Footprint Magazine - Winter 2020

2020 Footprint Edition 2

Note from your Editor in Chief This edition of footprint is entitled ‘2020’. This year, both positive and negative environmental news featured far more than in previous years, therefore it felt fitting to dedicate the last edition of the year to chronicling the environmental events of 2020. The edition is split in 2; the first half focuses on the environment and politics, the second, on the environmental catastrophes that have occurred this year.

Clara Grosz kindly agreed to write the first article of this edition. Entitled ‘Looking to 2021’, it both summarises the overall environmental atmosphere of this year, as well as outlining the key steps that need to be taken in 2021 to reverse, or at least mitigate, climate change. Looking at the link in the article is highly recommended, and, for further reading summarising this year, I suggest reading the Economist’s ‘Business and Climate Change’ Report from September, as well as the WWF’s ‘Living Planet Report 2020’, which is linked here: https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-gb/ .

Following Clara Grosz’s piece are articles summarising Joe Biden’s environmental policies, and the Beirut Explosion from August. Both the Presidential Race and the explosion received media attention worldwide, however most of the reporting focused on political consequences whereas these articles however look at the two events from an environmental perspective.

Anaya Popat’s article on ‘Veganuary’ is inspirational. Veganism is on the rise, the old rumours of ‘lack of protein’ and ‘environmental extremism’ which surround it have slowly been disproven, and veganism is becoming an increasingly popular way of life. The article takes a convincing stance to encourage us all to go vegan in January 2021, a challenge which many of you will hopefully undertake!

In the second half of this edition are several articles outlining the extreme weather and geophysical events which have occurred this year as both indirect and direct results of human-caused climate change. Despite the destruction of 2020, meteorologists warn that the damage caused by such disasters will only get worse. Therefore, if nothing else will, I hope that the articles summarising the extent of the social, environmental and economic damages that we have inflicted upon ourselves through climate change will encourage you all to make environmentalism one of your top priorities in 2021!

Caroline Utermann

Index Looking to 2021 – Clara Grosz

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Joe Biden’s Proposed Environmental Policies – Charlotte Fox

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The Beirut Explosion – Anushree Gupta

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COVID-19 – Omika Sharma

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The Sunscreen Ban in Palau – Amelia Mathur

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The 2030 Ban on Petrol Cars in the UK – Vita Rottenberg

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Veganuary – Anaya Popat

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Environmental Documentaries – Greta Large

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Planting New Seeds - Anushree Bhattacharjee

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Floods in South Sudan – Aria Watts

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Cyclone Amphan in India and Bangladesh – Ria Patel

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The Australian Wildfires – Keira Cummings

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The Californian Wildfires – Noura Ohlmeyer

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List of Writers and Editors

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Looking to 2021 In this edition of Footprint, writers have delved into various aspects of 2020. Certainly, much has happened over the past twelve months that will have serious consequences for climate and the environment.

A recent report by the Climate Action Tracker group has found that given recent political shifts, the global average temperature increase could be capped at 2.1C by 2100. This means that we would roughly match the Paris Agreement’s 2C limit. This is especially promising given that after the failed COP15 summit in 2009, where no emissions target was agreed on, the group predicted that global temperatures would rise by 3.5C – a death sentence for low lying islands, sub-Saharan Africa, and Arctic communities in the short term, as well as being catastrophic for the food, water, and energy security of developed nations in the future.

However, net-zero pledges by East Asian counties such as China, Japan, and South Korea, alongside South Africa and Canada have led to a shift for the better.

The other significant shift is the election of Joe Biden in the US. The USA’s superpower status, let alone its sheer size, means that its climate policy will greatly affect the rest of the world. His pledge to re-join the Paris Climate Agreement has already been the subject of much excitement. But perhaps the most exciting and indeed necessary – component of his carbon-cutting policies is that all of them promote economic security. By increasing spending on public transport, investing in electric vehicle manufacturing, and upgrading buildings to make them more energy efficient, there will be an increase in employment opportunities which will help aid a ‘green recovery’. Biden’s proposals constitute a diluted version of the Green New Deal, which, formulated in 2007 by a group of economists and environmentalists, attempts to avert the most severe consequences of the climate crisis whilst promoting racial justice and equity as well as ensuring economic security for all. Sustainable development strategies such as these are instrumental to preventing low-income households from being disadvantaged by climate reforms and therefore averting tensions such as those between French policymakers and the gilet jaunes in late 2018 following raised taxes on diesel and petrol.

Whilst the Climate Action Tracker signifies a shift in the right direction, simultaneous headlines such as “UK climate targets too low” and “Brazil's Amazon: Deforestation 'surges to 12-year high'” point to the complexity of the climate and ecological crisis and the dangers of brushstroke optimism. Analysis of Johnson’s recent 10-point climate plan by Cambridge Econometrics suggests that it will reduce emissions 59% by 2030, based on 1990 levels. However, emissions must fall by 70% by the same date in order to meet the Paris Agreement, a target that was found to be economically feasible by the LSE. Similarly, the Climate Action Tracker group also expressed its fears that optimism towards long-term agreements is not being matched by short-term policy to cut carbon emissions. In the words of leading climate scientist Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, “the actions of the chancellor don't measure up”: Sunak’s allocation of £127 billion to HS2 amongst other energy-intensive infrastructure developments lie in stark contrast to the £1 billion committed to home insulation. Whilst the climate crisis is undoubtedly more in the minds of policymakers now than ever before, it is clearly not as much of a priority as it needs to be.

