The First Car-Free Community Built From Scratch in the US is About to Take Off: ‘For Some, Cars Equal Freedom, but for Me, It’s a Restriction’

Tommy MalettaCommunity Development Solutions, Trendspotting, Latest Headlines

By Robert English, The Cool Down “Freedom is being able to just simply walk out and access places.” In the small town just a light-rail trip away from downtown Phoenix, residents of a place called Culdesac in Arizona are one of the first non-urban communities in the U.S. to boast a walkable, car-free …

Industrial Pollutants Found in Mediterranean Corals for the First Time

Tommy MalettaTrendspotting, Earth Systems Science, Latest Headlines

By University College London, Phys.Org Pollutants from burning fossil fuels have been found embedded in corals, for the first time, offering scientists a potential new tool to track the history of pollution, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, identified carbon particles emitted …

“Historic” Expansion of Renewable Energy Sources Rewriting the Future of Global Electricity: “We’re Moving Closer”

Tommy MalettaSustainability News, Trendspotting, Latest Headlines

By Ben Raker, The Cool Down “What some people were saying was impossible only a few years ago is not only possible — but it is happening.” Renewable energy resources saw “massive” and “historic” expansion globally in 2023, with the fastest growth still to come, according to a major new report released …

Parisians Vote in Favour of Tripling Parking Costs for SUVs

Tommy MalettaCommunity Development Solutions, Trendspotting, Latest Headlines

By Angelique Chrisafis, The Guardian The referendum comes as the city aims to reduce emissions by targeting wealthy drivers in large, polluting cars. Parisians have voted to triple parking costs for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), as the city aims to tackle air pollution and climate breakdown by targeting rich drivers in heavy, …

This App Could Be Key to Securing Fisher Livelihoods, Restoring Fish Stocks

Tommy MalettaTrendspotting, Wealth of Networks, Latest Headlines

By Scarlett Buckley, Sustainable Brands Abalobi’s easily scalable app enables traceability previously unseen in small-scale fisheries and connects fishers directly with buyers — reducing dependency on middlemen, resulting in fairer prices and ethical produce for consumers. Our oceans and coastal communities globally face a host of looming crises — in …

Some Animals Are Desperately Turning Nocturnal, Study Shows

Tommy MalettaTrendspotting, Earth Systems Science, Latest Headlines

By Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics Why these creatures of the day are increasingly embracing the cover of darkness. Multiple studies from around the globe have now shown that, as climate change makes daytime temperatures rise, animals tend toward nocturnal behaviors. This switch to nocturnal habits can, unfortunately, increase risks from predators. …

Early Adopters Share Insights from Piloting Science-Based Targets for Nature

Tommy MalettaTrendspotting, Wealth of Networks, Latest Headlines

Sustainable Brands Pilot companies say the newfound understanding of their impacts and dependencies on nature is helping change mindsets internally regarding the urgency of meaningful action. In May 2023, 17 companies — AB InBev, Alpro (part of Danone), Bel, Carrefour, Corbion, GSK, H&M Group, Hindustan Zinc Limited, Holcim Group, Kering and L’Occitane Group (which in 2022 joined forces to launch a Climate Fund for Nature), LVMH, Nestlé, Neste Corporation, Suntory Holdings Limited, Tesco and UPM — …

Gulls Swap Natural for Urban Habitats, Machine-Learning Study Finds

Tommy MalettaTrendspotting, Earth Systems Science, Latest Headlines

Amy Loeffler, Phys.Org A recent study published in Ecological Informatics by a team of University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers has used artificial intelligence to further illuminate a habitat swap among short-billed gulls. Typically gulls live along coastlines and near water sources such as rivers. They feed on bugs and other small mammals, fish or …