Your Monthly Optimism Roundup for December 2023

13 December 2023

Innovation and optimism is everywhere you look!

This month we have record-breaking renewables in Portugal, a game-changing grant for Restor, Notpla’s recognition as an EU plastic-free pioneer, Pristine Seas protecting whales in Dominica and a Bulgarian city battling air pollution.

Let’s jump into five of the best stories this month 👇

PROTECT AND RESTORE NATURE

Restor receives $1.9 million grant from Google to boost its platform

2021 Finalist Restor has been awarded a huge $1.9 million grant from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, to help them build on their revolutionary community-led biodiversity restoration platform.

CLEAN OUR AIR

Eastern Europe’s first low-emission zone introduced in Bulgaria

Historically one of the most polluted capitals in Europe, Sofia is phasing in Low Emissions zones that will ban the most polluting vehicles from areas of the city and eventually tackle emissions from domestic heating.

REVIVE OUR OCEANS

Dominica to establish the world’s first sperm whale reserve

With help from 2021 Finalist Pristine Seas, almost 800 km² of Dominican ocean is to be protected, providing safety for increasingly threatened sperm whales, while also helping to capture carbon and generate tourism income.

BUILD A WASTE-FREE WORLD

Notpla packaging officially the EU’s first plastic-free material

Under an EU Directive to tackle plastic pollution, the Netherlands has named 2022 Earthshot Prize Winner Notpla’s seaweed-based packaging as the EU’s first, and so-far only, verified plastic-free material. A move which could lead to widespread adoption across the continent.

FIX OUR CLIMATE

Portugal generates record amount of energy from renewables

For six days between October and November 2023, Portugal’s renewable energy sources generated nearly two-thirds more energy than the entire country needed, keeping them on track to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Keep an eye on our channels for all the latest optimism from around the world, including updates from our amazing Finalists.

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