World's food supply under 'severe threat' from loss of biodiversity

Plants, insects and organisms crucial to food production in steep decline, says UN
The world’s capacity to produce food is being undermined by humanity’s failure to protect biodiversity, according to the first UN study of the plants, animals and micro-organisms that help to put meals on our plates.

The stark warning was issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation after scientists found evidence the natural support systems that underpin the human diet are deteriorating around the world as farms, cities and factories gobble up land and pump out chemicals.

 Organic carrot harvest in Germany. Organic agriculture makes up just 1% of global farmland. Photograph: Julian Stratenschulte/EPA

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/feb/21/worlds-food-supply-under-severe-threat-from-loss-of-biodiversity

Greta Thunberg tells EU: your climate targets need doubling | Environment | The Guardian

A 16-years old Swedish school kid organizes school strikes and tells politicians and business leaders what to do about the Climate Crisis.
Check out this great video – and story – makes me feel hopeful:

Swede, 16, says EU cannot just ‘wait for us to grow up and become the ones in charge’

The EU should double its climate change reduction targets to do its fair share in keeping the planet below a dangerous level of global warming, the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has told political and business leaders in Brussels.

Flanked by students from the Belgian and German school strike movements, the Swedish teenager said it was not enough to hope that young people were going to save the world.


(The Associated Press) Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, speaks during an event at the EU Charlemagne building in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.

Full story and video:

Greta Thunberg tells EU: your climate targets need doubling | Environment | The Guardian

Press release: Breakthrough for Indonesia's rainforests

After 9 years of support from Norway, deforestation in Indonesia has now begun to decline, and for the first time Indonesia can receive payments from Norway for reduced emissions from deforestation.

Photo: Rainforest Foundation Norway

Press release: Breakthrough for Indonesia's rainforests

Tonight Environmental Documentary Series on Climate Crisis

Environmental Documentary Series: Tonight - Anote’s Ark (Public Screening of yet unreleased award-winning film) and A Climate for Conflict. SHU, Science Building 131, 7pm

http://www.anotesark.com/

http://viiphoto.com/vii-stories/a-climate-for-conflict-by-nichole-sobecki/

Fast fashion is harming the planet, MPs say - BBC News

Young people's love of fast fashion is coming under the scrutiny of Britain's law-makers.

MPs say the fashion industry is a major source of the greenhouse gases that are overheating the planet.

Discarded clothes are also piling up in landfill sites and fibre fragments are flowing into the sea when clothes are washed.

The retailers admit more needs to be done, but say they are already working to reduce the impact of their products.



Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionDoes my environmental impact look big in this?

Fast fashion is harming the planet, MPs say - BBC News

Your Pesticide Levels Can Drop Dramatically by Eating All Organic - Cornucopia Institute

 In a new study, 16 children and adults who ate only organic food for six days experienced a 60.5% reduction in the levels of common pesticides in their bodies.

Source: Larry Grubbs, Flickr

Your Pesticide Levels Can Drop Dramatically by Eating All Organic - Cornucopia Institute



Open Access Science article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935119300246

Weedkiller 'raises risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%' | Business | The Guardian

A broad new scientific analysis of the cancer-causing potential of glyphosate herbicides, the most widely used weedkilling products in the world, has found that people with high exposures to the popular pesticides have a 41% increased risk of developing a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

 Bottles of Roundup herbicide, a product of Monsanto. Findings come as regulators in several countries consider limiting the use of glyphosate-based products in farming. Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

Weedkiller 'raises risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%' | Business | The Guardian

Open access science article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887