Quick summary of the top good news stories from last week.
Tripling Renewables: At last year’s COP28 summit, nearly 200 countries pledged to reach net-zero energy emissions by 2050 and triple renewable capacity by 2030 to stay on track for that target. The IEA just confirmed that this figure is 'within reach' thanks to the blistering pace of renewables build out over the last 12 months.
World First: A 25-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes has become the first person with the disease to be treated using cells extracted from her own body, says in new report published in Nature. It's a 'stunning result' a complete reversal of the disease in a patient that previously required substantial amounts of insulin.
DyslexicU: The world’s first ‘University of Dyslexic Thinking’ has launched online, offering participants the opportunity to understand how dyslexic thinking could help them. Better yet, it's free.
World's Best Pizza: The very best pizza in the world isn’t in Italy. Instead, it’s in New York City, according to an annual ranking from 50 Top Pizza, an Italy-based organization that sends anonymous inspectors to pizzerias around the globe. This year, a restaurant on the Lower East Side called Una Pizza Napoletana claimed the top spot.
Trade Turbo-Charger: Europe’s answer to the Suez Canal breaks ground, expected to create a major new European trading route to boost the bloc’s economic fortunes.
Indian Rhinos Thriving: India has announced a remarkable comeback for its one-horned Asian rhino population, which has surged from just 600 in the 1960s to over 4,000 today, following 40 years of conservation efforts.
'It's Hugely Moving': Along the sandy shores of Sekania, on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, conservationists are celebrating. The beach, long described as the Mediterranean’s greatest “maternity ward” for the Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtle, has become host to not only record numbers of nests, but record numbers of surviving hatchlings as the species makes an extraordinary resurgence.
Problem Solved: Mount Everest is growing taller faster than it should be - now we know why.
California Leads: The Golden State is tackling the problem of textile and fashion waste with the country’s first law that requires clothing companies to implement a recycling system for the garments they sell. Furthermore, California is banning all plastic shopping bags in supermarkets starting in 2026, closing a loophole that allowed thicker ones.
Flying Vs: Urgent search for better fuel efficiency to cut emissions is driving radical innovation in aircraft design.
Fossil Fuel Ads Ban: The Hague becomes world’s first city to pass law banning fossil fuel-related ads. New legislation in the Dutch city spells the end of publicly and privately funded advertising for petrol and diesel, aviation and cruise ships in city streets, including on billboards and bus shelters.
UK Climate Envoy: In a symbolic move, the UK government has appointed a new climate envoy – a role axed by the previous government.
Aussie Rooftop Solar: A happy accident resulting from a series of unco-ordinated climate policies: over 3.7 million Australian households and small businesses now have rooftop solar, surpassing coal-fired power. This means more than one in three homes generates its own power during the day, with the trend set to grow, reports The Guardian.
End of UK Coal: On Tuesday, Britain awoke as a nation that no longer had any coal-fired power stations - for the first time since 1882.
China Pugs In: August saw plugin vehicles hit a record 54 percent market share in China. At this pace, the Chinese market is projected to be fully electrified around 2030.
Lastly: The huge asteroid that hit Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago was not alone, scientists have confirmed.
That's it, you are up to date.
Today's Articles
Tegelwippen: The new Dutch national sport that seeks to restore greenery and help the Netherlands meet its climate targets.
Dozen Life Tips: Stuff you wish you knew when you were 20, but still handy whatever age you are now.