That was the month that was: July

July has been an exciting month for the world of sustainability, with varied stories that ranged from devastating droughts in Australia, major clean energy developments in India and high pollution levels recorded in London.

Here are the most popular articles on Blue & Green Tomorrow for July 2014, according to our readers.

1. Climate change creating ‘water crisis’ in Australia

Richard Heasman: Compared to data collected in the 20th century, rainfall levels in Southern Australia are expected to drop by 40% – creating an Australian forever-drought. Read more.

2. Scientist offers $30,000 for proof that climate change is not manmade

Tom Revell: A climate change expert has offered $30,000 (£17,500) of his own money to anyone who can disprove that mankind is causing global warming, in an effort to demonstrate that climate sceptics cannot support their position. Read more.

3. London’s Oxford Street has ‘world’s highest’ levels of diesel fumes

Ilaria Bertini: It may be best known for its many shops, but Oxford Street in London is also home to the world’s highest levels of the toxic compound nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which comes from diesel engines and can cause breathing problems and heart-related diseases. Read more.

4. Sustainable transport: investment in cycling must increase fivefold, MPs say

Tom Revell: Government spending on the UK’s cycling infrastructure must be increased fivefold by 2020 to improve road safety and encourage sustainable transport, MPs have said. Read more.

5. Meet EcoPlanet Bamboo: the Apple computer of timber

Alex Blackburne: US entrepreneur Troy Wiseman tells Alex Blackburne about his mission to make bamboo the natural world’s next disruptive technology – while making money, providing deforestation-free solutions and helping eradicate poverty. Read more.

6. India plans to build ‘world’s largest’ floating solar power plant

Richard Heasman: A 50 megawatt (MW) solar panel project, led by India’s National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), is to be constructed in the southern state of Kerala and floated on one of its lakes. Read more.

7. Bee-killing neonicotinoids linked to farmland birds decline

Ilaria Bertini: Insectivore birds in areas heavily treated with neonicotinoids, which have been proven to harm pollinators, have declined significantly compared to farms where the chemical is used less, a new study has found. Read more.

8. Australian lead pollution beat human explorers to the South Pole

Tom Revell: In 1911, the Briton Robert Falcon Scott and the Norwegian Roald Amundsen raced to the South Pole. Amundsen’s expedition made it in December, Scott’s ill-fated party – who all perished on the return journey – got there 33 days later. But both were beaten by manmade pollutants. Read more.

9. Tidal lagoon renewable energy plants could add £27bn to UK economy

Tom Revell: A new wave of six tidal lagoon power plants could contribute £27 billion to the UK economy over a 12-year period starting in 2015, according to a new study. Read more.

10. YouTube blocks Greenpeace’s video targeting Lego over link with Shell

Charlotte Malone: Greenpeace’s video ‘LEGO: everything is NOT awesome’, which criticises Lego over its relationship with oil firm Shell, has been suspended by YouTube, following a copyright claim by Warner Brothers. Read more.

Photo: Felipe Wiecheteck via freeimages