Eco wins: A Dutch gym for crops, a climate-ready city and a beaver comeback

The Netherlands, often referred to as the world's agricultural Silicon Valley, is pioneering innovative farming techniques to meet the challenge of feeding 10 billion people on less land and water, amidst unpredictable weather conditions. In their greenhouses, scientists are harnessing advanced technology and extensive data to identify crops that will withstand climate change.

In October 2023, the northern German city of Kiel experienced its worst storm surge in over 150 years, causing significant damage to infrastructure. This prompted the city to rethink its approach to dealing with more frequent and severe weather extremes caused by human-induced climate change. Kiel, along with other cities worldwide, is exploring various solutions, including creating cool city corridors, installing green facades, constructing temporary flooding soccer pitches, and adjusting daily routines to manage heat.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, wildlife photography has taken on a conservation role. Tourists spot sea turtles by their unique facial markings, similar to human fingerprints, helping researchers identify individuals and track their health and injuries. This method aids authorities in rerouting boat traffic away from injured turtles.

Beavers, once hunted to near extinction for their fur, meat, and scent glands in the early 20th century in Europe, are now making a remarkable comeback. Thanks to extensive rewilding efforts across the continent, the Eurasian beaver population has surged from around 1,500 in 1900 to over 1.5 million today. Beavers, the 'engineers of the animal world,' build dams that filter water pollutants, mitigate flooding, wildfires, and drought, and replenish underground aquifers. Their work is revitalizing wetlands and rivers across Europe, from Spain to Russia.