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Sustainability Week Journal November 2026

Introduction

Contents

Welcome to our Sustainability Journal, bringing together ideas, experiences and achievements from across the School. Sustainability is about making thoughtful choices today, in order to protect the planet for future generations, and this journal celebrates the many ways our school community is working towards that goal.

One Minute Less By Kevin Zhou

How far are we from reaching the carrying capacity of Earth? By Annie Chen

Sustainable Architecture By Oscar Zhao

The next pandemic won’t come from a lab. It’ll come from the weather By Jasmine Li

Before the Last Drop; why we must use renewable energy By Sofia Negro

Why do sea levels rise? By Oscar Wang

The Sustainability Paradox: Solving the Global Water Crisis with Thirsty Tech By Onna Yau

Wind Energy: Can we make it truly sustainable? By Mark Du

The Heavy Cost of a Weightless App By Austin Qiao

Beyond the Bin: the truth about recycling by Lisa Li

How can we create a sustainable future through food? By Yara Krushenevska

The Financial Trap of Sustainable Agriculture By Desmond Lee

AI Impact on Sustainability By Kirill Zaev

Sustainable Water: Reducing Water Waste in Agriculture By Kevin Ye

Ecological Deserts and Biodiverse Hotspots By Kylin Shu

Hydrogen-Powered Cars: A Revolution in the Making? By Maria Heyer

Through the articles in this year’s journal – all written by pupils – we explore important environmental issues, share sustainable projects and reflect on the everyday habits that can make a difference. From reducing waste and conserving resources to taking part in environmental initiatives, we all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable future. We hope these contributions encourage you to think about your own impact and inspire new ideas, particularly during Sustainability Week. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s journal. Your creativity and commitment has helped to raise awareness and remind us that meaningful change starts within our own community. By working together and making small, positive changes, we can create a lasting impact both at Uppingham and in the wider world. Darcey Gobey and Sophie Benbow Environment Pollies

Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

One Minute Less By Kevin Zhou

A hot shower is an easy place to lose track of time, and staying one minute longer does not seem like a big deal. It is only a minute, and most of us would not notice the difference anyway. However, we rarely think about what happens during that minute; how much water is used, and how much energy it takes to heat it. We might remember to switch off a light when leaving a room, but leave the shower running without much thought. This is something worth considering, especially because it is part of our daily routine rather than something we only do occasionally. A shower using eight litres a minute would use 64 litres in eight minutes. Cutting that to four minutes would save 32 litres each time, or nearly 12,000 litres over a year for someone showering every day. These figures depend on the shower’s flow rate, but they show how quickly the amount adds up. Across 100 people making the same reduction, the saving would reach around 1.2 million litres a year. It is difficult to picture that amount when we only see water disappearing down a drain. Perhaps this is part of the problem: the water is visible while we use it, but the total never really is. The energy involved is also easy to miss. Heating those extra 32 litres from 10°C to 40°C takes approximately 1.1 kilowatt-hours of heat. This is roughly the same amount of energy that a 100-watt television uses in 11 hours, or enough for around 55 full phone charges, assuming each charge uses 0.02 kilowatt-hours. The actual energy used depends on the heating system, but the comparison gives us an idea of the amount involved. Leaving a television on for hours seems wasteful, while spending a few extra minutes in the shower seems ordinary. Both involve energy, and hot water requires more than we might expect.

Of course, there are reasons why some showers take longer. Washing hair takes time, and people have different needs. There would be little point in rushing through a shower only to need another one afterwards. The more useful distinction is between water used for washing and water left running unnecessarily. Getting a towel ready before turning on the shower, or turning it off as soon as we have finished, would avoid some of that waste. Given the amount of water and energy used every minute, even spending one minute less in the shower would make a difference without completely changing our routine.

Perhaps the main reason we overlook showers is that the waste does not seem obvious. We notice a tap left running in an empty bathroom but give less thought to shower water running when it is no longer needed. For Sustainability Week, a slightly shorter shower is a manageable change, especially when many of us use the same facilities every day. One minute less would save eight litres each time in the example above. When that saving is repeated across hundreds of showers and hundreds of people, the change becomes significant.

