Our Stories

We are living in times of unprecedented environmental change. Climate disruption, species extinction, and pollution are no longer distant threats – they are present realities. But with knowledge comes power to act.

This free course invites you to explore the environmental challenges shaping our world – and to discover your role in creating lasting solutions. Through engaging video lessons and expert insights across disciplines, you'll gain a hopeful perspective on our shared planetary future.

On the art of translating complex environmental research into public conversations – and why silence is not an option.

Peatlands are powerful carbon sinks - if we let them stay intact. New research from ECH members shows how wetland farming - magic word: paludiculture - and microbial life can work together to reduce emissions without sacrificing land use. A story of science, sustainability, and the surprising appetite of microorganisms.

Almost every day, we can see clouds in the sky, but rarely we are aware of their wide-ranging impact on the climate. They can both raise and drop temperatures and have complex interactions with the particles in the air. These could even allow us to influence the clouds to fight climate change.

PFAS, the so-called ‘forever chemicals’, are non-degradable and widespread in everyday products – despite their known health risks. As regulatory action often lags behind, civil lawsuits are playing an increasingly important role in addressing environmental toxins. An interdisciplinary approach reveals: lasting solutions will require cooperation between science, law, and policy.

Observing nature can help us feel less pain. Now, for the first time, brain scans confirm what we subjectively feel, and point to why our perception of pain might change. Surprisingly, even virtual nature distracts our attention away from processing pain at a basic neurophysiological level. The researchers hope that this will also draw attention to how important nature is for our health and why we should protect it.