In today’s edition: beavers are helping protect landscapes from wildfires by creating wetlands that slow the spread of flames, Sweden moves to ban “forever chemicals” in everyday products ahead of wider EU action, and former NOAA researchers launch an independent platform to keep climate data and research freely accessible.
Beavers are playing an unexpected role in protecting landscapes from wildfires. Building dams and creating wetlands means they’re able to help keep areas wetter for longer, making it harder for fires to spread while giving wildlife a place to shelter and helping burnt areas recover.
In Mexico capital, Isla Urbana helps create rainwater harvesting systems that provide low-income households with sustainable water access for five to eight months of the year (during the dry season rainfall is insufficient). Founded in 2009, the organisation aims to reach 1 million people who would previously have had to collect water themselves, by next year.
Sweden is moving to ban PFAS, a group of thousands of long-lasting chemicals used in everyday products, in a step the government has referred to as a “major victory” for public health and the environment. Often known as “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly, PFAS have been linked to a range of serious health risks, including certain cancers.
A group of former NOAA researchers has launched Climate.us, an independent platform designed to keep climate data and research freely accessible and shielded from political interference. Funded by donations and backed by scientists, the scheme aims to make sure essential climate information remains available to researchers, policymakers and the public.
New York has distributed $189 million in Summer EBT benefits to help 1.6 million low-income children access food during the school holidays, when free school meals are unavailable. Eligible families can still apply for the support until 8 September 2026.
Nepal’s wild tiger population has reached an estimated 429 – a remarkable recovery from just 121 animals in 2010. The government announced the latest figures on Global Tiger Day, with a clear sign of progress after the population also increased from 355 in 2022.
A decade after local communities took charge of managing part of Kaua’i’s coastline, fish stocks and marine ecosystems are showing encouraging signs of recovery. Native Hawaiian fishers, conservation groups and scientists say the state’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area is delivering positive results for both marine life and traditional fishing practices.
In Nigeria’s coastal fishing communities, unreliable electricity has long meant much of the daily catch spoils before it can be sold. Solar-powered cold storage is changing that, helping fishers reduce post-harvest losses and grow their incomes.
In 2007, the US began returning half a million tonnes of discarded oyster shells to the ocean to help restore damaged reefs. Nearly two decades later, the project has created thriving habitats for thousands of marine species, pointing to the long-term benefits of oyster reef restoration for coastal ecosystems.
Founded last year by couple Emanuel Hernandez and Elena Soboleva, the Chicago Scream Club has become a popular resource for anyone looking to release stress or, in at least one case, celebrate getting married. Videos online of people standing in line, each shrieking into the lake, proves that it’s a popular group activity.