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How far are we from reaching the carrying capacity of Earth? By Annie Chen

The short answer is: we have already exceeded it. The actual question is how far past it we are and how it affects us. In ecology, the carrying capacity of an environment is the maximum population size it can sustain indefinitely, given that the available resources and the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate them. When a pond holds more fish than the water, eventually some of the crowded fish will die and the number of fish will drop. For our planet Earth, it is how many humans the earth can feed, house and absorb the waste from, while not depleting the natural systems that make life possible. A significant 2026 study published in Environment Research Letters, led by Professor Corey Bradshaw of Flinders University, distinguished between two critical thresholds. The maximum carrying capacity is approximately 12 billion people, representing the theoretical absolute limit predicted on widespread malnutrition, disease and conflict. The optimal carrying capacity is approximately 2.5 billion people, representing the population size that could be sustained while maintaining a reasonable quality of life and allowing natural systems to regenerate. At present the global population stands at approximately 8.3 billion, substantially above the optimal threshold and approaching the maximum. The 2026 study found that population size itself, independent of per-capita consumption, is a stronger predictor of environmental degradation than consumption rates alone. This finding challenges the assumption that technological innovation and efficiency improvements can fully offset the

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impact of a growing population. Projections suggest that the global population could peak at 11.7 to 12.4 billion between 2067 and 2076. However, the authors caution that this peak would not represent a sustainable equilibrium but rather the point at which environmental resistance, manifesting as resource scarcity, climate instability, and systemic stress, begins to limit further growth. The consequences of exceeding the Earth’s carrying capacity are no longer theoretical. They are measurable and already affecting human populations. The most immediate effects are food and water insecurity, as aquifers are depleted faster than they recharge and arable land is degraded by intensive farming. This leads to rising food prices, which disproportionately affect low-income households and developing nations. Climate instability is another direct consequence, manifesting as more frequent droughts, floods, and heatwaves that disrupt agriculture and infrastructure. Biodiversity loss weakens ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and water filtration, which human societies depend upon. Resource scarcity, particularly of oil, minerals, and rare earth metals, increases geopolitical tension and the risk of conflict. Ultimately, these pressures lead to economic instability, migration, and a decline in overall quality of life. Addressing this situation requires action at three levels. At the individual

level, people in high-consumption nations must reduce their ecological footprint by lowering meat and dairy consumption, cutting food waste, using public transport or cycling instead of driving, buying second-hand goods, and reducing air travel. These actions matter not only for their direct impact but also for the cultural shift they signal. At the national level, governments must transition to renewable energy sources, protect and restore forests and wetlands, invest in public transport infrastructure, introduce carbon taxes or cap-andtrade systems, and support regenerative agricultural practices that maintain soil health. At the global level, stabilising population growth through universal access to education and family planning is essential, particularly in regions where rapid growth outstrips local resource availability. International agreements must be binding rather than voluntary, and global trade must be reformed so that wealthy nations do not outsource their environmental damage to poorer ones. None of these measures are optional if humanity intends to remain within the planet’s ecological limits. The longer the delay, the more abrupt and painful the correction will be. The question is not whether we can afford to act, but whether we can afford not to.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE By Oscar Zhao

As the global population increases, more buildings are constructed to accommodate them. This massively increases the energy used in all sorts of activities such as artificial light, water sterilisation and air conditioning, to name a few examples. By the start of the 21st century, more buildings are designed to be more sustainable while being effective and useful at the same time. One thing that is important for sustainable building is reducing energy consumption. Buildings tend to add solar panels on the roof to generate some renewable energy instead of heavily relying on fossil fuels for power. Also, good insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and smart technology can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating, cooling, and lighting. Another key point of sustainable architecture is being environmentally friendly. Having green roofs and living walls can provide habitat for animals in urban areas and increase biodiversity in the city centre. Green plants can also photosynthesise, which absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide and can help reduce the building’s overall environmental impact, which benefits both the environment and the people living around the buildings. One famous example of a sustainable building is the Bullitt Centre. It is a building built in Seattle, USA, which opened in 2013. It was designed to prove that minimising its environmental impact by reducing energy consumption, conserving water, and using sustainable materials is achievable. The large roof increases its surface area exposed to the sky. This allows the designer to put solar panels and a water collection system on top of the roof. The solar panels generate renewable energy from the sun, which

reduces the energy required to power the building. Also, the water collection system works with the water-efficient system in the building. This helps the building rely less on the fresh water supply and reduces the pressure on the groundwater pipe in the city. There are multiple floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the light sunlight to enter the building, which requires less artificial light. Also, scientific research shows that exposure to natural light can improve people’s mood and mental wellbeing. So, large windows to allow natural light to enter not only conserve energy but also boost mental health.

The materials and the structural designs include natural ventilation to allow fresh air to circulate through the building, reducing the need for mechanical cooling and improving indoor comfort. Also, the designer used excellent insulation for the walls to reduce heat loss to the environment and energy consumption. This not only benefits the environment but also maintains lower running costs for the building.

