It is well known that pollution damages ecosystems, but putting a precise price tag on that damage, and figuring out how government budgets can effectively lower it,is a complex puzzle. Rather than simply tallying up carbon emissions, a fresh economic analysis looks directly at the actual financial burden of pollution across six Mediterranean nations. The conclusion? Policy synchronization is the ultimate money-saver, and political hesitation is incredibly expensive.

The Alternet Summer School will return from 19–29 August 2026 in the mountain village of Peyresq, France, bringing together PhD candidates, early career researchers, and professionals to examine one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the relationship between biodiversity and society. The programme combines lectures with interactive formats, including field trips, collaborative group projects, and participant-led discussions. A defining feature of the Summer School is the integration of participants’ own research topics into the learning process, creating a reflexive and co-creative academic setting.