The Top 5 Happy Eco News Stories for June 20, 2022

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GAO – Grandchildren Accountability Office

Guest Post by: Grant Brown, founder of Happy Eco News

The 2022 federal election in Australia was a remarkable event. More than remarkable, I would say it was historic.

This year the people of Australia changed their path concerning climate accountability. Incumbent prime minister Scott Morrison suffered a party-shaking loss, and Anthony Albanese, leader of the Labour Party, stepped into the role. The losses were staggering for the Liberals, but the gains did not all go to Labour. Many of the seats went to independent and Green Party candidates.

The independents were the most exciting group by far. A group of proven, capable, and ethics-focused women campaigned on a platform of climate action and government accountability. Calling themselves Teal candidates, a colour based on the mix of blue from the Labour Party and Green for the environment, they defined a new political affiliation. But it wasn’t noteworthy just that these independents were women taking deep conservative ridings. It was special because the balance of power had shifted. The independents that won have effectively turned the focus from dirty politics of the past to one based on ethics, action and accountability…[read more].

How Spending Time in Nature Will Make Life More Meaningful

Guest post by: Philippa Robin, Creative Copywriter & Wordsmith

I’ve been a musician and a designer, a writer and a poet, localised in the midst of a vibrant city decor. Every now and then, I’d escape to nature and root down. But the last time I went on one of my adventures, something in my mind had changed. I couldn’t go back to my old life again. My heart was aching not to go and to stay close to nature and in her ‘filled’ silence instead of the rush and hush of the city. I craved for expressing creativity freely and explored without unnecessary obligations. For the first time, I was willing to leave everything I knew. And that desire hasn’t changed.

I am ready to leave my hometown, Amsterdam.

I want to share what kind of dream it is I am dreaming. A dream I had as a little kid, that suddenly re-entered as a vibrant thought. I want to share it because I know I am not the only one and I hope my quest and journey will inspire you to find out what you most desire in life.

It all started while I was travelling and ended up sleeping on a magical and mysterious piece of land between two mountaintops.

And I like to share what I wrote that day in spring, inspired by the felt equilibrium on the hill…[read more].

The Happy Eco News Weekly Top 5

1. Work Begins to Turn 99,000 Hectares in England into ‘Nature Recovery’ Projects

Takeaways:

• Over 99 000 hectares of land in England will be used to help tackle wildlife loss and the climate crisis and improve public access to nature in five major nature recovery projects.
• The projects range from converting farmland into chalk grassland to restoring and managing wetlands.
• The projects will take place in West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, the Peak District, Norfolk and Somerset…[read more].

2. Ethiopia Planted 350 Million Trees in 12 Hours. Now It’s Aiming Higher

Takeaways:

• In 2019, over 350 million trees were planted in Ethiopia within 12 hours.
• Government officials, private businesses, civil servants and volunteers joined in planting the trees.
• The country now aims to plant 20 billion indigenous trees by 2022…[read more].

3. A New Battery Design Could Last For an Entire 100 Years

Takeaways:

• Energy density is the amount of energy stored in a unit volume of fuel.
• Researchers from the University of Dalhousie have teamed up with Tesla and found that including nickel in the battery chemistry can produce higher energy density and range for electric vehicles.
• They found that by doing this, the battery life (used at a temperature of 25 degrees) could exceed 100 years…[read more].

4. Steel Giant Comes Out Swinging Against Fossil Fuel

Takeaways:

• Steel maker ArcelorMittal is exploring green steel by focusing on green hydrogen to replace coal.
• The company has announced a $100 million “XCarb™ Accelerator Programme”, which aims to reduce carbon emissions significantly.
• “Steel can make a huge contribution to the decarbonisation of the global economy, and at ArcelorMittal, we are committed to leading our industry’s efforts and accelerating the speed of our progress,” said ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal…[read more].

5. Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Shows Signs of Recovery

Takeaways:

• According to WWF Mexico, the presence of monarch butterflies in Mexico’s forests this past winter was 35% greater than in 2021.
• The WWF works with local governments and communities to promote scientific monitoring, education, sustainable forest management, and tourism.
• “The increase in monarch butterflies is good news and indicates that we should continue working to maintain and reinforce conservation measures by Mexico, the United States, and Canada,” said Jorge Rickards, the general manager of WWF-Mexico…[read more].

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