New Report Emphasizes Dangers of Plastic Pollution, Announces Global Monitoring System
As ministers and diplomats arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, for a final round of talks to conclude a UN-backed global plastics treaty, a new report published in the British medical journal The Lancet issues a stark warning: Plastic pollution is a grave and growing danger to human and planetary health. The report, which includes co-authors from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Microplastics team, provides the most up-to-date assessment of the links between human health and plastic pollution across the full life cycle of plastic. A new monitoring system announced at the same
Plastic Free July and a Treaty in the Making
to phase out single-use plastics, stop using harmful chemicals and roll out accessible reuse and refill systems.”The demands come ahead of the second part of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) session for a Global Plastics Treaty which is set to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5 to 14.Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have been vocal on the need for an ambitious outcome.A plastic bag policy can lead up to 47% reduction of bag litter on shorelines, Greenpeace says. A 50% increase in refillables in coastal countries could reduce the number of
Call for Australia to Push for Robust Global Plastics Treaty
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) is scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5 to 14.This second session will focus on finalizing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The treaty will address various aspects of plastic pollution, including production, design, trade, waste management, and a just transition. It will also address financial, technical, and capacity-building aspects.In the leadup, 31 First Nations and environmental groups have called on the Australian
Swiss Firm Acquires Defunct Beam
Rosenxt UK, part of Switzerland-based Rosenxt Holding, has acquired selected assets and talent from subsea robotics and engineering firm Beam, which went into administration in May.The strategic move enhances Rosenxt’s subsea capabilities, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the critical infrastructure and energy sectors.Beam, formed in 2024 through the merger of Rovco and Vaarst, gained rapid recognition for its autonomous subsea systems and AI-powered technologies before ceasing operations in May 2025.Rosenxt’s acquisition does not constitute a continuation of all Beam’s former
High-Resolution Mapping Reveals Carbon Sink Details
used to study the ocean carbon sink only provide monthly data and have a resolution of about 100 by 100 kilometers. This limited temporal and spatial resolution makes it difficult to capture the finer, more dynamic changes governing the ocean sink.Nicolas Gruber, from the ETH Zurich University in Switzerland, said: “Increasing the resolution of these global datasets is challenging because the number of direct measurements of carbon dioxide at the ocean’s surface is rather sparse across all regions and times.“To address this, we came up with a creative mix of machine learning methods
Edible Aquatic Robot Could Collect Environmental Data
An edible robot built by EPFL scientists in Switzerland uses a combination of biodegradable fuel and surface tension to move across the surface of water. It offers a safe and nutritious alternative to environmental sensors made from artificial polymers and electronics.The EPFL team plans to deploy the robots in large numbers. Each device would be equipped with biodegradable sensors to collect environmental data such as water pH, temperature, pollutants and the presence of microorganisms, which could be read after collection or via remote sensing.The work is the latest innovation in the burgeoning
Microplastics Becoming Measurable Part of Ocean’s Carbon Cycle
for Marine-Earth Science and Technology in collaboration with FAU; Aotearoa Blue Ocean Research in New Zealand; Northeastern University; East China Normal University; NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, The Netherlands; The Ocean Cleanup, The Netherlands; Egger Research and Consulting, Switzerland; University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Universidad Catolica del Norte, Chile; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Harvard University; University of Siena, Italy; and the National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy
MacArtney Germany Appoints Alexander Gravert as Sales Manager
MacArtney Germany has appointed Alexander Gravert as Sales Manager to strengthen regional connectivity initiatives.Located at our Kiel operation, led by Managing Director Torsten Turla, Alexander will help drive connectivity efforts in the DACH region, which includes Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.Alexander will focus on ocean science, marine and offshore, and naval industries, with the primary objective of improving customer support, increasing customer engagement, and facilitating closer collaboration.Alexander is a sales expert with over fifteen years of experience in international sales
EU-Backed Project to Unlock Tidal and River Energy Potential
to unlock the potential of harnessing tidal and river energy in the North-West Europe.The SHINES project, short fo Showcasing Hydrokinetic energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty, is ready for launch, bringing together 14 partners from France, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany.Co-financed by Interreg North-West Europe under the fourth call for projects, SHINES is set to unlock the potential of tidal and river energy systems, an opportunity still largely untapped in the region.With a total budget of $10.9 million, including 60% ERDF funding of about &euro
February 2025
