Month: September 2026

Major Landscape Restoration Project Begins in Northumberland

An ambitious new landscape restoration project is underway in Northumberland, following the purchase of the 3,035-hectare Emblehope Estate by environmental organisation RESTORE.

The project aims to restore nature and improve climate resilience across the landscape over the next 30 years. Plans include rewetting around 800 hectares of peatland, restoring native plants and habitats, and introducing low-intensity grazing to support biodiversity. 🌱

The restored peatland could also help reduce flooding by storing an estimated 100,000 cubic metres of additional water, acting like a giant natural sponge and slowing water flowing downstream.

The project is a major example of how restoring natural ecosystems can benefit wildlife, communities and the climate — showing the positive impact that large-scale nature recovery can have.

Find out more here

Renewable Energy Reaches a Turning Point

The global energy system could be reaching a “tipping point”, with renewable energy continuing to grow at an impressive rate.

According to a new review by the Energy Institute, global electricity use increased by 3% in 2025, with renewables providing enough additional electricity to meet the entire increase. Solar power grew by an incredible 30%, while global battery capacity increased by 66%.

China continued to lead the growth in renewable energy, installing more wind and solar power than the rest of the world combined. India also saw renewable generation increase by almost 24%, alongside a fall in electricity generated from coal, oil and gas.

However, global emissions are still rising. The review highlights the need for faster action to improve energy efficiency, switch to cleaner technologies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

The rapid growth of renewable energy is encouraging, but the message is clear: we need to keep accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.

Helping New Woodlands Store More Carbon

New research from Imperial College London has found that adding crushed basalt to newly planted forests could increase the amount of carbon they store by up to 27% over four years.

Scientists also found that adding microorganisms from established forests to woodland soils helped young trees grow, increasing aboveground plant growth by 13% over the same period.

The study tested these approaches across 72 new woodland plots in Wales, exploring how simple, nature-based interventions could help young forests establish more successfully.

Healthy new woodlands are important for biodiversity, climate action and resilient landscapes. While more research and long-term monitoring is needed, these findings could help improve future woodland creation projects and support young forests as they grow.

Europe Experiencing Record-Breaking Heatwave

Large parts of Europe are experiencing an exceptionally severe heatwave, with temperatures breaking records across several countries.

A new analysis by World Weather Attribution has found that a heatwave of this severity would have been “virtually impossible” 50 years ago. Scientists say human-caused climate change has made extreme heat events significantly more likely.

Researchers compared the current heatwave with major European heatwaves in 1976 and 2003. They found that an event like this would have been extremely unlikely in the cooler climate of 1976, while compared with 2003, heatwaves of this severity are now tens to hundreds of times more likely.

The findings provide another clear example of how a warming climate is changing the weather we experience, with extreme heat becoming more frequent and intense.

As temperatures continue to rise, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking action to tackle climate change is more important than ever.

Mangrove Forests Are Making a Comeback

There is some positive news for our planet’s coastal ecosystems. Scientists have found that mangrove forests are now growing globally after decades of decline.

Mangroves are incredibly important. They protect coastal communities from storms and flooding while also absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide.

For many years, mangrove forests were being destroyed to make way for fish farms, housing and other developments. However, since 2010, the world has gained more mangrove forest than it has lost. Stronger legal protection and greater awareness of their importance have helped drive this change.

One of the most encouraging findings is that mangroves have an amazing ability to regenerate naturally when people stop cutting them down.

Fine out more here

New Hope for Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs

Scientists have discovered that climate-resilient coral reefs may be far more widespread than previously thought, offering hope for the future of our oceans.

Researchers analysed more than 45,000 coral surveys alongside decades of climate and ocean data. They identified almost 166,000 square kilometres of coral reefs across 71 countries and 100 territories that may have the ability to survive and recover from the impacts of climate change.

This is particularly important as coral reefs are facing increasing threats from rising ocean temperatures and mass coral bleaching. Between 2023 and 2025, extreme heat affected almost 84% of the world’s coral reef area.

The discovery of these resilient reefs highlights the importance of protecting and conserving areas that could act as refuges for coral and marine life as our climate continues to change.

While coral reefs remain under serious threat, identifying places with greater natural resilience gives scientists and conservationists valuable opportunities to focus protection and restoration efforts where they could have the greatest impact.