This is the premium edition of Future Crunch, a weekly roundup of good news, mind-blowing science, and the best bits of the internet. If someone forwarded this, you can subscribe here. Check out our TED talk. One third of all subscription fees goes to charity. You can buy a gift subscription here.
Good news you didn't hear about
Humanity has made astonishing progress on access to water, sanitation and hygiene in this century. Between 2000 and 2022, 2.1 billion people gained access to safe drinking water, 2.5 billion gained access to safely managed sanitation, the number of people using unimproved facilities halved, from 1.1 billion to 545 million, and the number practising open defecation fell by more than two thirds, from 1.3 billion to 419 million. WHO
Humanity has made astonishing progress on reducing drowning in the last three decades. Globally, annual deaths from drowning decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531,956 to 295,210, and age-standardised mortality rates decreased by 57.4%, from 9.3 drownings per 100,000 people in 1990, to 4 per 100,000 in 2017. BMJ
The Mosquirix malaria vaccine has been approved for distribution across 12 African countries, with 18 million doses due to be delivered to areas with the highest risk. The vaccine has already been administered to 1.7 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi since 2019, with noticeable reductions in child mortality. Guardian
Between 2016 and 2021 the number of countries recommending the HPV vaccine increased by 65%, the MCV2 vaccine for measles by 12%, and the DTPCV4 vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by 4%. By 2021, 33 countries provided all eight of the WHO's recommended vaccines in their immunisation schedules and 56 included all five vaccines recommended during the first year of life. WHO
Canada will spend C$30 billion on 250,000 new low-cost childcare spaces, with the aim of making childcare universally accessible for less than C$10 a day. The program is 'a transformative project on a scale with the work of previous generations of Canadians, who built a public school system and public health care.' NYT
There has been a significant reduction in poverty and income inequality in the United States. New research has shown that in 2021 and 2022, child poverty was reduced by 40%, and the gains made by low-wage workers reduced income disparity by 25%, the first substantial economic gains for low-wage workers in 40 years. Prospect
In 2022, the International Planned Parenthood Federation delivered 226.9 million sexual and reproductive health services, including five million safe abortion services, an increase of 11% from 2021. The organisation also served 10 million people in humanitarian settings, a record number, and achieved 150 advocacy wins, a 24% increase from 2021. IPPF
The Netherlands' House of Representatives has voted to introduce a consent-based definition of rape. This historic change, hailed as a victory for survivors of sexual assault, removes the requirement that rape must involve physical force, threat, or coercion. The Senate is expected to pass the amendment, making the Netherlands the 17th of 31 European states to recognise sex without consent is rape. Amnesty
The Biden administration has signed an executive order to expand and protect access to contraception under the Affordable Care Act. The order will help reduce out-of-pocket costs and increase ways for people to access contraception, as well as to increase the availability of family planning services and supplies. Reuters
The World Bank has approved $50 million to enhance public healthcare services for 6.5 million residents in Buenos Aires province who lack private health insurance. The project aims to modernise healthcare, advance digitisation in over 150 provincial hospitals and health centres, and develop telemedicine for remote medical care.
Guyana, a small country on South America’s North Atlantic coast, is on the path to universal secondary education, with the recent completion of new schools increasing high school enrolment from 87% to 93%. New policies from the government aim to reduce dropout levels and improve the overall educational experience, particularly in rural areas. World Bank
The last of the United States’ declared chemical weapons stockpile was destroyed at a sprawling military installation in eastern Kentucky last week, a milestone that closes a chapter of warfare dating back to World War I. It’s also a defining moment for arms control efforts worldwide. Colorado Sun
The World Bank divides the world's economies into four income groups: high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low. Twenty years ago, 120 countries were classified as either low or lower-middle income. Things have changed a lot since then–the latest classifications show that only 80 countries now fall into those categories.
Give a damn
Last year, with your support, we sponsored the installation of a new solar system and medical equipment for the Foredugu Community Health Center in Karene, a farming district in Sierra Leone. It was through the incredible people at We Care Solar. We've just heard back from them, via a report which you can read in full below.
Over the next five years over 11,000 community members, including more than 1,600 mothers and babies, will benefit from having solar lights and power at the clinic. Thank you to all of you, our subscribers, for making this possible, we are so grateful. Here's a testimonial from community member, Abibatu Turay.
My name is Abibatu Turay and I am 32 years old. I am married with 3 children, my daughter (pictured) is the eldest and I have two younger boys. I have delivered all of my children either with no power or with unreliable power. Sometimes I’ll come to the health facility to deliver and the power will go out in the middle of the delivery until the end. And sometimes there is no power throughout the whole labour and delivery. This makes it very difficult.
Since the installation of the Solar Suitcase, we have been very happy. There is usually no power at this facility and on days when the facility is full and people are here until it gets dark it becomes very confusing for the patients. So, we are grateful and I pray that Allah blesses those that provided us with the suitcase.
