Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 2d

🚗 London meets legal limits for NO2 air pollution 200 years earlier than expected!

Ambitious efforts from the Mayor over the past 9 years included creating the world’s largest clean air zone with the expanded ULEZ scheme and largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 4d

🌳 Madagascar programme helps farmers gain land ownership and reduces deforestation!

To help protect 14,000 species (90% of which are found nowhere else!) in Madagascars forests, this programme worked alongside farmers and helped them shift from illegal farming across 11 protected areas.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 7d

🌊 Global agreement to protect oceans is set to become international law!

The High Seas Treaty agreeing to protect 30% of ocean waters by 2030 will now be legally binding as 60 countries have agreed to it - and in record time too!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 8d

🚴🏻 Atlanta community build their own bike lane to connect local schools!

A programme helping neighbourhoods to lead, fund and trial local initiatives in Atlanta has just completed it’s 20th project, by transforming on-street parking into a two-way cycle lane!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 9d

🧑🏻‍⚕️ Huntington’s disease has been successfully treated for the first time!

A research team at University College London have trialled a new gene therapy that showed a 75% slow down in disease progression, meaning patients could have a much longer and higher quality of life.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 15d

🌍 EU introduces 30% reduction targets on food waste by 2030!

Recent negotiations saw ambitious new environmental targets being passed for food and fashion. These included reducing food waste across households, retailers and restaurants and cutting the 25-40% of fabric wasted in clothes production.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 16d

☀️ California gets their first solar-covered canal!

Placing panels over waterways generates clean energy while keeping the panels cooler, saves space compared to traditional solar farms, and reduces water loss from evaporation. There’s only a handful in the world so far - hopefully changing soon!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 17d

🦬 Bison make an extraordinary comeback in Yellowstone National Park!

Conservation efforts helped grow a population from a few dozen to 5,000, and a new study shows their grazing helps spread nutrients that boost grass growth and make it 150% more nutritious, helping to revive entire ecosystems!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 18d

🪸Philippines declares over 60,000 hectares of ocean as protected landscape!

These waters contain some of the coral reefs most likely to survive the impacts of climate change, and this huge commitment brings them much closer to the goal of safeguarding 30% of land and waters by 2030.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 21d

🧑🏻🔬Scientists made a plastic that eats carbon!

Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have found an energy efficient way to convert plastic waste into a material that captures carbon emissions, addressing two major global challenges with one solution.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · 28d

🏡 Dutch retirement home gives students free accomodation in exchange for supporting residents!

The Humanitas Retirement Village has provided huge co-benefits for both groups, from intergenerational friendships and affordable living to skill sharing, improved mental health and social inclusion.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Sep 10

❌ Plans for a Neo-Nazi festival in Great Yarmouth, UK were CANCELLED after public pressure.

Over 34,000 people wrote to the Home Office to raise concerns after campaigning from anti-fascist organisation Hope Not Hate, resulting in the venue pulling out and the festival being cancelled.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Sep 3

🐦‍⬛ Natural England celebrate the recovery of 150 species!

A £13m Species Recovery Programme has relocated or released over 27,000 plants and animals to successfully support the populations of rare species.

The projects have also created or enhanced almost 6,000 acres of wildlife habitats!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Sep 2

🇿🇦 Huge win for coastal communities as High Court blocks an offshore drilling project in South Africa!

The case was built by local environmental groups and they successfully revoked authorisation for oil giant Shell to drill for new oil and gas due to flawed social and environmental risk assements.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Sep 1

👩🏼‍🦽 ’Lego Grandma’ builds wheelchair ramps from Lego to make her town more accessible!

Rita or ’Lego Grandma’ has been using donated Lego to build free ramps for businesses across her town Hanau in Germany since 2019 - a colourful, creative and sustainable way to make the town more accessible!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 28

🐙 Scientists live streamed their exploration of Argentina’s deep sea waters and nearly 4 million tuned in to watch!

As well as discovering potentially 40+ new species (and spotting Patrick Star!?), the live stream offered free access for millions to explore, learn and be inspired by the ocean.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 27

📚Denmark plans to remove VAT on books to help get more people reading!

They currently have the highest rate in the world at 25% but are proposing to remove it in order to make reading more accessible for everyone.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 26

📉There was a massive 91% drop in plastic bag use in Vermont, after supermarkets were banned from offering them. Two years on, a study has shown the success, with single-use plastic bags almost completely eliminated!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 23

🏠 Shipping containers in Phoenix have been converted into solar powered houses for the homeless!

It's a creative, sustainable and replicable housing system for up to 280 people. They also include air conditioning from the extreme heat, employment opportunities, and physical and mental health care.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 22

🦅 Golden eagles might be reintroduced to England after 150 years!

A study is expected to confirm there are enough suitable sites to support the reintroduction of the UK’s most iconic bird of prey, following a successful reintroduction project in Scotland!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 22

🚨BREAKING: Alligator Alcatraz has been forced to shut down.

A federal judge ruled that the controversial detention center in Florida must stop taking in people and begin dismantling operations within 60 days.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 17

🦋 Missouri is creating a 300 mile butterfly trail to help pollinators!

The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail will stretch from Arkansas to Iowa, with gardens, art installations and education centres. Helping pollinators like butterflies & bees as well as boosting nature education and tourism!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 17

🚨BREAKING: Mexico, Guatemala and Belize are creating a tri-national nature reserve to protect the Mayan jungle!

It will become the second biggest nature reserve in Latin America, behind the Amazon rainforest.

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 15

🇮🇳 This all-women company in India is empowering women to drive electric rickshaws!

Pink City Rickshaws trains local women as drivers, giving them financial independence, new skills and confidence.

The drivers now own and run the company, giving sustainable tours in their bright pink e-rickshaws!

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Sam Bentley @sambentley.bsky.social · Aug 14

🌆 Sweden is building the world’s largest city made entirely from timber!

With 70% of Sweden covered in woodland it’s a much more sustainable option than concrete or steel.

There’ll also be bike storage, a new subway station, rooftop gardens and solar panels, and even neighbourhood beehives!

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