. Allthesesystemsaimtomakeiteasierthanevertomakesustainable,wellinformedchoices.
Eventhoughwestillhavealongwaytogo,itiscomfortingtoknowthatconsumers,thegovernmentandenergyproviders aremakingsizablestridestowardsagreener,moresustainablefuture.
ByAmyF
NEW USE FOR OLD WINDTURBINES
ASustainableTwistonModernLiving
Windturbinesareanincreasinglyimportantsourceofrenewableenergy,whichmanycountriesrelyontocutenergycosts andreducedependencyonfossilfuels.Inanerawheresustainabilityismorethanatrend,andcreativeanduniquehousing solutionsarehighlysoughtafter,oneinnovativeprojectisturningheads–andturbines.
BreathingNewLifeIntoWindTurbineComponents
By2020,alargeabundanceofbigturbineswereproducingover650 gigawattsofelectricity,butofcourseeverythingcanonlyworkforso longbeforebecomingfaulty.Windturbinestypicallyhavealifespanof20 to25years,afterwhichtheyareoftendismantledanddiscarded.Withan estimated5,000turbinesbeingdecommissionedannually,thechallenge ofmanagingthisgrowingvolumeofwasteissignificant.Toaddressthis, Vattenfall,aEuropeanenergycompany,partneredwithDutchdesignfirm SuperuseStudiostotransformadecommissionedwindturbineintoan astonishingtinyhome,offeringbothasustainableandstylishwaytolive off-grid.
Measuringapproximately10metresinlength,3metresinwidth,and3metresinheight,thenacelle(toppartofthewind turbine)hasbeeningeniouslyconvertedintoalivablespace.Theinteriorfeaturesessentialamenities,includingakitchen, bathroomwithtoiletandshower,andsufficientinsulationanddaylightaccess.Thehomeissuppliedwithaheatpump, solarpanels,andasolarwaterheater.It'scompletelyfurnishedwithsecond-handitems,emphasisingitseco-friendly credentials.
DesignerJosdeKriegerofSuperuseStudiosnotedthattheV80nacellehitsa“sweetspot”largeenoughtobehabitable, yetsmallenoughforlandtransportation.Withapproximately10,000V80turbinesinoperationworldwide,theconcept holdspotentialforbroaderapplication.However,scalingupwouldrequireaconsistentsupplyofdecommissionednacelles whichpresentscertainchallenges.WhileVattenfallcurrentlyhasnoplanstomass-producethesenacellehomes,the companyisopentoprovidingcomponentstointerestedparties.Thisinitiativenotonlyoffersanovelapproachto sustainablelivingbutalsocontributestothecirculareconomybyfindingnewusesforobsoleterenewableenergy infrastructure.
Notonlyisthenacellebeingrepurposed,butit'salsosparkedideasintorepurposingthebladesofwindturbines,they're notoriouslyhardtorecyclebecausethey'remadefromacarbon-fibrecomposite.Numerouscompaniesarealready creativelyreusingthem.Forexample,beingrepurposedtomakefurnitureandevenabusshelter,andReBlade,awind turbinedecommissioningservice,isgoingtoinstallcanopiesconstructedfromdiscardedblades.
Off-GridandOn-Trend
Thisprojecthasattractedattentionfromenvironmentalists,architects,and tinyhomeenthusiastsalike.Itservesasablueprintforhow decommissionedinfrastructurecanbecreativelyrepurposed,ratherthan becomingpartofthegrowingindustrialwasteproblem.Whetherasfulltimeresidences,weekendretreats,oruniqueAirbnbexperiences, convertedturbinehomescouldrepresentanewwayofsustainableliving.
Thestoryofthedecommissionedwindturbineturnedtinyhomeisa testamenttowhat'spossiblewhencreativitymeetssustainability.
ByMadisonS
NEW SHOPS THATPROMOTESECONDHANDFASHION
Inaworldincreasinglyshapedbyfastfashion,aquietrevolutionisunfolding,lednotbybigbrands,butbyagrowing networkofsustainable-mindedshopschampioningsecond-handfashion.Theseshopsaren’tjustthriftstores,theyare stylish,curatedspacesthatcombineaffordabilitywitheco-consciousness.Andthey’repoppingupincitiesandtowns everywhere.
Second-handfashionhascomealongwayfromthestigmaofbeing“old”or “used.”Today,it’sapowerfulwaytocombatthewasteandpollutioncausedbythe fashionindustry,whichisresponsiblefor10%ofglobalcarbonemissionsand20% ofwastewater.Everysecond-handpurchasereducesdemandfornewproduction, meaningfewerresourcesareused,andlessclothingendsupinlandfills.
