News
Join the Dots Together items of interest
-
Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education in Ireland
Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) 2026 Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education in Ireland: A Landscape Report provides a comprehensive overview of how Irish higher education institutions are advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across teaching, research, campus life, and community engagement. Main Themes: Mapping ESD Practice: The report surveys how universities and institutes are…
-
Let Justice Flow Like Rivers: Churches Gather in Hope and Action for Creation Care
On 17 January 2026, Christians from across traditions and communities gathered at the Canal Court Hotel, Newry, for the Let Justice Flow Like Rivers Creation Care Conference, a significant ecumenical moment of prayer, learning and shared commitment in response to the ecological crisis, with particular attention to the pollution of Lough Neagh. Members of the…
-
The Ocean Never Forgets: Nine Years of Heat Records Signal Deepening Climate Crisis
by Edison Barbieri, Luca Fiorani https://www.cittanuova.it/loceano-non-dimentica-nove-anni-di-record-di-calore/ A major new scientific analysis shows that the world’s oceans reached the highest level of accumulated heat in recorded history in 2025, marking the ninth consecutive year of record-breaking ocean warmth — a trend that underscores the growing intensity of the climate crisis and its far-reaching consequences. Scientists from…
-
Call for Papers: Education in the Anthropocene – deadline 6 March 2026
Are you researching or writing about how education can help society navigate the challenges of the Anthropocene — from climate change to inequality and transitions to a net-zero, nature-positive future? Humanities & Social Sciences Communications (a Nature Portfolio journal) has just opened submissions for a new curated Collection on Education in the Anthropocene — and…
-
What we read in December
Northern Ireland is experiencing a wave of environmental progress, with communities, businesses, and government bodies all stepping up to create a more sustainable future. These stories paint a picture of a region that’s not just talking about climate action but is beginning to join the dots and make it happen. On the farming front, new…
-
Pharmaceuticals in Rivers: the Invisible Pollution
by Edison Barbieri, 5 Gennaio 2026 – Fonte: Città Nuova An often overlooked but increasingly serious form of pollution is affecting rivers and freshwater ecosystems around the world: pharmaceutical residues. Substances from commonly used medicines — including antibiotics, hormones, painkillers and psychiatric drugs — are now regularly detected in rivers, lakes and streams. Even when present…
-
UN Climate-Related Decades Shaping the Years Ahead
As 2026 begins, the United Nations is entering a new long-term commitment with the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035). This Decade highlights the urgent need to reduce emissions, improve accessibility, and reshape how people and goods move — recognising transport as a key driver of climate change and social inequality. Its…
-
From Christmas Trees to Global Pollution
adapted from Benedetto Gui’s article in Città Nuova A simple seasonal question — is a real or artificial Christmas tree better for the environment? — opens up a much bigger picture about how our everyday choices are connected to global environmental injustice. Studies suggest that producing an artificial Christmas tree generates far more CO₂ than…
-
Plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean is giving rise to a new, human-made marine ecosystem.
Summary of Edison Barbieri’s recent article in Città Nuova: Recent scientific research shows that the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”, located between California and Hawaii, is no longer just a symbol of ocean pollution. The vast amount of floating plastic has created hard surfaces in the open ocean, allowing many marine organisms to attach, survive and…
-
“Let Justice Flow Like Rivers”: All-Ireland Churches to Gather for Landmark Creation Care Conference
Newry, 17 January 2026 — Church leaders, politicians, theologians, scientists and grassroots practitioners from across Ireland will gather in Newry this January for a major all-Ireland conference on Creation Care. The event is organised by the Irish Council of Churches, in partnership with the Irish Inter Church Meeting and Church Leaders, and reflects a growing…