Hong Kong’s first blog for SDG education news and announcements
Air conditioning causes around 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. How will this change in the future? (Our World In Data) The New Global Ecotourism Boom (Happy Eco News) The climate impact of feeding ourselves is getting worse and worse (New Scientist) Youth jobless rate falls to 15-year low, says UN labour agency (UN News) Reduce, reuse, 're-fly-cle': How genetically modified flies can reduce waste and keep it out of landfills (Science Daily) New genetically engineered wood can store carbon and reduce emissions (Science Daily) The Geneva Conventions at 75: do the laws of war still have a fighting chance in today’s bloody world? (The Conversation) ‘Europe is doing great’ on wind power, while US, Russia and Japan fall behind (Euro News) New Climate Resilient Potatoes (Happy Eco News) 'Trees as a catalyst for transformation': National Forest celebrates tree planting milestone (Business . . .
Green jobs: what skills do I need? In light of the recent emphasis on corporate sustainability and governance, businesses are increasingly seeking candidates with strong skills and knowledge in sustainability issues. What initially started as mere awareness has now evolved into a critical aspect of business operations, reshaping the way businesses perceive sustainability and its integration into their business models. This shift has led to a significant annual growth in "green jobs." Now, let's explore the essential skills and experiences required for a role in the field of sustainability: Build on your sustainability knowledge To enhance your understanding, dive into relevant books, news articles, and blogs. For instance, YCI Lab consistently publishes insightful blog posts and weekly round-ups of interesting articles. To delve even deeper, ITS Foundation has programmes including Young Changemaker Incubator (YCI) and YAAPP. Craft a strong resume B . . .
A new way of thinking about the economy could help protect the Amazon, and help its people thrive (Science Daily) Sustainability and resilience: What do they mean, and how do they matter for policy? (The Conversation) A 500 km conveyor belt road from Tokyo to Osaka could help Japan slash transport emissions (Euro News) France’s deadly 2003 heatwave left a mark on the nation: Now their heatwave planning is world-class (Euro News) Are plug-in hybrids booming or fading, and are they better for the climate? (Hannah Ritchie) Rising methane emissions from wetlands may undermine climate targets (New Scientist) Maximizing Sustainability In Waste Management Systems (Happy Eco News) Adidas, Target, and Zalando club together to stamp out footwear waste (Business Green) Canadian Cod; Environmental Success Story (Happy Eco News) Interview with Bayer: lessons learned when buying nature-based carbon credits (WBCSD . . .
Summarised: Three Good News Stories in Sustainable Development 1) Polar bear tracking breakthrough could boost conservation (EuroNews) ? Current research is limited because tracking devices can only be used on adult female bears New stick-on GPS tracking tags will help scientists to fill in gaps This information will help to make policy decisions informed by science Innovative partnership aims to protect coffee farmers from climate change impacts (Grist) Rising temperatures inhibit yields and make coffee trees more vulnerable to disease and pests International public-private partnership seeks to supercharge the breeding of improved arabica varieties New varieties are one of the best ways to improve a crop’s productivity and reduce risk Seven countries now generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources (The Business Standard) Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democra . . .
“The Amazon rainforest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet’s oxygen - is on fire” - President Emmanuel Macron, 2019 The commonly used claim that the Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen, inferring that the vanishing of the Amazon is a danger to the planet's oxygen supply, is false. On balance, it contributes practically none of it - the amount of oxygen the Amazon consumes through cellular respiration is almost exactly the same as the amount it produces (Angert et al., 2012). Misleading headlines such as these can erode the public’s trust in scientists. This isn't to say there aren’t genuine worries about a ‘tipping point’ with the Amazon, as a result of water stress, land clearance and climate disruption (Amigo, 2020). The Amazon is home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Deforestation puts them in danger and is also terrible for the environment, since when we cut down trees we dischar . . .
AI's looming climate cost: Energy demand surges amid data center race (NikkeiAsia) Climate misinformation overshadows record floods worldwide (CNA) The Ice Man of Ladakh building artificial glaciers in the Himalayas (FuturePlanet) Could low-carbon cement and steel be cheaper than we think? (Hannah Ritchie) New fabric makes urban heat islands more bearable (ScienceDaily) World Bank to issue bond to boost Amazon reforestation (reuters) No shortage of public money to pay for a just energy transition (CHN) The flaws in sustainability reporting (Eco-business) The last ozone-layer damaging chemicals to be phased out are finally falling in the atmosphere (The Conversation) . . .
Power of Youth: Driving SDG Progress Through Teenage Innovation (IISD) Does voting help the climate? (The Conversation) HSBC backs alternative way to clean up coal plants in Asia (Eco-business) Meth-addict fish, aggro starlings, caffeinated minnows: animals radically changed by human drugs – study (The Guardian) Developing countries suggest rich nations tax arms, fashion and tech firms for climate (CHN) Innovative demand strategies for clean energy (ScienceDaily) Do electric cars use more water than petrol cars? (Hannah Ritchie) Floating bamboo houses keep this indigenous tribe safe in a typhoon (FuturePlanet) UN chief urges fossil fuel ad ban as heat records pile up (CNA) . . .
World Entrepreneurs Call for Harnessing Power of Innovation for SDGs (IISD) How cities around the world are finding ways to beat extreme heat (Eco-business) Climate change is fuelling turbulence and posing threats to South Asian aviation (Eco-business) ‘The tranquility frees you’: Bogotá, the city that shuts out cars every week (The Guardian) Rich nations meet $100bn climate finance goal – two years late (CHN) Climate court cases that could set precedents around the world (reuters) Aerosol pollution, greenhouse gases must be reduced simultaneously to keep forest fires in check (ScienceDaily) Now or Never (vid) (Aljazeera) Philippines deploys river rangers in battle against plastic (CNA) ASEAN faces carbon, digital conundrums: 3 takeaways from Future of Asia (NikkeiAsia) . . .
