This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 19 October
Which animal is being trained to throw out cigarette butt litter? Which country can now claim to have installed the first 3D-printed bridge? And, what’s the difference between LEDs and organic LEDs?
This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories.
1.
Regreening the planet could cut as much carbon as halting oil use—report
Natural solutions such as tree planting, protecting peatlands, and better land management could account for 37 per cent of all cuts needed by 2030, says study
Regreening The Earth Could Lower Carbon Levels As Much As Ending Use Of Fossil Fuels https://t.co/IpK4jGVYDY pic.twitter.com/kjVhifikFr
— CleanTechnica (@cleantechnica) October 18, 2017
2.
Serbia’s biggest windfarm project attracts EBRD, IFC funding
Serbia’s largest windfarm project will receive €215 million in syndicated loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
#EBRDgreen: We're financing the biggest #solar park in #Africa & the largest #wind farm in #Serbia. #RenewableEnergy https://t.co/Pr2cpIXEOl pic.twitter.com/2vFaWX6XB7
— The EBRD (@EBRD) October 19, 2017
3.
High-street outlets move to ditch plastic amid environmental concerns
A growing number of outlets selling food and drink in the UK are taking action to ditch plastic amid deepening concern about its effect on the environment, with drinking straws and bottles among items being phased out.
High-street outlets move to ditch plastic amid environmental concerns https://t.co/PqMnNaDWVc
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) October 16, 2017
4.
This startup is training crows to throw away cigarette butt litter
Cigarettes take 12 years to decompose on average and are the the most littered item on Earth: Every year, approximately 4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded. The new startup Crowded Cities has a plan to rid streets of this type of pollution—and it involves training crows to exchange cigarette butts for food.
A Dutch Startup Wants to Train Crows to Pick Up Cigarette Butts — https://t.co/3ODpPh8XBb pic.twitter.com/qQ5bMiG55w
— Mental Floss (@mental_floss) October 8, 2017
5.
UK-Dutch-built Sentinel launches to track air quality
A UK-assembled satellite has launched from Russia on a mission to monitor air quality around the globe. Its Dutch-designed instrument will make 20 million observations daily, building maps of polluting gases and particles known to be harmful to health.
LIFTOFF!! #Rockot soars into the sky above #Plesetsk, carrying #Sentinel5p – the first @CopernicusEU mission to monitor our atmosphere pic.twitter.com/oarlOej1Iv
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) October 13, 2017
6.
This gorgeous shipping container ski resort is tucked into a Georgian mountainside
Located in the Caucasus mountain range in Gudauri, Georgia, the Quadrum Ski and Yoga Resort is almost entirely made out of repurposed shipping containers and tucked into the terrain with steel supports that reduce its environmental impact.
This gorgeous shipping container ski resort is tucked into a Georgian mountainside: https://t.co/W7Qjwc3x5l#architecture #greendesign pic.twitter.com/tLaO1Erof0
— Inhabitat (@inhabitat) October 19, 2017
7.
Sweden offers a 25 per cent subsidy for electric bike purchases
For the next three years, residents of Sweden are getting a serious incentive to get on an e-bike, as the country is setting aside about €35 million per year to subsidise their purchase.
Sweden offers a 25% subsidy for electric bike purchases https://t.co/YEH4pwUHfT pic.twitter.com/p8ZzMaq5gk
— Treehugger.com (@Treehugger) October 19, 2017
8.
World’s first 3D-printed bridge opens in the Netherlands
The Netherlands just made history by officially opening the world’s first 3D-printed bridge. On Tuesday, Dutch officials celebrated the opening of the innovative bridge, which is eight meters long and located near the town of Gemert.
World's first 3D-printed bridge opens in the Netherlands https://t.co/rvxLNr4dIW
— Inhabitat (@inhabitat) October 19, 2017
9.
OLED lighting makes a beautiful chandelier
Almost everyone is familiar with LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, which use semiconducting crystals to emit light. But there are also Organic LEDs, or OLEDs, that use molecules instead of crystals. “Light diffuses across much larger illumination surfaces that can be given form. OLED lighting uses organic materials made of carbon and hydrogen to emit light, which can be immediately recycled, making it one of the most environmentally friendly light sources.”
Lighting specialists @blackbody_oled will present a stunning installation in The Crossing @_designjunction next week https://t.co/JVOrWRID7W pic.twitter.com/6aLlUGv4Wl
— King's Cross, N1C (@kingscrossN1C) September 16, 2017
10.
Undulating green-roofed resort gets green light for coastal Turkey town
Designed by architecture firm ENOTA, the sprawling green-roofed Tetusa Oasis Thermal Resort just received the green light for construction in Cesme, Turkey. Designed to mimic the surrounding hilly terrain, this lush resort taps into the landscape’s thermal waters to offer a spa, waterpark, hotel, medical prevention center, elderly care facility, and other health and wellness programs.
https://twitter.com/enotaarchitects/status/920916007727837184