Photo: Armen Poghosyan / Unsplash+
In today’s edition: a scheme supported by NHS England lets walkers trade a brief stroll for discounts and other incentives, major pollutant levels drop across Europe, and content creators on subscription platform OnlyFans are taking an experimental approach to delivering climate information to those who might otherwise miss it.
Launching early next year, the NHS England-backed Marathon a Month challenge invites participants to walk for around 30 minutes each day. Completing the daily goal means users will cover approximately 26 miles over a month, and walks can be tracked online or through a smartphone or smartwatch. Those who successfully complete the challenge will be eligible for rewards including discounts and other incentives.
Source: BBC News
New data suggest that since 2015, emissions of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides have fallen by around 3-5% each year across the EU, with the largest reductions recorded in the industrial sector and road transport.
Source: Euronews
African nations are increasingly demanding that more of their mineral wealth is processed locally before being exported. From Kenya and Ghana to Mali, governments are moving away from the traditional extractive model, using their natural resources to boost domestic manufacturing and speed up industrial development.
Source: Al Jazeera
Paris’ cooling system has 120 kms of underground pipes distributing chilled water from the river Seine to museums, offices, hospitals, schools and other public buildings including the Louvre and the Grand Palais. Instead of thousands of individual air-conditioning units, cooling is produced centrally and shared across the city like a utility. Now the city is planning to triple the number of underground pipes.
Source: The Guardian
California is investing nearly half a billion dollars to make homes more energy-efficient and reduce emissions for low-income households. Through the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program, eligible residents will receive free upgrades to lower both household energy costs and carbon emissions.
Source: Quitting Carbon
A climate communicator is turning to the subscription platform OnlyFans to reach audiences that traditional environmental campaigns often miss. The idea is based on a simple observation: people are more likely to engage with messages delivered by creators they already trust. The project aims to share climate science and political context with users who might otherwise scroll past conventional climate content.
Source: Positive News
A compact solar-powered device developed in Hertfordshire is helping to bring sustainable and reliable electricity to households in Nigeria, to make daily life for communities with limited access to power easier. The Powerbox SE was created through a partnership between the University of Hertfordshire’s Business School and a Nigerian manufacturing partner.
Source: BBC News
Indonesia is creating a national roadmap to recognise and use the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities as part of its biodiversity conservation efforts. The approach falls in line with both the country’s obligations to international environmental agreements while taking advantage of the role of Indigenous knowledge in protecting ecosystems and natural resources.
Source: Mongabay
While war often pushes environmental priorities aside, a rewilding project in Ukraine is proving that nature can play a role even in times of conflict. Restoring ecosystems and protecting wildlife lets conservationists lay the foundations for a greener future.
Source: Positive News
As growing numbers of refugee children arrive in northern Ghana, local schools are facing increasing pressure to meet demand. To help keep education on track, UNICEF is providing “School-in-a-Box” kits packed with essential learning materials, giving teachers and students the resources they need to continue lessons even in challenging circumstances.
Source: Deutsche Welle
