Your Monthly Optimism Roundup for March 2023

9 March 2023 - Blog / Optimism

With the challenges facing our environment, it can be easy to feel a sense of defeat when it comes to protecting our planet.

But it’s important to remember that there are dedicated people and innovative projects happening around the world that can have huge positive impacts!

Here are just a handful of reasons to be optimistic from the last few weeks:

FIX OUR CLIMATE

Renewables to be the world’s top electricity source within three years

According to International Energy Agency data, clean energy sources such as wind and solar, in combination with nuclear, could meet more than 90% of the world’s electricity demand by 2025.

CLEAN OUR AIR

2022 Earthshot Finalist Roam teams up with Hitachi to deliver transport electrification to Africa

A collaboration between Roam, and global technology leader, Hitachi, aims to help accelerate our Finalist’s plans to bring affordable zero-emission electric transportation to Africa.

BUILD A WASTE-FREE WORLD

‘Just Eat’ offers Notpla’s seaweed-coated packaging for restaurants in Ireland

Over 3,500 restaurants registered with ‘Just Eat in’ Ireland can now use seaweed-coated takeaway packaging produced by 2022 Earthshot Prize Winner, Notpla, as a sustainable alternative to plastic-coated boxes.

Notpla seaweed coated takeaway packaging

PROTECT & RESTORE NATURE

New reserve in Ecuador secures over 3 million acres of forest

Ecuador has recently recognised a huge new reserve in the Andean and Amazonian forests to protect the area’s indigenous land from mining and farming. The Tarímiat Pujutaí Nuṉka Reserve will provide a safe corridor between forests for thousands of native bird and animal species.

REVIVE OUR OCEANS

2021 Earthshot Prize Finalist installs new Living Seawall in Sydney

Situated at Ellery Park in Mosman, Sydney, the new Living Seawall will provide shelter and food for hundreds of different species of fish, oysters, snails, seaweed and many other marine organisms.