So, what does the future hold for sustainability? One report published by the Forum for the Future explores four possibilities for 2021 based on how the impacts of the pandemic are affecting mindsets, and subsequently, the decisions of policymakers and the private sector. These four possibilities are: ‘Complete and Retreat’ – a rise in nationalism and protectionism; ‘Discipline’ – an increasing technocracy; ‘Unsettled’ – ‘no new normal’ and ‘Transform’ - the harnessing of the pandemic as a catalyst for an equitable transition to net zero. As the report maps out, a focus on decentralised, distributed responses from communities has emerged throughout both the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement and is of great value in tackling the climate crisis and increasing equity and resilience. However, signposts such as the Beirut explosion, flooding in Bangladesh and the leaking of Antarctic methane 70 years ‘early’ point to crises of all kinds that lie on delicate tipping points – both literal and metaphorical. Ensuring that we remain on the

‘Transform’ pathway is essential to human and natural life on Earth. As we move into 2021, I encourage you to take a look at the full report at www.thefuturescentre.org/fos/ and consider the power we have as individuals to drive systemic change – happy reading!

By Clara Grosz

Joe Biden’s Proposed Environmental Policies Global warming is defined as “a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere” caused by pollution from greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Humans emit over 35 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, meaning climate change is largely anthropogenic. Since Joe Biden was recently elected to replace Donald Trump as President of the USA, many people have been wondering what Biden’s stance is on the issue of global warming and climate change, and what policies he is planning to adopt in order to overcome these problems.

Biden believes in two basic truths which are at the core of his environmental plan; firstly, that the USA must reverse its stance on climate change from that of the Trump administration, and start getting involved internationally. Secondly, he promotes the idea that the environment and the US economy are connected. The main aim of his plan is to achieve a “100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions” by 2050. Biden has made it clear that in his first year of presidency, he will demand that Congress proposes a series of laws, one of which would be to permanently set up an enforcement mechanism comprised of milestone targets in order to encourage steps towards reducing global warming. Another one of these laws would be large investments in renewable energy, climate research, and innovation, as well as incentives to encourage not only a decrease in the use of non-renewable energy, but also an increase in renewable energy innovations, particularly in areas most affected by global warming.

Another factor of Biden’s plan is to build a “stronger, more resilient nation”. This involves investment in renovating infrastructure such as buildings, energy, transport, and water. The incentive behind such developments is to make America’s infrastructure ‘smart’, meaning that it can hold out against climate change. In addition, Biden will use his power of government to increase climate persistence efforts by creating climate persistence plans in every region, while collaborating with local universities and laboratories in order to access relevant scientific data, tools, and training. As climate change is a global issue, it requires international collaboration, and Biden plans to re-join the Paris Climate Agreement as soon as he is inaugurated.

An additional facet of Biden’s plan is to stand up for vulnerable communities, which include people of colour and low-income groups, as their disadvantage is often abused by the greatest polluters. These polluters, specifically fossil fuel companies who prioritise profit over people and consciously damage the environment or hide information about potential environmental and health risks, will be challenged by the government, which will hopefully act as a deterrent for further abuse in the future. Biden’s solutions to climate change will, he claims, be inclusive of all races and income groups, with components such as free access to clean drinking water for communities all across the USA. Only time will tell whether Biden acts on his promises, and whether these promises will be enough to revert the catastrophe that is climate change.

By Charlotte Fox

The Beirut explosion On the 4th of August 2020 a catastrophe occurred, devastating the city of Beirut forever. Around 250 sacks of ammonium nitrate stored in a rectangular warehouse at the port of Beirut exploded, causing around 200 deaths and 6,500 injuries. In the space of a few seconds, a supersonic blast wave engulfed the city’s atmosphere, sending up a mushroom cloud of fire, knocking over people and buildings. This explosion bore a hole into the Beirut dock, creating a crater almost 140m wide. Labelled as equivalent to a 3.3 magnitude earthquake by expert seismologists, this explosion is said to be the largest non-nuclear event in history, with a tenth of the intensity of the Hiroshima bomb.

The explosion continues to raise severe scrutiny surrounding the root cause of the explosion, drawing attention to specific companies and organisations for their involvement and lack of safety standards. Lebanon’s prime minister, Hassan Diab, clearly expressed his concerns that the ammonium nitrate ‘was unsafely stored’ in the warehouses and said that he would disclose specific facts in the near future.

In his speech addressing the public, he further reflected on ‘the great disaster’ as a ‘tragedy’ which would be handled ‘responsibly’.

