Play Your Plate & the Top 5 Happy Eco News Stories for September 27, 2021
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This week we have a blog post by Devon Whalen, the co-founder of Green Whale who tells us about the game she created called Play Your Plate which helps people switch to an ecofriendly diet. We also have stories about a $25 million renewable investment to decarbonize First Nation’s coastal communities, an African-led initiative, the Great Green Wall, which aims to grow a mosaic of trees, vegetation and fertile land, DHL Express’s purchase of electric cargo planes, Italy’s ban of large cruise ships in Venice, and Canada’s cougar comeback.
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Playing with your Food can Reduce Your Carbon Impact
Guest Post By: Devon M. Whalen, co-founder of Green Whale
The impact of the food industry on the climate has been a hot topic lately, as the food industry produces more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry! Whether it’s from this realization or from another factor, today’s statistics indicate that a growing number of individuals are adopting more eco-conscious diets. In the US, the number of vegans has increased more than 500% since 2014, from 1% of the population to 6% of the population. Vegans exclude all animal products from their diet and do not buy products made from animals or tested on animals. But not everyone is ready to make the leap from their current diet to a vegan one, as consuming meat is a part of the social norm in many regions, including the US, Europe, and China. The family behind Green Whale, LLC was in exactly this place in their eco-conscious journey less than a year ago. They were conditioned to believe that meals, especially dinner, had to include meat. But as they became more aware of their diet’s impact on the climate, they knew they had to make a change…[read more].
The Happy Eco News Weekly Top 5
Coast Funds, Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation, Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, and the Province of British Columbia announced over $25 million in new First Nations’ investments to transition coastal communities from dependence on fossil fuel-powered electricity to sustainable, locally powered renewable energy systems, eliminating over 175,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. These First Nations’ investments are financed with $7.9 million from the Renewable Energy for Remote Communities program, launched under a partnership between Coast Funds and the Province of B.C. The Renewable Energy for Remote Communities program is a key component of the Province’s CleanBC plan. By 2030, the Province aims to reduce province-wide diesel consumption for generating electricity in remote communities by 80% under CleanBC. “Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w and Kitasoo/Xai’xais have sustainably cared for their unceded lands and waters for thousands of years,” stated Huux̱ Percy Crosby , former Chair of Coast Funds. “The renewable energy investments we’re proud to announce today are a testament to these sovereign Nations’ leadership in stewarding and safeguarding their territories, demonstrating a pathway to sustainability for all communities in British Columbia and around the world. We are grateful for…[read more].
The Great Green Wall is an African-led initiative which aims to grow a mosaic of trees, vegetation and fertile land across the Sahel by 2030. The Olympic Forest project, a partnership between the IOC and charity Tree Aid, is working with local communities to regenerate and sustainably manage forests. The Olympic Forest might represent a model of responsible carbon-offsetting, which could be replicated across the entirety of the Great Green Wall. When the Olympic Games officially opened in Tokyo on 23 July, after a one-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, many saw them as a symbol of hope, unity and solidarity. And proof that we are stronger together. That same unity and solidarity will now be key in responding to the intertwined global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty. And 2021 is certainly a critical year for tackling these challenges, with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration , the signing of the G7 Nature Compact and the 26th COP to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCFFF) all on the horizon. Partnerships based on strong international collaboration … [read more].
In an email to CleanTechnica, DHL Express, the world’s leading express service provider, announced that it has agreed to purchase 12 Alice electric cargo planes from Eviation to create the first electric air freight network in the world. The 12 airplanes will be utilized in the company’s US operations. Eviation expects to deliver the zero emissions cargo aircraft to DHL Express in 2024 with the maiden flight scheduled to take place later this year.“We firmly believe in the emission-free future of logistics,” says John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “That is why we make sure that all investments improve our CO 2 footprint. On our way to environmentally friendly logistics, the electrification of all modes of transport plays a decisive role and contributes significantly to our sustainability goal of zero emissions. DHL Express has been a pioneer in the aviation industry for decades and in Eviation we have found the perfect partner who shares our mission. Together we dare to embark on a new decade of sustainable aviation”… [read more].
Large cruise ships will be banned from entering the Venice lagoon as of August 1, the Italian government announced Tuesday. It follows years of warnings they risk causing irreparable damage to Venice’s ecosystem. “The decree adopted today represents an important step for the protection of the Venetian lagoon system,” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a statement. The move affects vessels longer than 180 meters (530 feet) or higher than 35 meters. Venice and UNESCO Concerns The decision comes just days before UNESCO convenes over proposals to add Venice to its list of endangered heritage sites. Venice was put on the prestigious list in 1987 after describing the city as an “extraordinary architectural masterpiece.” But the UN body said last month the city needed a “more sustainable tourism management.” Venice’s Fragile Ecosystem Capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, Venice is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Environmental activists say giant ships generate large waves that wreck Venice’s foundations and cause severe damage … [read more].
A six-year-old female cougar named C10 that Darlington had been monitoring through a satellite-linked collar was beneath the debris. Three months earlier, Darlington had set up a remote camera at one of C10’s deer-kill sites and caught her and a male cougar taking turns rolling around in the dirt. She suspected the bizarre dust bathing to be mating behaviour, but the camera hadn’t caught the two in the act. Now, Darlington had noticed C10 settle into one spot and wondered if she was denning — the timing was right. She set out with field technician Kieran Braid to investigate, and as they approached the slash pile, they paused and listened intently. In the stillness, they heard the unmistakable mewing of kittens only days old. Darlington pulled out her camera, and through the telephoto lens caught the penetrating gaze of C10’s yellow eyes, fixed on them through the branches. The cougar known as C10 peers through the branches of her den where she was rearing her kittens. (Photo: Siobhan Darlington) A month later, … [read more].
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