Happy August! Here are some uplifting headlines from this past month worth celebrating.
Week of 1 July:
New hope in the Mediterranean: Scientists find deep corals withstand heat waves
“This new discovery gives us real hope for the future of this scientific programme and, more broadly, for a whole area of marine biodiversity.” Learn more here.
North Sea sees potential shift from oil and gas to renewable energies
The offshore wind industry continues to grow as nations look to change Europe’s oil and gas hub into a major source of renewable energy. Learn more here.
Caribou could save tundra from rising heat and shrinking ice
Scientists in Greenland found that tundra vegetation fares better when caribou and muskoxen are around to dine on encroaching, heat-loving shrubs. Learn more here.
Canada’s first hydrogen train is taking passengers
You can now buy a ticket to ride the first hydrogen-powered train in North America. Learn more here.
Week of 8 July:
US cities swap July 4th fireworks for drone shows to protect the environment
US cities like Salt Lake City and Boulder are opting for drone light shows as a safer and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fireworks. Learn more here.
Bison return to Native American lands, revitalizing sacred rituals
More than a century after a mass bison slaughter, the animals are restoring Great Plains ecosystems and reinvigorating Indigenous customs like the sun dance. Learn more here.
Global maritime sector agrees deal on carbon-reduction target
The International Maritime Organization described the deal as “historic.” Learn more here.
Toyota claims battery breakthrough in potential boost for electric cars
The Japanese firm believes it could make a solid-state battery with a range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes. Learn more here.
Week of 15 July:
Canada pledges US$340m to UN’s Green Climate Fund
The fund was set up in 2010 to distribute money from wealthy countries to climate projects in low and middle-income countries. Learn more here.
European Union approves ambitious nature restoration law
The law tasks the 27 EU member countries with finding ways to restore large tracts of damaged forests, wetlands and fields, as well as rivers, lakes and oceans. Learn more here.
Huge mineral discovery in Norway could supply battery and solar panels for the next 50 years
The discovery of valuable ore in Scandinavia looks to relieve shortages of phosphorus for decades to come. Learn more here.
Cement can’t be sustainable if it falls apart. This firm may have a fix.
A climate-friendly cement received the first third-party certification that it is structurally and chemically the same as the conventionally produced stuff. Learn more here.
Week of July 21:
In Baltic Sea, citizen divers restore seagrass to fight climate change
They hope this painstaking work, part of a new project that trains local citizens to restore seagrass meadows in the Baltic Sea, can help tackle climate change. Learn more here.
South Korea emerges as key partner for America’s energy transition
On June 22, the U.S. The Department of Energy announced that it will grant a $9.2 billion loan to BlueOval SK LLC (BOSK), a joint venture between Ford and SK On, a Korean battery manufacturer. Learn more here.
Oases in the Bronx, community gardens gain recognition
Lawmakers in Albany voted to designate community gardens statewide as crucial to the urban environment. Learn more here.
New law pushes Washington cities and counties to plan for climate change
They’ll have to incorporate strategies to cut emissions and better withstand natural disasters and severe weather into their long-term plans. Learn more here.
Week of July 28:
São Paulo students plant mini-forests on school grounds as urban oases
Four thousand students planted nearly 10,000 trees on public school grounds in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2022, and another eight mini-forests will be planted in 2023. Learn more here.
Oregon lawmakers salvage climate change legislation
The legislation promotes energy efficiency and enables the state to secure federal grants to cope with climate change. Learn more here.
The first cargo ship running on green methanol is setting sail
Green methanol, which can be made either from gas from plant sources like food waste, or from renewable electricity and green hydrogen, can cut a ship’s emissions by 65-70%. Learn more here.
At a shuttered Texas coal mine, a 1-acre garden is helping feed 2,000 people per month
The garden in the middle of a 35,000-acre former mine is supplying thousands of pounds of fresh produce to families in three counties that have few grocery stores. Learn more here.
As always, we hope these headlines reminded you of all the action taking place around the world! If you want to see more posts like this, check out our social media pages on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook or subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
