Having a Breakdown ~Naturally~ 🍄

What Can't Mushrooms Do?

😊 The Good News - Researchers have successfully broken down asphalt shingles using fungi. This breakthrough in mycoremediation used three strains of fungi to degrade asphalt shingles and turn them into a new material that could potentially be used in construction.

🥾 Follow This Path - Over 10 million tons of asphalt shingles are dumped at landfills every single year, and that number needs to be drastically reduced if we want to combat the climate crisis. I'm excited to see nature-based solutions like this form of mycoremediation be successful, and I hope it gets scaled up soon.

Guys, A New Treaty Just Dropped

😊 The Good News - The European Union has just called for the adoption of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This proposed treaty aims to equitably phase out fossil fuels, and it is meant to complement the Paris Agreement.

🥾 Follow This Path - I have publicly endorsed this treaty on numerous occasions as I believe it is imperative that the transition to clean energy is done in a way that is fair and equitable, and I am excited to see more governments doing the same. I hope we see progress toward adopting this treaty at COP27.

The World’s Trash Is This Company’s Treasure

😊 The Good News - A company in Nigeria called Quadloop has found a way to turn e-waste into a new product. They recycle lithium-ion batteries from discarded laptops and use them to create solar lanterns that people can use during power outages in Nigeria.

🥾 Follow This Path - Over 50 million tons of e-waste is generated each year, and that waste disproportionately impacts developing countries like Nigeria. I'm glad that Quadloop has found a way to deal with this waste in a way that is safe and good for the economy, and I hope e-waste generators work directly with them in the future to prevent it from getting dumped in developing countries.

Louisiana Just Got Called Out

😊 The Good News - The EPA recently sent a letter to Louisiana officials demanding they address environmental racism in the state. The letter came after several civil rights complaints about air pollution in the predominantly Black neighborhood, also known as Cancer Alley because of the high prominence of cancer due to its proximity to hundreds of petrochemical plants, were filed with the federal agency.

🥾 Follow This Path - Cancer Alley is one of the most prominent cases of environmental racism in the US, and I'm glad the EPA is taking a much overdue step to address this. Although Louisiana officials have yet to do anything in response to the letter, I hope they use this as an opportunity to give environmental justice to the residents of Cancer Alley.

This Turbine Blew The Old Record Away

😊 The Good News - An offshore wind turbine prototype developed by Siemens Gamesa has just broken the record for energy generated by a wind turbine in a 24-hour period. The prototype, which was installed off the coast of Denmark, generated enough energy to power around 18,000 homes.

🥾 Follow This Path - I am amazed at how quickly wind turbines are becoming more efficient. Just two years ago a GE turbine prototype broke this same record, so I'm excited to see both when this record is broken again and how many of these powerful turbines are installed by the time that happens.

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