The true question though, is whether the government’s ‘responsible’ actions will truly be useful and effective. Nevertheless, the event will definitely be a wake-up call for companies to review their safety standards and investments into appropriate security measures. This could further culminate into pressuring the government to require more background checks for the handling of dangerous chemical substances, as well as conducting thorough investigations into the trade companies’ histories. This would perhaps lead to the establishment of international organisations which could collaborate to prevent these catastrophes from occurring again, hence reducing social, economic and environmental impacts.

The ammonium nitrate was previously stored for six years in the warehouse. Hence, it was able to solidify in the right conditions. Solidified ammonium nitrate is much more explosive when it decays as it can ignite more easily and with more intensity. Being a substance increasingly utilised for making bombs, there was a question whether the placement of the ammonium had taken into consideration public safety. If this came to light, and it was revealed they had not taken the safety of the public into consideration, it would be clear of the imbalance of priority between economical profit and public security, resulting in large uproar and protest, which would fuel Lebanon’s pre-existent political conflicts.

As well as destroying buildings, the explosion released toxic gases and substances into the air. These gases, mainly ammonia and nitrogen oxide, added to the already dangerously polluted air of Beirut, which was 150% over the WHO standards. The explosion also increased the pollution of Lebanon’s coastal waters, with Beirut now facing a ‘trash crises’, and a clean-up of up to $15 million. Another major problem is the increased amount of dust particles that are in the atmosphere. Emitted from the explosion of debris and glass, these particles are harmful for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, and pose a threat to many wild birds and creatures that normally swarm the bays and coasts. Moreover, as a result of the hazardous radiation emitted, many people were forced to leave their homes regardless of whether it was damaged from the explosion.

The key social impacts of the event are grief, anxiety and anger. With the destruction of 640 major historical buildings, much of Beirut’s historical architecture is buried under. Several major international firms are revaluating their safety procedures, with groups like UNICE publishing meticulous guidelines. There is an emphasis on bringing about ‘strict’ measures surrounding the fertilizer ammonium nitrate, however, no one fully knows what the government’s plans encompass. What is clear, is that in the future, governments will need to pressure companies about chemical safety much more if the balance between economic growth, public safety, and the environment is to be shifted for the better. Only then will this act of human negligence never occur again.

By Anushree G

COVID-19 Coronavirus, the pandemic everyone cannot seem to escape from. COVID-19 hit the world like a storm, leading to deaths of more than a million, economies shutting down worldwide, and everyday life coming to a halt. It is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of only seeing the doom and gloom of Coronavirus, however, there is, as almost always, a silver lining. In this case, it is decreased pollution. Air pollution causes a multitude of health problems, such as strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. However, the Coronavirus pandemic has provided a rare glimmer of what life could be like with less air pollution.

As a result of lockdowns around the world, global tourism and travel came to a standstill, leading to a significant decrease in pollution. This can be seen evidently in the data of several studies, for example, researchers from Columbia University informed the BBC that carbon monoxide emissions (primarily from cars) had been reduced by a whole 50% in early lockdown, compared to 2019.

As well as this, usually, May is when CO2 emissions are at their annual highest due to the decomposition of fallen leaves. However, this year, the C02 levels have been their lowest in over a decade, the previous low being during the 2008 financial crisis. One of the worst environmental issues could be solved quicker than expected, given the shocking decrease in emissions within a mere few weeks.

Alongside the decrease of CO2 emissions, nitrogen dioxide emissions have also dropped rapidly during lockdown. Nitrogen dioxide is a noxious gas which is emitted by motor vehicles and industrial factories, causing, and worsening a multitude of respiratory health conditions. According to NASA images, this reduction was first seen near Wuhan, and eventually across the globe.

Fei Liu, an air quality researcher for NASA said, “This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event” and that “This year, the reduction rate is more significant than in past years and it has lasted longer.” The sharp decrease goes to show how, with perhaps the increased use of electric vehicles and more sustainable energy production, a cleaner Earth could be seen.

Overall, these facts show that humans do, in fact, have the capability to solve issues such as excess carbon emissions. Although it is notably more difficult to do so during so-called “normal” times, it is still not impossible. From this Coronavirus experience, we should be able to take away the motivation to encourage the reduction of toxic emissions and opt to use more sustainable resources. For example, instead of a diesel car, try using an electric car instead. Of course, this electricity should come from more sustainable energy sources.

Hopefully, after all the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and ‘normal’ life resumes, humanity will learn from what the virus has taught us, and we will ‘build back better’.

By Omika Sharma

The Sunscreen Ban in Palau This year, on the 1st of January, Palau became the first nation in the world to ban commercial sunscreen products which contain ingredients that are harmful to the coral reefs. Palau is an island located in the western Pacific Ocean; it is known for its coral reefs and the beautiful blue ocean that surrounds it, as well as being a popular tourist destination.

Earlier this year, the government signed a law that restricts the sale, use, import and manufacturing of sunscreen and skincare products that contain the chemicals oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, triclosan, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, butyl paraben, benzyl paraben and phenoxyethanol. Researchers believe that these ingredients, particularly oxybenzone and octinoxate, are highly toxic to marine life and can make coral more susceptible to bleaching at lower temperatures, as well as reducing their resilience to climate change. This is due to their absorption of ultraviolet light.

