?? Sustainability in a Nutshell by Rethink Global (Weekly Update July 27, 2023)

? Climate Change?

How climate change causes culture clashes in Iraq's cities

?? Climate change sparking cultural clashes in Iraqi cities

• Rural Iraqis migrating due to droughts, causing conflicts in cities
• Differing cultural norms lead to disputes, sometimes violence

??? Impact of climate change on Iraq's urbanization

• Iraq among top 5 nations worst affected by climate change
• 92% of Iraqi land threatened by desertification; temperature rising 7x global average
• 83,000 people displaced from 2018-2023 due to climate change, environmental degradation

?? Tensions rising between rural migrants and city dwellers

• Migrants often live in shanty towns or informal settlements
• They compete for stretched resources, increasing societal tensions
• Political scapegoating of rural migrants on the rise

?? Need for climate-induced displacement solutions

• Expert solutions include social cohesion efforts, research on unresolved rural grievances
• Rights of migrants and displaced persons must be prioritized
• International agencies, Iraqi government yet to provide adequate response

In a Nutshell:?

Climate change is driving mass migration from rural to urban areas in Iraq, leading to cultural clashes and increasing societal tensions. The situation demands urgent solutions, including social cohesion efforts and prioritizing the rights of migrants and displaced persons. The Iraqi government and international agencies need to respond adequately.?

?? Video of the week

?? Sustainable Farming

Türkiye launches smart agriculture to boost sustainable farming

?? Türkiye initiates smart agriculture for sustainable farming

?? ?? 43,000 farmers to receive smart agri-training

?? Emphasizes natural resource and water conservation

?? TUCSAP project launch in partnership with World Bank

?? Over $341M budgeted for project

?? Aims to minimize farming's carbon footprint, ensure food affordability

?? ?? Smart tech to streamline information access, decision-making

?? Encourages collaboration between farmers, researchers, stakeholders

?? A comprehensive soil database will be developed

?? Türkiye to construct national soil archive building

?? Monitoring soil health nationwide, preserving for future generations

In a nutshell:?

Türkiye has launched a major smart agriculture initiative, in partnership with the World Bank, to promote sustainable farming practices. The project, budgeted at over $341M, will train 43,000 farmers, encouraging resource conservation, reducing carbon footprint and ensuring food affordability. A national soil archive will be created to monitor and preserve the country's soil health.?

?? Water Conservation?

Technology enhances lake's conservation

?? Tech bolsters Baiyangdian Lake conservation?

• Tech monitors water, air, ground in largest northern China wetland
• Water quality, area, water level improved dramatically

?? Autonomous, multi-use ships & drones deployed ??

• Sonar equipment analyzes water quality post-sample collection
• Remote sensing tech identifies pollution, 360° lake coverage

?? Transformation through sci-tech efforts ??

• System reduces manual labor, increases work efficiency
• Swift pollutant identification, no 'blind spots' in monitoring

?? Ecological revival, economic gains ??

• Wildlife return, water quality enhancement, national species protection
• Residents promote tourism, reduce pollution, protect lake economy

In a nutshell:?

Baiyangdian Lake's ecological conservation has been significantly enhanced through technology. Autonomous ships, drones, and a comprehensive monitoring system have improved water quality and biodiversity. The efforts have also led to local economic benefits, such as tourism development, demonstrating that technological advancement and human efforts can work hand in hand for environmental preservation.?

?? ?? JOIN THE COMMUNITY

?? Circularity

Adidas, Target & Zara Parent Among Companies Piloting Footwear Circularity Program

?? Major brands pilot Footwear Circularity Program

• Adidas, Inditex, Target, and Zalando partner with Fashion for Good
• New program aims to encourage a circular footwear industry

?? Collaborating with recycling innovator FastFeetGrinded

• Tests and validates the footwear recycling process
• Supports the uptake of recycled materials in footwear

?? Deconstructing shoes for new material streams

• FastFeetGrinded breaks down shoes into macro-components
• Macro-components grinded into high purity granulates for repurposing

?? Creating new products from recycled materials

• Pre- and post-consumer footwear transformed into new materials
• New products include outsoles, midsoles, and flip flops

In a nutshell:?

