Today in Squirrel News, Mexico’s new president Claudia Sheinbaum tries to lead the country into a new era, a California law bans six artificial colors in public school food, and a German start-up makes construction materials from hop harvest waste.
Climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum sworn in as first female president in Mexico
With a strong environmental platform and priorities including youth education, job creation and addressing the root causes of violence, Sheinbaum won in June with a supermajority. As the first woman and the first person of Jewish heritage the climate scientist is a milestone president.
Georgia’s controversial six-week abortion ban struck down
Citing liberty and a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices, a judge in Fulton County has ruled against the new 6-week ban, reinstating the 22 weeks allowed for abortions in Georgia prior to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
New California law prohibiting six artificial colors in public school food
Part of a broader effort to address food safety, the first-in-the-nation law bans the use of synthetic dyes that have been linked to adverse effects on behavior. Four other potentially harmful additives are included in the ban.
Fentanyl now harder to come by and overdose deaths dropping
Researchers agree that the supply of Fentanyl is significantly down in the last six months as are deaths from overdoses. US government seizures and pressure on Mexican cartels have likely contributed to drying the pipeline.
German start-up making construction materials from hop harvest waste
Seeking to address the staggering waste in both the construction industry and the production of hops, HopfOn is turning discard hop fibers into building boards, acoustic panels, and thermal insulation. The system is intended to be circular so that consumers can return their products for reuse.
UK: Former coal power stations become massive battery storage
With all coal power stations in the UK closed for good, the old infrastructure is headed for repurpose. One former power plant in West Yorkshire is well on its way to becoming a giant battery storing wind and solar power. Others may soon follow suite.
Programme in California fighting hunger by rescuing surplus fruits and veggies
Food Forward moves fast to get fresh produce surplus from wholesalers to almost 300 hunger relief organisations across California. The system addresses hunger, saves potentially millions of dollars, and benefits the climate by reducing food waste.
Sustainable fish feed and eDNA, climate solution finalists for Earthshot prize
Among the final nominees for the European climate solutions award are Omega-3 algae grown from whisky byproducts for use as fish food to replace wild fish catch, and environmental DNA that monitors biodiversity by tracing samples from water, land, and air instead of animals and plants.
BBC’s Fixing the World journalists visit a project making nesting blocks from locally sourced eco”cement” that are bringing back biodiversity in marine life – and a lobster hatchery in Yorkshire raising and releasing lobster offspring to restore the local population.
Northern bald ibis returns from the edge of extinction
These birds are migrating to Europe again for the first time since the 1600s with help from conservationists and a pioneering reintroduction programme.