Palau Island

Palau’s legislation comes after a study on Jellyfish Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The study on the accumulation of sunscreen in the lake found presence of oxybenzone in the water, sediment and jellyfish sample. Furthermore, it has been estimated that between 6,000-14,000 tonnes of sunscreen are washed off people and wash into the reefs every year. Researchers say that several thousand sun protection products contain the two most threatening chemicals; up to 10% of the world's coral reefs may be threatened by chemicals found in most sunscreens. Palau’s president, Mr Remengesau told the AFP news agency: "When science tells us that a practice is damaging to coral reefs, to fish populations, or to the ocean itself, our people take note and our visitors do too. Toxic sunscreen chemicals have been found throughout Palau's critical habitats, and in the tissues of our most famous creatures. We don't mind being the first nation to ban these chemicals, and we will do our part to spread the word."

Many large corporations are against a ban on sunscreen products, saying that the evidence of a detrimental impact on the coral reef is not strong enough. However, almost all of the rest of the industry have already come out with what they are calling 'Hawaii-compliant sunscreen’. A group of manufacturers have formed what they call the Safe Sunscreen Council, welcoming the move.

This is not Palau’s first environmentally driven stand. Nearly two years ago, Palau officially designated 193,000 square miles of its maritime territory as a fully protected marine reserve, where no fishing or mining can take place. The reserve became the sixth largest of its kind in the world; while the island of Palau is smaller than New York City, its marine protected area became larger than the state of California.

Although it is too early to tell if this ban has had an impact, it has encouraged other countries to also ban harmful products. Hawaii is banning the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, with new laws going into effect on the 1st of January 2021. Even though climate change has had a massive impact on coral reefs already, the sunscreen ban is a step in the right direction, ushering in a new era of reef safe sunscreen, and more environmentally friendly products.

By Amelia Mathur

The 2030 Ban on Petrol Cars in the UK In November, it was announced that the UK would impose a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2030, making the UK only the second country to prohibit the sale of fossilfuel powered cars, after Norway, whose ban will be imposed in 2025.

Cars powered by petrol and diesel cause significant environmental damage. The combustion of the fossil fuels in their engines not only produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, but also leads to air Source: Greentechmedia.com pollution which can exacerbate lung conditions such as asthma. Electricity generated by renewable sources, used to power electric and hybrid cars drastically reduces the environmental impacts of motor travel, as well as reducing levels of air pollution.

This announcement was part of the UK’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution and includes other measures such as investment in offshore wind and in nuclear power.

Although this ban in certainly a step in the right direction, there are concerns surrounding its limitations, and lack of funding. Mass infrastructure development is needed to support a vast fleet of electric and hybrid cars, with many more charging points needed across the country. Whilst £100 billion has been allocated to the building of HS2 ( a project widely criticized for the negative impact it will have upon wildlife and land), the implementation of the entire 10-point plan has only been given £4 billion in funding. This includes money for the building of new battery factories, as well as for charging points. Moreover, the RAC Foundation reports that of the 31.9 million registered cars in the UK, 31.1 million were fuelled by either diesel or petrol, with only the remaining 0.8 million being hybrid or electric. This reveals the scale of the challenge facing the UK’s motor industry, as well as the need to support people to make the shift to electric cars.

A further criticism of the UK’s plan is that it does not go far enough. More drastic action is needed in the immediate future as the effects of climate change are already being felt across the world, especially in smallisland developing states such as Tuvalu. A ban in 2030 will do little to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and environmental footprint for the next few years. For instance, the UK is still investing in fossil fuels, and diversifying its energy mix away from these sources of energy should be a priority.

By Vita Rottenberg

Veganuary Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people all around the world to go vegan during January and beyond. It strives to create a vegan world without animal farming, where there are no negative impacts on the environment created by food production, and all species thrive in their natural habitat. Founded in 2014 by Matthew Glover and Jane Land, it has since seen a boom in popularity. In January 2020, a tremendous 400,000 people signed up to going vegan in January. This was covered by 1370 media stories, which in turn triggered the launch of thousands of new vegan products and menus.

After recruiting a new CEO, they set new objectives and goals to help develop the organisation.

The first objective, which remains the most important, is encouraging people to take a 31-day pledge to be vegan during January and hopefully into the future. Their next objective focuses on using media to create a ‘campaign buzz’ which results in popular media sources reporting on animal agriculture and protection of the environment. Thirdly, they strive to create ‘the Veganuary effect’ which involves big companies joining the organisation to increase availability and advertisement of vegan products. Their fourth objective centres on making the campaign international to spread the benefits of veganism to more animals and more people. This year they started campaigns in the US, South Africa and numerous countries in South America as well as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As well as inspiring many people to go vegan, the organisation helps companies with their sustainability aims and increasing the availability of vegan food in canteens. In 2020, 57 companies participated in this scheme by encouraging their workforce to eat vegan. In order to increase global awareness, Veganuary expanded its international partnerships and now works with 24 establishments around the world to expand the movement. Some of the highlights of the campaign this year included the first vegan items from KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King with plenty of supply to support the demand. Deliveroo reported that vegan food orders doubled in comparison to January 2019 and Pizza Hut saw the number of people willing to try a vegan pizza almost doubling. For the first time in South America, Veganuary was promoted by 10 local celebrity ambassadors. Furthermore, the second largest supermarket in South Africa (Pick n Pay) created a plant-based range during January. This large success worldwide will continue to multiply in the years to come, leading to a world that is more sustainable and that has less suffering.

