The Rhine River is a significant European river — it's an integral part of the landscape that many people enjoy and rely upon. Numerous wildlife species also depend on the river. But things were not always so great for the Rhine. So what's the story for the river's turnaround?

The Albufera lagoon in southern Valencia has become polluted by agriculture and industry, and increased demand for irrigation on two rivers feeding the lake means less water is reaching it. The region is a major producer of rice, used in Spain's signature dish, paella. How can urban growth and farming be reconciled with preserving this precious spot of biodiversity and natural beauty?

Could wood be the resource the world turns to for a net-zero carbon future? In theory, trees can be used to produce fuel, clothing, and even material for packaging and building. But is using all that wood really sustainable? And do we have enough forests to meet the demand? Richard Orange reports from Vaxjo, Sweden's forestry capital.

American activist Rob Greenfield has made all sorts of changes to make his life more sustainable — from giving up his car to living off the grid in a tiny house. But he says it was growing and foraging all his own food for a year that ended up being one of the most rewarding, and challenging, things he's ever done.

Healthcare — it's heavily reliant on disposable plastic and a major polluter. Given that single-use plastic used in life-saving work is both sterile and often more affordable than alternatives, do hospitals and doctors really have a choice as to whether or not they use it? And what about recycling medical plastic waste? Nimita Bhatt reports from the UK.

Plastic bags have become a symbol of the waste problem. Not only do they clog our oceans and waterways, they also foul cities and neighborhoods. In Africa, more than 30 countries have either completely or partially banned lightweight plastic bags, or charge taxes on them. Is it working? Isaac Mugabi is a DW journalist who's been following the issue, and he fills us in on the latest.

Plastic bottles — they are everywhere and, admittedly, pretty useful. But how to manage the waste? Rome is one of many cities looking for a solution. In a new program, the Italian capital has tied recycling plastic bottles to using public transportation — in a very direct way. But will this unusual scheme work? Angelo van Schaik reports from the eternal city.

Amid increasingly dire warnings about the consequences of global warming, more and more faith communities are beginning to acknowledge the climate crisis. From sermons about climate justice to carbon-neutral church halls, a growing number of churches are going green. And one country at the forefront of efforts to spread the climate gospel is Denmark.

Several soccer clubs across Europe have started to become more aware of environmental issues. Take Real Betis, for instance, one of the tops teams in La Liga, the highest ranking professional football division of the Spanish football league system. Real Betis became the first club to official join the Climate Neutral Now initiative of UN Climate Change. So how's the club cleaning up?

Have you ever wondered what soil sounds like? No? Even ecology professor Mathias Rillig, who runs a lab at Berlin’s Free University researching soil, plants and fungus, had never thought about the sound of soil. That's until he started working with artist Karine Bonneval, who was determined to listen to what’s going on underground.