Stories from Edinburgh · United Kingdom

Shareholder activists, including Share Action, are calling for protest votes against NatWest chair Rick Haytham-Waite. The movement aims to hold the board accountable during the annual general meeting in Edinburgh on April 28. This follows NatWest's decision to reduce restrictions on lending to oil and gas companies. The bank also reportedly dropped several of its decarbonization targets. Critics describe these moves as climate backtracking. Shareholders are protesting NatWest's perceived dilution of its climate leadership position. Involved entities include the Church of England pension board, Rathbos investment, Eden Tree investments, NEST, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

The Scottish Greens intend to introduce a 10:1 pay ratio mandate for organizations receiving government funding or contracts. This policy would restrict the salary gap between executives and employees within those entities.

Biologists in Edinburgh have developed a new approach to recycling plastic waste. The method utilizes genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria to synthesize paracetamol from chemical compounds like paramine and benzoic acid. The research focuses on the metabolic capabilities of these modified microorganisms. Researchers in Edinburgh successfully used genetically modified E. Researchers have successfully used modified bacteria to transform pre-processed plastic waste into a compound that serves as a building material for DNA and a component for paracetamol production. Researchers have unveiled a hemp-based alternative to plastic that can withstand boiling water. The material is capable of stretching up to 1,600% of its original size. Researchers stated that current recycling methods effectively reuse only about 30% of plastic.

Research commissioned by the Scottish government and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds warns of avian mortality. The study indicates Barrick Bank could kill 2,808 Guillemots, 814 Kittiwakes, and 260 Gannets. Critics describe the potential loss of 8 million tons of iconic seabirds as an ecological catastrophe. The report suggests current net-zero policies may be overlooking these environmental risks. Estimates suggest the bank could cause the deaths of 2,808 Gillemots, 814 Kittiwakes, and 260 Gannets. Observers note that current environmental policies have seemingly overlooked these specific risks to the avian population. This represents a potential total of 4,000 dead birds. The report compares this figure to the 55 million birds killed annually by domestic cats in the country.