When it comes to planet Earth, humans haven’t exactly had the best track record in keeping it safe. Luckily, there are still people out there who want to heal the environment and help take care of it, even if it means doing so one step at a time. These people have not only prepared themselves for this task but have also dedicated their entire lives to making it possible. Thanks to their much-needed dedication, large-scale measures have been taken for us to enjoy a better life in a cleaner world. Let’s check some of these initiatives out!
- The Inflation Reduction Act
On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act: a new “legislative package” that, among its many clauses, was designed to solve particular problems, and allocated 369 billion dollars to climate spending. This essentially means that a vast portion of the legislation has joined the search for climate solutions and environmental justice. For example, one of the act’s main goals is to reduce 40% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. And although, like any other bill passed down, it still has its kinks, we can say that this is a bright step towards a better future. As of now, the act presents an asset to accelerate the clean energy transition for lower energy costs, help the transition from fossil fuels to zero-emissions transportation, and provide minorities and impoverished communities the support they need due to the disproportionate harm they suffer at the hands of pollution, advance the farming-climate-friendly practices put into place, and provide monetary funding for the development of STEM practices centered in fighting climate change. You can learn more about each topic in Attorney Adrian Martinez’s summary of the bill, on Earthjustice.org.
- 195 nations pledge to protect and restore at least 30% of nature by 2030.
During the last COP15 meeting hosted and led by China & Canada, both nations urged the summit to continue pushing forward the teamwork that led 195 nations to pledge to meet ambitious biodiversity goals shortly. Such a pledge went around the idea of protecting at least 30% of land and oceans, all while respecting the rights of indigenous people, by 2030. But there’s still a lot of work to be done, considering that now world government institutions must implement practices that promote the completion of these goals. Both host nations urged their fellow summit nation members to prioritize the pledge and begin its implementation immediately.
- France is banning disposable packaging and utensils in fast-food restaurants
As of January 1st, France banned single-use packaging from fast-food restaurants to reduce plastic and other types of waste. The law states that any restaurant serving more than 20 customers at a time will have to offer reusable cutlery instead of the usual single-use. It is estimated that around 30,000 fast-food restaurants just in France alone serve around six billion meals, generating two million of waste annually. This poses a huge threat to the worldwide battle against global warming. But, lawmakers know that it’s possible restaurants will opt out of the cheap option of replacing plastic with hard plastics instead, to remain hopeful, they will keep a vigilant eye on how the bill progresses.
- The ozone layer keeps healing!
The Earth’s ozone layer has been in a midlife crisis for as long as I can remember. More recently, research has shown tracks to recover completely within decades, since the harmful chemicals that have been destroying it are phasing out across the world. One major chemical contributing to its harm, the CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons, has shown a 99% decrease in usage across the world since the Montreal Protocol went into action in 1989. Authorities are sure that, if these global policies stay in place, the ozone layer will be fully healed by 2040 and the recovery in the Arctic and Antarctic will be seen in 2045 and 2066, respectively. By then I will probably have lived a vast majority of my life, but it’s good to see the next generations will have a land that doesn’t cook you alive.
- No more makeup on animals in New York
Although this is an older legislation that was passed in December of 2022, I feel the need to address this law. The state of New York banned cosmetics animal testing. It was a great day for animals indeed, New York has become the 10th state to criminalize the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. The bill is designed to push companies into further expanding their technological research for better ways of cosmetic testing without the continuous harm of and trauma-inducing process in animals. Already, the working progress of combining modern science, technology, biological research, and 3D modeling has shown to have better results of accurate predictions in tested cosmetic products than animal testing. Such progress can further push other states to join soon and end animal testing once and for all.
- Allbirds creates the first net zero carbon shoe!
It’s called the M0.0NSHOT (Moonshot) and it’s the brand’s new shoe model that’s manufactured with a carbon footprint of 0.0lg CO2e. But what does this mean? It means that from the process of creation to the process of transportation, the shoe has a net zero impact on carbon footprint across the world. The magical feat was accomplished thanks to the partnership between Adidas and Allbirds, and the push for creativity to approach the net zero mark. An interview with co-founder and co-CEO Tim Brown, held by Peter Verrt from Footwearnews revealed the following:
“The Moonshot will be produced with several carbon-negative materials and compounds, such as uppers made with regenerative merino wool grown on Lake Hawea Station in New Zealand, as well as the brand’s newly developed, sugarcane-based SuperLight Foam featuring 80% bio content…
In terms of how customers will receive the shoes, Allbirds said it has created its most carbon-efficient packaging to date, made with sugarcane-derived, carbon-negative Green PE, as well as a carbon-conscious transportation plan with biofuel-powered ocean shipping and electric trucking from port to warehouse.”
This product marks the beginning of a new era for eco-friendly footwear and, possibly, the beginning of a shift in the fashion industry as more companies move to sustainability and the safeguarding of the planet.
So there you have it, from billion-dollar legislation to eco-friendly footwear, every one of us is pitching into the never-ending search for saving our environment. It can be scary when the news focuses on covering negative forecasts, but life always shows us that when there’s a will there’s a way, and these six initiatives are just barely scratching the surface of these forward-thinking activities. I hope this small list gives you the necessary energy and boost to keep on trying to do your part for the planet’s well-being, as it sure did to me. For now, I’ll keep on reducing, reusing, and recycling while keeping my eye on these activities. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up with my pair of zero-carbon footprint shoes!