newsmart – Environment

theguardian.com | 1 hrs. 22 min. ago

Country diary: A new chapter for the farm – we’re going organic

Andrea Meanwell | Tebay, Cumbria: Historically it’s been a tricky thing for hill farms to do, but we’ve always run ours on organic principles, and now we’re fully convertingFrom 1 November we have change happening on our farm. We have decided to become an organic farm and have started the two-year conversion process with the Soil Association.

We’ve always run the farm on organic principles, but now, with our small shop selling our beef, lamb and pork, we’ve decided that we will convert, prioritising soil health and biodiversity without the use of chemicals.It has historically been tricky for hill farms to go organic because many are on commons with shared grazing and no physical boundaries between “hefts”, and with shared routes to and from the fell.

Now the certifiers are keen to be flexible and adapt, so we have decided to give it a go. The process is funded by the government’s sustainable farming incentive scheme, which we were lucky to get into this year as so many farmers missed out. Continue reading...

koreatimes.co.kr | 3 hrs. 24 min. ago

K-water signs MOU with Austin to share AI water management technology

Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with Austin, Texas, to cooperate on artificial intelligence (AI) water management, meeting with a delegation led by Michael Rogers, the city’s assistant city manager. The pact aims to share data-based smart water management solutions in response to the climate crisis and the growth of advanced industries, while strengthening a sustainable global water cooperation network.

Key areas include sharing best practices and technologies, holding joint seminars to build smart water management capabilities, and identifying and implementing joint proof-of-concept projects for local application. Discussions began in January at CES 2026, when the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in K-water’s technologies.

Following exchanges that included K-water’s August attendance at the Central Texas-Korea Summit, the Austin delegation’s Korea visit and the signing of the agreement have laid the groundwork for substantive cooperation. Austin Water, the city’s water utility, has recently

news.wisc.edu | 13 hrs. 19 min. ago

National biotechnology commission visits UW–Madison to explore research and innovation

From advances in agricultural science and sustainable bioenergy to medical breakthroughs to new automated technologies, UW–Madison is shaping the future of biotechnology.

thehindu.com | 16 hrs. 38 min. ago

CSIR-NIIST showcases sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging

CSIR-NIIST showcases bio-polymer bottle technology and biodegradable PBAT composites as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging at ESTIC 2026 conclave in New Delhi

theguardian.com | 23 hrs. ago

Chancellor John Healey to end standing charges on household gas bills, as City expects a quiet budget – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsWhat to expect from John Healey’s first budget: who wins, who pays?Andrew Sissons, director in sustainable future at Nesta, has welcomed the move, saying:“Ditching the gas standing charge rightly takes a big chunk off millions of people’s energy bills, sharing costs more fairly and giving cash-strapped households a much-needed boost.This measure will provide relief to the poorest households who ration their gas use but it will also mean that switching to electric heating such as heat pumps is a better deal for some households that use more gas.It reduces bills for a majority of peopleIt is progressive: poorer households will save more than wealthier onesIt supports electrification by reducing the electricity-to-gas price ratioIt should be popular, because people view standing charges as unfairIt costs the Treasury nothingThe median dual fuel household uses 9,700 kWh of gas per year, but the average is 11,900 kWh.The top five percent use over 25,000 kWh annually, which jumps up to over 42,000 kWh for the top one percent.

Continue reading...

euronews.com | 23 hrs. 39 min. ago

Travellers are making more sustainable choices to ‘enhance’ journeys, new study finds

Sustainability is playing a larger role in how and where we travel, with a new study revealing that exploring the outdoors, scenic rail journeys and visiting lesser-known destinations can enhance experiences abroad.

koreatimes.co.kr | 1 days ago

PM pledges Korea will take lead in climate crisis response

Korea will be at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Wednesday as she opened an international conference on climate crisis. "There is a saying that this summer has been the hottest one yet, but it will be the coolest summer we will ever experience," Han said in an opening address at the Global Cooperation Conference on Climate Crisis Response.

"Climate crisis is no longer a warning for the future but has become a disaster that threatens our lives today." She outlined measures that Korea has taken against climate change, including the Korea Green Transformation (K-GX) strategy, which seeks sustainable growth and climate crisis response at the same time, and a series of efforts to help industries transition away from carbon emissions.

"It has been more than 10 years since the Paris Agreement. It is time to produce specific outcomes," Han said, referring to the agreement adopted in 2015 with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. "If each nation's climate policy is going to lead to ta

timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 1 days ago

Solar panels 10 feet above Massachusetts cranberry bogs revive farming and provide lease income

In Massachusetts, a groundbreaking approach has emerged as two cranberry bogs have implemented solar panels above their crops. This eco-friendly strategy not only cuts farming expenses but also creates extra revenue through solar energy production. The initiative fosters healthier soil and revives forgotten bog areas, ensuring ongoing agricultural yield.

Supported by state policies, this dual use of land is paving the way for agrivoltaics and sustainable farming practices.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 1 days ago

Irish farmer builds solar farm on 1.5 acres, powers 150 homes while sheep graze beneath panels

In County Cork, Sean Keating, a dedicated dairy farmer, has innovatively transformed a portion of his land into a solar farm. This eco-friendly venture enables him to harvest renewable energy while still allowing sheep to graze comfortably beneath the solar installations. Expected to power about 150 households annually, this project showcases the critical support from the government and could potentially motivate other farmers to explore similar sustainable energy alternatives.

onwisconsin.uwalumni.com | 1 days ago

Ever-Green Morgridge Hall

The new home of the College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence is the most sustainable building on the UW–Madison campus.

thehindu.com | 1 days ago

Develop affordable, sustainable food packaging technologies: DRDO scientist

CSIR-CFTRI celebrates 77th Foundation Day; director stresses research with tangible societal benefits

theguardian.com | 1 days ago

‘No one saves the planet if it hits their pocket’: UK heat pump installers fear planned subsidy cuts

Boiler upgrade scheme, which provides grants of up to £9,000 for sustainable alternatives, expected to be slashed in budgetWhen Bill Tuck first started installing air source heat pumps six years ago, other heating engineers were skeptical the green technology would take off. “Now, the conversation is completely different,” he said.“I’m getting approached by them saying: ‘Mrs Jones, my customer for 15 years, she’s enquiring about a heat pump.

What can you tell me?’ The whole narrative has changed.” Continue reading...