Major brands Adidas, Inditex, Target, and Zalando have joined forces with Fashion for Good to launch a pilot program aimed at promoting circularity in the footwear industry. They've partnered with FastFeetGrinded to transform pre- and post-consumer shoes into new material streams, creating new products from the recycled materials. ??

?? ?? ?? Clean Energy?

Deregulating Clean Energy Is More Important Than Regulating Carbon Emissions

??EPA's Proposed Carbon Emission Regulations Critiqued

• EPA rule depends on unproven tech and cost reductions
• Achievable emissions cut is small in comparison

??Deregulation of Clean Energy More Effective

• Growth in clean energy capacity can yield larger emission reductions
• Current transmission network growth could be hindered by bureaucracy

??EPA Assumptions Questioned

• Dependent on availability of carbon capture and hydrogen co-firing
• Most reductions already in post-IRA business-as-usual scenario

??Policy Shift Suggested

• Focus on reforms for transmission siting and permitting
• Invest in carbon removal tech and incentives for high-value sectors

In a nutshell:?

Rather than directly regulating carbon emissions, deregulating clean energy deployment and focusing on reforms for transmission siting, cost reductions, and incentives for high-value sectors could deliver more substantial emissions reductions. The EPA's reliance on unproven technologies and cost reductions raises doubts about the effectiveness of its proposed rule.?

?? Plastic Pollution?

Huge amounts of plastic from artificial grass end up in the sea

?? Large percentage of seawater plastic from artificial grass

• Fibers make up 15% of Barcelona seawater plastic
• Study focused on pieces larger than 5mm

?? Study by University of Barcelona

• Analyzed 217 samples off Barcelona coast
• Spanned from 2014 to 2021

???? Findings: High concentration of grass fibers

• As high as 213,200 fibers per sq km
• Large population and artificial pitches influence result

????? Implication: Artificial grass contributes to marine pollution

• Large portion of plastic waste from grass
• Highlights need for alternatives in cities

In a Nutshell:?

Artificial grass is a significant source of plastic pollution in marine environments, making up 15% of plastic pieces in seawater off the coast of Barcelona. This finding, pointing towards a need for eco-friendly alternatives, is a notable contributor to marine pollution in populated areas.

?? ?? Sustainable Business?

Fintech ecolytiq, Mambu to Provide Banks with Embedded Climate Engagement for Businesses

?? Fintech ecolytiq, Mambu join forces for climate action?

• Embedding climate engagement in banking services
• Available to Mambu's 110 million users marketplace

?? Changing customer demands, green finance on the rise ??

• 50% might switch banks for more sustainability
• Powering new generation green finance

?? Mambu's flexible API, ecolytiq's sustainability = swift climate action?

• Seamless integration of climate action in commercial banking
• First steps towards sustainable banking

?? SMEs gain transparency, guidance for greener operations ??

• Improved awareness of purchase impact
• Driving business towards sustainable practices

In a nutshell:

ecolytiq and Mambu's partnership will bring climate engagement to banking, meeting the rising demand for sustainable finance. SMEs will greatly benefit from increased transparency, promoting more sustainable business operations.?

?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Biodiversity

Why we urgently need new approaches to monitoring biodiversity in the sea

???? Need for new sea biodiversity monitoring approaches?

• Biodiversity loss, a major 21st-century challenge
• Need to protect marine ecosystems through data-driven strategies

?? Current state: Inadequate global response to sixth mass extinction?

• Marine species sensitive to climate change
• Fastest impact can be made on habitat loss and overexploitation

?? Monitoring Methods and Their Limitations ??

• Visual, fishing surveys, passive acoustic sensors, eDNA, baited fish camera
• Each method has its strengths and weaknesses

?? Revolutionary Tech: Operational AI Camera System

• Continuous, bias-free, and precise data on marine biodiversity
• Potential to drastically improve marine ecosystem management

In a nutshell:

The current methods for monitoring marine biodiversity are insufficient and outdated. There is an urgent need for improved, technologically advanced systems. Stream Ocean AG's AI camera system offers an innovative approach that could significantly enhance our understanding and preservation of marine ecosystems.?