In conclusion, as the urban population grows, sustainable architecture becomes more significant. By using renewable energy, conserving water, and improving energy efficiency, buildings such as the Bullitt Centre can reduce their environmental impact while improving people’s well-being. Therefore, sustainable architecture is essential for creating greener and more sustainable cities in the future. Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

The next pandemic won’t come from a lab. It’ll come from the weather By Jasmine Li

If after a record-breaking summer of heatwaves our warming planet is weighing heavily on your mind, you are not alone. Climate anxiety is on the rise. Climate change is now being recognised as one of the most significant global population health concerns due to its significant effects on mental well-being. Psychological distress, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic stress are more at stake given that extreme weather, such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and slower-onset changes, including warming temperatures, worsening air quality and ecological disturbance, continue to mount up. Rising temperatures and heatwaves also directly harm physical health. “The big thing A&E doctors are seeing during extreme heat now is falls among the elderly,” says Dr Adrian Boyle, an A&E consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. “During this summer’s five heatwaves, I’ve seen elderly people become light-headed and dizzy, fall down entire flights of 6

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stairs, and break multiple bones, purely because of the heat. The most recent fall downstairs caused by the heat resulted in multiple broken ribs, a broken wrist, and a broken lower leg.” Adding, “I’m struck by how quickly such accidents happen and how long they take to recover from. A wrist fracture can take a couple of months to heal, while a broken hip or lower leg can take more than six months.” Older generations are perhaps wrongly accused of caring less about the climate than younger people. The idea that younger generations care more about the climate, while older people downplay the issue and refuse to act, is a widespread myth. In the UK, over three-quarters of so-called ‘Baby Boomers’ agree that climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental issues are significant enough to justify major changes to people’s lifestyles. This figure is as high as that of any other generation. Older generations are also less fatalistic than younger ones. Only one in five Baby Boomers says there is no point in changing their behaviour to tackle climate change because it will

not make any difference, compared with one-third of Gen Z. However, studies show that people have a rather different impression of who thinks what. When asked which age group is most likely to say there is no point in changing their behaviour, respondents are most likely to identify the oldest age group. We wrongly assume they have given up. Social psychologists call this misconception “pluralistic ignorance”. It is an important phenomenon because it shapes our views of others. Older people tend not to express their anxiety verbally, but instead reflect it through their actions. Some studies show that Baby Boomers and Generation X are actually the groups most likely to boycott products. However, this is not the public perception. The majority of people incorrectly believe that Gen Z or Milennials are the generations most likely to boycott products. This belief is not only wrong but also dangerous, as it dismisses the genuine concern felt by large sections of our growing older population.

Before the Last Drop; why we must use renewable energy By Sofia Negro

The potential of natural energy is staggering. Scientists estimate that the solar energy hitting Earth in just one single hour is more than enough to power the entire human population for a whole year. Imagine a machine floating on the open ocean, swaying up and down with the swells, converting the immense mechanical power of waves directly into clean electricity. These devices, known as Wave Energy Converters, tap into one of Earth’s most powerful, nonstop forces. Wave power is just one of many examples of the renewable energy revolution transforming our world today. Renewable energy – often called green energy – comes from natural sources that are replenished much faster than they are consumed. Sunlight, wind, water, and organic material are plentiful and constantly renewed by nature. The most widely used types include solar power, wind energy, hydropower, and bioenergy. As communities worldwide embrace these natural assets, local ecosystems begin to recover, and cities experience a dramatic reduction in smog and air pollution. The Problem with Fossil Fuels Unlike green energies, traditional fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable resources. They took hundreds of millions of years to form beneath the ground from ancient organic matter. Earth’s supply of these fuels is strictly finite, meaning we will eventually run completely out. On top of that, burning them releases massive amounts of harmful gases – such as carbon dioxide – that trap heat in the atmosphere and drive rapid climate

change. Generating electricity from clean, renewable sources, on the other hand, creates almost zero emissions, making it our most powerful tool to protect the planet. Transitioning away from coal and oil also safeguards our oceans from devastating spills and drastically improves public health by keeping toxic particulates out of the air we breathe every day. The challenge isn’t a lack of raw energy resources; rather, it is building the smart technology and storage systems needed to capture, transport, and store it efficiently when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Innovators are constantly upgrading battery capacities and smart-grid infrastructure, ensuring that power remains reliable, steady, and accessible for everyone, no matter the weather. Beyond saving the environment, switching to clean energy makes incredible economic sense:

Lower Costs: In most parts of the world, building new solar and wind power installations is now significantly cheaper than burning fossil fuels. Job Growth: The green energy industry creates roughly three times as many jobs per dollar invested compared to the fossil fuel industry. This economic boom opens up exciting new career paths in engineering, technology, and installation for the next generation of workers. By fully committing to clean energy, we can build a safe, prosperous, and sustainable future. It is easy to underestimate the scale of our energy challenges, but waiting to act is a risk we simply cannot afford. We do not have a “Planet B” – protecting our only home starts with changing how we power it today.

