In today’s edition of Squirrel News, 100 cities in Europe make the bold commitment to go neutral by 2030, a major Japan railway now exclusively uses green energy, and Airbnb introduces a permanent remote work setup.
100 EU cities are expected to fast-track efforts to respond to the climate crisis as they receive support. Advocates have said climate action is long overdue as more countries experience extreme weather events.
Japan rolls out railway powered by 100% renewable energy
Tokyu Railways is the first train company in Japan that has made a switch and powers its stations solely with renewable energy. The firm says the drop in carbon dioxide is equivalent to the annual average emissions of 56,000 Japanese households.
Airbnb gives employees option to work from anywhere permanently
With more employees leaning on WFH setups for work-life balance, Airbnb gives its staff the freedom to work from anywhere permanently. The company says ‘this will become the predominant way that we all work 10 years from now.’
New portable device generates drinking water without need for filters
No need for filters nor high-pressure pumps to generate clean drinking water using this portable desalination unit developed by MIT researchers. Besides being able to produce water that exceeds WHO quality standards, the device also requires less power compared to a phone charger.
Germany makes electricity cheaper by scrapping renewable levy in power bills
With the abolition of renewables surcharge beginning July, German households will save 300 euros per year. The move also means payments for renewables will be sourced from the state’s energy and climate fund.
Scientists working on system that stores solar energy for up to 18 years
Scientists at a Swedish university made a breakthrough in developing a new method of generating power from solar energy. “It means that we can use solar energy to produce electricity regardless of weather, time of day, season, or geographical location,” says the research leader.
More Than a Warm Body’: Schools Try Long-Term Solutions To Substitute Teacher Shortage
Long before Covid forced states to take desperate measures to find substitutes, schools often struggled to cover teacher absences. Now, school districts want more than quick fixes.
Cities need to be redesigned for the climate crisis. Can they make us happy, too?
UN says changing how urban areas are designed, constructed, and managed is necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. But decision makers should not lose sight of the fact that cities should be designed for the people who live there too.
