The Climate News You Need To Know This Month + How To Clean Up Your Spring Cleaning Routine

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris that have been discovered buried deep in the ocean, up on the highest mountains1, and in our food. The latest place the ubiquitous pollutant was found? Human blood. In a recent study on 22 healthy volunteers, 17 people had microplastic particles in their blood samples. The researchers say that this is a sure sign plastic needs to be further studied for its potential impact on human health—not to mention animal and ecosystem well-being. (Read the research here2.)

Continuing the urgency of previous reports, the latest IPCC update focuses on tools that could help us avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The TLDR summary: Plenty of them are already at our disposal—affordable renewable energy, electric cars, green building retrofits—but we need to start scaling them up (and stop taking fossil fuels out of the ground) much faster in order to avoid the worst climate catastrophes. (Read the report here.)

On a more optimistic note, research continues to show the health benefits of preserving the nature we do have. Getting out into forests (or even a cluster of street trees), parks, and hiking trails can leave us feeling restored and reinvigorated, and water environments have plenty of perks of their own. A new study found that children who live closer to blue space (coasts, lakes, and rivers) tended to engage in more physical activity and have a higher self-reported quality of life than those who lived farther from water. The connection was stronger for girls than it was for boys in this research out of Australia. (Read the research here3.)

By comparing the health care records of over five million people in the Kaiser Permanente health care network with satellite imagery in California, researchers found that those with higher levels of residential green cover had lower direct health care costs. On average, those in the greenest neighborhoods paid $374 less per year than those who lived in the neighborhoods that lacked green space—another sign that equitably preserving nature is an essential (and affordable) public health intervention. (Read the research here4.)

On a less literal note, you can use the month ahead to clear away any wasteful habits you're ready to let go of and make a new plan for cleaning up your eco-routine. It can start with exploring the nature around you as the weather warms up, but don't let it stop there. Consider how you can then take action to protect these spaces for everyone moving forward.

For finding that less straightforward—but likely infinitely more impactful—personal action you can take to clean up your overall impact, this guide to meaningful individual action is a must-read.