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Why do sea levels rise? By Oscar Wang

Sea level rise is a very significant issue that is caused by climate change. It will affect lots of things in the world such as; loss of habitat for some animals which will affect the biodiversity, and also more natural hazards such as flooding, which will damage infrastructure close to the seaside or next to a river. The main reason why sea levels are rising is due to the global warming process. The rising temperature leads to the water absorbing about 90% heat from the atmosphere which means the water is warmer and takes up more volume due to thermal expansion. Rising temperatures also lead to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in the Antarctic and Arctic which means the solid ice that was floating on the surface becomes liquid, increasing sea levels. Sea level rise means that low-lying land may be overtaken by the sea, potentially leading to two consequences. Firstly, this means the loss of habitat, which will cause the populations of some species to decrease significantly, as their main living areas are destroyed and they

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have to adapt to new habitats. This is very difficult and takes a long time. Species such as the polar bear, which have nowhere else to go except their natural habitat in the Arctic, will continue to experience population declines as glaciers and ice sheets in the Arctic melt, until they have disappeared completely. This creates a major problem for biodiversity, as some species are unable to adapt and become extinct. Secondly, this will also cause lowaltitude cities to disappear. Even megacities such as Shanghai might be underwater within 50 years. This will create major social and economic problems for countries that have low-altitude cities. In 50 years’ time, sea level is expected to rise by around 35–45cm on average. However, if the pollution problem cannot be controlled, then this figure might increase to above 60cm on average. It may seem acceptable, but an average rise of 60cm means a significant change in the total volume of water, and the risk of flooding will increase substantially because of this change.

How can we control pollution as individuals? Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases, and it mainly results from pollution linked to the demand for energy. On average, the amount of energy a person uses is about 9,300 kWh per year, while for a large factory this figure can reach 19,000,000 kWh per year, which is much greater than the amount of energy a person uses annually. However, there are about 7 billion people on Earth, which means that the total amount of energy used by people is enormous. If everyone could use 1 kWh less energy per year, it could make a significant difference to the total energy required each year. There are many ways to achieve this goal, and one of the easiest is to turn off lights when you do not need them and to use more renewable energy, such as installing solar panels on your house, which will reduce the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, to reduce the rate of sea level rise, try to reduce the amount of energy you waste every day, such as by turning off lights when you leave a room.

The Sustainability Paradox: Solving the Global Water Crisis with Thirsty Tech By Onna Yau

Artificial intelligence has been said to be the solution to environmental sustainability, promising to optimize the use of global energy. However, beneath these eco-friendly algorithms lies a hidden reality. While the world increasingly relies on AI to fix global water issues and fight climate issues, the structure required to support the immense cooling is accelerating the very resource crises it aims to solve. This leads to a paradox between digital innovation and sustainability. The problem with AI is that environmental sustainability sits inside the data centres. To process billions of instructions and operations every second – such as tracking pipe leaks or soil moisture, AI uses microprocessors that generate extreme heat. To prevent these server racks from malfunctioning, data centres must contain a large volume of cooling mechanisms that work continuously.

The most popular method used is evaporative cooling. This process evaporates millions of litres of water daily to maintain a cool server environment. Similarly, if an AI model is made to conserve its local water, it could easily consume hundreds of thousands of litres of water just during its training. This creates a cyclical loop where every act contradicts itself. The “energy-water nexus of digital infrastructure” makes the sustainability paradox worse. Unless a data centre is powered entirely by dedicated, water-free renewable sources like wind or solar, its electrical consumption heavily relies on traditional power plants, which require many trillions of gallons of water annually for cooling. This means that if a water utility uses AI to reduce pipeline waste, but that cloud is powered by an energyintensive grid, the technology generates more water issues and carbon emissions than it helps save. For AI to remain as a useful tool for resource management, we are forced to use AI to fix its own internal crisis. Many innovators are currently creating machine learning models to help large

server workloads, in the hope of allowing facilities to adjust cooling systems automatically, reducing the total water and energy waste by 40% Furthermore, to achieve a high level of technological sustainability, it is required to shift away from freshwater entirely. Instead, it should transition to utilising non-potable greywater whilst relocating most data centres to naturally cold climates where the natural sub-zero air outside can be used for cooling. Only by eliminating its own contradicting problems can artificial intelligence help society to secure a sustainable water future. Ultimately, AI can only secure a positive environmental impact if workers in technology actively help resolve this conflict. By having AI optimize the size of its workloads and move data centres from freshwater to greywater, or to naturally cold climates, we can eventually break the cycle. Only by eliminating its own cooling issues can artificial intelligence transform from a liability into a fully sustainable and helpful tool, creating a water-and technology-sustainable future for the coming generations.

