#society

They are not on the maps, but in our oceans there are five floating plastic islands that threaten to eradicate much of the marine life and contribute to climate change. Some of these garbage patches — such as the North Pacific one — are equivalent in size to France, Spain and Germany put together.

Experts calculate that over eight tonnes of non-biodegradable plastic end up in the seas and oceans every year. In the fight against this enemy, it is vital for the big supermarkets to take a stand, but small plastic-free supermarkets like unPacked in Madrid and YES FUTURE in Barcelona are pioneers in a battle that is being fought with weapons like bulk buying, reusing containers and using cloth shopping bags.

The COVID-19 pandemic is battering the global economy and forcing the “powers that be” to roll out short-term strategies to inject liquidity into markets, provide support for the unemployed and boost health systems with resources. Governments around the world are designing medium and long-term economic recovery programmes, and many legislators, organisations and companies are planning a green recovery.

They help to fight pollution, encourage biodiversity in city centres and help to control temperatures and humidity. Green zones in city centres are also crucial to social cohesion. The concept of the urban park as an open space for community use arose in the 19th century, but they are so vital that they are in towns and cities around the globe.

During COP27, efforts have been made to define which countries are most vulnerable to climate change. Chad, Somalia and Syria are the most potentially at risk from the consequences of this environmental problem.

Digitisation has revolutionised education, enabling students to learn from anywhere. During the COVID-19 pandemic this has become fundamental and has reopened the debate on the educational model, making teachers and students ask themselves the following question: Has the time come to opt for a blended learning model?