?? ?? ??? Sustainable Lifestyle?

People who eat more sustainably have 25 per cent lower risk of death – new research

?? Sustainable diets linked with 25% lower mortality risk

• Harvard researchers' findings
• 'Sustainable diet' includes grains, fruits, nuts, and non-starchy veggies

?? Research involved 100,000+ participants

• 30-year check-up saw 47,000 deaths
• Planetary health diet reduced risk of multiple disease types

?? Introduction of Planetary Health Diet Index

• Indexes participants' dietary scores
• Positive correlation between high scores and lower mortality risk

?? Future research and policy implications

• Potential tool for policymakers
• Further research needed on diet accessibility and individual restrictions

In a nutshell:

Harvard researchers found a 25% lower risk of death in individuals following a 'planetary health diet', which is environmentally sustainable. This diet could be a tool for policymakers to improve public health and address climate change.?

?? Research says…

Advancing chemical recycling of waste plastics

?? Advancing chemical recycling of waste plastics

• Plastic recycling challenging due to complex molecular structure
• Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide

?? New computational approach to improve product distribution

• Pyrolysis technology could transform waste plastics to valuable chemicals
• Optimal conditions needed to replace trial-and-error methods

?? Thermodynamic calculation limitations

• Lack of thermochemical data impacts accuracy
• Calculations for large, flexible molecules are complex

?? Potential for environmental and societal benefits

• Increased efficiency in converting waste plastics to chemicals
• Aims to reduce plastic pollution and develop sustainable waste management

In a nutshell:

New research is focused on optimizing pyrolysis, a technology that could chemically recycle waste plastics into more valuable chemicals. This could lead to increased efficiency in converting waste plastics, reduction in plastic pollution, and development of sustainable waste management strategies.?

?? ?? ?? ?? Green Jobs

1. SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATIONS - ENERGY ASSESSOR

?? https://lnkd.in/gVhwuWht?

2. Sustainability Business Forum AmeriCorps VISTA. If you are passionate about sustainability, a green economy, and collective action in Hawai’i, this opportunity is for you! Apply now and be part of our dynamic team.

?? Submit applications online to https://lnkd.in/gNd6jN9? or by emailing [email protected]?

3. Yale Sustainability is hiring for a social media assistant to help us tell the story of Yale's ambitious climate and sustainability goals. ??https://buff.ly/40jDlln?

4. We're hiring a Sustainability Advisor! Join our amazing team at Business in the Community Ireland, the network for responsible business! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? https://lnkd.in/gtjVHni?

5. Great new role with Business in the Community Ireland's Advisory Services team to explore how the network can continue to address the burgeoning nature crisis. Would suit a recent graduate looking to get experience in the sustainability sector or someone looking to explore a different career path. ??https://www.bitc.ie/about-us/csr-sustainability-careers/?

?? Ai Tools

1. ?? https://elicit.org/?

• Elicit uses language models to help you automate research workflows, like parts of literature review.?
• Elicit can find relevant papers without perfect keyword match, summarize takeaways from the paper specific to your question, and extract key information from the papers.?
• While answering questions with research is the main focus of Elicit, there are also other research tasks that help with brainstorming, summarization, and text classification.

2. ?? https://galactica.org/?

• Galactica is an AI trained on humanity's scientific knowledge.?
• You can use it as a new interface to access and manipulate what we know about the universe.

3. ?? https://typeset.io/?

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• Your AI Copilot to decode any research paper
• The quickest way to read and understand scientific literature
• Highlight confusing text, math, and tables to get a simple explanation
• Ask follow-up questions and get instant answers
• A new way to search and find relevant papers without specifying keywords

I genuinely appreciate your valuable comments and feedback. Please feel free to connect with me via private message on LinkedIn to share your thoughts. I am eager to hear from you and value your input. Thank you!

https://bio.rethink.global/together