Veganuary was the way I started my journey to veganism as I was interested in trying out a new lifestyle, especially at the beginning of the new year. It was the perfect way to stay motivated as I felt I was part of a community and I received a multitude of recipe ideas and tips to help me on my way. I would highly recommend taking part in this fantastic event to easily transition into a plantbased diet and I can guarantee that you will not regret it!

By Anaya Popat

Environmental Documentaries As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the average person has spent a lot more time at home this year than normal. Particularly during lockdown in the spring months, many of us were left with nothing to do, so turned to the television as a source of entertainment. Documentaries have always been powerful ways to convey important political and social messages to the public. However, as the prospect of a climate crisis becomes ever the more daunting, the power that they have to spread environmental awareness is increasingly important. As people spent almost 45 hours of their week watching TV and online video content in enforced quarantine, 2020 has been a year where environmental documentaries have become very effective. (Ofcom, 2020).

‘Kiss the Ground’ This 2020 documentary, narrated by Woody Harrelson and featuring an impressive list of celebrities, such as Jason Mraz and Gisele Bündchen, specifically focused on the role that the soil can play in dealing with climate change. The general idea is that soil can sequester huge volumes of carbon and increasing the soil’s organic matter levels would lead to more soil carbon sequestration. This sequestration could offset up to 15% of fossil fuel emissions (E Christian, 2018). The documentary dives into strategies such as regenerative agriculture, organic farming and holistic grazing which would lead to this increase in soil organic matter levels.

The impacts of ‘Kiss the Ground’ were educational on a large scale, with the documentary being accessible to 195 million people via Netflix. Although it educated the public about the importance of the soil in a very engaging way, some felt that its ‘flaky science’ was covered up by its celebrity appearances and exciting visuals. For example, the concept of holistic grazing is heavily debated and complex. It contradicts research by Dr Tara Garnett, which states that ‘Grass-fed livestock are not a climate solution’ (Hill and Carter, 2020). Despite this, the documentary does explain a lesser-known solution to climate change in a way that is very easy to understand, which no doubt has a valuable impact on watchers’ understanding of agriculture and the soil beneath their feet.

‘A Life on Our Planet’ The testimony of David Attenborough and his proposed solutions for the future was arguably the main climate documentary released in 2020. The conversation around the documentary was heightened, partly as a result of its promotion through Attenborough’s Instagram account, which got 1 million followers in just 4 hours and 44 minutes- a world record at the time (Storey, 2020). There is no doubt that the impact that this widely followed Instagram account had on the conversation around climate change was huge. It wasn’t only the means by which the documentary was promoted, but also how it was promoted. The emphasis on the documentary being a ‘witness statement’ did shock the public into realising how long Sir David has been campaigning on our behalf, and, by highlighting his age, suggested that he will not be around much longer to lead environmental activism. Of course, facts and figures from ‘A Life of our Planet’ were horrifying and made viewers realise how much the earth has changed in a very short span of time. However, the documentary's effective promotion is what ha d a large influence on the scale of the documentary’s impacts.

It increased viewership and at the same time sparked a national conversation around the indispensability of Sir David Attenborough.

‘Extinction- the facts’ This is another David Attenborough documentary released in 2020, which had a different tone to ‘A Life on Our Planet’. It focused predominantly on the impacts of a lack of biodiversity, and stressed its importance is in order to tackle climate change. The documentary deliberately had a much less positive tone to ‘A Life on our Planet’, its desired impact being to shock its audience into action. The documentary’s emphasis on how we are not separate to the damaged biological systems of our planet did make it ‘shocking’ and ‘incredibly moving’ for viewers to watch, according to The Independent (Harrison, 2020). Although it can be hard to watch, it is important for environmental issues not to be sugar coated and this documentary certainly laid out the cold, hard facts. As a viewer, I certainly felt compelled to not just think of climate change in terms of carbon footprint, but in terms of the number of species that could be saved if countries take drastic action.

It can sometimes seem as if there is not much more to learn about climate change. That we know what we need to change and that all we have to do is act; reduce our carbon footprints, eat less meat, and be less wasteful in general seem to be the concepts that pop up in every environmental discussion. Although these three documentaries certainly had overlapping themes, they tackled the issues from different angles and showed how much more there is to this pressing issue. The documentaries highlighted current problems and future solutions that are not always talked about in such detail to large audiences. There is no doubt that in 2020 the many viewers of these documentaries will have gained a wider knowledge on climate changesomething that will be invaluable in the future.

By Greta Large

Planting new seeds 2020 is undoubtedly an unprecedented year which has disrupted everyone’s lives and changed it dramatically. However, it brings a large share of environmental positives that has slipped everyone’s notice.

