NEWSROOM
Scrapping eco-regulations on new homes cost UK owners £5bn
Homeowners in new-build properties are paying up to £1,000 more annually after energy saving regulations were scrapped. The Guardian reported that since 2016, around 1.35mn homes have been built without modern low-carbon features, costing residents an estimated £5bn in extra energy costs.
This comes amid a period of extreme energy price volatility. Since 2021, household energy bills have risen by more than 50%, with the average annual cost now around £1,717. Experts say stronger regulations requiring better insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels in new homes could have dramatically reduced these costs.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that equipping homes with low-carbon technologies during construction would have cost far less than retrofitting them later. Yet most new homes still rely on gas boilers and lack sufficient solar panels, leaving homeowners exposed to the volatile fossil fuel market.
Scrapped in 2015 under pressure from housebuilders, the UK’s zero-carbon homes policy has yet to be fully replaced. The government plans to introduce a new “future homes standard” later this year, but campaigners warn it may not go far enough to protect families from future energy shocks or meet climate targets.
Gene-editing breakthrough offers hope for patients with rare genetic illnesses
A groundbreaking gene-editing treatment has saved the life of a baby with a rare genetic disorder, opening the door to personalized therapies for thousands of patients with rare diseases.
KJ Muldoon, diagnosed at birth with CPS1 deficiency — a condition that prevents the body from removing toxic ammonia — became the first patient in history to receive a gene-editing infusion designed specifically to correct his unique DNA mutation.
The treatment uses a technique called base editing, which corrects single-letter errors in DNA. Scientists wrapped gene-editing instructions inside lipid molecules to deliver them safely to KJ’s liver. Once there, a molecular “GPS” based on CRISPR technology guided the editor to the exact faulty gene, where it made the correction.
Though the treatment was customized for KJ, the method can be adapted to treat thousands of other rare genetic mutations by simply reprogramming the CRISPR instructions. This could dramatically reduce development time and cost for future therapies. The collaboration, involving academic labs and biotech firms, was powered by decades of federally funded research. Experts say this could transform care for over 30 million Americans living with rare genetic disorders — most of whom currently have no treatment options.
While this is good news for those with rare diseases, the price tag of gene therapies remains a major barrier. Some approved treatments already cost more than $3mn per patient. The Aspen Institute warns the U.S. could spend $30bn annually on gene and cell therapies by 2031—ten times more per patient than today’s average drug costs. Without innovative payment models and public investment, even miraculous cures may remain out of reach for many.
Clean energy reverses China’s CO2 emissions for the first time
For the first time, China’s surge in clean energy generation has driven a sustained decline in carbon dioxide emissions, even amid growing electricity demand.
New analysis for Carbon Brief shows that China’s CO2 emissions fell 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, and 1% over the past 12 months—marking the first decline driven by clean energy growth rather than economic slowdowns. Expansions in solar, wind, and nuclear power more than covered rising demand, cutting coal use and slashing power-sector emissions by 2%.
However, this momentum may be derailed. Trump’s revived trade war has spurred short-term shifts in manufacturing and exports, prompting a rebound in emissions from heavy industry. Meanwhile, China’s longer-term response – economic stimulus and a push toward domestic consumption – hangs in the balance.
Experts warn that while clean energy has outpaced demand growth for now, the trajectory of China’s emissions depends heavily on its next five-year plan and how it responds to U.S. tariffs. If China prioritizes polluting sectors to shield its economy, its emissions could quickly rebound – jeopardising its climate targets and global progress toward net zero.
The hole in the ozone layer is shrinking thanks to landmark Montreal Protocol
The hole in Earth’s ozone layer over Antarctica reached its smallest size since 1988 this year, according to new satellite and ground-based measurements by NASA and NOAA. At its peak in September 2024, the hole covered 7.6mn square miles – significantly below the average extent of 10mn square miles observed since 1991.
This marked reduction is a direct success of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, a landmark global treaty that phased out ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Though some harmful chemicals remain in the atmosphere, their steady decline is contributing to a gradual healing of the ozone layer.
Improved atmospheric conditions also played a role this year. A warmer, more unstable Antarctic vortex limited the formation of polar stratospheric clouds, which are key to ozone destruction. While the recovery is not yet complete, the 2024 data underscores the impact of international environmental cooperation. Scientists still expect full recovery to 1980 ozone levels by around 2070, making the Montreal Protocol one of the most successful environmental agreements in history.
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