OneexcitinginitiativeisCharitySuper.Mkt,acollaborativepop-upshopthatbrings togetherdonationsfrommultipleUKcharitieslikeOxfam,AgeUK,andBarnardo’s. Sincelaunchingin2023,ithasopenedlocationsinplaceslikeBrentCross, SpitalfieldsMarket,andCanaryWharfinLondon,aswellascitieslikeLeedsand Edinburgh.Thestoresofferacurated,boutique-styleexperiencewithliveDJsand themedcollections,makingsecond-handshoppingfunandfashionable.
AnotherstandoutisLoopGeneration,apremiumresaleplatformspecializinginpre-loveddesignerfashion.Theirflagship storeislocatedat171–175DraycottAvenueinChelsea,London.LoopGenerationoffersluxurybrandslikeGucci,Dior,and SaintLaurentatupto80%offretailprices,providinganaccessiblewaytoshopsustainablywithoutcompromisingon style.
Forthoseinterestedinunique,one-of-a-kindpieces,TheLoopVintageisasmallbutpassionateonlineshopthatcurates vintageclothingfromthe’60stothe’90s.Foundedin2020,theyfocusonsourcingquirkyanddistinctiveitemsthat celebratethepastwhilepromotingsustainablefashion.
Andlet’snotforgetonlineplatformslikeVintedandDepop,whichcontinuetogrow,connectingmillionsofyoungpeople whowanttobuyandsellclotheswithminimalenvironmentalimpact.Theseplatformshaveturnedsecond-handshopping intoacommunityexperience,wherestyle,sustainability,andself-expressionmeet.
Whatmakestheseshopstrulypowerfulistheirmessage:fashiondoesn’thavetocosttheEarth.Theychallengethe throwawaycultureoffastfashionandinspireagenerationtodresswithintention.Forstudentslikeus,theyofferasimple butmeaningfulwaytotakeactionfortheplanet,withoutgivingupstyle.
Sonexttimeyou’retemptedbyafast-fashionsale,considercheckingoutasecond-handshopinstead.Youmightjustfind somethingmoreoriginal,andmoresustainable,thanyoueverexpected.
ByLaseA
HOW RESEARCHERS ARESAVING ANTARCTIC PENGUINS
Thinkoftheword‘penguins.’Whatdoyouthinkinstantly? Youmightthink,perhaps,ofatuxedo-wearingbird,cheerful andwaddling,incrediblyendearingandadorable.Butbehind thatcheerful,lovingbirdisareal-lifestruggle,amuch harsherreality:survivalinarapidlychanginglandscape.
Inthelastdecadeorso,wehavefurtherescalatedaclimate crisisonourbelovedEarth.Thousandsofspeciesare affectedbyourselfishactions,amongthemtheemperorand adeliepenguinsintheAntarcticaTundras,whichcurrently haveanestimatedpopulationof275,000andaround10 millionrespectively.Butthesenumbersdon’teventellthe wholestory.
Weunderstandthattheyarebeingaffectedbyclimate changeinlotsofdifferentways.Buttruly,howseverelyare theybeingaffected?
Tounderstandthisfurther,adedicatedteamoffieldwork assistants,includingNatachaPlanque,sponsoredbyWWF (WorldWideFundforNature)havejourneyedintothefrozen wilderness,monitoring25islandsbyhelicopterandon-foot. Theironemission:understandingtheeffectofclimate changetopenguinpopulations.

Duringtheirresearch,theycounted38,000adeliepenguinscouplesand34,000chicks,populationsthathavesupposedly beenrisingsince1985inPointeGeologie,however,incontrasttothisbroaderdatafromtheWWF,adeliepenguin populationshaveactuallyhadaworrying25%declineoverthepast25years-aconcerningissue.Meanwhile,aneven morealarmingissueemerges,amassbreedingfailureforemperorpenguinsinrecentyears,aclearsignalofthe environmentaleffectonthem.InanarticleonOceanographic,emperorpenguinsarepredictedtobelosttoclimatechange altogetherby2100,ifthecurrenttrendcontinues.Scientistsarenowpushingforraisingemperorpenguins’extinction threatleveltovulnerableorevenendangered.Studiesshowthatifaprotectedmarineareasuitablefortheemperor penguinpopulationisnotestablished,withinourlifetimemost,ifnotall,emperorpenguincolonieswillcollapse.
