Author: Grace Liu ‘23
Welcome again to another Good News Friday! We hope that your fall break was restful and that your first week back went relatively smoothly. For this edition, we will hear about the return of blue whales to the coast of Spain, large companies committing to zero-emission shipping, and the trend of “rewilding” in urban spaces.
- Blue Whales Return to Spain: In 2017, a blue whale was spotted off the coast of Spain for the first time since the 1980s. More blue whales have been spotted in the years following. These sightings suggest that the moratorium on whaling has allowed the nearly extinct whale population to recover in the past 40 years. However, climate change still threatens the sea giant’s habitat and migration patterns.
- Retail Corporations Commit to Zero-emissions: A coalition of companies, including Amazon, Ikea, and Patagonia have pledged to use only ocean shipping vessels that are zero-emissions by 2040. The coalition also urged government officials to implement market based strategies that support the development of zero-carbon shipping fuels, making them competitive with fossil fuels. Given that cargo ships emit up to 3% of the world’s carbon dioxide, this initiative has significant implications for the shift to a carbon neutral economy.
- Rewilding Revitalizes Urban Spaces: According to architect Stefano Boeri, vertical forests (Bosco Verticale) are “a home for trees that also houses humans and birds.” Covered in trees, shrubbery, and perennial plants, these residential spaces are an example of “rewilding,” a growing global trend that introduces greenery and nature into urban environments. Architect and Professor Steffen Lehmann states that the rewilding movement helps solve contemporary challenges of biodiversity loss, urban overheating, and climate resiliency.
We hope you’ve enjoyed the stories this week, and wish you the best getting back into the swing of things. Check back next week for more encouraging environmental news. If you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!