Good News, For A Change

We’re kicking off 2018 by taking a look at recent environmental stories that give us a reason to feel hopeful about the future.

Photo: Anthony Rossback via Unsplash

Thanks to a recent breakthrough in molecular biology, insecticides could be developed that kill pests without harming beneficial insects such as bees. Selective pesticides may become a crucial tool for commercial agriculture, with large corporations like Syngenta already exploring their potential. Source: The Independent (Approx. 3 minutes)

New data suggests that global carbon emissions have leveled out, with all major carbon producing nations besides India registering either static or declining emissions levels in 2016 — offering hope that the global community has potentially reached a positive tipping point in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses. Source: The Guardian (Approx. 3 minutes)

A recent study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance reached a sharply different conclusion regarding the viability of renewable energy than projections by several leading fossil fuel producers. According to Bloomberg, unsubsidized solar power already costs less than coal in several key nations, and renewables will comprise more than a third of all energy generation within the next 25 years. Source: Financial Times (Approx. 4 minutes)

New research suggests that plants are adapting to increased atmospheric carbon levels by changing the carbon-to-water ratio in their photosynthesis process. The changes mean two important things: firstly, plants are becoming more efficient at the amount of water they use in photosynthesis, and secondly, plants are using a higher ratio of carbon in the process, helping to offset human carbon emissions. Source: Washington Post (Approx. 6 minutes)

Last summer, scientists discovered a methane-eating bacteria in a lake deep beneath Antarctica, which could hold the key to reducing atmospheric levels of the potent greenhouse gas. A Silicon Valley startup has taken it a step further, discovering that the bacteria produces a plastic-like fiber that can be spun into thread. The “bio-polyester” thread can be used to make fabric that is durable enough for clothing, but which is fully biodegradable at the end of the garment’s natural life. Source: Fast Company (Approx. 3 minutes)

NASA observed the first direct proof of ozone hole recovery following an international ban on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a manmade chemical derived from naturally occurring chlorine. Looking forward, the Antarctic ozone hole should continue to recover gradually, but complete recovery will take decades. Source: NASA (Approx. 4 minutes)

The world’s first “negative emissions” plant has begun operation — turning carbon dioxide into stone at a geothermal power plant in Iceland. This is the first system that uses direct air capture and verifiably achieves negative carbon emissions. Can this technology become economically viable enough to justify widespread adoption? Source: Quartz (Approx. 10 minutes)

Learn more about Climework’s carbon capture operations in Iceland:

GreenReads:

Your must-read guide to environmental issues, published by the SEAL Awards.