ESS Bridge Week - News Stories 2024 by Joanna BURGON

Biodiversity

2023-09-26 02:20:05 UTC

The take-home messages are that biodiversity loss, climate change and introduced species increase disease, whereas urbanisation decreases it,” said lead researcher Prof Jason Rohr from the University of Notre Dame in the US.

Experts analysed nearly 1,000 studies of global environmental drivers of infectious disease, covering all continents except for Antarctica. They looked at both the severity and prevalence of disease in plant, animal and human hosts.

Food Sources and Waste

2024-05-30 02:06:18 UTC

Facts:

Improvements in the cold chain could reduce global food waste by 620 million metric tonnes yearly.
Fully refrigerated supply chains could cut food waste-related greenhouse gas emissions by 41% globally.
one-third of food produced annually is wasted, (1.3 billion tonnes)
800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
Food waste contributes to about 8% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Biodiversity

2024-05-30 02:09:12 UTC

The definition of biodiversity is: the variety of all life on earth - all the ecosystems and living organisms that exist within their own communities (such as animals, plants, fungi) and how each species interacts with the abiotic and biotic factors around them. The most significant cause that contributes to the loss of biodiversity is local and global extinction. A subtle change within the ecosystem can result in a tremendous change in species number. Examples of this include:

Human activities (deforestation, fishing, hunting)
Invasive alien species- big problem on islands
Nature needs to be able to cope with change- environment always changing

As a result, 99% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct

Climate

2024-05-30 02:12:41 UTC

The Institute of Philanthropy in Hong Kong has donated $1.23 million to support the WHO's efforts to address the health impacts of climate change, which are projected to cause around 250,000 additional deaths by 2050. The donation marks the IoP's first partnership with a UN agency as part of its mission to promote global philanthropy.

Water Sources and Pollution

2024-05-30 02:15:53 UTC

A fire and explosion at Synthite Factory caused the death of around 50 fish in River Alyn on Denbigh Road in Mold, Flintshire.

Key takeaways are that the environmental impact of the chemical factory in Mold is now mitigated, and is safe for pets and livestock to access the river nearby; the effects on the local biodiversity has been localised and fish can now return to the affected area of the river. Now there are lifted restrictions on accessing the waterway.

Talks about the externalities of nature due to industralization fo factories
About 50 dead fish were found in the nearby River Alyn following the blaze at the Synthite factory on Denbigh Road in Mold, Flintshire, on 30 April.
Highlights the affect of biodiversity due to the factories
The influence of human activities and pollution on the ecosystem

Environmental disasters

megan_yhchan2 — 2024-05-30 02:20:00 UTC

Yesterday, there was a volcano eruption that had started on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-western Iceland, following the end of the previous eruption on March 16th.

According to the Icelandic meteorological office, the eruptions had reached a height of at least 50 metres. Moreover, the magma chamber below Svartsengi power plant has accumulated over 20 million cubic metres of molten rock. They had also reported that there were around 400 earthquakes that had occurred over the past 7 days.

Most of Grindavik’s 4,000 residents were permanently evacuated in November before the eruptions had occurred between December to March this year. During the January eruption, there was flowing lava that engulfed three homes of the residents.