Happy Tuesday 👋

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

• Turning CO₂ into nanofibers to reduce emissions 🔬
• World-first land win for Indigenous communities 🇪🇨
• Support National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month 🤝
• And more… 💚

I bet you already know that our carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are a big driver of climate change…

…but did you also know that we can turn these emissions into useful materials?

🔬 How CO₂ Can Be Converted Into Useful Nanofiber Materials 

1️⃣ The big picture: A team of scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a way to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂), a harmful greenhouse gas, into carbon nanofibers. These materials have unique properties, making them suitable for a wide range of uses as well as long-term use. The products are made using tandem electrochemical and thermochemical reactions run at fairly low temperatures and ambient pressure. This approach is hoped to be a viable way to lock away carbon in a solid form to offset emissions or even achieve negative carbon emissions in the future. 

2️⃣ Why is this good news: In our fight against climate change, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an ever-increasing threat, with many companies aiming for net-zero carbon emissions to save our beloved planet. However, it’s not that simple. CO₂ is released from numerous human activities including the burning of fossil fuels, transportation, food production, electricity use, and the release of chemicals, to name just a few! So, if we can convert carbon into usable materials, then we can significantly reduce our carbon emissions much quicker, whilst utilizing the benefits of this gas. For example, carbon nanofibres can be used to strengthen cement, locking the carbon away for at least the next 50 years. As a bonus, the process also produces hydrogen gas, a promising new alternative fuel that creates zero emissions. 

3️⃣ What’s next: Whilst developing the process of converting CO₂ into nanofibers, scientists have revealed the composition and elemental distribution of carbon itself. This can potentially open doors for more innovative uses in the future. Their results also allow for carbon dioxide to be turned into more sustainable and renewable hydrogen, revolutionizing the use of CO₂. While the experiment was only done on a small scale, this achievement has massive implications for the industrial sector and the reduction of carbon emissions. 

Related: You can help to reduce the impacts of climate change already by supporting one of the 9 Best Charities for Climate Change!

📢 More Good News…

🇪🇨 Historic land win for Indigenous Siekopai communities in Ecuador: 

• Following over 80 years of displacement, the indigenous Siekopai community finally regained ownership of their ancestral Amazonian homeland on the border of Ecuador and Peru.
• The achievement came after the provincial court of Sucumbios ruled in favor of the community, demanding a property title for 42,360 hectares (104,674 acres) and a public apology from the environment ministry.
• This is the first time an indigenous community whose territory lies within a nationally protected area has received a title to the land.  

🌳 New conservation project aims to restore vulnerable Brazilian forests:

• Designed by BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG), project Alpha aims to protect and restore nature to an area twice the size of Manhattan in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso Do Sul.
• Half of the land acquired by TIG will be restored to its natural state and the other half will be planted with commercial species in a bid to fight climate change.
• In addition, the company plans to secure $1 billion over the next 5 years to restore nearly 275,000 hectares (741,000 acres) of degraded land in Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile, capturing 32 million metric tons of CO₂ within 15 years.

🧑‍🌾 Small Mekong Island paves the way for more sustainable farming methods in Vietnam:

• The coastal island of Con Chim was deemed to be too small to get involved in the intensive farming revolution in Vietnam following the US war, leaving farmers to continue using traditional farming methods.
• However, in the wake of the climate crisis, the Vietnamese government plans to scale back intensive farming methods, with Con Chim standing as a sustainable guidepost. 
• The Island of Con Chim covers just 62 hectares (153 acres) with 220 residents but is fast becoming a sign of hope for farmers across Vietnam as a way to combat climate change.  

🤝 Event of the Month: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

👉 Did you know that this month is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month? This event was founded in 2010 to raise awareness of human trafficking and inspire change. 

1️⃣ The big picture: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month was set up by President Obama to educate the public about human trafficking and how to identify and prevent this crime. This decree followed the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000. Since then, the US government has raised awareness of human trafficking and slavery, both nationally and worldwide, annually in January through US embassies and consulates. Today, the event is marked by celebrating the achievements made by governments, international organizations, businesses, and citizens around the world who raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Slavery may appear to be a problem left in history. However, the reality is that an estimated 50 million people were living in situations of modern slavery around the globe in 2021. According to the latest Global Slavery Index, the 10 countries with the highest rates of slavery today include Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Russia. This issue is often underrepresented in the media, meaning that many people still don’t understand the extent of the problem. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by learning the ways you can help fight the human trafficking epidemic and by familiarizing yourself with human trafficking hotlines. In addition, you can raise awareness about human trafficking and slavery in your own community by setting up a fundraising event or through social media platforms.  

You can also check out the organizations below that are working to end human trafficking and support victims of slavery:

• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Human Trafficking
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Trafficking
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Sex Trafficking
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Forced Labor
• 9 Best Charities That Support Survivors of Human Trafficking

📜 This Week in History

🦍 January 16, 1932: Dian Fossey was born. She later became the world’s leading authority on the mountain gorilla, battling poachers of this endangered species across Rwanda.   

♀️ January 16, 2006: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first woman to be elected head of state of an African country, after she was sworn in as president of Liberia.  

🇺🇲 January 16, 1883: The landmark Pendleton Civil Service Act was sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton, leading to the establishment of the Civil Service Commission in the US.

💭 Quote of the Day

“When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.”

— Dian Fossey, American primatologist

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

Stay impactful 💚