Happy Thursday! Today we'll explore the bold plan to combat global warming with laxatives, explain why green labels might be doing more harm than good, and discuss a striking new climate forecast. Let’s dive right in 👇:

Matcha's Gulp

The bold plan to fight climate change with laxatives 🚽

Laxatives are normally used to help people go to the bathroom – but could they also help combat global warming? This might seem like a bizarre suggestion, but according to the Canadian startup Planetary Technologies, magnesium hydroxide – commonly used to treat constipation – could play a key role in reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

The company aims to prove this by releasing 200-300 tonnes of the stuff into the sea off the coast of Cornwall, England. In theory, this should increase the alkalinity of the water, which would in turn help to remove CO2 from the air. However, all of this is still pretty untested – and it remains to be seen whether the scheme will survive objections from local people, let alone whether it will actually work!

Are green labels doing more harm than good? 🌱

A new cross-border investigation has revealed that ‘green’ forestry labels aren’t always what they seem. The inquiry found that certifiers such as the Forest Stewardship Council often approve products linked to environmental infractions such as illegal logging and habitat destruction, as well as Indigenous rights abuses. This reflects "a race to the bottom in certification standards", where "the weaker the certifiers are, the better for the client."

This process misleads consumers – but ultimately, the real victim is the planet. Could stronger penalties for greenwashing get the auditors to clean up their act?

A striking new climate forecast ⚡

As the climate heats up, extreme weather events will become increasingly common across the globe. But while we often hear about the risks posed by hazards like flooding and heatwaves, a recent study draws attention to a less discussed (but equally worrying) consequence of global warming: an increase in super-powerful lightning strikes.

Oh great.

According to the study, the rate of ‘hot lightning’ strikes is on track for a 41% increase by 2090. This kind of lightning is particularly good at causing wildfires – so this is bad news for the planet on a number of levels. Hopefully this daunting forecast can help light a fire under efforts to fight climate change.

News Sip

• Does President Biden mean what he says on climate? Don’t let us down, Joe 🇺🇸

• Sequential hurricanes are becoming more common due to climate change: What’s worse than a hurricane? Well… two hurricanes 🌪️🌪️

• Check How Climate Prone An Area Is Before You Move: Make sure your home – and your finances – don’t go underwater 🏠

• How sugar kelp may help tackle the climate crisis: Pretty sweet news 🌊

Today's Climate Meme