Switching to organic products, realising the dangers of fast fashion, moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle… doing better for the planet is a constant journey. Which is why it is heartening to see governments come onboard with strategies to mitigate the damage done to the environment and look for cleaner alternatives. Here are five pieces of environmental good news that will fuel your passion to keep the change going.
AUSTRALIA PLEDGES $100 MILLION TO PROTECT ITS OCEANS
Being the world’s only island continent, the oceans are a part of its national identity and also crucial to the daily life of millions of Australians. They mainly aim to target the blue carbon ecosystems, which includes mangroves and seagrass that can absorb 3-4 times more carbon as opposed to other trees. Carbon sequestration via mangroves will also serve as an excellent method to mitigate CO2 pollution. Additionally, the initiative will also veer towards ocean discovery and restoration projects to get a clear picture of the marine parks, then formulate steps to support the health and sustainability of the pristine waters.
D&SNG FROM COLORADO SWITCH FROM COAL-BASED ENGINES
The coal-fired locomotive engine that marked its debut in 1902 recently came under scrutiny for starting the 416 fire, which is considered to be the 6th largest wildfire in Colorado that burned over 57,000 acres of land. Coal-burning engines are known to emit small cinders from their smokestacks and can start fires. After an initial hesitation of moving away from the coal- based engine, as the owners feared that the locomotive would lose its nostalgic charm, they have finally come onboard and moved to cleaner fuel-based engines to avoid future disasters.
AMAZON SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE ON REVEALING ITS PLASTIC FOOTPRINT
The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon has been called upon by its shareholders to provide a report on its plastic footprint by December 2021. The board of directors have suggested that the shareholders should vote on this resolution by the end of June 2021. Oceana estimated that Amazon had generated nearly 210,000 tonnes of plastic waste in the year 2019. Amongst rising concern that this plastic waste ends up harming marine life, Amazon has been called upon to reduce the usage of plastic and switch to more eco-friendly alternatives.
GERMANY EXCEEDS RENEWABLE ENERGY MILESTONE
Germany had set a target that 65% of its consumed electricity would come from renewable energy sources by 2030. However, it has already reached the mark where 52% of its electricity is coming from renewable sources, which is well above track with nearly a decade left to easily reach the target. The energy derived from solar panels and wind turbines is showing a remarkable upwards curve. These promising results from Germany should help motivate the world to make the switch to renewable sources of energy.
INDIGENOUS WOMEN GAIN RECOGNITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Long before it was in vogue to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, indigenous women have been in the forefront in the fight for environmental and social justice. Nemonte Nenquimo made it to the list of 100 most influential people by TIME magazine for fighting a lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government and successfully protecting 500,000 acres of indigenous territories and Amazon rainforest from oil exploration and extraction.
Saving the planet can seem like a daunting task but with all stakeholders and individuals coming together, the journey towards a more sustainable future can be made possible.