Environment

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Chronic ocean heating is driving a rapid and unprecedented loss of marine life worldwide, researchers have confirmed. Scientists found fish populations fell by 7.2% for every 0.1C of decadal warming, a pattern that could accelerate as temperatures rise. The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, examined more than 33,000 populations across the northern hemisphere between 1993 and...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Italian scientists studying Mimmo, a solitary dolphin in the Venice lagoon, say humans need management, not wildlife. Since its first appearance in June 2025, Mimmo has captured public attention with playful leaps and interactions near crowded canals, prompting both delight and concern among residents and tourists alike. The bottlenose dolphin, typically found in pods, has instead chosen the...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Scotland’s climate strategy is facing fresh criticism for relying heavily on unproven technologies and uncertain projections. The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has expressed concern about the feasibility of the Scottish government’s long-term emissions targets, despite acknowledging that its recent short-term plans are more realistic. Nigel Topping, chair of the CCC, highlighted that Scotland’s new approach to carbon...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A legal claim against South West Water over sewage pollution has now widened significantly. The focus of this claim, which began in Exmouth, targets alleged environmental failings harming coastal communities, local businesses, and individuals across Devon and Cornwall. Thousands more residents can now join the action, marking one of the first environmental group legal cases in the UK...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Germany has faced widespread criticism after its government announced the scrapping of a key renewable heating mandate. The coalition agreement to remove the previous law’s renewable requirements signals a dramatic policy shift. The original legislation, passed in 2023 under the centre-left government led by Olaf Scholz, mandated that most newly installed heating systems use at least 65% renewable...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A growing number of households are rethinking how they manage everyday waste, with some choosing to rinse and separate recyclables more carefully — and in some cases, hand them over to family members — as part of a broader effort to reduce contamination and improve recycling rates. One resident, Laura Jenkins, 34, explains why she meticulously cleans cans, bottles,...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Environmental enforcement teams and local councils across England are intensifying efforts to tackle the persistent problem of fly‑tipping by combing through illegally dumped rubbish for evidence that could help identify offenders and bring them to justice. As millions of tonnes of waste continue to be dumped unlawfully across the country each year, authorities are treating fly‑tips not just as...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Scotland’s climate strategy has received scrutiny for depending heavily on unproven technology, critics warn. Scotland has recently unveiled its updated approach to reducing carbon emissions, aiming for net zero by 2045. The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has cautiously praised the short-term targets but highlighted serious concerns over long-term feasibility. Nigel Topping, chair of the CCC, described “flashing...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Nearly a quarter of local authorities in England are poised to miss the statutory deadline to introduce weekly food waste collections for all households, according to a recent investigation by the BBC. The requirement for weekly collections is part of a broader overhaul of recycling rules under the government’s Simpler Recycling policy, designed to standardise waste services...

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Travel disruption hit Scottish travellers on Monday as Storm Hernando — a powerful winter system battering the east coast of the United States — triggered widespread flight cancellations affecting Edinburgh Airport and other UK airports. The storm has brought heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding across the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast, prompting airlines to cancel international services...