Theseissueshavebeencausedbyouractions.Duetoclimatechange,seaice,alargepartoftheAntarcticecosystem,is meltingrapidly,whichinturnhascausedadeclineinkrill,atinycrustacean,andmostimportantlythepenguinpopulation’s mainfoodsource.Additionally,warmertemperaturesaffectnaturalbreedingcycles,whichcauseeggstohatchtooearly, ornotatall.
Andso,tokeepaneyeonpenguinpopulations,theteammonitors300chicksusingdevicescalledpit-tags,littletracking devices.Thesepit-tagsallowthemtobemonitoredwithminimalinterferenceontheirlives,whileprovidingvaluabledata onthesepenguins’survival,populationandmovement.
Whyisthisrelevanttous?
Thesepenguinsmayseemincrediblyfarawayfromoureverydaylives,butcouldthisbealessontous?Theirstruggleisa mirrorofanissuethatincreasinglyloomsclosertoourselves,onethatdemandsurgentattentionfromallofus.Wemust facetheconsequencesofourmeddlinginthenaturalworld.
Itistimetoact.Climatechangeisnotsomethingfaraway,itisnotadistantthreattopassontoourdescendants.Itisa presentdanger,andthepenguinsareonlythestart.
ByRyanH
THE CONTROVERSIAL CLIMATE COOLING PROGRAMME
Whatisgoingtobeimplementedandwhy?
Theplanetiscurrentlyfacingalongandtroublingbattle:climatechange,which directlyleadstoglobaltemperatures continuingtoincreaseatadistressingrate Thiscauseswidespreadconcernsaboutthefutureofourplanet Consequently,asthesechallengesgrowmoreurgent,theUKgovernmentisintendingtofund£60milliontowards combatingthispresentissuethroughasetofcontroversialexperiments,whichmaybeginasearlyaswinter2025.They aimto,fundamentally,artificiallycooltheearth Theseexperimentswillentailexploringsolarradiationmodification,which isatypeofgeoengineeringwhichlookstoreflectsunlightbackintospace,thereforehopefullyreducingglobal temperatures.
Whatdoesthisinvolve?
Solarradiationmodifications(SRM)aretechniquesthatmimicna thatoccur(suchasvolcaniceruptions)andreflectaportionofth backintospace.Theintendedprojectswillexperimentwithvario
ThisincludesMarineCloudBrightening(MCB):Sprayingfine intotheairinaimstobrightencloudsinordertoincreasethe StratosphericAerosolInjection(SAI):involvesintroducingsm particlesintotheatmosphereinordertoreflectsunlight,whi slowsclimatechange.
SeaIceThickening:ExperimentingwithmethodstothickenA thereforeonceagainmakingitmorereflective.
Spacebasedreflectors:Blockingsolarradiationbyplacingm orbit.
Thesetechniquesarestillintheexperimentalstagesandwillbefurthertested.TheAdvancedResearchandInnovation agency(ARIA)stressedthatallexperimentsoutdoorswillbeheldunderstrictenvironmentalassessmentsandpublic consolation Theultimategoalistotemporarilylowerglobaltemperaturesandtoslowtheeffectsofclimatechangeand notworseneffects.
Whynow?
Thereisanenormousamountofurgencysurroundingtheseexperimentsastheaverageglobaltemperaturehasrisen immensely,exceedingtheparisagreementthresholdtemporarily.Unnervingly,climatescientistsestimatethattheworld isgoingtoexceedthelimitpermanentlybytheearly2030s.ThisposesariskofirreversibledamagetotheEarth'sclimate. Asmanyargue,therearealternativewaysofcombatingtheclimatecrisisbuttheescalatingproblemsmeanwemust exploreemergencyclimateinterventions.Thisiswheregeoengineeringisapossiblesolution.
Whataretheconcerns/disadvantages?
Despitethepotentialthisprogrammeholds,therearevariousseriousconcernssurroundingSMRbecauseasweinterfere withnaturalsystems,thesemethodscancausestrongwarminginthetropics,warmingpolarregions,alteringrainfall patternsandevenchanginglargescaleweatherpatterns.
