Forever chemicals contaminate 17,000+ sites in Europe and UK & more environmental news.

[View this email in your browser]( Tuesday, February 28, 2023 “We are on Earth to take care of life. We are on Earth to take care of each other.” — Xiye Bastida Tornadoes Leave Trail of Destruction in Oklahoma At least one person has died and a dozen people have been injured as a fast moving storm system made its way across the Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma earlier this week. Weather services classified the storm as a derecho – a large, fast-moving, violent thunderstorm paired with exceptionally strong winds. [Read More]( Related: [Extreme Weather 101: Everything You Need to Know]( China Approved Two New Coal Plants per Week in 2022, Study Finds Despite warnings from scientists that the world must rapidly cut [coal]( use in order to limit global warming to [1.5 degrees Celsius]( above pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst impacts of the [climate crisis]( China approved more new coal plants in 2022 than at any point in the last seven years. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) released Monday, which found that [China]( had approved new plants at a rate of two per week for a total of 106 gigawatts (GW) for the year. [Read More]( Related: [China’s Coal Output Reached Record Heights in 2022]( Scientists Identify Plastic as New Threat to Andean Condors in Protected Areas Plastic is everywhere and now, scientists have confirmed plastic as a new threat to Andean condors even in protected areas of Peru. Research revealed high amounts of plastic in the diets and the regurgitated pellets of these birds. Researchers were studying Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) feeding interactions in Peru when they noticed that samples from the birds contained plastics. Even more alarming is that they found the plastic in the birds’ diets repeatedly. [Read More]( Related: [Nanoplastics Travel Up the Food Chain From Soil to Plants to Animals, New Study Shows]( Forever Chemicals Contaminate More than 17,000 Sites in Europe and UK, New Map Reveals There are more than 17,000 sites across Europe that have been contaminated with toxic [forever chemicals]( and another more than 21,000 sites that have likely been polluted. That’s one main finding from “[The Forever Pollution Project]( a month’s-long collaboration between 18 European newsrooms to investigate and map the extent of polyfluoroalkyl substances ([PFAS]( pollution across the continent and in the UK. [Read More]( Related: [High PFAS Levels in Norwegian Arctic Ice Pose New Risk to Wildlife]( 9 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Orchids If you’ve ever cared for an orchid, you know that they’re pretty special. From their practically microscopic seeds, to their tasty seed pods, to their worldwide range, these flowering beauties are nothing short of amazing. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about them. [Read More]( Related: [Community Scientists Rediscover Orchid Last Observed in Vermont 120 Years Ago]( Do you get this newsletter daily? If not, [sign up here]( or forward to a friend. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Website]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 EcoWatch, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for EcoWatch Top News of The Day Our mailing address is: EcoWatch 1122 Oberlin RoadRaleigh, NC 27605 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](