Scientists have discovered proteins that can eat plastic, but will it be enough? Photo via envato.

Smart sea sponges, plastic-eating proteins and the great Anthropocene argument

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Have humans broken the Earth so badly that we’ve created our own geological epoch? Not quite, scientists say – but the debate isn’t over just yet.

The ThinkLandscape round-up is back, and we’re here to dig through the month’s headlines, from a canceled Anthropocene to farmer protests and the Earth turning greener.

This month on ThinkLandscape

An annual GLF tradition returns: on 8 March, we celebrated International Women’s Day by recognizing these eight remarkable women with a new vision for Earth.

Is the news giving you eco-anxiety? Here are our top tips on how to cope.

Nearly 60 years ago, the Green Revolution transformed Indian agriculture. Here’s what happened next – and why Indian farmers are protesting again.

Buildings are a huge source of carbon emissions, but architects are looking to the past to find inspiration for tomorrow.

Bees and other pollinators are dying out in record numbers. Can we keep them alive?

In our latest explainer, we explore the circular economy – what it is, why we need it and how we can build one.

Our GLF colleagues also chime in with reflections on Indigenous wisdom and a visual recap of a five-day adventure through the Colombian Andes.

And lastly, in this two-part mini-series, we chat with the Pacific Islanders hoping to reinvent shipping and question when electric and hydrogen planes will truly get off the ground.

What we’re reading

A new satellite will track methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Photo via envato.

Climate

Last month was the warmest February ever recorded, making it the ninth record-breaking month in a row – and more records are set to fall as El Niño compounds human-made climate change.

Could AI help us solve the climate crisis? A new report suggests it’s likely to make matters worse.

A climate scientist sued two writers for defamation after they compared him to a child molester. Now, a jury has awarded him USD 1 million.

This cutting-edge new satellite will track methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. But what about agriculture?

Humans have greatly altered the environment. Photo via envato.

People

The Anthropocene isn’t a thing, scientists have decided after 15 years of fierce debate. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean we haven’t radically altered the planet during our brief tenure here.

The green transition could be a rather unjust one for Indigenous Peoples. That is, unless they have a say in what happens to the rare earth minerals buried under their land.

From France to India, farmers are taking to the streets to air their grievances, but what’s really behind the unrest? Well, it’s complicated.

Philippine waters are plagued with illegal fishing. Meet the villagers forming their own vigilante patrols to fend off intruders.

One in five migratory species are now at risk of extinction. Photo via envato.

Planet

The Earth is turning greener. Surely that must be good news, right? Wrong.

Sea sponges might have an inconvenient truth for us: were we wrong about ‘pre-industrial’ temperatures all along?

One in five migratory species are now at risk of extinction. Unsurprisingly, humans are driving this decline through habitat loss, overexploitation and the climate crisis.

Meanwhile, farmed salmon are dying in greater numbers than ever, but why?

Panama Canal at Miraflores Locks – Panama City, Panama. Photo via envato.

Business

The Panama Canal is drying up due to drought. Shipping giant Maersk is moving goods across Panama by rail instead.

Plastic waste can take centuries to naturally decompose, and recycling is clearly a false solution. So, could these proteins help us clean up our act?

From eco-friendly soap to AI-powered sustainable finance apps, these green startups are powering Latin America’s green transition.

Are B Corporations really socially and environmentally sustainable, or is the label just another greenwashing tool?

2024 will potentially be the biggest election year in history. Photo via envato

Policy

This year is arguably the biggest election year ever. Here’s how five crucial elections around the world could determine our planetary fate.

Colombia has vowed to put nature on the map as it prepares to host the COP16 biodiversity summit, which will take place in Cali in October.

Spain has proposed a ban on very short domestic flights, though – as was the case in France – the number of routes affected could be minimal.

West Africa’s coastline is eroding faster than almost anywhere else in the world. Could this nature-based solution stave off the rising seas?

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