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Wind Energy: can we make it truly sustainable? By Mark Du

Researchers are working to solve this problem. In 2023, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reported developing a prototype wind turbine blade using a resin made from plant-derived chemicals. Compared with epoxy resin, this alternative was reported to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and manufacturing energy required by 30%. The material was also designed to be easier to recycle since it’s derived from plants. Such innovations suggest that we must consider sustainability beyond how electricity is generated to include how renewable-energy infrastructures are manufactured.

As the world transitions towards renewable energy, wind turbines have become symbols of a cleaner future. They generate electricity without directly releasing carbon dioxide during use. However, an important question arises: can we make wind energy truly sustainable?

Let’s look at how a wind turbine operates. The wind turbine’s blades are designed to generate lift as wind flows around them. This lift force produces rotation, driving a generator that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. By improving the shape of the blade, engineers can maximise energy output while minimising structural loads on the blades. The blades need to withstand enormous forces from the wind, which need to be strengthened, yet making them stronger could also make them heavier. Hence, turbine blades are commonly manufactured from fibrereinforced composites, such as glass-fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRP). These materials combine strong fibres with a polymer matrix, producing structures that are lightweight and capable of withstanding strong winds. Reducing a blade’s mass is crucial as heavier blades place greater loads on the supporting structure. Composite materials therefore allow turbines to be 10

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constructed larger, which allows them to capture more energy from the wind. However, manufacturing these materials comes with an environmental cost. Producing glass fibres requires melting minerals at extremely high temperatures, consuming a considerable amount of energy, and this energy could possibly be from burning fossil fuels and other nonrenewable energy sources. Meanwhile, polymer resins such as epoxy are often derived from petrochemicals, which originate from crude oil. Ironically, the production of renewable-energy technology could heavily depend on fossil fuels, both as a source of energy and as a raw material. Furthermore, these composite materials are unlike metals, which can often be melted down and reused; many of them cannot easily be separated into their original components. This means, consequently, retired blades may end up in landfills or require processing with intensive energy.

Scientists are also exploring recyclable resins and alternative materials. Thermoplastic composites, for example, can be softened and reshaped under suitable conditions, offering opportunities to reuse materials that would otherwise become waste. Ultimately, can we make renewable energy truly sustainable? Although achieving 100% sustainability may be difficult, the environmental impact of wind energy can be reduced by improving materials used for wind turbines, extending their service life, and developing more effective recycling methods. Wind turbines demonstrate that generating clean electricity is not the only part of the solution; the materials and manufacturing processes behind them must also be considered. If renewable energy technologies aim to achieve a sustainable future, their environmental impact must be minimised throughout their entire life cycle, from their raw materials to the end of their usage.

The Heavy Cost of a Weightless App By Austin Qiao We have all been at a point in our lives where we lie in bed, scroll on our phones, and totally lose track of time. However, I am not here today to discuss the negative effects of doing so; I’m here to show the harm it does to the environment. Because the digital world feels weightless, it is easy to assume it has no physical impact on the planet. But every video you watch has a hidden environmental price tag. TikTok, for example, generates about 2.6 grams of carbon emissions for every minute you spend scrolling. If you use the app for an hour and a half per day, that adds up to nearly 50 kilograms of CO2 a year-roughly the same as driving a petrol car for over 120 miles. So, where do these emissions actually come from? When you open an app like TikTok, the video does not just magically appear on your screen. Your phone sends a signal to a local cell tower, which travels through miles of underground cables to reach a data centre. Data centres are massive warehouses filled with thousands of powerful computers, called servers, that store every video, comment, and profile on the internet. These servers run 24-7, and they require a massive amount of electricity to process that amount of information. Because these computers work so

hard, they generate a lot of heat. To stop them from overheating, data centres use giant air conditioning systems and thousands of gallons of water just to keep the rooms cold. Since the electricity powering these servers and cooling systems mainly comes from burning fossil fuels like coal or gas, carbon dioxide is directly released into the atmosphere as a result. Video apps demand much more energy than text-based sites. To make sure you never have to wait for a loading screen, algorithms constantly pre-load videos in the background

before you even swipe to them. Your phone and the data centres are constantly communicating, burning electricity to keep your experience perfectly smooth. The good news is that you do not have to delete your favourite apps to make a difference. Small changes that you could start today can massively reduce your digital footprint. Watching videos over your home or school WiFi uses significantly less energy than relying on 4G or 5G mobile networks. This is because the signal does not have to travel as far to reach a local router. Setting a daily screen time limit, turning off auto-play, or simply choosing to put your phone down after twenty minutes are all easy ways to cut down your emissions. By taking control of our own screen time, we can shrink a carbon footprint we might never have noticed before.

