Quick summary of the top good news stories from last week.
In a week when it has been revealed that Pakistan is home to one of the fastest solar revolutions in the world - expected to add more than a third of the country's entire generating capacity in 2024 - and Dame Katherine Grainger has become the first female chair of the British Olympic Association in its 119-year history (she is the only British woman to win medals in five successive Olympic games), there are also some important machinations underway at the world’s top court. It has begun hearing evidence in a significant case that may clarify the legal responsibilities of governments in relation to climate change. The International Court of Justice in The Hague will hear testimony from nearly 100 countries and will attempt to answer key questions as to what countries should do to fight climate change and, critically, what should they do to repair damages linked to rising temperatures.
Meanwhile, in other news...
Nature & Conservation
Marine Protection: Portugal’s Azores Islands has just signed off on the creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic - reaching international conservation goals well ahead of time - and will encompass almost 300,000 square km (115,830 sq. miles).
Trees of Hope: Saplings from the felled Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted across the UK.
New Discoveries: The World Wildlife Fund has published the results of a ten year investigation of the Congo Basin, revealing the discovery of 742 new species. Reminding us all just how much of the world is yet to be explored, a new study from the World Wildlife Fund breaks down the discoveries of the new species in the Congo Basin, the second-largest rainforest and river basin in the world.
Barbados: The Caribbean island has secured the world’s first “debt-for-climate” swap to finance vital projects that will help it cope with the impacts of climate change.
No New Motorways: A plan to expand Switzerland’s motorway network has been rejected by Swiss voters in a referendum framed as a win for the environment.
SailLink, a new wind-powered shuttle service, announced that it will soon run daily between England and France, offering slow, low-carbon experiential travel.
Innovation & Tech
XPrize Rainforest: A remarkable new type of drone succeeded in comprehensively surveying 100 hectares of rainforest in a single day and won the $5 million Xprize.
Folding Battery: According to a new patent, Samsung has developed a first-of-its-kind folding battery designed to suit the distinctive form factor of a tri-fold gadget. Samsung appears to be examining the feasibility of a multi-hinge battery design that allows it to fold alongside the screen.
Bright Idea: Mercedes invents new brakes for EVs.
Aussie Social Media Ban: Australia has taken an unprecedented step in taking on Big Tech: within a year, children under 16 will be banned from using social media, following the Senate's approval on the world’s first law of its kind.
Sweden's Heart Aerospace: 30 seat all-electric aircraft will take off in 2025.
Spotify: The music streaming platform has announced the most played songs for each of the last 10 years.
Education
Nationwide Subscription: The Indian government is about to give 18 million students, faculty and researchers free access to nearly 13,000 journals after striking a major deal with global publishers. This is huge news for India’s scholars, who are the third biggest contributors of research papers globally but often prevented from reading them by high subscription fees. Until now.
Goose Poop: In an extraordinary leap into biomedical science, a group of Chicago middle school students contributed to the discovery of a compound that shows potential in slowing the growth of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells. This breakthrough was part of a 14-week applied science program designed to address inequities in STEM education.
Electric Vehicles
EVangelists: More good news from EV mecca Norway, with November numbers showing a truly impressive 93.6 percent of all new car registrations were fully electric, showing that its EV transition is almost complete. If you add plug-in hybrids with a market share of 1.3 percent, nearly 95 percent of all new cars had a charging connection.
New Kid on The Block: Telo has announced the very competitive price of $41,500 for its compact electric truck that has the same footprint as a Mini Cooper but boasts a full-size cargo bed that challenges the big boys.
UK Record: The UK set a new record for electric vehicle sales in November, with more than 25 percent of total car registrations being for EVs. That's a 53 percent increase on November 2023. The latest figures mean EV sales in the country have held more than 20 percent of the market share for the fourth month in a row - also a record-breaking number.
e-Scooter For $500: Ultra-low priced e-scooter targets India's enormous gig economy.
And Finally...
Mayo Drink: You know how there are some words or concepts that just don’t sound right together – or shouldn’t be thought of in the same sentence? Alcohol and driving, for example. Religion and government, could be another. You get the general idea. Well, Japan has launched a new drink that should probably join the list of unwise combinations. It’s called Nomu Mayo, and you’ve probably guessed what the main ingredient is. Yes, it’s a drinkable form of mayonnaise. Maybe it's delicious...
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Today's Articles
Sheeran in Bhutan: Country that pioneered the idea of Gross National Happiness is to host Ed Sheeran for the country's first international gig.
Amazing Aurora: Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2024 includes places where they’ve rarely - if ever - been snapped before.