What we learned this week

The High Seas Treaty came into force this week, the first global treaty to cover marine biodiversity, deep sea mining and a number of other issues. 148 countries have signed it, so it covers two thirds of the world’s oceans. The UK has missed its deadline to sign up by the time it came into effect, but does intend to join. The US ratified under the Biden administration and will probably withdraw if/when the Trump hears about it.

Dog food may account for 1% of UK carbon emissions, according to a recent study. This is a surprisingly large number, and I hear it mentioned about once every five years.

Ebay has released its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, showing how it intends to reduce its emissions to net zero by 2045.

The Guardian reports on efforts to protect the last baobab tree in Kinshasa, DRC. Nice to see find this in the UK media, especially since I have a certain affection for baobab trees.

Mixed reports from the US government’s updated dietary advice. It sums up the whole thing as ‘eat real food’ and attempts to reset a food culture based around processed foods. This is good. However, it also drew applause from the meat industry for telling citizens that they are ‘ending the war on protein’, whatever that’s supposed to mean. The whole project feels emblematic of today’s struggle between human health and corporate profit, the desire to eat better and the imperatives of economic growth.

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