In Squirrel News today, Helsinki goes a whole year with no traffic fatalities after prioritising pedestrian and cyclist road safety projects, the Vatican is becoming carbon neutral with the completion of a deal on a huge solar farm north of Rome, and recipients of a temporary guaranteed income after prison were better able to rebuild life with their families.
Helsinki credits full year of no traffic-related deaths to safety strategy
Helsinki’s 2022-2026 comprehensive traffic safety plan included lower speed limits, safer crosswalks and intersections, and better coordination of traffic violation enforcement. The plan focused on safety for children, pedestrians, and cyclists, and the payoff has been both fewer fatalities and fewer injuries from traffic accidents.
Vatican to be the first carbon-neutral state with new solar farm deal
Already running on 100% clean energy, Pope Francis’ vision of carbon neutrality for the Vatican is one step closer to reality, as Pope Leo finalises a deal to create a 1000-acre solar installation. The Vatican stated the land, which formerly held controversial radio towers, will still be used for agriculture, and any excess electricity will go to the local community.
EU Central Bank adds climate criteria for lending to promote greener financing
As the US government moves away from climate protection and climate action, the EU is doubling down. Starting in late 2026, the European Central Bank will put its finger on the scale, incentivising banks to direct funding to greener projects.
New AI model developed for Latin America is a milestone in AI race
Engineers at Chile’s National Center for Artificial Intelligence observed a lack of authentic, nuanced, and in-depth content results from mainstream AI models when it came to Latin American culture. They have led the way in building Latam-GPT, developed specifically for Latin America, with input from over 30 regional institutions and including content in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
3-month cash assistance to former prisoners helped rebuild lives
Starting in 2020, the Returned Citizens Stimulus, a 5-year pilot programme in 28 states, paid formerly incarcerated individuals 3 monthly payments of $2750 each. Participants reported it allowed them to successfully reunite with their families, and the study results showed recipients had fewer parole violations and less recidivism than the national average.
Interest in European-style humane prison reforms crosses US party lines
European prisons in general offer inmates more freedoms and have, at the same time, less violence, fewer reoffending prisoners, and better staff retention. On a trip to visit German prisons, a New York Times reporter found interest in improving US prison conditions was strong in prison officials from both liberal and conservative states.
Pittsburgh dims the lights at night to save energy, reduce light pollution
With the passage of a ‘Dark Sky’ ordinance, Pittsburgh is replacing most of its inefficient, high-pressure sodium lamps with LED streetlights that can be dimmed between 11 pm and 4 am. The new lights are better for urban wildlife and migratory birds as well as easier on the eye for humans. The savings to the city are expected to be nearly $950,000 a year in energy costs.
Next-generation solar projects can be in everyday infrastructure
From photovoltaic sidewalks to solar-topped bus stops that help charge electric buses, solar projects are being integrated into the infrastructure of urban and community spaces, as rapidly advancing technology makes new projects feasible.
Canada and First Nations collaborate to build a vast protected marine network
The Great Bear Sea network of protected marine areas will extend from Vancouver Island to Alaska, connecting ecological hotspots over a 500 kilometre distance. The antagonistic relationship between indigenous tribes and the Canadian government has been improving in recent decades. In this cooperative project, the two have come to the table as equals.
How climbing in the Swiss Alps is helping refugees integrate and recover
The Swiss nonprofit Peaks4All leads mountaineering trips with refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Ukraine. The physical and emotional challenges faced and the teamwork required in the harsh setting, participants say, bring a sense of freedom, calm, and even respite from the trauma of war and political persecution.
