Happy Friday 👋

Did you know two-thirds of the world’s oceans have almost no legal protection?

A new UN treaty just crossed the finish line and will soon safeguard life in the high seas… Think of it as the first real rulebook for protecting marine biodiversity in international waters.

Starting in 2026, countries will finally have a legal framework to shield vulnerable species in the open seas!

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

• The historic UN high seas treaty reaches ratification threshold ⚖️
• The desert solar spheres that capture energy without emissions ☀️
• How the global power shift toward renewables creates new ‘electrostates’ ⚡
• Discussion of the week: ethical money choices 💬
• And more… 💚

⚖️ Historic High Seas Treaty Reaches Ratification Threshold, Ocean Protection Set for 2026

1️⃣ The big picture: A landmark UN treaty to protect marine biodiversity in international waters will become legally effective in January 2026 after reaching the required 60 ratifications last week. Known formally as the BBNJ Agreement, this treaty aims to protect 30% of the high seas through the creation of Marine Protected Areas. The agreement represents a breakthrough after two decades of negotiations and will require environmental impact assessments for economic activities like deep-sea mining. While 142 countries have signed it since September 2023, the treaty faces implementation challenges as no single nation controls these waters.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: Marine species in international waters finally gain legal protection from threats like climate change, pollution, and overfishing. The treaty creates a framework for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the high seas, which currently have minimal protection yet are home to countless vulnerable species. Knowledge and technology sharing provisions promote equity for developing nations while ensuring fair access to marine genetic resources. Environmental impact assessments will now be required for economic activities in these areas, helping maintain ecological balance in these critical ecosystems that make up approximately two-thirds of the world’s oceans.

3️⃣ What’s next: The first Conference of Parties must convene within a year of the treaty taking effect to begin implementation. Countries are already preparing to establish High Seas Marine Protected Areas once the treaty is operational, with several areas already proposed for protection. More nations are expected to ratify the agreement during the upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.

📢 Three More Good News

☀️ Desert Solar Spheres Capture 99.96% of Sun’s Energy with Zero Emissions:

• 📰 The quick summary: Innovative black spheres placed in the desert collect solar energy with 99.96% efficiency, generating 175 MWh annually through a unique system that uses calcium hydride reactors for hydrogen energy storage.
• 📈 One key stat: The desert spheres capture 99.96% of the sun’s energy during operation with zero emissions, making this technology exceptionally efficient for harsh environments.
• 💬 One key quote: “The black desert sphere is a futuristic solution even in the most harsh environments and is a lucrative solution in terms of the climate crisis.”

♻️ Corn Waste Transformed Into Carbon-Capturing Bio-Oil for Abandoned Wells:

• 📰 The quick summary: Iowa State University researchers have developed a method to transform corn waste into bio-oil for carbon sequestration in abandoned oil wells, offering a dual solution that captures carbon and addresses methane emissions.
• 📈 One key stat: With a cost of $152 per ton of carbon dioxide sequestered, this bio-oil method compares favorably to direct air capture projects while requiring less infrastructure investment.
• One key quote: “We’re Turning Trash Into Gold: Iowa Scientists Convert Corn Stalks Into Underground Carbon Prisons That Seal Abandoned Wells”

⚡ Global Power Shift: Renewable Resources Creating New ‘Electrostates’:

• 📰 The quick summary: The global energy transition is reshaping geopolitics as renewable energy resources replace oil and gas as the basis for international influence, giving nations with abundant sun, wind, and critical minerals new opportunities for power.
• 📈 One key stat: China processes about 60% of the world’s lithium and cobalt and refines more than 90% of rare earth elements critical for renewable technologies, demonstrating how mineral processing dominance translates to geopolitical power.
• 💬 One key quote: Say goodbye to the ‘pertrostates’ of old, and welcome the rise of the ‘electrostate’. China is heading the charge – and Australia, if it plays its cards right, could be at its heels.

📢 Even More Good News Headlines From This Week

♻️ The development of a new nickel-based catalyst that could transform plastic recycling

🚼 Revolutionary technology uses fungi to decompose diapers in months rather than years

🌲 Columbia rainforest protection effort secures critical wildlife habitat

💧 The new solar device that can turn seawater into freshwater

🪨 The 3.5-mile deep well that is paving the way for carbon storage

✈️ How fuel cells inspired by coral could be the future of aviation

💬 Discussion of the Week: Ethical Money Choices

Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!

This week’s discussion topic: What ethical criteria guide your money choices?

• Purchases, banking, investing, pensions, or donations—how do you decide?
• What trade-offs do you navigate (fees, access, impact)?
• Any resources that made it easier to align money with values?

Your approach could help someone take their next values-aligned step!

For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.

Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚

🤝 Important Awareness Events at a Glance

🌿 September 26, World Environmental Health Day: 

• World Environmental Health Day exposes the health risks to humans associated with a polluted environment. 
• Millions of people live in highly-polluted areas, so necessary to bring awareness to the potential risks they might be facing and to advocate for a cleaner environment for the sake of human health. 

🥫 September 27, National Crush a Can Day: 

• National Crush a Can Day promotes recycling as an important driving force in the fight for sustainability, celebrated by can-crushing parties and recycling drives. 
• Single-use waste is a huge problem in our world today and so we need to make sure that materials are recycled as much as possible. 

🌲 September 28, National Public Lands Day: 

• National Public Lands Day is a country-wide volunteer effort that focuses on forging connections between people and their green spaces. 
• Many green spaces are under threat and so supporting their preservation and growing connections with them remind us to appreciate nature in all its forms. 

Related: You can discover all the 119 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for September 2025!

📜 These Days in History

⛴️ September 26, 1934: The RMS Queen Mary was launched, one of the most famous and popular transAtlantic liners, lasting until 1967. 

🇹🇱 September 27, 2002: East Timor joins the UN. This was an important moment for them as a country on the world stage following their independence from Indonesia. 

🔭 September 28, 2015: NASA scientists discover evidence of water on Mars. This was a huge step forward for the possibility of life on other planets. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.”

— Mark Twain; American author and humorist

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

Stay impactful 💚