All eyes on the Arctic this week, which has warmed 1 degree in the last decade and which is – according to Gloria Dickie in the Guardian – in the midst of ‘a death spiral’. It’s heating up faster than anywhere else on the planet – partially because of something called the Albedo effect, whereby when surfaces melt they expose ocean which, darker in colour, absorbs more heat from the sun.
Another article from the great (is great the right word!?) series ‘The End of the Arctic’ documents all the bizarre, last-ditch solutions being dreamt up to save these polar surfaces – from 10 million wind-powered pumps to the transformation of carbon dioxide into rocks.
In more tropical climes, Luis Arce has been elected president of Bolivia while fires rage through the eastern part of the country. Though a natural disaster has been declared, and 600 families affected, these fires as well as others across Brazil’s Amazon and Pantanal, plus Argentina and Paraguay, aren’t hitting the headlines in the same way that the 2019 wildfires did.
Meanwhile, the EU is embroiled in a vote over whether it is misleading for the consumer if the terms ‘veggie burger’, ‘veggie sausage’, ‘vegan cheese’ and so on are used to advertise meat alternatives. I’m gonna say no but then again I’m very much in favour of the ‘cultural hijacking’ the meat and dairy lobbies are up in arms about.
The big ideas
Maddyness and environmental platform Ours to Save ran their first collaboration last Thursday. OtS published a piece from Maddyness on hydroponics and the future farm, and Maddyness published a take on rewilding across the UK.
Beyond this, have a look at the ideas and innovations from across the spectrum of politics, social justice and big business that caught my eye this week:
- Green Alliance has published ‘Smart and Green: Joining up digital and environmental priorities to drive the UK’s economic recovery’, based generally around the idea that ‘failure to link the digitalisation and environmental agendas is holding back adoption of smart low carbon solutions in key sectors of the UK economy.’ The report outlines solutions ranging from car sharing and smart car charging for consumers to ‘product passports’ and materials databases for businesses, and is well worth a read.
- The world’s first climate-resistant wheat, which has been gene-edited to survive drought, is being produced in Argentina.
- Swedish furniture icon IKEA will be launching a ‘buy back’ service for furniture on Black Friday, taking ‘a stand against excessive consumption’.
- Environmentalists are trying to persuade young people to stay in Albania’s Korab mountains, which form part of the European Green Belt – a stretch of land that once belonged to the ‘iron curtain’ but is now a wildlife conservation site.
- According to a new report, a domestic battery supply chain based around California’s Salton Sea – where there are untouched supplies of lithium, necessary for electric vehicle production – could generate jobs and green energy, and help the US compete in the EV market.
- Virgin Hyperloop has started trials in West Virginia with the aim of providing high-speed, zero-carbon public transport for the USA by 2030.
- Citizens of the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir are standing up to illegal construction, smuggling, conflict and other practices threatening to destroy the region’s biodiverse environment.
- In Senegal, Dr Aïda Diongue Niang is running ‘conversation shops’ to enable people to access and engage with crucial information on the climate crisis and how it will affect daily life.
- Japan is expanding its offshore wind offering. According to Ankit Mahur of GlobalData, “Japan is on the cusp of joining the global offshore leaders and to ensure an untroubled expansion, the government needs to create a vibrant sector with favourable policy, resilient supply chain and de-risking the investments in the sector.”
- AllBirds yesterday introduced a range of sustainable apparel, with a campaign where the principle talent were BIPOC fighting for environmental and social justice. “Never in my life did I think my environmental science degree would lead to me being able to ‘model’ or that brands would consciously choose to spotlight BIPOC organisers with the launch of their new collection”, said activist Leah Thomas on Instagram.
Further reading
If you’re still reading, here’s even more reading:
