Be inspired this month
Let's start the month with some inspiring stories from around the world...
As we embark on a new month, let’s start off on the right foot with some stories of inspiration and positive change from around the world.
New data from the FAO’s latest Global Forest Resources Assessment shows that the annual rate of deforestation has declined (from 17.6 m ha/year in the 1990s to 10.9 m ha/year most recently). In regions like Asia (and parts of Europe and North America) net forest area is even increasing, in part through planted forests and stronger protected-area coverage.
Read more here
The SPOGOMI Trash-Picking World Cup, held in Tokyo last month, brought together teams from 33 countries to compete in an unusual but meaningful sport — litter picking. Originating in Japan in 2008, Spogomi turns cleaning up public spaces into a timed competition where teams collect and sort rubbish to earn points based on type and recyclability.
Read more here
The latest winners of The Earthshot Prize, a global environmental award launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2020, which funds innovative solutions to some of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges, have been announced.
Read more here
The RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK’s top architecture award, has been awarded to Appleby Blue Almshouse in Southwark, London. The project reimagines the traditional almshouse model, providing 59 affordable homes for older people arranged around a communal courtyard. Judges praised it for its thoughtful, human-centred design that combats loneliness and fosters community, calling it a model for future social housing that blends beauty, dignity, and social purpose.
Read more here
In Cambridge in the UK, researchers are trialling a world-first brain monitoring technology that could transform diagnosis and care for babies at risk of conditions like cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The study, called Fusion (Functional Ultrasound integrated with Optical Imaging in Neonates), uses a small cap combining light and ultrasound sensors to create a detailed, real-time picture of brain activity. Unlike traditional MRI scans, the device is portable, quieter, cheaper, and allows repeated monitoring at a baby’s cot. By detecting brain injuries earlier, doctors hope to begin treatment sooner and improve long-term outcomes.
Read more here