Plants are heavily underestimated for their potential in tackling the climate crisis and helping absorb carbon emissions and preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. This year, despite the pandemic, there has been a pleasing number of plant-based projects planned and executed that all play a vital role in saving our planet.

In partnership with Sky Ocean Rescue, 3.1 million seagrass seeds are being planted this winter in Pembrokeshire. Despite only constituting 0.2% of the seafloor, it absorbs 10% of the ocean’s carbon each year which is 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. Each square meter can hold 83 grams of carbon and ocean meadows store 15% of all carbon in the ocean. Further to this, research has indicated that seagrass stabilises coastal sediments and prevents erosion which stops the seabed from being washed in currents and protects the neighbouring coral reefs from getting smothered. They also provide a habitat to a broad range of marine wildlife which is essential for the future of marine ecosystems. The increase in seagrass can help wildlife thrive in the ocean but also can absorb carbon at an incredible rate.

The Welsh government has also announced that they are planning a $5.9 million project, led by First Minister Mark Drakeford, to create a National Forest in efforts to preserve and improve their rich biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis. Wales has also set an incredible target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and hopes to achieve this by planting trees on 5,000 acres of land and gradually extending this to 10,000 acres. The Welsh government released a statement saying that the National Forest will be “…a connected ecological network of woodland running through the length and breadth of Wales.” The project caught the attention of thousands of people, all expressing their interest in wanting to see new trees being planted. It hopes to attract the millions of visitors that visit the Welsh Coastal Path as well and inspire them to take action in the battle against the climate crisis.

Scientists are getting progressively closer to recreating photosynthesis artificially to generate renewable energy resources. Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy where light energy is captured and is used to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and other organic compounds that are rich in energy. The scientists at the University of Berkley have designed square-shaped solar fuel tiles that contain billions of nanoscale tubes supported by flexible silicate. It will receive the energy it requires from the existing carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. They released a document titled Advanced Functional Materials which explains the mechanics of artificial photosynthesis in further detail. Many engineers and scientists believe that if the artificial photosynthesis panels can be produced in larger quantities, it may be a significant step towards tackling the climate crisis.

Despite the chaos and pandemonium 2020 has brought, there are a lot of promising projects underway and more people recognising the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment, especially through an amazing and underappreciated natural resource: plants.

By Anushree Bhattacharjee

Floods in South Sudan The summer of 2020 brought South Sudan a wave of severe floods that have affected over a million people. These floods were caused by abnormally heavy rainfall which caused the Nile, Pibor, Sobat, Lol and other rivers to flood in the Eastern and Central parts of the country. The UN estimated that over half of South Sudan’s 78 counties had vast areas of land submerged under water.

However, not only was there extreme rainfall this year, but this was also the second consecutive year of severe flooding and this year’s torrential rains were unleashed before the water from the 2019 floods had been able to drain. This situation is disastrous for the people whose lives, homes and jobs have been destroyed, and this disaster comes on the back of five years of civil war and extreme political instability. The world’s youngest country seemed to have taken a positive step towards good government and environmental regulation in the beginning of 2020, but the floods, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused severe drawbacks.

The main consequence of these floods is food shortage. Around half a million people have been displaced as the rains have washed away their homes, and their food and water supplies have been compromised. The World Food program reports that entire villages, homes and farmlands in 36 counties are submerged. This has clearly threatened the food supply for the population as trade routes have been disrupted, and crops and livestock have been damaged.

People have been left without their harvests and livelihoods, so not only have the floods endangered the population’s right to food, but also their fundamental livelihoods.

The Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states that 121 Humanitarian organisations have been responding in counties affected by flooding in the last two years. This indicates the significant presence of non-governmental organisations in South Sudan, indicating the inaction of the government. The World Food Program has been significantly involved in South Sudan and provides food aid to over 300,000 people.

However, there are still thousands left without their crops and livestock. Moses Athian Paul, the coordinator of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission of Warrap state’s Tonj county, suggests that “If people don’t get food from the government or the World Food Program by February, many will die of hunger”.

This environmental disaster is particularly traumatic for the world’s youngest country given its political history, general state of development and other environmental issues. South Sudan was born in 2011 from over half a century of civil conflict in the wider Sudanese region. However, it relapsed into domestic conflict in 2013 due to personal tensions in the highest offices of government - the President accused the VicePresident of instigating a coup. While the tensions were driven by personal disagreements, it is significant that the two men were from the Dinka and Nuer tribes respectively, and the civil war was largely driven by intertribal tensions. The conflict lasted for over five years and has only begun to come to an end in the last

two years with a series of peace and power sharing agreements. However, the current government that has been set up with both the President and the Vice-President is still far from established and effective.

