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pollution ends.

Evidence for a cleaner future.

The library

210 evergreen reads, ready for launch day. Reference and explainer writing only: nothing here claims a news event, an audience or an archive that does not exist.

Air and water (27)

How Air Quality Index Numbers Are Calculated What PM2.5 Particles Actually Are Why Ground Level Ozone Forms on Hot Days The Journey of Rainwater Through a City How Wetlands Filter Pollutants Naturally Understanding Acid Rain and Its Causes Why Indoor Air Can Be Worse Than Outdoor Air How Catalytic Converters Reduce Vehicle Emissions The Basics of Water Treatment Plants What Causes Algal Blooms in Waterways How Smog Forms Over Cities The Role of Trees in Cleaning Air Understanding Groundwater and Aquifers Why Coastal Water Quality Matters How Volatile Organic Compounds Affect Air The Science of Ocean Acidification What Happens to Stormwater Runoff How Air Pollution Affects Respiratory Health Understanding Nitrogen Oxides From Traffic The Purpose of Riparian Buffer Zones How Industrial Scrubbers Clean Emissions What Microplastics Are and Where They Come From The Water Cycle and Human Interference Why Some Cities Have Better Air Than Others How Wastewater Recycling Works How Air Quality and Bushfire Smoke Are Linked Understanding Carbon Monoxide Risks Indoors

Community action (26)

How Community Gardens Build Local Resilience What a Local Clean Up Day Involves How Neighbourhood Tool Libraries Reduce Waste The Basics of Setting Up a Repair Cafe How Community Solar Projects Get Started What School Environmental Programs Can Achieve How Local Landcare Groups Operate Understanding Community Supported Agriculture What Makes a Successful Tree Planting Day How Street Libraries Encourage Sharing The Basics of Local Environmental Advocacy How Community Composting Hubs Work What Volunteer Water Monitoring Programs Do How Local Business Sustainability Groups Form Understanding Community Energy Cooperatives What a Verge Garden Involves How Local Councils Support Resident Initiatives The Basics of Waste Free Community Events How Community Bike Kitchens Operate What Neighbourhood Biodiversity Projects Look Like How Local Food Rescue Organisations Operate Understanding Community Consultation on Environment Projects What Makes Grassroots Campaigns Effective How Local Seed Swaps Support Gardeners Understanding the Role of Volunteers in Conservation How Community Noticeboards Spread Environmental Action

Energy at home (26)

How Solar Panels Convert Sunlight Into Power Understanding Home Battery Storage Basics What Makes an Appliance Energy Efficient How Insulation Reduces Household Energy Use The Basics of Time of Use Electricity Pricing Understanding Heat Pumps for Home Heating How LED Lighting Saves Energy Over Time What Standby Power Actually Costs The Role of Smart Meters in Homes How Double Glazing Improves Energy Efficiency Understanding Feed In Tariffs for Solar What Makes a Home Energy Efficient Overall How Ceiling Insulation Works in Different Climates The Basics of Induction Cooktops Understanding Passive Solar Home Design How Draught Sealing Cuts Energy Bills What Green Electricity Plans Actually Mean The Role of Ceiling Fans in Comfort Understanding Hot Water System Efficiency How Shading and Landscaping Reduce Cooling Costs What Energy Star Ratings Tell You The Basics of Off Grid Power Systems How Thermostats Help Manage Home Energy Use Understanding Embodied Energy in Building Materials What Community Solar Gardens Are How Home Energy Audits Work

Myths checked (26)

Does Rinsing Recyclables Really Matter Is Bottled Water Cleaner Than Tap Water Do Electric Cars Pollute More Than Petrol Cars Is Biodegradable Plastic Actually Better Does Turning Off Lights Save Meaningful Energy Is Natural Always Better for the Environment Do Solar Panels Work in Cloudy Weather Is Recycling Actually Worth the Effort Does Bamboo Solve the Plastic Problem Is Nuclear Power as Dangerous as People Think Do Reusable Bags Always Beat Plastic Ones Is Composting Messy and Difficult Does One Person's Action Really Matter Is Organic Farming Automatically More Sustainable Do Wind Turbines Kill More Birds Than Buildings Is Air Travel Always the Worst Transport Option Does Unplugging Chargers Save Much Power Is Glass Better Than Plastic for the Planet Do Trees Alone Solve Climate Change Is Tap Water Safe to Drink Everywhere Does Fast Fashion Recycling Actually Work Is Electric Heating Cleaner Than Gas Heating Do Beach Cleanups Fix Ocean Plastic Is Local Produce Always Lower Impact Does Greenwashing Fool Most Consumers Is Zero Waste Living Realistic for Most People

Nature recovery (26)

