Momentum building ahead of 2022 UN Ocean Conference
The President of the UN General Assembly has urged attendees to ‘arrive with demonstrable evidence of progress’ in providing solutions to the current ocean crisis. Documentaries such as ‘Seaspiracy’ and ‘A Plastic Ocean’ raised public alarm on the vitality of Earth’s oceans for humanity’s survival – a fact that marine...
Current in Companies
Google Earth Engine update helps companies monitor their ecological footprint
For the first time, Google Cloud is commercialising its Earth Engine software for companies. This means they can now keep tabs on their own ecological footprint with real-time, detailed data – and so can we. This is a greenwasher’s worst nightmare, and we’re pretty excited about it. Among the boundless applications...
Mattel introduces the first Transgender Barbie Doll
The new Barbie is modelled after actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, and is available for online purchase to mark her 50th birthday. Barbie has been a symbol of beauty, controversy, and femininity since Mattel launched the doll in 1956. First came ‘Barbie’ as many of us know her today...
Recyclable and biodegradable Covid test kits are in the works
Award-winning design and innovation consultants at Morrama have developed a concept for Covid tests that are both recyclable and biodegradable. Last November, ocean-dwelling plastic waste deriving from the pandemic was estimated at being over 26,000 tonnes. That’s more than the weight of 2,000 double decker buses. No one is happy about...
IKEA to start selling solar panels in American stores
As part of its goal to help customers reduce their individual carbon footprint, the Swedish home wear giant has partnered with a reputable solar company to sell affordable home panels in US stores. By now, we all know that generating and improving widespread accessibility to clean energy is vital to...
Venture capital is alarmingly down for Black owned startups
As investors retreat to safe and familiar options, Black founded startups are seeing dramatic troughs in venture capital funding for 2022. This isn’t surprising, but is definitely concerning. Talk of venture capital (VC) can quickly get convoluted, but we’ll get to the crux of what is happening and what it...
UK has considered fifty new fossil fuel projects since COP26
At least three projects have received government approval and are to be carried out over the next three years. Fifty more are known to be in the works. While I’m privy to dishing out good news on Fridays, it’s pretty hard to ignore the revelation that the UK government has considered at least 50 new fossil fuel schemes since hosting COP26 last November. As world leaders spent a week making false...
The refugee camp recycling plastic waste into furniture
The Sahara Desert has become a central dumping ground for plastic waste from surrounding refugee camps. One of which, on the western border of Algeria, is making a dent in the trash by recycling it into furniture and useful items. Like a lot of places around the globe, the Sahara Desert is chock full of plastic waste. You’ll no doubt have seen documentaries and movies showing its majestic sandy dunes stretching...
McDonald’s exits major market for first time with Russia departure
Burger chain McDonald’s is to close all its Russian restaurants, marking the first time it has ever exited a major international market. It is another big brand boycotting Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. Russian citizens will no longer be able to order McDonald’s or work at its restaurants after the company announced it will be selling all 850 of its Russian eateries. It comes in response to Putin’s recent military aggression...
Hawaiian start-up pioneers world’s first ‘ocean-assisted’ carbon capture plant
While the majority of carbon capture efforts are focused on air pollution, the current version of this ‘ocean-assisted’ tech can capture CO2 at a cost of $475 per ton – which is cheaper than any land project to date. Along a remote stretch of Hawaiian coastline, a geoengineering start-up is pioneering ‘ocean-assisted’ carbon removal – which can both sequester emissions and help to reduce ocean acidification. Now, as you’re no doubt...
