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Pollution alert: There are 10 million potentially contaminated sites worldwide. Photo: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

FAO launches its mission against global soil pollution

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The UN organization presents the International Network on Soil Pollution, a project to tackle contamination and restore damaged lands. Fixing the problem - says FAO - is crucial to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
In 2021, deforestation affected 5,800 hectares of land in Indonesia's easternmost province on the border with Papua New Guinea. Photo: Frans Huby Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)Frans Huby Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Paper and palm oil industry boost deforestation in Papua-Indonesia, NGOs say

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In the province of Papua, Indonesia, almost 6 thousand hectares of forests were destroyed in 2021, says the NGO Pusaka. A report accuses the subsidiary of a Korean company (which denies any wrongdoing) and two local operators of the palm oil industry
Urban forests grow faster and release less CO2 than their inland peers. Photo: Monika M. Wahi Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Monika M. Wahi Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The paradox of urban forests: more polluted but even more useful for climate mitigation

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Two Boston University studies show surprising results: forests grow faster in "dirty" areas on city borders. Where they store carbon more efficiently
The effects of a flood in Valkenburg in the Netherlands. In the last 40 years, extreme weather events in Europe have caused half a trillion euros damage. Photo: Romaine CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain DedicationPhoto: Romaine CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

In Europe extreme weather events resulted in €500 billion losses since 1980

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Since 1980, extreme weather events have caused half a trillion euros losses and 145,000 deaths in Europe, EEA has found. Climate change remains the main threat. Today, the insurance coverage is still too low
According to a Chinese-British research, the low presence of some elements in the soil seems to be correlated to a higher mortality rate in Covid-19 cases. Photo: pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredpxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Soil health and Covid-19 immune response could be linked, scientists say

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A Chinese-British research identifies a statistical correlation between the concentration of zinc, iron, copper and selenium in soil and the outcome of Covid-19 cases: the lower the concentration, the higher the fatality rate. The investigation suggests a link between the two events. But further studies will be needed
Antibiotics used for livestock promote climate change as they impact on soil microbes. Photo: Alan Levine Free for personal and commercial use Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Alan Levine Free for personal and commercial use Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

How livestock antibiotics affect microbes and promote climate change

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Antibiotics and heat impact on microbes, accelerating their respiration andbCO2 emissions. Monensin, a widespread product used in animal breeding, is under fire.
Deforestation causes additional carbon emissions, exacerbating the climate emergency. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not required

Forests are losing far more carbon than expected thus worsening climate change

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Annual carbon loss from deforestation has doubled since the beginning of the 21th century. A Chinese study revises upward earlier estimates that assumed a decline. Agro-industry in the crosshairs
Glyphosate poses a threat to human health, soil health and ecosystem preservation. Photo: Jo Zimny Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Jo Zimny Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Le Monde criticizes Bruxelles’ green light to glyphosate: ‘EU is ignoring scientists’ concerns’

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According to the French newspaper, European experts do not take into account the studies certifying the health risks associated with glyphosate. Under the lens is the preliminary analysis of the Food Safety Authority that could lead the EU Commission to grant a new authorization to the use of the controversial herbicide
Secondo gli esperti inglesi, la Gran Bretagna dovrebbe piantare il 40% in più di siepi nelle aree agricole ntro il 2050 come barriere contro inondazioni e cambiamenti climatici. FOTO: luigi alesi via Flickr.

Climate crisis, the solution hides in the hedgerows

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Essenziali per trattenere l'acqua e difendere la biodiversità, utili contro l'inquinamento da prodotti chimici. Un'analisi del Comitato indipendente sui cambiamenti climatici sottolinea l'impatto positivo dell'installazione delle siepi. Il consiglio: aumentarle del 40% entro il 2050
Agriculture collects $520 billion of $1.8 trillion harmful subsidies tracked in the world every year. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use No attribution requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use No attribution required

$1.8 trillion climate-damaging subsidies support agriculture and other industries

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B Team's report: a huge mass of government subsidies promotes unsustainable production or emission-intensive consumption, harming nature and causing the degradation of global ecosystems. More than 500 million dollars support soil-damaging activities

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It’s beneath our feet but we never think about its value. We tread on it, we mistreat it, but a healthy, fertile soil means life. It’s time to take care of the soil and each one of us can and must make a difference.

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