This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 28 December

Which country is the world leader for electric cars? Which country is home to Europe’s first ultra high speed chargers? And, who’s created the first truly ’emissions-neutral’ electric vehicle?

This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories.

1.

Norway leads way on electric cars: ‘it’s part of a green taxation shift’

Nearly a third of all new cars sold in the country this year will be plug-in models and experts expect that share to skyrocket.

Read more on The Guardian.

2.

Vattenfall aims to be carbon neutral before 2050: CEO

State-owned Swedish utility Vattenfall expects it will become carbon neutral sooner than planned, said its Chief Executive, Magnus Hall.

Read more on Reuters.

3.

OLIO launches revolutionary food sharing app to reduce waste

After creating an account, OLIO users can upload photos and descriptions of foods, such as extra vegetables, surplus canned goods, or leftover meals, that they wish to share. Since launching in the United Kingdom in early 2016, OLIO has gained 322,000 users, with more than 400,000 food transactions made on the app.

Read more on Inhabitat.

4.

New lab-bred super corals could help avert global reef wipeout

Pioneering research on cross-species coral hybrids, inoculations with protective bacteria and even genetic engineering could provide a lifeline for the ‘rainforests of the oceans’.

Read more on The Guardian.

5.

Make supermarkets and drinks firms pay for plastic recycling, say MPs

Environmental audit committee recommends adoption of ‘polluter pays’ principle, as well as backing deposit return scheme and public water fountains.

Read more on The Guardian.

6.

Europe’s first ultra high speed chargers now operational in Germany

European charging company Allego announced last week that it now has four ultra-high-speed EV charging stations operational near the A3 highway outside of Frankfurt am Main.

Read more on Clean Technica.

7.

Super-insulated modern log cabin withstands frigid Finnish winters in style

Winters in Finland can plunge to a freezling -22 degrees Fahrenheit, but those chilling temperatures are no match for this well-insulated log cabin. The light-filled abode harnesses geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

Read more on Inhabitat.

8.

DHL electric trucks to filter air for brake/tire dust emissions too

DHL—which has already been deploying and even selling electric vans in Europe—is taking another important step toward cleaning up city air: It is fitting five of its Streetscooter electric delivery vans with special particulate filters which will suck up brake and tire dust, creating what they claim to be the first truly ’emission neutral’ electric vehicle.

Read more on Tree Hugger.

9.

Polar Permaculture grows fresh food in one of the coldest, darkest regions on Earth (Video)

Professional chef and foodie Benjamin Vidmar is exploring growing food in the Arctic with his project, Polar Permaculture. Based out of Longyearbyen, a town of 2,500 that’s located on Svalbard, Norway’s archipelago of islands, Vidmar is experimenting with innovative ways to grow fresh food and creating a “circular economy” in a rugged, cold place that is dark for three months out of the year.

Read more on Tree Hugger.

10.

Germany’s plan to downshift auto emissions

Increasingly, German transportation experts, entrepreneurs, and environmentalists say the solution to greening the nation’s transportation sector needs to go beyond replacing gasoline-powered automobiles with electric ones.

Read more on GreenBiz.

 
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