💚 The 8th Country to Run on 100% Renewable Energy 🇻🇦
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Happy Friday 👋
Did you know that there are already seven countries that run on ~100% renewable energy?
These are Albania, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Iceland, Nepal, Paraguay, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 99.7% of their electricity comes from geothermal, hydro, solar, or wind energy.
And it looks like there’s an eighth country is joining them very soon!
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- The Vatican is set to become the 8th country to generate 100% renewable energy 🇻🇦
- How Indigenous efforts help protect over 40% of Amazon land 📈
- The last wild horse species saved from extinction 🐎
- And more… 💚
🇻🇦 Vatican to Achieve 100% Green Energy with New Solar Plant
1️⃣ The big picture: Vatican City is set to become the eighth country in the world to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable energy. Pope Francis announced plans to build a solar plant on Vatican-owned land outside Rome, which will add to the existing solar installations in the city-state. This initiative aligns with the Vatican’s commitment to sustainable development and climate neutrality.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This transition to renewable energy will make the smallest country by land mass entirely energy independent, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and setting an example for other nations. The project highlights the feasibility of achieving significant environmental goals using existing technologies like solar power, which Pope Francis emphasizes as crucial for addressing climate change.
3️⃣ What’s next: The construction of the new solar plant will commence soon, with the goal of completing the transition to 100% renewable energy. This move not only supports the Vatican’s environmental goals but also reinforces global efforts to combat climate change. As more countries follow suit, the collective impact on reducing carbon emissions could be substantial, promoting a greener and more sustainable future.
📢 Three More Good News
📈 How Indigenous efforts help protect over 40% of Amazon land:
- Over 40% of the land across nine Amazonian countries has been confirmed to be under some form of conservation management. This is thanks to Indigenous communities managing and protecting their land.
- This percentage is much higher than the previous report of 28% and shows how important Indigenous peoples and local communities are in conservation, as they protect significant portions of land, including the Amazon rainforest.
- Because these details provide a more complete picture of existing environmental protections, these new findings will help us better understand and strengthen our current conservation areas.
🐸 How scientists have saved endangered frog species with saunas:
- Small, sauna-like shelters are being developed by biologists to protect endangered amphibian species from deadly fungal diseases.
- These low-cost shelters significantly improved the frogs’ ability to fend themselves from illness. By providing a warm environment that prevents fungal disease, vulnerable frog species will be more likely to survive such ailments and continue to play a part in local ecosystems.
- Researchers are now aiming to scale up these simple and affordable frog shelters. Their hope is to include both wildlife professionals and local communities to help save endangered amphibians.
🐎 The last wild horse species saved from extinction in Kazakhstan:
- For the first time in over 200 years, wild Przewalski’s horses have returned to Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe. These endangered horses, the last truly wild horses on Earth, were reintroduced by Prague Zoo.
- This reintroduction helps restore the natural ecosystem and preserves an endangered species. The horses will stimulate plant growth and maintain biodiversity, crucial for a balanced environment.
- The goal is to eventually transport at least 40 horses to create a sustainable population.
📢 Even More Good News Headlines From This Week
🛍️ Retail giant Lidl teams up with the WWF to reduce the ecological challenges in their supply chain
🇸🇳 Endangered Giant Pangolin spotted for the first time in Senegal in 24 years
🔋 Scientists have developed bacteria-powered batteries for more sustainable agriculture
🟢 Cracking down on greenwashing
🇩🇰 Why Denmark is taxing emissions from farmers
⛽ Turning food waste into clean fuel
🤝 Important Awareness Events at a Glance
- Plastic Free July was founded in 2011 by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz as a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation to create a world free of plastic. Today, the event is one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world, working toward cleaner streets, healthy oceans, and beautiful communities.
- To date, Plastic Free July has inspired over 100 million participants across 190 countries to reduce their plastic use and find more sustainable alternatives.
🤝 July 6, International Day of Cooperatives:
- International Day of Cooperatives is a UN-designated day which honors cooperative working around the world.
- Co-ops provide a unique work structure that helps benefit workers as much as the proprietors.
🏖️ July 1-7, National Clean Beaches Week:
- National Clean Beaches Week raises awareness for garbage on beaches and encourages more conscientious beach visiting, as well as litter cleanup initiatives.
- This week falls on the 4th of July, which is the largest beach visitation day of the year in the US.
Related: You can discover all the 67 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for July 2024!
📜 These Days in History
📜 July 5, 1971: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the US Constitution successfully went through. This granted citizens aged 18 years and older the ability to vote.
👩🏻🎨 July 6, 1907: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was born. Despite her chronic pain and ailments, she created intense and colorful portraits that she would later become renowned for.
👩🏻💼 July 7, 1980: Michelle Kwan was born. She became one of the most decorated American athletes and won more than 40 championships. Later in life, she studied law and became the US ambassador to Belize.
💭 Quote of the Day
“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”
― Frida Kahlo; Mexican painter and artist
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!
Stay impactful 💚