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BEYOND THE BIN: the truth about recycling by Lisa Li

We rinse our jars and separate our plastics, feeling a small sense of virtue. But is recycling really the silver bullet we think it is? The reality of what happens to them is far more complicated than the little green arrows suggest. Every week, millions of us perform the same ritual. We finished a plastic yogurt pot, rinse it under the tap, and toss it into the blue bin. We feel good about this. We are doing our part. We are saving the planet. But what if it’s a lie? What if, once the lid is closed, our waste doesn’t embark on a heroic journey of rebirth? Plastic is incredibly difficult to recycle. Unlike aluminium or glass, it is chemically complex, expensive to process, and degrades in quality every time it is repurposed (down-cycling). A plastic bottle does not become a new plastic bottle; it becomes a low-grade carpet fibre or a random bench appearing on the street. After that, it is destined for the incinerator or the landfill. Globally, only about 9% of all plastics ever produced has actually been recycled. The truth is, it is often cheaper for companies to make brand-new plastic from fossil fuels than it is to collect, sort and process old plastic.

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Even when we try our best, we often get it wrong. You might think you’re helping by throwing a greasy pizza box or unrinsed peanut butter jar into the recycling. But you are not. You are a contaminator. One dirty container can ruin an entire batch of recycling. If the machinery at the sorting facility detects too much food residue, or if a plastic bag gets tangled in the gears, the entire truckload is rejected and sent straight to the dump. For decades, countries like the UK and the US had a convenient solution. They shipped the recycling to developing nations, such as Malaysia, Vietnam or Turkey, where it is sometimes illegally burned in open-air pits or dumped in rivers, contributing to a global plastic pollution crisis. Out of sight, out of mind. Corporations know we want to do the right thing. That’s why they stick a little green arrow on everything, even on products that are virtually impossible to recycle (greenwashing). They want us to feel that our individual recycling efforts are enough, because it takes the pressure off them to change their packaging and production methods. We are told to fix the problem with our bins, while the real culprits keep churning out single-use plastics by the billions.

So, is recycling pointless? No. But it should be our last resort, not our first line of defence. Environmentalists use a method called the waste hierarchy: Refuse: Just say no to single-use plastics. Bring your own bags, cups, and cutlery. Reduce: Buy less stuff. Choose products with minimal packaging. Reuse: Repair broken items. Buy second-hand. Upcycle old jars into storage containers. Recycle: Only once you’ve exhausted the first three. Rot: Compost your food waste.

HOW CAN WE CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE THROUGH FOOD? By Yara Krushenevska

Every meal that we consume has an impact on the earth.

From growing crops to packaging food, there are several methods through which the food industry can be made sustainable.

Reduce food waste

One of the most basic steps that we can take is to reduce food wastage. We should make it a habit of purchasing only as much as we require. Proper storage and use of leftover food is an excellent practice

IMPROVE YOUR PACKAGING CHOICE

Food packaging is one more critical problem. Packaging usually includes plastic, which is not easy to recycle. But the good news is that scientists create compostable and recyclable materials that will protect food and will produce fewer leftovers. Moreover, some new materials can be composted together with food leftovers.

Use new technology -

https://www.basf.com Technology is also an important component of making food production sustainable. New farming techniques and packaging technology will ensure that we are able to produce sufficient food without harming the environment.

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD Creating a sustainable food system begins with small steps. If the consumers, farmers, and corporations choose wisely and responsibly, we can save from wastage and preserve our planet for future generations.

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The Financial Trap of Sustainable Agriculture By Desmond Lee

The hardest problem to face in this crisis is the financial reality. Most farmers work using the tiny profit produced and cannot absorb years of reduced income. When a farm stops using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, the degraded soil takes 3-5 years to rebuild the natural microbiome. During this phase, crops grow relatively slowly, and pests are a lot harder to manage, causing overall yields to plummet gradually. Furthermore, whenever the farm is still going through this transition, the harvest does not qualify for official “organic” premium pricing. This forces farmers to sell smaller yields at cheaper commodity prices. For many family and individual farms, choosing environmental health over chemical reliance quickly leads to bankruptcy.

The modern food system is at a critical state. Many decades of plowing and heavy chemical have deteriorated half of the world’s soil, leaving food production extremely vulnerable to weather changes. Moving toward more sustainable agriculture is not just a choice anymore, but necessary to restore damaged soils and ensure the future of our food supply. However, this shift is limited by the economic transition gap: a multiyear period where all farmers must take on the expensive equipment costs and a 10-30% drop in crop yields before the land starts achieving sustainability.

