May positive news
Ten POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS STORIES FROM THIS MONTH.
Article by: Eveline Vouillemin
This month’s collection of climate positive news stories highlight strides in sustainable travel initiatives, efforts to make national parks more accessible to all, and successes in wildlife conservation. They are a testament to the collective determination to create a more sustainable and more equitable future.
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Letting grass grow long boosts butterfly numbers, UK study finds.
In recent years nature lovers have been extolling the benefits of relaxed lawn maintenance with the growing popularity of the #NoMowMay campaign. Now an analysis of six years of butterfly sightings across 600 British gardens has provided the first scientific evidence that wilder lawns boost butterfly numbers.
The benefits of leaving areas of grass long were most pronounced in gardens within intensively farmed landscapes, with up to 93% more butterflies found, and a greater range of species. Gardens with long grass in urban areas showed an 18% boost to butterfly abundance.
Find out more on the Guardian website.
Eurostar promises to power its trains with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
In their latest sustainability report, Eurostar laid out their ambition to power their trains with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
It details plans to reduce energy use, source renewable power, minimise waste and promote train travel as a greener alternative to flying.
Find out more on the Euronews website.
Scientists and comedians join forces to share climate crisis message.
In a series of videos, titled Climate Science Translated, scientists are paired up with various comedians who express climate science in down-to-earth language that cuts through the scientific jargon.
As climate scientists are largely anonymous to the public, it is hoped that with the help of comedians they can get their message out more widely. So far, a video with the comedian Jo Brand has been viewed more than three million times, received mainstream attention, and has been retweeted by a number of celebrities.
Find out more on the Guardian website.
All-terrain scooter helps people enjoy national park.
A new all-terrain scooter is helping to make a national park more accessible to people with mobility issues. People visiting the Lake District can hire the aid, known as a tramper, from the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.
Andy Cannon, president of the volunteer group Keswick Lions, which gave financial support to the project, said: "Trampers will help many more people to enjoy the breathtaking views we have in the Lake District and will increase involvement in outdoor activities with family and friends."
Find out more on the BBC website.
Scientists discover first nursery for hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos.
What could be the first known smooth hammerhead shark nursery in the Galápagos has been discovered by scientists.
The vulnerable shark species - so-called for its elongated head which forms a straighter curve than the scalloped hammerhead - is rarely spotted in the marine reserve but after observing several young pups in a small bay at Isabela Island, the Greenpeace expedition team believe they have found a breeding ground in the archipelago.
Find out more on the Euronews website.
Scientists behind giant seed vault win World Food Prize.
Two scientists who were instrumental in creating a global seed vault designed to safeguard the world's agricultural diversity will be honoured as the 2024 World Food Prize laureates.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened in 2008 and now holds 1.25 million seed samples from nearly every country in the world.
Find out more on the Euronews website.
Forests to be 'left to nature' in biodiversity boost.
More than 8,000 hectares of land will be left to nature to help boost wildlife and biodiversity. The new forest management project by Forestry England will be carried out in four areas, including Castle Neroche in Somerset and Kielder Forest in Northumberland.
The project will include a number of activities, such as the possible reintroduction of lost wildlife including butterflies, rare plants and beavers, and the introduction of fungi to restore soil.
Find out more on the BBC website.
Renewables are meeting 95% of Portugal’s electricity needs.
Portugal generated an ‘historic’ 95 per cent of its electricity from renewables in April, according to the network operator REN.
Renewable energy generation averaged just below that for the first four months of the year, covering 91 per cent of the nation’s power needs.
Find out more on the Euronews website.
Thousands of free trees given to Belgian citizens in new initiative.
Antwerp is encouraging citizens to go green by giving away free trees. Until 30 September, the Belgian city is handing out 2,000 trees to residents with a garden or unpaved space available to plant them in.
Find out more on the Thred website.
Activist who led grassroots campaign to save Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon wins ‘Green Nobel’.
Teresa Vicente led a grassroots campaign to save Spain's Mar Menor, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, from chronic contamination from mining, development and agricultural runoff.
Her efforts helped a new law to be passed in 2022, giving the lagoon the legal right to conservation, protection and damage remediation.
Find out more on the Euronews website.