On daily basis the Good Good Good workforce collects the most effective excellent news on this planet and shares it with our neighborhood. Listed here are the highlights for this week!
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The Greatest Constructive Information We’re Celebrating This Week —
Supplies used for the 2024 NFL Draft are being repurposed to construct a canine rescue shelter in Detroit
Turf, fencing, set items, and different supplies used for the 2024 NFL Draft, hosted in Detroit, are being donated to native nonprofit organizations — together with an area animal shelter, Detroit Canine Rescue.
Stage supplies from the draft will probably be repurposed to assist construct the canine rescue’s free and low-cost spay and neuter clinic at an current constructing, in addition to its yard and “decompression” areas for canines.
Town mentioned there was a complete sustainability plan in place between the NFL and the town to scale back waste and repurpose supplies from the occasion, which strikes areas every year.
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Extra excellent news about repurposing and reusing:
If the present price of unpolluted expertise adoption continues, world greenhouse fuel emissions may have already peaked in 2023
An evaluation of a number of latest research clear vitality adoption and greenhouse fuel emissions exhibits that if the present, accelerated charges of development proceed — the worst of our affect on the planet may formally be behind us.
Authors of 1 research wrote that there’s “a 70% likelihood that emissions begin falling in 2024 if present clear expertise development traits proceed and a few progress is made to chop non-CO2 emissions.”
Their most formidable projection put emissions peaking in 2023 after which on “a protracted, sustained decline.” And people findings, whereas a “uncommon” piece of fine information within the local weather area (until you’re an avid Good Good Good reader), align with related research.
The world has additionally probably reached a local weather “tipping level” — even when the present tempo doesn’t proceed, emissions are projected to plateau by the tip of the last decade earlier than finally starting to say no.
Whereas we nonetheless have work to do to attain key emissions discount targets by 2030 and 2050 — this information ought to encourage all of us to proceed taking local weather motion — individually, and collectively. We’ve what we have to attain these targets.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park simply expanded its adaptive excursions, serving to disabled guests bike, camp, and kayak
After launching its free adaptive programming final 12 months with 4 occasions, this 12 months, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park is providing much more: three hikes, two mountain bike rides, one kayak journey, and one night time of tenting.
Adaptive excursions like these are made attainable by packages with specialists who present gear and data to park-goers, like Catalyst Sports activities, whose packages assist make the outside extra accessible.
The Smokies’ expanded accessible occasions are a part of a bigger motion by the Nationwide Park Service to make its parks extra accessible to individuals of all skills.
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Extra excellent news for accessibility:
The primary-ever commercial-scale manufacturing of sodium-ion batteries within the U.S. simply launched
Renewable vitality sources are exceeding manufacturing expectations (it’s solely persevering with to develop and set information!), however that sustainable endeaver comes with a unclean downfall: lithium.
It’s a identified concern within the clear vitality area, as lithium mining has industry-wide problems with employee negligence, geopolitical disruption, and damaging environmental impacts of its personal. And lithium batteries management greater than 90% of the worldwide grid battery storage market.
Fortuitously, this previous week, Natron Power launched its first-ever commercial-scale manufacturing of sodium-ion batteries within the U.S. These sorts of batteries present extra energy, recharge quicker, last more, and have a “utterly secure and steady chemistry.”
This tech would make these good headlines even higher:
Elmo is “checking in” once more as a part of a brand new psychological well being initiative on “Sesame Avenue”
Again in January, beloved “Sesame Avenue” Muppet Elmo logged on to social media platforms to see how of us had been faring initially of 2024: “Elmo is simply checking in! How is everyone doing?”
With responses about break-ups, unemployment, hire will increase, and extra, Elmo’s psychological well being check-in opened up a nationwide dialog about psychological well being and the way necessary it’s to look out for each other.
For Psychological Well being Consciousness Month, “Sesame Avenue” and its nonprofit Sesame Workshop wish to “examine in” on everybody once more — this time they’re doing it with psychological health-themed episodes and free assets for youths.
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Extra good psychological well being information:
As soon as unhoused himself, a person in England has supplied housing for a whole bunch of others proper in his house since 2020
With a protracted legal file for “principally petty stuff,” Stuart Potts spent a lot of his life up till now out and in of jail — and for a interval, he lived in a tent by a canal in Manchester, England.
That background provides him a uniquely private understanding of different of us experiencing homelessness — and has led him to do what he can to assist make a distinction.
Alongside a wholesome criticism of techniques and cynicism towards authority figures who “lack compassion” — Potts has simply as many heartwarming tales to inform about somebody serving to him out once they didn’t must. Now, he’s doing the identical.
From his one-bedroom flat, he’s let “a whole bunch” of individuals experiencing homelessness come and keep totally free with only a few floor guidelines: no laborious medication or violence, and everybody helps with housekeeping.
The second-largest within the U.S., a San Francisco-sized piece of land has simply been preserved, defending important wildlife habitat
On 27,512 acres in San Louis Obispo County, California rests Camatta Ranch, a cattle ranch that simply accomplished the second greatest land conservation easement within the nation.
The land, equal to the dimensions of San Francisco, is “crammed with rolling hills, inexperienced grass, oak woodlands and actually necessary wildlife habitat.” Whereas the land is privately owned and open for nature excursions, it’s going to additionally now be protected towards any future improvement.
Owned for six generations by the Morrison household, it was necessary to them to make sure it stayed protected for the a whole bunch of animals that decision it house: golden eagles, bald eagles, mountain lions, red-tailed hawks, and even bison.