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The failure to manage this transition has serious environmental consequences, trapping agriculture in a cycle of ecological destruction. When farmers cannot afford to abandon this method, they are forced to continue using chemicals. This requires increasingly heavy doses of synthetic fertilisers to force deteriorated soils to produce food, disrupting the ground’s natural microbiome. The high amount of nitrogen from these chemicals washes out of the fields, eventually poisoning local water and creating massive aquatic consequences. Without the financial ability to switch to a more environmentally friendly approach, farmers are forced to watch their most fertile soil erode during harsh weather, permanently destroying the land’s biodiversity. True agricultural sustainability can only be attained when both ecological health and support are prioritised. By using regenerative methods, such as crop rotation, diverse planting, and biological pest management, farms can transform from emitting to

collecting carbon. Moreover, healthy soil acts like a sponge that actively collects atmospheric carbon and retains moisture during droughts, helping to mitigate climate change. To allow this to happen, food systems must provide the necessary resources to counteract the initial yield drop. Transitioning to sustainable farming is not something that happens overnight; it is instead a gradual process that requires patience and sufficient resources so the ecosystem can fully recover. Overcoming this requires help from governments and individuals. This can be done by introducing “Certified Transitional” product labels, allowing everyone to pay a small price that directly funds farms that are going through the ecological shift. By spreading the problem across everyone, the heavy burden of planetary restoration is lifted off the individual farmer’s shoulders. Agriculture cannot become environmentally sustainable until it is first made financially survivable. True environmental transformation will remain out of reach until our global systems evolve to support the transition gap, ensuring that saving the earth’s ecosystems does not require farmers to sacrifice everything.

AI Impact on Sustainability

By Kirill Zaev

Artificial intelligence has grown extremely quickly, and modern AI systems require huge amounts of electricity to function. Training large models involves running thousands of powerful computers at the same time, often for days or weeks. Even after training, these systems continue to use energy every time they generate text, analyse data, or run online services. As more companies build AI focused data centres, national energy grids are placed under immense pressure. If this electricity comes from fossil fuels, it becomes harder for countries to meet their sustainability goals. This means that the rapid growth of AI is directly linked to higher emissions unless cleaner, renewable energy sources are used. Another major environmental impact comes from the amount of water needed to cool AI data centres. The servers inside these facilities generate a lot of heat, and without proper cooling they would quickly overheat and fail. Because air cooling can not meet such a massive demand, many data centres rely on water based cooling systems, which can use millions of litres of water each day. In regions already facing drought or water shortages, this creates serious challenges. Local communities may

have to compete with large technology companies for limited water supplies, forcing governments to rethink how water is allocated. As AI continues to expand, the pressure on water resources will only increase unless more efficient cooling technologies are developed. The construction and operation of AI data centres also contribute to the technology sector’s overall carbon footprint on our planet. Building these facilities requires large amounts of steel, concrete, and specialised equipment, all of which produce emissions. Once the centres are running, the constant need for electricity adds even more emissions. If companies do not improve energy efficiency or switch to renewable power, AI could become a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. This raises an important question about how to support technological progress while meeting our sustainability goals.

Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

Sustainable Water: Reducing Water Waste in Agriculture By Kevin Ye

One effective solution is drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to plant roots through pipes and small outlets. This reduces water loss through evaporation and ensures that plants receive the water they need. Although installing these systems can be expensive, they can help farmers save water in the long term. Farmers can also water crops at cooler times of the day, when less water evaporates, and use sensors to monitor soil moisture so that crops are not watered unnecessarily.

Sustainable water use in agriculture means producing enough food while protecting water resources for future generations. Water is essential for growing crops and raising livestock, but freshwater supplies are limited. Population growth, pollution and climate change are putting increasing pressure on water resources. As demand for food increases, it is important to find ways to grow crops efficiently while reducing unnecessary water waste. Agriculture is responsible for around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, making it one of the largest users of freshwater worldwide. Growing crops and raising livestock require large amounts of water, which can put pressure on rivers, lakes and underground water supplies. Inefficient irrigation can waste water through evaporation and runoff. Improving irrigation methods is therefore essential for making farming more sustainable and protecting freshwater supplies. 16

Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

Another way to reduce agricultural water waste is to collect and reuse water. Farmers can collect rainwater from roofs and storage areas for irrigation when needed. Treated wastewater may also be suitable for certain agricultural uses, provided it meets appropriate safety standards. In addition, growing crops that are suited to local climates can reduce the amount of irrigation required. These methods help farmers depend less on freshwater taken from rivers and groundwater.

Climate change makes reducing water waste in agriculture even more important. Higher temperatures can increase evaporation, while changing rainfall patterns can cause droughts and water shortages. These problems can reduce crop growth and threaten food production. By improving irrigation systems, collecting rainwater and choosing suitable crops, farmers can become better prepared for periods of low rainfall and make more efficient use of available water. In conclusion, sustainable water use in agriculture is about using water efficiently, reducing waste and protecting freshwater supplies. Drip irrigation, rainwater collection, water reuse and climate-appropriate crops can all help reduce unnecessary water consumption. Although some methods require investment, they can protect natural resources and support reliable food production. By improving farming practices today, we can help ensure that enough clean water remains available for both people and future generations.

