💚 Making Self-Sustainability Reality 🏝️
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
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Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
Happy Tuesday 👋
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- The small island showing the world that 100% sustainable living is possible 🏝️
- New AI technology can detect microplastics in water 🚱
- World’s oldest land animal celebrates 191st birthday 🐢
- And more… 💚
Wouldn’t it be great if we were fully self-sustainable?
I would love it if we could achieve that all together…
Especially since we are currently draining Earth so much more that by August each year, we’ve already used up all resources that we produce during the whole year (called the Earth Overshoot Day).
But there are some notable exceptions—and today we are looking into one of these that achieved 100% sustainability!
🏝️ How a Tiny Canary Island is Proving That Self-Sustainability is Possible
1️⃣ The big picture: The smallest of the Canary Islands has achieved a milestone in sustainability by becoming the first island in the world to function for 28 days using only water and wind power. El Hierro, a 1.1 million-year-old volcanic island, is home to 10,000 residents and was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and Geopark in 2000. The main source of energy on the island comes from the Gorona del Viento hydroelectric power plant which has an installed wind power capacity of 11.5 MW (megawatts) combined with pumped hydroelectric generation. Part of this energy is used to pump water upstream to a reservoir so it can move hydropower turbines.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Sustainability has become a very widely used term in recent years as we battle climate change and biodiversity loss. However, there are many barriers that make worldwide sustainability difficult to achieve, including consumer behavior, current legislation, and a lack of marketing incentives to develop sustainable technologies. El Hierro has shown the world that a 100% reliance on renewable energy sources is possible, improving the lives of residents and protecting vital natural areas.
3️⃣ What’s next: The world continues to watch as the small island of El Hierro pushes the boundaries of sustainable living. It’s hoped that their technology can be used in other countries to improve access to water and electricity in remote areas, as well as help to combat climate change.
👉 You can already help to improve sustainability around the world by contributing to the Best Charities That Promote Sustainability!
📢 More Good News…
🚱 Using AI to detect harmful microplastics in wastewater:
- A research team at the University of Waterloo has developed a way to use artificial intelligence to identify microplastics faster and more accurately than ever before.
- The technology, called PlasticNet, can detect plastic particles up to 50 times faster than conventional methods.
- The advanced imaging detection technology can help wastewater treatment plants and food production industries identify different types of microplastics and formulate effective plans for their removal.
🐢 World’s oldest living animal celebrates 191st birthday:
- A Seychelles’s giant tortoise named Jonathan celebrated his 191st birthday this year, meaning that he predates the invention of the telephone and photographs.
- Jonathan has lived on the island of Saint Helena since 1882. He is now considered a national treasure, featuring on the back of the local five-pence coin.
- Jonathan is now blind but he is still in good health, giving researchers optimism that he will reach his third century on this planet.
🌡️ Scientists create a framework to mitigate the threats of climate change:
- Scientists from Hiroshima University have created an Urban Climate Action Plan framework to guide the development and assessment of existing urban climate action plans (CAPs).
- Several studies have shown the limitations of current urban climate action plans, particularly as urban areas are vulnerable to heatwaves, floods, and other natural hazards.
- This new framework contains 43 globally acknowledged criteria across three climate planning stages to improve the efficiency of city-specific CAPs
❤️🩹 Event of the Week: Universal Health Coverage Day
👉 Did you know that today is Universal Health Coverage Day? This event was founded in 2017 to accelerate progress towards a world where everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
1️⃣ The big picture: Universal Health Coverage Day was founded by the United Nations General Assembly to urge countries around the world to work towards universal health coverage (UHC). Today, the event aims to raise awareness of the need for resilient healthcare systems by sharing the stories of millions of people who are still waiting for treatment. It also celebrates what has been achieved so far and calls on country leaders to make smarter investments in the health and wellbeing of all residents.
2️⃣ Why is this important: Despite the progress made in healthcare in recent years, half of the world’s human population still cannot get access to essential health services. This includes over 1 billion people who are served by healthcare facilities with unreliable or no electricity access. Poverty is a big barrier towards comprehensive healthcare because many low-income families struggle to pay for the care they need. By raising awareness of their plight, the United Nations hopes to encourage companies and governments to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare in the future.
3️⃣ How can you get involved: The theme for Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 is ‘Health For All: Time For Action’. You can get involved by downloading their campaign toolkit, where you will find social media copy to raise awareness of the current healthcare crisis and inspire change. You can also get involved by setting up a fundraiser or by getting involved in their Global Campaign.
In addition, you can check out the organizations below that are fighting to improve access to healthcare worldwide:
- 9 Best Charities Assist With Healthcare
- 9 Best Charities That Fight for Health Equity
- 9 Best Charities That Support Hospitals & Their Staff
- 9 Best Charities to Support Healthcare Workers
📜 This Week in History
🇺🇳 December 12, 2015: A landmark climate change agreement was reached at the UN conference in Paris. 92 countries all agreed to limit greenhouse gas emissions, replacing the Kyoto Protocol.
🖤 December 12, 1870: Joseph Hayne Rainey of Georgetown in South Carolina became the first African American to serve in the US House of Representatives.
🇳🇿 December 13, 1642: New Zealand was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.
💭 Quote of the Day
“It were but reasonable to hope that this sacred influence should never have been overshadowed, and that in the history of other nations, no less than in our own past, we might find beacon-lights for our guidance.”
— Joseph Hayne Rainey, former American politician
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!
Stay impactful 💚
