New Zealand is set to become one of the first countries in the world to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics products, with a plan to prohibit these “forever chemicals” starting at the end of 2026. PFAS can be found in cosmetics such as mascara, nail polish and shaving cream, where they are […]
In New Zealand, sheep and cattle outnumber people. All that livestock passes gas, which means emitting more methane into the atmosphere. As such, the country has proposed to tax farmers for their livestock’s emissions. New Zealand’s agriculture makes up almost half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the BBC, there are about 5 […]
Sponges off the coast of New Zealand have bleached for the first time following a record-breaking marine heat wave. Scientists from Victoria University of Wellington discovered the sponges in more than 12 locations near Breaksea Sound and Doubtful Sounds in Fiordland on New Zealand’s South Island, The Guardian reported. In some of the sites, up […]
Documents collected via the Official Information Act in New Zealand show that commercial fishers in the area have been killing or injuring sharks to retrieve their fishing gear, including hooks that cost as little as $1. The documents come from government observers who worked to oversee commercial longline fleets in the country from 2016 to […]
New Zealand is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, including its nearly 3,000 glaciers. But now, scientists are warning that these icy behemoths could be lost to the climate crisis. After an annual survey, a team of New Zealand scientists reported that more than 50 South Island glaciers were continuing to lose snow and ice. “What […]
In its latest environmental commitment, New Zealand has announced a ban on the majority of single-use plastics by 2025. The new measure builds on the country’s 2019 decision to phase-out plastic bags and includes everything from disposable cutlery to ear buds and fruit labels, The Guardian reported. “These types of plastics often end up as […]
In a tireless, two-day effort, volunteers in New Zealand joined together to successfully refloat a pod of long-finned pilot whales stranded on the beach. On Monday, the pod of 49 long-finned pilot whales was found stranded on Farewell Spit, a remote beach on the South Island, AP reported. In response, rangers from New Zealand’s Department […]
The government of New Zealand declared a climate emergency on Wednesday, a symbolic step recognizing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predictions of substantial global warming if emissions do not fall. Alongside the declaration, New Zealand announced it would require its public sector to become carbon neutral by 2025. Government agencies would need to […]
Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Prime Minister who has emerged as a leader on the climate crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, has won a second term in office. Ardern’s Labour Party secured a historic victory in New Zealand’s general election Saturday, earning 49 percent of the vote and an estimated 64 out of 120 parliamentary […]