In today’s edition of Squirrel News, the UN ocean conference ends on a note of hope; Finland’s new massive sand battery begins storing wind and solar energy for heat; and beavers return to Portugal after more than 500 years with no record of presence.
UN ocean conference ends on a note of hope with more to accomplish
Almost 200 countries were represented at the UN conference in Nice, France, with the goal of having 60 of them ratify the High Seas Treaty and agree to preserve 30% of their ocean territory by 2030. 50 had signed by the conference end on Friday, and dozens more said they would do so by the end of the year.
Protected ocean areas recover surprisingly fast with enormous benefit
The Climate Question talks to a director of “Ocean with David Attenborough” about the hugely important role of the ocean as a remover of carbon from our environment. As many countries pledge to protect a third of their oceans, the film underscores how quickly the ocean in protected areas recovers and how marine life in other areas benefits from that recovery.
World’s biggest sand battery starts to work in Finland
In the Finnish town of Portnainen, the industrial-scale sand battery will store enough wind and solar energy in crushed soapstone to fill a month’s heating needs for the district. The company says it is a simple structure that could save 70% of emissions through eliminating oil use.
Native Florida tribe steps up to protect and preserve significant state lands
The Miccosukee Tribe announced a groundbreaking partnership with the foundation that safeguards the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a network of lands significant to Florida ecosystems. Tribal officials cited a “moral obligation” to areas that protected them from forcible relocation and “a constitutional duty” to preserve traditional homelands and waters.
Some US faith leaders using nonviolent protest as tool to protect migrants
The long tradition of nonviolence in the US and elsewhere has its roots in religious faith. From trainings teaching migrants their rights to “Moral Mondays” at the US Capital and helping keep mass protests nonviolent, US religious leaders opposed to the administration’s policies are finding ways to protect vulnerable communities.
Photos from some of the 2,100 US nationwide “No Kings” protests
In almost all coverage of the largely peaceful and often joyful events, where five million people gathered to protest policies and actions of the US administration across America and around the world, photos of tear gas, chaos and police aggression dominate or proliferate far beyond their share. Here is a group of photos reflecting the tenor of the vast majority.
Oregon free summer meals start up, one of many programmes across the US
700 sites in Oregon, including parks, libraries, schools, and community centres, are serving 1- to 18-year-olds free meals this summer. An interactive map shows free food programme locations nationwide.
Students design “smart” car seat to prevent hot car infant deaths
Car interiors can get as hot as 145°F (62.8°C), the cause of about 37 child deaths yearly in the US. In over half the cases, tired parents forgot their child was in the car, so students at LSU have created a car seat with weight and proximity sensors that sends an alert to a separate fob when the caregiver moves too far away.
Mapping Ireland’s carbon-sinking peatlands with gamma rays
Peatlands, such as comprise 20% of Ireland, sink carbon at a level comparable to rainforests, and cultivation is releasing significant amounts. Researchers are using new “bird’s eye” gamma radiation technology to finish mapping the country this year as part of a project of restoring and rewetting for cutting carbon emissions.
Beavers have returned to Portugal after more than 500 years
The last recorded presence of beavers in Portugal was in the 1400s, but after several decades of population recovery in Spain, signs of their presence are now confirmed by video within Portugal. The ecological contribution of beavers to biodiversity through wetland creation makes this a significant step in the efforts to rewild the country.