The political instability of the last seven years has had massive human cost. Almost half a million were killed and many more displaced. People’s livelihoods were disrupted, and many were forced to stay in United Nations refugee camps. The regulation of South Sudan’s environmental resources was also weakened due to disruption to government and military patrols of the forests and borders. The country’s annual deforestation rate is consistently between 1.5 and 2.5%, potentially leading to extreme loss of their vast forests by 2045 without proper Sustainability policies. The conflict exacerbated illegal logging by forcing displaced people to earn an income through the lucrative charcoal trade. It also weakened state institutions and regulation of deforestation, exacerbating the environmental damage. South Sudan also grapples with illegal poaching and loss of biodiversity due to deforestation and the conflict. The lack of economic development partly explains the population’s heavy reliance on agriculture, logging and poaching and lack of state services. Floods and changing global climate trends will clearly disrupt agriculture, and logging and poaching must be curbed to save the environmental resources that are left.

This ongoing environmental damage indicates the weakness of the government in controlling and responding to environmental issues in the country. The recurring issue of the flooding and the reliance on NGOs to help affected people this year thus further illustrates the weakness of the state in dealing with such issues. It seems that the South Sudanese government must strengthen its environmental institutions as well as its welfare provision - this will protect the people from floods and help those affected.

In conclusion, it is clear that South Sudan has great environmental issues facing it, and the 2020 floods have brought another huge challenge to overcome. The government must work on flood protection measures and provision for those affected to decrease the human and economic cost. The floods in South Sudan also indicate the unique challenges facing less economically developed countries; dealing with climate changeinduced disasters and problems is especially hard when lacking in economic growth, even if the desire and necessity for good policy is there.

By Aria Watts

Cyclone Amphan in India and Bangladesh Amid the ongoing tribulation that is being faced in Eastern India and Bangladesh due to Covid-19, the countries have also had to deal with the destructive impacts of Cyclone Amphan. The tropical cyclone has caused widespread, catastrophic damage subsequent to the incident in May 2020, resulting in over $13 billion of damage and taking the lives of over 120 residents as a result of the belaboured coastal areas, forceful winds and intense rain. The regions that have been affected are known to be fishing grounds, agricultural land and forest areas, which the inhabiting population relies heavily on for survival, and which supports a large array of wildlife. Unfortunately, although 3 million people were evacuated to avoid the immediate effects of the cyclone, these states now face significant issues surrounding the environment, giving rise to social, economic and political concerns.

Countless trees were uprooted during the cyclone by forceful winds, which have since been incinerated. A Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteer who was helping to evacuate villagers became the first fatality after the boat he was in capsized in strong winds. The uprooted trees were deemed to be pointless as they no longer served a purpose according to advisors of the government. This affects individuals on a global scale as the burning of trees releases carbon dioxide into the air, a greenhouse gas, which causes the gas in Earth's atmosphere to trap the Sun's heat. The trapped heat causes global warming, affecting both individuals and the environment. The uprooting of trees has also meant that many species have lost their habitat, in particular animal species living in the Lawachara National Park in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.

Moreover, in the aftermath of the cyclone, Eastern India and Bangladesh have been affected by destructive flooding, which has resulted in issues such as the destruction of property, eutrophicationwhich uses up oxygen for other wildlife in bodies of water- water contamination with toxic chemicals, inability for crops to grow and the loss of life for humans and other species. Meteorologists warned that there could be up to 250mm of rainfall to come, however, this figure was exceeded by around 100mm, increasing the damage of the flooding and deadly mudslides. As an emerging economy, these regions have struggled to maintain their economic strength as agricultural work was disturbed, and crops destroyed, meaning people’s livelihoods were at risk, and unemployment consequently rose. Other countries that import goods from these regions have also suffered as they have been forced to source these goods from elsewhere, which is often more expensive.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 exacerbated the hardship faced by the people living in these areas and the emergency and relief efforts which were made. Social-distancing measures have meant that evacuations were more problematic for authorities since shelters could not be used to their full capacities. Satya Narayan Pradhan, the director general of India's National Disaster Response Force, reported to the BBC that the impact had been disproportionately more detrimental in less affluent areas. There have been fears surrounding the thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar to live in crowded camps in Bangladesh, where not only is the coronavirus being rapidly contracted, but also the flooding caused in these camps has meant that they have had to be relocated. People were also unwilling to move into shelters due to their concerns about the virus, intensifying the struggles encountered by authorities. Thus, the environmental

impacts of Cyclone Amphan will be faced long into the future, not only on an individual level, but on a regional, national and international level as well.

By Ria Patel

The Australian Wildfires During the 2019-2020 season, Australia experienced its worst bushfire season to date, stretching from June 2019 to March 2020.

Approximately 126,0001 square kilometres of land were scorched, 5,900 buildings were destroyed, and at least 34 people were killed.

The area burned was approximated to equal the size of the UK. Although wildfires occur every summer in Australia, the unprecedented scale of these wildfires was attributed to a severe drought, triggering the hottest year on record. The worst of the fires took place in December to January, with two of the largest conjoining to create a ‘megablaze’. 434 tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted- over ¾ of Australia’s total output during the 2018-2019 season.

