Motorcycle taxis are the vehicle of choice for weaving though Africa's traffic-clogged cities. So much so, they're now producing more urban pollution in East Africa than cars. But battery-powered bikes could help clear the air.

A new hashtag from Sweden has captured a peculiarly 21st century angst: #flygskam — or flying shame. DW profiles one of the activists who started the movement, a former Olympic athlete who's now shooting for a fossil-free lifestyle.

Forest therapy or "forest bathing" began in Japan about 30 years ago. It's all about slowing down, engaging the senses and tuning in to your surroundings. Now, this natural stress-reducing method is being practiced all around the world. Sian Griffiths ventured into the Canadian woods to explore the benefits for herself.

Nairobi is the only capital city in the world that has a national park full of wildlife within its city borders. That means the occasional lion or leopard sometimes makes its way into residential areas — often with fatal consequences for the animals.

The axolotl is one of our planet's most bizarre-looking animals and its amazing regeneration ability makes it invaluable to scientists. Sadly it's slowly disappearing from its native Mexico due to pollution and habitat destruction. But it may have found its unlikely protectors in a group of nuns who have teamed up with scientists to save the species.

COP 14 kicks off this week — a key meeting of decision-makers on biodiversity. With goals focusing on how to conserve the array of life on our planet and ensuring resources are used sustainably, the body will be looking at how we can protect ecosystems from pollution, habitat loss and climate change. DW’s environment team leader Sonya Diehn discusses the global state of biodiversity.

The United Kingdom probably isn't the first place you think of when searching for a nice bottle of wine. But climate change could soon be about to change all that, as rising temperatures increase the viability of growing grapes for wine. We spoke with researcher Alistair Nesbitt, who has identified areas which could soon have the right growing conditions for vineyards.

As we gradually make the switch to renewables and electric vehicles, the global demand for lithium — to make the batteries — is expected to double over the next decade. But it's easy to forget the devastating impacts caused by lithium extraction. Sophia Boddenberg reports from Chile to find out more about the challenge of balancing a booming lithium industry with environmental protection.

Global hunger remains one of the biggest development challenges of our time — and food waste is part of the problem. In a bid to change this disposable mentality, a volunteer-led movement called Foodsharing is encourgaing people to collect and share unsold food that is still perfectly okay to eat. Reporter Evelyn McClafferty spent a day with a group of food-sharers in Berlin to find out more.

Ghana has a huge plastic waste problem — it produces up to 22,000 tons every year, but recycles very little of that. Now, one local company is taking up the fight against the rising tide of plastic by transforming it into paving tiles. This not only helps the environment, but also allows locals to earn a decent wage — and the plastic pavers are now a common sight in the neighborhoods of Accra.