Happy Thursday 👋

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

• Transforming plastic waste into green energy ♻️⚡️
• Florida leads this year in solar power installations 🌞
• Coral reefs regrow after ‘sea-weeding’ project 🪸
• And more… 💚

Just imagine you had the chance to trade in your plastic waste to get green energy in return! I bet you’d do it all day long… And I would too!

For me, both the transition away from plastic waste and toward green energy can’t go fast enough. 

And combining these two sounds like an absolute win-win situation!

♻️⚡️ Discovered: How We Could Transform Plastic Waste into Green Hydrogen

1️⃣ The big picture: Plastic waste has long been an environmental concern, but what if we could turn this challenge into an opportunity? Researchers at Rice University have done just that by developing a method to produce green hydrogen from discarded plastics. Using a process called rapid flash Joule heating, they’ve successfully converted waste plastics into high-yield hydrogen gas and valuable graphene. This innovative approach not only addresses the plastic waste problem but also offers a sustainable method for hydrogen production.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: Hydrogen is seen as a pivotal player in the transition to cleaner energy sources, especially given its potential as an alternative to fossil fuels. The challenge has always been its production, which often results in carbon emissions. This new method not only repurposes plastic waste, which is a significant environmental concern, but also produces hydrogen in a low-emission manner. By converting plastics into hydrogen, we can repurpose waste and produce clean energy simultaneously. Additionally, the process yields graphene as a by-product, which can offset production costs if sold, even at a fraction of its current market value.

3️⃣ What’s next: The researchers are optimistic about the potential applications of their findings. With the ability to convert plastics into hydrogen and graphene, there’s potential for a dual solution to environmental challenges: reducing plastic pollution and providing a sustainable energy source. The next steps would involve scaling up this technology, ensuring its economic viability, and integrating it into the broader energy infrastructure.

📢 More Good News…

🌳🌳 EU steps in to boost Amazon rainforest protection plan:

• Team Europe, which includes institutions such as the European Investment Bank, will coordinate 260 million euros ($277 million) to help curb deforestation in the Amazon.
• Additionally, the EU will add an undisclosed amount to protect the forest from logging. This is crucial in protecting the rainforests of the Amazon, which help absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide.

🌞 Florida is now adding more solar power than any other state:

• This is the first time Florida has taken the top spot in solar installations and the state now has a total of 12,612 megawatts of solar connected to the grid.
• This is a huge win and a potential clean energy point for such a populous state that depends largely on fossil fuels.

🪸 Corals reefs regrow after ‘sea-weeding’ project:

• Coral reefs are challenged after critical losses by the extremely fast-growing seaweeds. This makes it difficult for the coral reefs to recover as they are frequently outcompeted by seaweeds.
• However, a volunteer seaweed removal program has shown a dramatic improvement of up to 600% coral regrowth off the coast of Magnetic Island.
• There was also an increase in coral diversity, showing this weeding method can benefit numerous different coral types.

🚘 Event of the Week: World Car Free Day

👉 Did you know that this coming Friday, September 22, is World Car Free Day? This event was set up to encourage motorists to give up their car for a day and use alternative transport to reduce air pollution and improve human health.

1️⃣ The big picture: World Car Free Day was founded in 2000 by the World Carfree Network (previously called Carbusters) and the Adbusters Media Foundation to highlight the many benefits of going car-free, such as reducing air pollution and promoting safe walking or cycling. Today, the event is marked by cities across the globe to showcase what it would be like to live on streets without motor traffic and to reduce the number of cars on the roads. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Today, there are estimated to be roughly 1.5 billion cars on the road worldwide, with an estimated 442 million in the US alone. In 2020, these vehicles pushed out 3 billion tons of CO₂e, an increase of 400 million since 2010. Moreover, 1.35 million people tragically die every year as a result of a car accident, with many more suffering serious injuries. Car-free days are a great opportunity for cities to explore sustainable ways to use roads and make streets safer for residents. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: The best way you can get involved in World Car Free Day is to leave your car at home and find greener ways to travel. For example, you can consider taking a relaxing cycle with the family or catching an electric bus to work. Alternatively, you can organize a fundraiser in your own town to raise awareness of the damage that standard cars cause to the environment, such as a street party.

Additionally, you can check out the organizations below that fight pollution and promote a healthier planet:

• 9 Best Charities for Land Conservation
• 10 Best Charities That Fight to Protect Our Environment
• 9 Best Charities for Protecting Nature

📜 This Week in History

📘 September 22, 1888: The first issue of National Geographic Magazine was published as a scholarly journal. It became famous for its richly illustrated articles on the various geographic regions of the world, and is now also known for its topics on environmental issues, world culture, history, nature, and science.

🙋🏻‍♀️💬 September 23, 2019: Climate activist Greta Thunberg scolds world leaders for not addressing climate change at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Her speech is rapidly shared and helps shift people’s views on climate change across the globe.

📜 September 23, 2021: The Biden administration and the EPA introduced the first regulation against greenhouse gasses, reducing harmful hydrofluorocarbons by 85% in 15 years.

💭 Quote of the Week

“Homo Sapiens have not yet failed. Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around. We can still fix this. We still have everything in our own hands.”

― Greta Thunberg; Swedish environmental activist, founder of Fridays for Future, and awareness raiser for Asperger

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

Stay impactful 💚