Not only do wildfires cause high temperatures and burn-related injuries, they also aggravate chronic respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. Smoke caused huge problems, affecting over 11.3 million Australians. Indeed, some schools resorted to keeping students inside during breaks in order to protect them. In December, the levels of smoke in Sydney peaked at over 10 times the hazardous limit and were reported to have reached New Zealand. Consequently, hospital admissions for respiratory or smoke-related issues exponentially increased, and people were advised to wear masks and stay indoors whenever possible. In the aftermath of the fires, financial support was disbursed by Direct Relief in order to provide psychosocial support for children; especially those at risk of emotional distress.

It is believed that nearly 3 billion animals died or were displaced by the fire, despite this figure omitting invertebrates, bats, frogs, or fish due to the lack of data. The full recovery of the bush will take several years because of the damage incurred to huge swathes of land, as well as the subsequent loss of trees which has given way to landslides. This is because roots’ function is to hold soil together, and plants protect the earth from heavy rainfall. Thus, without these barriers, soil erosion has been exacerbated. Furthermore, the ash from the fires has been washed into rivers and lakes, causing chemical changes and polluting the water, which affects the many animals living within it.

Although wildfires are natural and play a key part in regulating the carbon cycle, megafires must be kept to a minimum by “creating a natural fire regime”, as said by Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London. Many of our distant ancestors used agroforestry as a preventative measure; by allowing animals to graze in high-risk areas for wildfires, the amount of flammable material is greatly reduced. Another method is to set controlled blazes during off-season periods, thereby creating breaks in the forest. Both of these measures work by depriving a potential wildfire of fuel, thereby curbing its potential to spread.

According to a study by the World Weather Consortium, climate change has increased the chances of bushfires by no less than 30% and, following the scale of the wildfires, climate activists have

been calling for more to be done. Australia largely depends on fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, for their economy; thus, the country is one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases.

These greenhouse gases serve to heighten the impact of global warming on the Australian bushfire season, so activists are calling for the government to move towards more sustainable forms of energy.

By Keira Cummings

The Californian Wildfires On Monday 5th October, the complex fire in Northern California expanded beyond one million acres, metastasizing from a megafire to what is classified a “gigafire”. While California has experienced several wildfires this year, this is its first gigafire- a fire spanning one million acres- in history. At 1.03 million acres, the fire was larger than the state of Rhode Island and it raged across seven states according to the Cal Fire agency. The fire was complex- the result of several fires incited by lightning striking dry forests in August.

Even after the fire had been burning for 50 days it was only half-contained.

Impacts of the wildfires This “gigafire” and many other fires in California in 2020 have resulted in several dozen deaths and the destruction of thousands of buildings has left many people homeless and in poverty. Economically, the impacts have been catastrophic as well. It is estimated that the damage caused by the 2020 wildfire season in California will cost over $20 billion, excluding indirect costs associated with the fires such as insurance hikes and loss of income. As wildfires continue to increase due to drought, warmer temperatures, and shorter winters, they are sure to have far-reaching effects on the economy. Arguably though, the most detrimental effects of the 2020 California wildfires are on the environment. While in the short-term, fires fertilise soil by releasing plant nutrients, allowing crops to grow more successfully, they have many negative environmental consequences in the long term. Wildfires, or rather fires in general release carbon dioxide- a greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases cause climate change by trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere since they are not reflected by the sun, therefore they contribute to air pollution. The absorbed greenhouse gases raise the temperature of the earth which leads to extreme weather, habitat loss, disruption to food supply, and more. These are all indicators of climate change, arguably the most serious problem we face today.

What can we do to prevent future wildfires?

The truth is most wildfires are caused by people, and therefore can be prevented by our actions. While meteorologists cannot yet predict the exact time of an outbreak, we can plan ahead and follow the rules below to try to prevent the outbreak of a wildfire.

1. Report unattended fires - this may seem obvious, but it is essential to stop the spread of a fire. A small fire is much easier to extinguish, and the California “gigafire” is an excellent example illustrating how deadly a complex fire is.

2. Extinguish campfires and firepits when done - this follows on from the first step, you do not want to be leaving your own fire unattended.

3. Do not throw lit cigarettes out of your moving car - cigarettes can take a minimum of approximately 10 minutes before starting a fire if in the right conditions, and remember littering is bad for the environment too.

4. Use caution when using flammable liquids - as with any hazardous substance taking care when using it is so important.

5. Only use fireworks in clear areas - as we celebrate a number of different celebrations annually it is important to use your fireworks away from trees as wood is highly flammable.

6. Pay attention to the risk of forest fires in your area - if your area has a high risk of forest fires it is probably not the best place to camp.

By Noura Ohlmeyer

List of Writers and Editors Writers Amelia Mathur Anaya Popat Anushree Bhattacharjee Anushree Gupta Aria Watts Charlotte Fox Clara Grosz Greta Large Keira Cumming Noura Ohlmeyer Omika Sharma Ria Patel Vita Rottenberg Editors Alina Halstenberg Amani Venkataram Anika Chatterjee Anna Moulds Anoushka Chawla Anusha Roy Emily Clark Greta Large Karel Ohana Mia Singer Nitya Kapadia Ria Patel Sienna Parekh Editor in Chief Caroline Utermann