Hidden Climate Stories: Rivers, Roots, and Resilient Spaces

When we think of climate change, we picture smokestacks and deforestation—but what if rivers are silently contributing too? Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, escapes from rivers, making it invisible yet impactful. I measure methane in Yorkshire’s rivers to understand what drives these emissions—like temperature, oxygen, and rainfall. If we don’t track this properly, we risk underestimating methane’s role in climate change. Rivers may look peaceful, but they’re shaping our planet’s future. The next time you see one, remember—it’s carrying a hidden climate story.

The colonisation of land by plants half a billion years ago was a transformative event in Earth’s history. Plants changed a hostile climate and barren landscape, devoid of soil or land animals, into a milder habitat fit for the diversity of life we see today. For those early colonisers, making the move from water to land meant that they had to adapt quickly to their harsh new world. By studying mosses, the closest living relatives to early land plants, we found that a single gene made these adaptations possible. Thus, one small step for a plant led to a giant leap for all life on Earth. 

Parks and green spaces are good for our health, our communities, and our environment. But everyone needs different things from their local parks, and some people don’t feel able to use them as much as others- especially women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and people who live in more deprived areas. The Green AWARE Project aims to make parks more welcoming, safe, and suitable for everyone, bringing together the needs of people and the planet. So what can we do, as residents, researchers, and planners, to make the most of our local parks and green spaces?