How Wetland Restoration Supports Biodiversity Understanding Habitat Corridors for Wildlife What Native Revegetation Involves The Basics of Soil Regeneration How Urban Green Spaces Support Local Wildlife Understanding Pollinator Decline and Its Causes What Makes an Ecosystem Resilient The Role of Keystone Species in Habitats How Coastal Dune Restoration Works Understanding Invasive Species Management What Rewilding Actually Means The Basics of Forest Regeneration After Disturbance How Backyard Habitats Support Local Species Understanding River Health and Riparian Vegetation What Citizen Science Contributes to Conservation The Role of Seed Banks in Restoration How Fire Regimes Shape Native Landscapes Understanding Wildlife Corridors Across Farmland What Makes Soil Healthy for Plant Growth The Basics of Coral Reef Resilience How Native Grasslands Support Ecosystems Understanding the Role of Fungi in Forests What Community Tree Planting Achieves Over Time The Basics of Wildlife Friendly Fencing How Urban Wetlands Manage Stormwater and Habitat Understanding Biodiversity Offsets

Policy explained (26)

How Emissions Trading Schemes Work Understanding the Basics of Carbon Pricing What a Renewable Energy Target Means How Environmental Impact Assessments Work Understanding Container Deposit Legislation What National Parks Legislation Protects The Basics of Environmental Protection Agencies How Building Codes Address Energy Efficiency Understanding Water Allocation and Licensing What International Climate Agreements Aim to Do The Role of Local Councils in Environmental Policy How Product Stewardship Schemes Are Designed Understanding Air Quality Standards and Monitoring What Land Use Zoning Means for Conservation The Basics of Environmental Offsets in Planning How Plastic Bag Bans Were Introduced Understanding Threatened Species Legislation What Net Zero Targets Actually Commit To The Role of Environmental Reporting Requirements How Marine Protected Areas Are Established Understanding Subsidies and Their Environmental Effects What Environmental Auditing Involves The Basics of Cross Border Pollution Agreements How Public Consultation Shapes Environmental Policy Understanding the Precautionary Principle What Green Building Certification Involves

Transport choices (26)

How Electric Vehicles Differ From Hybrids Understanding the Basics of Vehicle Emissions Testing What Makes Public Transport More Efficient How Bicycle Infrastructure Changes Commuting Patterns The Basics of Carpooling and Ride Sharing Understanding Electric Vehicle Charging Types What Active Transport Means for Health and Emissions How Rail Freight Compares to Road Freight The Role of Tyre Choice in Fuel Efficiency Understanding Fuel Efficiency Labels on Vehicles How Traffic Congestion Affects Local Air Quality What Micromobility Options Include The Basics of Vehicle to Grid Technology Understanding Low Emission Zones in Cities How Walking Infrastructure Supports Local Trips What Telecommuting Does to Transport Demand The Role of Battery Recycling in Electric Vehicles Understanding Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles How Speed and Fuel Consumption Relate What Park and Ride Schemes Achieve The Basics of Vehicle Idling and Its Impact Understanding Regenerative Braking in Electric Cars How School Transport Choices Add Up What Makes Freight Consolidation Effective The Role of Trains in Reducing Congestion How Tyre Wear Contributes to Microplastics

Waste and recycling (27)

How Kerbside Recycling Sorting Actually Works What Happens to Recycled Glass The Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable Why Contamination Ruins Recycling Batches How Container Deposit Schemes Work The Journey of a Recycled Aluminium Can What E-Waste Recycling Involves Understanding Landfill Gas Capture Why Soft Plastics Need Separate Collection How Composting Breaks Down Organic Waste The Basics of Circular Economy Thinking What Happens to Old Textiles and Clothing Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility How Paper and Cardboard Get Reprocessed The Problem With Wishcycling What Plastic Numbers on Packaging Mean How Food Waste Becomes Compost or Energy Understanding Hazardous Household Waste Disposal The Life Cycle of a Plastic Bottle Why Some Materials Cannot Be Recycled Together How Construction Waste Gets Diverted From Landfill Understanding Battery Recycling and Its Risks The Role of Material Recovery Facilities Why Reducing Waste Beats Recycling It What Happens to Recycled Steel and Metal Understanding Single Use Plastic Bans How Composting at Home Differs From Industrial Composting

Photo credits (Creative Commons, via Openverse)

-NPLD 2017- Cleaning up Cosumnes River Preserve (23625365788) by blmcalifornia (Public domain)
-NPLD 2017- Cleaning up Cosumnes River Preserve (23625366538) by blmcalifornia (Public domain)
-NPLD 2017- Cleaning up Cosumnes River Preserve (37219594770) by blmcalifornia (Public domain)
-NPLD 2017- Cleaning up Cosumnes River Preserve (37477148691) by blmcalifornia (Public domain)
-NPLD 2017- Cleaning up Cosumnes River Preserve (37477148871) by blmcalifornia (Public domain)
A modeling framework for the 'clean-water scarcity' assessment in our study by Authors of the study: Mengru Wang, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Rhodé Rijneveld, Feli (CC BY 4.0)
Changes in clean-water scarcity between 2010 and 2050 by Authors of the study: Mengru Wang, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Rhodé Rijneveld, Feli (CC BY 4.0)
Characteristics of the clean-water scarcity hotspots in 2010 and 2050 by Authors of the study: Mengru Wang, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Rhodé Rijneveld, Feli (CC BY 4.0)
Clean water plot in the nature reserve by Александр Байдуков (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cleaning salmon Kenai River AJT Johnsingh by A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Link river birds by User:bobjgalindo (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NPLD 2015- BLM California Host Great Sierra River Clean-Up (21570235780) by mypubliclands (Public domain)