Upbeat Environmental News?
Yes! Readings To Start Your Week
If you’re in the mood…you could
A friend told me about “The Progress Network”, a non-profit news platform that has gathered writers, scholars and scientists from around the world, intent on highlighting and exploring not necessarily “feel good news”, but rather:
The Progress Network starts with the idea that there is a widely-shared belief among us that we can work collectively toward a more constructive future…by sharing the careful, considered and inspiring thinking of constructive public voices.
I also prefer the word “constructive” when discussing how writers express information, which is presented as a way to learn and explore, as opposed to what this organization calls “doomscrollers”. If you are a doomscroller, it might be helpful to check out some of the articles below.
— I’ll start with a piece from The Progress Network about the exponential increase in the demand for electric vehicles. It’s taken from their weekly podcast called “What Could Go Right?”
Where EV sales already dominate, we can catch a glimpse at whether EVs are living up to promises. Last week The New York Times had a great piece on Norway, where 80 percent of new car sales are EVs. The result? Sharp declines in the yucky stuff, nitrogen oxides, that “cause smog, asthma, and other ailments”: check. Quieter streets: check. Falling emissions: check.
— Here’s a roundup of positive climate news from the Environmental Defense Fund for the week ending July 21, 2023. It’s quite an impressive list, and this is just one example:
Global coalition to cut methane formed
The U.S., European Commission, Australia, South Korea and Japan are joining forces to cut methane emissions. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for almost one-third of global heating since the industrial revolution…
— Two other non-profit organizations, Environmental Health News and The Daily Climate, publishe journalism on environmental topics, including a newsletter titled “Good News”.
Here’s one piece that highlights Pennsylvania’s recent investment in organic farming. This is what progressive, longterm thinking looks like in action, thanks to Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania Senators Casey and Fetterman. It’s supporting a healthier, safer future by directly supporting organic farmers rather than the multi-billion dollar chemical industry.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture also recognized that without state-level investments in support and resources, Pennsylvania’s farmers will not be able to meet the growing demand and capitalize on the organic industry… [And] Earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, both Democrats from Pennsylvania, introduced federal legislation to support organic farming.
— And finally for today, this article from The Washington Post highlights the ways in which the green initiatives funded under the Infrastructure Law, combined with private investments, have already expanded and supercharged the economy, with more to come. The other good news is that the majority of the Infrastructure Law funding that was supposed to fully kick in for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, is getting to communities and businesses much quicker, and is already starting to have a direct, positive impact on the economy. Here’s one example:
That burst in business — almost entirely from federal infrastructure funding that provides up to $375,000 per bus — is bringing in millions of dollars to Thomas Built Buses, supporting new jobs and helping build a network of electric-charging stations around the country. The company, which has put 450 zero-emission buses on the road since 2020, now expects to churn out many times that.
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What do you think about this focus on the positive, constructive voices impacting our communities and public policy — would you appreciate a monthly roundup? Please leave your thoughts in the Comment Section below:
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Hi Joan refreshing idea that personally I would appreciate reading. Thanks for all you do.