Ecological Deserts and Biodiverse Hotspots By Kylin Shu

Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and other living organisms within an environment. Today, biodiversity is under serious threat, with around one million animal and plant species threatened with extinction. Urbanisation is one of the major challenges because cities replace natural environments with buildings, roads and paved surfaces. However, cities can also become important places for protecting and increasing biodiversity if they are designed carefully. Traditional urban design often removes trees, vegetation and soil to create space for buildings and roads. Impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt prevent water from naturally entering the ground, increasing surface runoff and the risk of flooding. Removing vegetation also disrupts natural carbon, water and nutrient cycles. In addition, cities can experience higher temperatures because of the urban heat island effect. Extreme heat, heavy rainfall and poor air quality can negatively affect both human health and wildlife. Urbanisation is particularly harmful because many cities are located in

biodiversity-rich areas, including coastal regions, river valleys and river deltas. In Europe, around 1,700 species are threatened with extinction, while 36 species have become extinct since 2015. Bumblebees are another example, with 45.6% of species showing declining population trends. This is particularly important because bees are essential pollinators that support food production. Biodiversity provides humans with important ecosystem services. These can be divided into four categories: provisioning services, such as food and clean water; regulating services, such as climate regulation, pollination and flood control; supporting services, such as soil formation and photosynthesis; and cultural services, such as recreation.

areas by around 2-8°C. Parks and urban forests provide habitats for wildlife while also improving human mental and physical health by reducing stress and encouraging people to spend time in nature. Overall, cities can either damage biodiversity or help protect it. Instead of treating nature as something separate from urban areas, planners should integrate natural systems into the built environment. By protecting existing habitats, creating new ones and involving local communities, cities can become more resilient, healthier and more biodiverse places to live.

Trees and vegetation are particularly valuable in cities. Forests remove around 430 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while strategically placed trees can reduce air-conditioning needs by 30% and heating energy use by 20-50%. Trees also capture rainfall, reducing stormwater runoff, and can cool urban

Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

Hydrogen-Powered Cars: A Revolution in the Making?

By Maria Heyer

the situation in which hydrogen makes perfect sense as fuel. On the other hand, there are still very few petrol stations where you can refuel hydrogen cars, as there are less than 20 in the UK. Besides, there still are only two different fully developed models of hydrogen cars (Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai), only demonstrator fleets of long-haul trucks and some fully developed buses (especially Wrightbus, but also Solaris and Caetano) on the European market, which makes it even harder for this innovative way of driving. If you were asked to reflect about sustainability in driving, you would probably think about electric cars straight away. But in reality, that is not the only way to make vehicle transport sustainable – hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also an option. It’s easy to understand how such a car works, since there are just a few important steps to point out. First, you must fuel the vehicle with hydrogen; this is possible at many petrol stations that are offering this service. In the fuel cell, the hydrogen is then split into protons and electrons (positively and negatively charged particles), and the electrons are forced to travel through an external circuit to perform work. That’s how the electricity (electric power) to power the car is provided. Meanwhile, the protons move through a special membrane – most commonly a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). On the other side of the PEM both particles gather and recombine again. Furthermore, they react with oxygen from the air outside, which was pulled into the system, to form water. The water is then emitted as vapour through the exhaust pipe. No other by-products are produced during the process. This is also the reason why hydrogen cars are so 18

Sustainability Week Journal – November 2026

environmentally friendly. Whilst cars that run on diesel or petrol emit carbon dioxide and countless other harmful substances, the only by-product of vehicles powered by hydrogen is water, which is anything but harmful. Although hydrogen-powered cars offer several advantages over conventional vehicles, their potential is still limited by certain practical challenges. On the one hand, hydrogen vehicles are much lighter than electric vehicles and can be refuelled much faster, so their technology is best to be used in long-haul vehicles and for heavy goods traffic. Trucks and buses require huge ranges and must be refueled quickly to avoid long downtimes. That is precisely

The British government is already trying to promote this technology, for example by spending 5.8 billion pounds on its development, amongst other things. Also, you can already see huge progress in this field in other countries, for instance Germany, where there are almost 100 hydrogen refueling stations, or China with approximately 620 hydrogen refueling stations. As hydrogen is now one major pilar of the newest five-year plan in the Chinese strategy it can be expected that hydrogen for mobility (especially trucks and buses) will develop fast and that numbers of available, fully developed models of hydrogen trucks and buses will increase considerably in the near future.