Therearealsoethicalconcerns,asmanyexpertsdwellonthefactitcanalsoreducethedrivetotackleclimatechange fromtheroot(burningfossilfuels)whichoverallisthebestandmosteffectivewaytohelpcombatclimatechange. Whileglobalaveragetemperaturesmaybereduced,theclimateincertainregionsmayworsen Therefore,thishas resultedinpeopledisagreeingandnotsupportingthesetechniques
Inconclusion,whilethisclimatecoolingprogrammeallowsandoffershopeforinnovativeclimatesolutions,itraises scientific,environmentalandmoralquestions Astheworldisfightingthemidstoftheclimatecrisis,thepathgoing forwardmustbecontinuedwithcaution
ByEllieG
COULD DE-EXTINCTION HELP BIODIVERSITY? WHAT THE DIRE WOLF’S RETURN MIGHT TEACH US
InApril2025,biotechnologycompanyColossalBiosciencesmadeheadlines withthebirthofthreewolfpups,geneticallyengineeredtocloselyresemble thelong-extinctdirewolf.NamedRomulus,Remus,andKhaleesi,thesepups arepartofaprojectvisionedtorevivelostspeciesusingcutting-edgegenetic technology Whilethisannouncementsparkedpublicfascination,fueledinpart bypeople’senduringlovefordirewolves,italsoraisedimportantquestions withintheconservationcommunity.Cande-extinctionsupportbiodiversity?A recentBBCFuturearticle(‘Whyscientistsfearattemptstoresurrectextinct animalsmaybackfire’)highlightsthecautiousstancemanyecologistsand conservationistsaretaking.Yetalongsidethoseconcerns,there’sagrowing conversationabouthowthistechnology,ifhandledresponsibly,couldcomein handyinsupportingthefighttoprotectbiodiversity
ANewToolforConservationScience
Oneofthemostcompellingargumentsforde-extinctionprojectsliesinthebenefitstheybringtoconservation technology.Theprocessusedtorecreatedirewolf-likepupsinvolvedisolatingancientDNA,editing20specificgenesin graywolves,andrefiningnon-invasivecloningmethods Thesebreakthroughsarenotonlyaboutresurrectingextinct animals,theycanalsobeappliedtohelpendangeredspecieslivingtoday Infact,similarmethodshavebeentrialledto cloneendangeredredwolves,boostingtheirgeneticdiversityinawaythatcouldstrengthenthepopulationagainst diseasesandpsychologicalstresses.Thisapproachtogeneticrestoration,byintroducingadvantageoustraitsto strugglingspecies,provideshopeforbiodiversityconservationinourrealityofclimatechangeandhabitatloss Inthissense,theworkbeingdonewithdirewolvesmayhelpindirectlytoprotectspeciescurrentlyunderthreat,offering newtoolsandgeneticinsightsforwildlifeconservation.
RestoringEcologicalBalance WithCaution
Despitenotbeingexactlythesameastheirlong-gonerelatives,direwolvesmaystillsupportourecologicalrestoration efforts Previoussuccessesinreintroducingtoppredatorshavedemonstratedbeneficialimpactsonecosystems,as evidencedbythereturnofgraywolvestoYellowstoneNationalPark.Thesepredatorsmanagepreypopulationsand balanceecosystemandfoodwebsintheirareaandbeyond.Ifmanagedwisely,direwolfproxiescouldyieldsimilar ecologicalresults Criticsarguethatcarefullyplannedrewilding,includingde-extinctspecies,couldbringcomparable benefits.Nonetheless,theBBCarticlehighlightsthatourecosystemshaveevolvedsincetheeraofthedirewolf, underliningthenecessityforstrategicadaptations.Toachievesuccessfulreintroduction,comprehensiveecological evaluationswillbevitaltoavoidunwantedrepercussions.
ASustainabilityIssueofBalanceandResponsibility
Atitsheart,thedebateoverde-extinctionisaconversationaboutprioritiesand responsibilityinconservation.Criticsworrythathigh-profileprojectslikethis coulddivertresourcesfromprotectingendangeredspeciesandpreservingfragile ecosystemstoday.There’salsotheriskofcreatinganimalsthatmaystruggleto surviveinalteredmodernhabitatsordisruptexistingspeciesrelationships. Butothersarguethatde-extinctionandtraditionalconservationdon’thavetobe mutuallyexclusive Ifguidedbyecologicalforesight,strictethicalframeworks,and acommitmenttobiodiversityhealth;theseprojectscouldcomplementbroader sustainabilityeffortsratherthancompetewiththem.
