Happy Tuesday 👋

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• A new AI system to improve sustainability 💚
• A major commitment to nature restoration projects 🌳
• Join the Great American Smokeout 🚭
• And more… 💚

Artificial intelligence (and especially ChatGPT) has been all over the news. But did you know that AI systems require a tremendous amount of energy, resulting in significant environmental costs?

While I’m generally a big fan of technological advancements, I’m a much bigger fan of those that have a positive benefit on our environment.

That’s why I’m especially happy to share this week’s story with you, about an AI model that’s all about boosting sustainability!

🤖 How The Launch of Green ChatGPT Can Boost Sustainability For Businesses

1️⃣ The big picture: Two ex Coca-Cola vice presidents have joined forces to develop a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence system to help businesses develop and implement effective sustainability practices. The digital platform, called Ubuntoo, has been hailed as “ChatGPT for environmentalism” and provides knowledge to companies looking to enhance their environmental impact. Ubuntoo can make recommendations to businesses about how to reduce plastic waste, refine their recycling processes, and increase the amount of renewable energy they use.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: 90% of business leaders believe that sustainability is a top priority. However, the implementation of sustainability practices remains difficult because of a lack of knowledge and the high cost of environmental consultancy. Currently, 22.8% of Fortune 500 companies have engaged with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Of these, just 0.2% have developed strategies to evaluate their progress. Ubuntoo allows companies to access vital sustainability knowledge with ease. It also offers a much more affordable alternative to traditional environmental consultancy.

3️⃣ What’s next: Several high-profile Fortune 500 companies have already started using the technology to refine their sustainability practices, including fast-food franchise company Subway. The next step is to further market the product, which was released on November 09, to encourage more businesses to utilize the data-based platform and improve their ESG (environmental, social, and governance strategy).

👉 You can already help to improve sustainability worldwide by contributing to the Best Charities That Promote Sustainability!

📢 More Good News…

🌳 Healthcare giant commits to spending $2.4 million on nature restoration projects:

• As part of their Healthy Cities Program, healthcare company Bupa will invest $2.4 million into nature restoration projects in urban areas around the world. 
• The money will go into a variety of different projects delivered alongside local partner organizations, including waste removal from coastlines around Hong Kong and plans to rebuild forest areas across Mexico, Brazil, and Australia
• The program includes a Step Challenge where participants can ‘unlock’ further funds for environmental projects. Over 55,000 people took part in 2023 alone. 

🧊 Researchers have developed a new sustainable alternative to air conditioning:

• Researchers from McGill University, UCLA, and Princeton University have developed an inexpensive, sustainable alternative to mechanical coolants in hot climates.
• The technology uses roof materials that radiate heat combined with temperature-driven ventilation.
• Initial tests have found that the technology can maintain temperatures several degrees below ambient temperature and even more degrees below the ‘gold standard’ for passive cooling. 

🦅 New AI tracking device will boost conservation efforts for American bird species:

• A new artificial intelligence model has been developed by researchers at Cornell University to track and predict seasonal movements of bird species across North America.
• The device uses billions of data points from eBird, an online portal where bird enthusiasts can record their own observations in the field. 
• The AI device will give information on bird species’ abundance and movements to boost large-scale conservation efforts. 

🚭 Event of the Week: The Great American Smokeout

👉 Did you know that this Thursday (November 16) is The Great American Smokeout? This event was founded in 1977 to encourage smokers to quit and raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking.

1️⃣ The big picture: The Great American Smokeout was set up by Lynn R. Smith and the American Cancer Society in California to change American’s attitudes to smoking. The very first event encouraged over 1 million people to give up smoking for at least a day. Since then, the awareness event has become a powerful platform for cessation, contributing to smoke-free laws and a dramatic decrease in the number of American smokers. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Every year, more than 480,000 people die from illnesses related to smoking. In fact, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, accounting for 29% of all cancer deaths. But it’s not just our health that cigarettes have a negative effect on. Cigarette butts are the most abundant form of plastic waste on the planet, with an estimated 4.5 trillion butts polluting our environment. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: If you are a smoker, perhaps the best way to get involved in The Great American Smokeout is to give up smoking or explore the various support options available to you. You can also set up awareness events in your own community to spread the word about the harm smoking can cause to human health and our natural environment. If you are an ex-smoker you can also share your success story to encourage others to quit, using the hashtags #Great American Smokeout, #SmokeFreeLife, or #QuitSmoking. 

Additionally, you can check out the organizations below that work to improve human health and fight pollution worldwide:

• 9 Best Charities That Help Overcome Addiction
• 9 Best Charities That Health and Well-Being
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Plastic Pollution
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to Protect Our Environment

📜 This Week in History

🖤 November 14, 1960: Six-year-old girl Ruby Bridges became the youngest of a group of African Americans to attend formerly whites-only schools in the American South, during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis.

🔬 November 14, 1905: Albert Einstein presented his quantum theory of light. This is considered to be a landmark moment in history that paved the way for modern technologies such as television screens and lasers. 

🎤 November 14, 1991: Pop legend Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking Black or White music video was launched. It premiered simultaneously in 27 countries on MTX, Fox TV, and Top of the Pops. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

— Albert Einstein, German theoretical physicist

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!/

Stay impactful 💚