From Chile to China, efforts to conserve urban wetlands have been recognised after 31 metropolises were accredited as ‘wetland cities’.

The accreditation scheme – introduced by the Convention on Wetlands in 2015 – encourages cities to recognise the importance of their wetlands and commit to their protection.

Among those to have been accredited this year are Valdivia in Chile, where a decades-long citizen movement to protect black-necked swans (pictured) led to the restoration of the Cruces River. The Chinese city Hangzhou (main picture) and Geneva, Switzerland, which incorporates wetland protection into urban policy, were among the other additions.

Urban wetlands face many challenges, from population growth to pollution, but bring myriad benefits, such as flood mitigation, water purification, and enhanced biodiversity.

“Wetland city accreditation demonstrates how cities worldwide are taking concrete steps in favour of their urban wetlands,” said Dr Musonda Mumba, secretary general of the Convention on Wetlands. “By protecting, restoring and wisely using their wetlands, these cities are enhancing their resilience to climate change and improving quality of life for their residents.”

Image: iStock/Christian Peters

A simple blood test to detect signs of dementia decades before it develops is being rolled out across the UK as part of an “exciting” new study. 

Scientists at the University of Cambridge, England, will use the test to identify brain changes in people with dementia, instead of using more costly brain scans, which require specialist equipment that’s not available everywhere.

Initial research – led by Dr Maura Malpetti, senior research associate at the university – found that molecular changes associated with brain inflammation and dementia can be detected in the blood. 

“We’re focusing on changes to the brain which can manifest 10-20 years before symptoms, with the hope that in the future we can treat them early enough to stop the disease before symptoms occur,” said Dr Malpetti. 

The study will initially focus on frontotemporal dementia and is currently recruiting people from across the UK. Prof Fiona Carragher from the charity Alzheimer’s Society said: “Blood testing offers the potential to revolutionise dementia diagnosis in the future, so it’s incredibly exciting to see this project coming to life.” 

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Putting solar panels on the roofs of lower-income households could lift 1.2 million families in the UK out of fuel poverty – all while decarbonising the country’s grid. 

That’s according to a report by the Resolution Foundation thinktank. It estimates that poorer households could save as much as a quarter on their energy bills with the panels. 

The foundation called on the government to offer means-tested grants or loans to cover the costs of solar panels. “This could really get the ‘rooftop revolution’ up and running and ensure that the consumer benefits from this net zero transition aren’t just hogged by richer households,” said Zachary Leather, an economist at the foundation.  

The UK’s feed-in tariff, which paid households to generate solar electricity, was axed in 2019. While it was running, there was a higher uptake of solar in poorer regions than wealthier ones (35% v 31%), according to the Resolution Foundation. By 2023, solar panels were more than twice as likely to be installed in richer neighbourhoods.  

Image: Bill Mead

It now takes just one day for the world to add 1GW of solar capacity, compared to an entire year two decades ago. 

That’s according to figures from Our World in Data, which said the pace of change has been driven by the falling cost of solar. Since 2001, the price has plummeted by around 95% – from $6.21 (£4.98) per watt to $0.31 (£0.25) – it added. 

The figures chime with recent data showing that, for the first time, Europe got more of its electricity from the sun over an entire year than it did coal. The good news was described as a “milestone” for the green energy revolution. 

Meanwhile, a study in East Anglia, England, found that – hectare for hectare – solar farms contained a greater number of bird species than surrounding arable land. “Solar farms managed well for nature could make an important contribution [to biodiversity],” said Dr Joshua Copping of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which led the research. 

Image: Erik Karits

A “groundbreaking” basic income scheme that would see economically vulnerable people given cash payments has been proposed for Manchester, England. 

The pilot would initially be aimed at young people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, with the aim of eventually rolling it out to all.  

The proposed scheme is being championed by academics at Northumbria University and campaigners at the Universal Basic Income Lab Network. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has previously backed the idea.  

Supporters of a basic income argue that unconditional monthly payments create an ‘income floor’ that nobody could fall below, ending absolute poverty, improving wellbeing and boosting the economy. Critics claim such schemes are expensive, inefficient and disincentivise work, though pilots have disputed some such accusations.      

Details of the proposed scheme were outlined in a report that will be presented to MPs this month.

“Andy Burnham has rightly prioritised preventing homelessness in Greater Manchester,” said Dr Elliott Johnson of Northumbria University. “This pilot is an opportunity to deal with that crisis at root – by giving young people the financial security that they need to make longer-term decisions that secure their future.”

Image: Surya Prasad

A seven-year dam project in the Czech Republic that was stalled by bureaucracy has been completed in just two days by beavers.

Officials in the Brdy region had secured around Kr30m (£1m) to build a dam in a protected area with the aim of creating a wetland habitat for other species. However, the project became bogged down in bureaucracy. Then, while everyone was sleeping, beavers built the thing for free. 

Beavers have become a totem of the rewilding movement and their handiwork in the Czech Republic is a boost for those campaigning for the return of the animals to their historic habitats. 

“Beavers know best,” Jaroslav Obermajer, of the Czech Nature and Landscape Protection Agency, told Radio Prague International. “The places where they build dams are always chosen just right – better than when we design it on paper.” 

Image: Niklas Hamann

Concern about the environmental impact of flying is inspiring more Gen Z travellers to take overland adventures instead. 

A new YouGov survey found that 47% of Gen Z travellers in the UK are concerned about the impact of their trips, compared to 31% of baby boomers. It chimes with the latest State of Student and Youth Travel report, which suggested 13% of students are now avoiding flying. 

The trend has led to a rise in the number of overland holidays available, and even spurred no-fly travel agencies such as Byway, which launched in the UK five years ago.  

“We stand by the principle that travelling through the world is better than flying over it,” said founder Cat Jones. “There is just such romanticism and joy in journeys that go through.”

The latest survey came as the UK government backed plans for a third runway at Heathrow, a move condemned by environmental groups.   

Image: JK

Global offshore wind capacity has surged by 15% in the last year, with China and the Netherlands leading the way.

The two countries were responsible for 63% of the increased capacity – from 70.2GW to 80.9GW – according to a report by RenewableUK. The research found that China has the largest portfolio of offshore wind, followed by the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. 

The growth is set to continue, with China stretching out its lead. The country has 247GW of offshore projects in the pipeline, followed by the UK with 96GW planned, the US (79GW), Germany (68GW) and Sweden (55GW). 

“The global offshore wind market is continuing to grow at an extraordinary speed year after year, as more countries look to seize the industrial, economic and environmental opportunities which the technology offers,” said RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail. 

Image: Shaun Dakin

Detractors of vegan food had something to chew over this week as a plant-based restaurant became the first in the UK to get a Michelin star. 

Plates in London was founded by siblings Kirk and Keeley Haworth. Chef Kirk (pictured, right) impressed judges by “taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet”, Michelin said. 

While the vegan diet is praised for its low impact, conscious diners don’t necessarily need to plump exclusively for plant-based options. The World Wildlife Fund’s Eating for Net Zero report showed that even small tweaks to regular diets can yield big environmental – and health – gains. 

Image: © Safia Shakarchi

If you’ve ever been told to ‘sleep on’ something, then you were probably given sage advice – things really do seem better in the morning.  

So concludes a new study by University College London, which analysed data from some 50,000 UK adults to build up a picture of when we are at our perkiest.

It found that people “generally wake up feeling best and feel worst around midnight,” which suggests that watching the news or engaging in an argument before bed is ill advised.

Perhaps less surprisingly, there are also seasonal variations to our mood, the study found, with “particularly strong evidence for better mental health and wellbeing in the summer”.

Image: Bruce Mars
Main image: iStock