What’s even higher: The land can also be house to black bears, which had been as soon as threatened however have been bouncing again on account of conservation efforts like these and had been taken off the endangered species listing in 2016.
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A research discovered that restoring coastal habitat boosts wildlife numbers by 61%
Air pollution, coastal improvement, local weather change, and plenty of different human impacts have degraded or destroyed swathes of mangrove forests, saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, macroalgae (seaweed) forests, and coral and shellfish reefs.
Wholesome coastal habitats are the present that retains on giving. We’d like them again, so there’s plenty of enthusiasm for restoring these habitats. However we wish to get better extra than simply the habitats — we would like the animals they help too.
In a brand new evaluation of restoration tasks, in comparison with degraded websites, restored habitats have a lot bigger and extra various animal populations.
And that’s consistent with different, related analysis on the topic!)
General, researchers discovered animal populations in restored coastal habitats had been 61% bigger and 35% extra various than in unrestored, degraded websites.
For instance, after oyster reefs had been restored in Pumicestone Passage, Queensland, fish numbers elevated by greater than ten occasions and the variety of fish species elevated virtually fourfold.
Extra excellent news of the week —
Researchers made the primary discovery of endangered blue whales close to Seychelles in many years. Whalers illegally killed 500 blue whales within the space between 1963 and 1966, so researchers didn’t anticipate to see any throughout their expedition.
A metropolis council member was simply nominated to be the primary Black mayor in Northern Eire’s historical past. Lilian Seenoi-Barr mentioned she was “deeply honored” to make historical past for Derry Metropolis and Strabane District Council.
PBS Youngsters added American Signal Language interpreters to 6 of its youngsters’s exhibits. Kids who’re deaf or laborious of listening to can now watch exhibits like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and “Arthur” — that are already obtainable to stream totally free.
A give-back, pajama-party various to the Met, the second-annual Debt Gala raised funds to forgive medical debt. The comedy-fashion fundraiser’s ticket gross sales proceeds go to organizations that relieve medical debt for individuals throughout the nation.
In response to a Okay-pop protest over local weather issues, Hyundai ended its aluminum cope with a serious coal supporter. The carmaker will now not get aluminum from Adaro Minerals, which plans to construct 2.2 gigawatts of coal-fired energy vegetation to energy its aluminum smelter.
Setting a “intentionally formidable” objective, a serious European practice line goes all-electric by 2030. Within the Netherlands, Eurostar’s trains have been operating fully on wind energy for years — since 2017.
A groundbreaking at-home cervical most cancers screening take a look at simply obtained ‘breakthrough’ standing from the FDA. Self-collect screening strategies just like the Teal Wand have put Australia on observe to utterly remove cervical most cancers as a public well being concern by 2035.
A lady-owned startup simply launched a line of sustainable PPE merchandise designed particularly for ladies in STEM. ArmorSui’s merchandise embody gender-inclusive lab coats, reusable isolation robes, and fire-resistant hijabs.
A South Korean analysis workforce created self-cleaning photo voltaic panels that maximize effectivity by means of wind vitality. Photo voltaic vitality is significant for a sustainable future, however mud and different environmental elements dramatically scale back panel effectivity — this tech may repair that limitation.
To be extra inclusive, Boy Scouts of America introduced it’s altering its title to Scouting America. The group’s president mentioned it needs “any youth in America to really feel very, very welcome to come back into our packages.”
Setting a brand new sustainability benchmark in marine logistics, a fully-electric, 10,000-ton container ship simply started service in China. The brand new Inexperienced Water 01 vessel can save 8,600 kilos of gasoline for each 100 nautical miles traveled, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 12.4 tons.
[Related: This news aligns with a larger trend toward sustainability in the cargo shipping industry.]
A brand new UN-led panel is creating tips to stop environmental injury and human rights abuses with “important mineral” mining. Utilized in low-carbon expertise, mining for minerals like lithium, copper, and cobalt have led to a susrge in unlawful labor and human rights violations.
Pelicans had been simply seen nesting on Hat Island in Utah for the primary time since 1943. The island is a chosen wildlife administration space, serving as an necessary nesting space for American white pelicans on account of its isolation and safety for the birds.
A former animal testing lab was remodeled into an animal sanctuary. A lifelong dream of its founder, the 30-acre property will change into a rehab heart and sanctuary for animals that had spent a lot of their lives in cages.
Scientists lastly pinpointed a fungal virus that’s been harming frogs and toads. The novel virus has impacted over 500 amphibian species, and the invention may revolutionize conservation for frogs and toads.
A “mega-rare” hen was simply noticed in Oregon for the primary time in U.S. historical past. A photographer unknowingly captured a photograph of the blue rock thrush and shocked the birding world when he posted it on social media.
A latest Cambodian mangrove expedition uncovered a trove of 700 animal species. The expedition additional highlighted mangroves’ essential position in biodiversity conservation amid widespread loss.
The hake inhabitants within the waters of Northwestern Europe has recovered spectacularly over the previous 20 years. In what may sign extra excellent news for total ocean well being, hake fish had almost disappeared from the world on account of overfishing.
The Nationwide Park Service is reintroducing grizzly bears and now not eradicating wild horses from parks. The NPS canceled plans to take away 200 traditionally important wild horses and can reintroduce threatened grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem.
In a milestone for the critically endangered species, a California condor just lately hatched in San Diego. The brand new arrival was the 250th hatched on the San Diego Zoo due to the conservation efforts of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