TheBiggerPicture
Forthesustainabilitycommunity,therevivalofthedirewolfoffersmorethanjusta remarkablescientificstory,itinvitesadeeperreflectiononhowweusetechnology tointeractwiththenaturalworld.It’sareminderthatwhileinnovationoffersgreat potential,itmustbeaccompaniedbyresponsibility,long-termvision,and appreciationforecologicalcomplexity. Asnewtoolsemerge,thekeyquestionwillbenotjustwhetherwecanbringback extinctspecies,butwhethersucheffortswillcontributetoabalanced,biodiverse, andresilientplanetmoremeaningfully
ByGalronL
UK UNIVERSITIES ANDTHEIRNEW FOSSILFUELS PLEDGE
Climatechangeisatopicthatisbecomingincreasinglymorepopular,yetnoteveryoneunderstandstheextenttowhichit affectseveryone’slives.Whilealotofpeoplemayonlythinkofourplanetheatingupasbeingthemainissue,thereare alsomanymoreproblemsthatarebecomingfarmorecommon-includingextremeweather,pollutionanddisease outbreaks.Climatechangeisallowingsomediseasestothriveinawaytheynevercouldbefore,andotherfactors,suchas pollution,arecausingchronicillnesses,likeasthmaandheartdisease,tobecomemuchworse.
Satellite-basedclimatedataallowsustoseehowthe environmentischanginginrealtime,whichmakesiteasierto predictthingslikehealthcrises,thereforemeaningwecantake preventiveactionpriortoanyoutburst.Thishelps,notonlyto savelives,butalsotoprovidemorecost-effectivesolutions,as thehealthriskisalreadyknownbeforeitbecomesadisaster, andthisissoessentialtomanypeopleashealthcarecostsare rising.Medicalprofessionalsandpolicymakerscanmake informeddecisions,whilethecorrelationbetweenclimate scienceandpublichealthcanberesearched.
Diseasesarenowspreadingmore,andinnewways,with waterbornediseasesbeingahugeproblemformany.Itis predictedthatnon-choleraVibrioinfectionsintheUSmay increaseby50%by2090.So,whyisthis?Risingocean temperaturesareallowingthesediseasestothrive,causing hugeoutbreaks,butwecanusesatellitedatatomonitorsea surfacetemperaturesandpredictthespreadofbacteria.Other reasonsforthesewaterbornediseasesare,theincreasein flooding,stagnantwaterandpollution,allofwhichprovidea breedinggroundforbacteria..ThingslikeE.coliandLeptospira tendtoaccompanyfloodwaters,sohighriskfloodzonesaretracked,warningsaresentandpreventativemeasuresare taken.Agoodexampleoftheimportanceoftheuseofsatellitesischolera.Scientistswilloftenpinpointwherethis bacterialgrowthwilltakeplacetofindhighriskareasbymonitoringchlorophylllevelsinlakesandoceans.

Mosquitosareanothercommonwayinwhichdiseasesarespread,forexampleinItalymillionseachyearareinfectedby theWestNilevirus.Satellite-basedclimatedatahasallowedustoanalysechangesintheclimateandsurroundingland, helpingtofigureoutwherethevirusmaystrikethroughlookingattemperature,humidityandvegetation,which demonstratewherethemosquitosarelikelytobreed.Breedingsitesareextremelyhelpfulforthepreventionofdiseases, whichiswhytheMalariaAtlasprojecthasbeenusingthisdatatomaptheseareas. Diseasesarenottheonlythingscausinghealthproblemsthough,airpollutionandextremeheatarethesilentkillersthat canoftenleadtoheartproblems,strokesandevenaprematuredeath.AlotofurbanareashaveahighlevelofPM2.5, whichisafineparticulatematterthatpenetratesintolungs,causinglungconditionsandrespiratoryproblems.Itis essentialtomonitorthese,whichiswhyESA-fundedprojectscombinethissatelliteimagerywithAItocreatedetailed pollutionmaps,whichalsodemonstratehowurbanisationanddeforestationaffecttheairquality.Allthisdataispublicly available,whichcanallowpeopletomakeinformeddecisionsbasedontheirlocalenvironment.Thereareairqualityapps warningusersaboutthepollutionlevelsandhavedisasteralertsystemswhichtrackwildfires,floodsandhurricanesin realtimesoyoucanjusthavealookatsomeoftheclimatedataonline.

Satellite-basedclimatedataisconstantlyimproving,andisgoingto beanessentialtoolinwhatistocomeforourbattleagainstclimate change.Someofthenextstepsaretodeveloparealtimedisease trackingsystemwhichwillallowustohaveanevenfasterresponse, developingpersonalisedhealthalertswhichwillwarnpeopleabout theirairquality,UVexposureandheatrisks,andcreatingAIdriven climatemodelswhichhavepredictivealgorithmstoidentifyanynew diseasehotspotsbeforeoutbreaksbegin.Satellitesareoneofour keytoolstosurvivingthisdisasterwe’vebroughtuponourselves.
ByHeatherJ