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Researchers on a mission | Environment
On a mission to bring nature back into cities
Polish geographer Dr Iwona Zwierzchowska is on a mission to develop green spaces in the city of Poznań with the help of EU funding and 30 partners across Europe and beyond.
Researchers on a mission | Environment
On a mission to beat plastic pollution
German marine biologist Dr Tim Kiessling is on a mission to discover the true scale of plastic pollution in…
EU-funded researchers are looking for alternative sources of protein to balance the environmental impact of meat production. © pbd Studio, Shutterstock.com
Agriculture | Environment | Science in society
From fava beans to future foods: researchers turn to plant-based proteins for a healthier planet
Crops like chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and quinoa could help make Europe’s food systems more…
Researchers are working on the next generation of sewage processing. Image is in the public domain
Environment | Industry | Open Innovation
Electric bacteria could quadruple speed of sewage processing
Bacteria that grow their own electrical wires to help them survive in harsh environments are transforming how we process sewage.
The Field Flux prototype can measure the amount of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in agricultural fields. Credit: NORA
Environment
Keeping a robotic eye on pollution
Field robots and plane-based remote sensors can patrol the earth and the sky to monitor the gases that cause climate change.
Adding bacteria to the roots of poplar trees could help clean contaminated soil. Image credit: Flickr/ Ekaterina Sotova
Environment | Bioeconomy
Bacteria turn trees into pollution-eating machines
Hacking trees by adding bacteria to their roots could help scrub contaminated soil clean of chemicals and metals from industrial spillages and fallouts, a process known as gentle remediation. 
Using satellite data from the EU’s Sentinel missions along with other data is helping scientists figure out how to improve shipping safety. Copyright 2016 EUMETSAT
ICT | Open Science | Policy | Space | Environment
New trends identified by computers that scour web, satellite data
Highly sophisticated computers are mining vast amounts of data from the web, digital maps and satellite imagery to pick out trends in areas like demographics, transport and the environment.
Jan Dusik says that political will is the major obstacle for transitioning to a green economy. Image courtesy of Jan Dusik
Environment | Interview
If we want a green economy we need greener politics – Jan Dusik, UN Environment
The green economy aims to achieve growth without harming the environment, but to transform our current society our leaders need to further embrace this change, according to Jan Dusik, director of the…
A demonstration at the Venice Architecture Biennale showed that creatures in modified building blocks could generate electricity. Image courtesy of LIAR
Environment | Energy
‘Living buildings’ could use bacteria for heat, electricity and repairs
Inserting bacteria into bricks and concrete could help generate heat, circulate air and repair cracks, according to researchers who are designing innovative construction materials to transform bricks…
The percentage of the French population living in urban areas has gone from 62 % in 1960 to 80 % in 2015. 'Nasa photo satellite de Paris' by Nasa is in the public domain
Social Sciences | Environment | Open Science
Disused factories and satellites helping thwart urban sprawl
Europe’s big cities have been spreading their tentacles into surrounding villages and farmland for centuries. Now, satellite analysis is helping free up old parking lots, disused factories and…
The Quito Declaration strengthens the role of science in sustainable urbanisation, according to Dr Niki Frantzeskaki. Image courtesy of Dr Niki Frantzeskaki
Interview | Environment | Policy | Open to the World
UN Quito Declaration puts citizens, scientists at heart of city planning - Dr Niki Frantzeskaki
The United Nation’s declaration on the future of the world’s cities, known as the Quito Declaration, will mean that citizens’ needs are placed at the heart of the urban development process, according…
Fish farms depend on aquafeed made from smaller wild species such as anchovies. Image credit: ‘Engraulis encrasicolus Gervais flipped’ by Gervais et Boulart is in the public domain
Environment
Fish farms and the sustainable food fight
Overfishing is threatening more than 90 species in Europe with extinction. While fish farms were once tipped to help offset the effect of plummeting stocks, it turned out they can actually make…
Dry soil in the summer can lead to rising temperatures. Image credit: Flickr/ CraneStation
Environment
Earlier springs depleting water, linked to summer heatwaves
Warmer springs seen as a result of global warming might be leading to drier, hotter conditions in summer as early plant growth depletes precious water supplies, researchers have shown.

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