The only home we've ever known
France is seeking to turn itself into an 'ecological civilisation.' Over the next four years the Ministry of Ecological Transition will train 5.6 million public sector workers about the climate crisis, including how to use that knowledge to change the way they work. 'The only politics that matter now are those that might arrest our rush towards the brink.' Guardian
Everyone loves a comeback story, and when it comes to animal conservation, there are a lot of them. Our friends at the Progress Network have a roundup of all the 'animal comeback' stories from the first six months of 2023, proving that amidst all of the genuinely worrying environmental news, recovery is an ongoing, global project, and we keep getting better at it.
70 years of data show that seabird conservation efforts around the world have been remarkably effective. Documenting 851 separate conservation events, targeting 138 seabird species, and spanning 551 locations, researchers found 80% of events resulted in the return of targeted species, and 76% achieved breeding within an average of two years of implementation. Nature Conservancy
Even more comebacks! 14 native giraffes have returned to Angola, signalling 'a message of hope' after wildlife was decimated during its civil war; in Tanzania, the population of the kipunji monkey has increased by 65% over the past 13 years; and Bangladesh just recorded the highest-ever number of olive ridley turtle eggs laid on its beaches this nesting season, thanks to extensive conservation actions.
A new law in Ghana will force producers of plastic packaging to collect and recycle waste that is either generated during manufacturing or dumped on the street by consumers. It’s a big step forward for a country that produces 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. Afrik21
The EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters will give 18 new projects €106 million to support ocean conservation and create a sustainable blue economy. The projects will gather over 370 beneficiaries from 36 countries, including SMEs, research institutions, schools, and businesses, that will play a key role in restoring biodiversity and cutting pollution.
Wales has become the first UK nation to ban the use of glue traps and wild-animal snares. Animal welfare charity the RSPCA said it was a 'momentous day' for animal welfare, and it's anticipated the policy will become law later this year, paving the way for a new payment scheme to incentivise farmers to deliver the highest standards of animal welfare. Wales Online
Rewilding Spain is transforming the Iberian highlands, one of Europe’s least populated areas, back to wilderness with the reintroduction of the black vulture, Iberian lynx and Przewalski’s horse, considered to be the world’s last wild horse. The 20-year initiative is also designed to regenerate the local economy via local produce, eco-tourism and educational programs. Guardian
A new review in The Lancet has found that low emissions zones (LEZs)–designated areas within cities that restrict highly polluting vehicles–are improving our health. Data from 69 cities with LEZs found a 2%-3% reduction in heart problems and a 7%-12% reduction in strokes, with the greatest improvements in older people, saving an estimated €4.4bn in healthcare.
Leboncoin, the French online sales platform, has banned ivory items, including imitations, in order to crack down on cybercriminals in the ivory trade. With 28 million visitors to the site every month, the move will support elephant conservation efforts in Africa. Afrik21
California will protect the iconic western Joshua tree after passing legislation that appears to be the first to focus on a climate-threatened species. It’s a hard-won victory for environmentalists after a 2019 study found that only 0.02% of the species’ habitat in Joshua Tree National Park would remain viable after 2070 due to climate change. Guardian
Protections for the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea Basin MPA have been strengthened after researchers discovered a 'treasure trove' of iconic marine species within its seabed habitats. The MPA, which is the size of France, was originally designated as a critical seabird hotspot, but it also boasts over 30 seamounts, deep-sea sponges and coral gardens. Bird Life
Don't Hesitate
by Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Saving the world is cheaper than ruining it
Global emissions scorecard for the first five months of the year (in order of impact): China up by 3.9%, United States down by 5%, Europe down by 3.2%, India up by 5.8%. Net result? Global emissions were 0.3% higher than the same time last year. We are getting very close to a peak. Carbon Monitor
Energy storage is going nuts in China. The number of Chinese enterprises registered as energy storage companies has more than doubled in the past three years to nearly 109,000, and Goldman Sachs says the industry represents a $7 trillion opportunity in the next 17 years. The clean energy revolution isn't just about saving the world–it's about making a whole lot of money. FT
And saving money too. Wind and solar saved consumers in Texas approximately $11 billion in 2022. This figure marks a nearly 300% increase from previous years. From 2010 to the end of 2022, wind and solar generation produced $31.5 billion in wholesale electricity savings, benefiting all Texas households. PV Magazine
The global shipping industry has agreed to cut total annual emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 20% by 2030 and by at least 70% by 2040. Critics say it's not enough–but it is a significant ratcheting up of ambition compared to the previous target of 50% reduction by mid-century. France24
Ouch. The financing of coal power outside of China hit its lowest point last year since at least 2010. For every $1 in coal project lending that reached financial close in 2022, another $14 earmarked for previously proposed projects was stopped. The coal sector lost at least $7.7bn of project financing last year. Carbon Brief
The overwhelming majority of new electricity generation built in the United States this year–83%–will be wind, solar, or battery storage. Even more encouraging is that this reflects projects planned before the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. From here on, things accelerate. EIA
Wondering what your kids should do to be future-proof? How about engineering or a skilled trade? A report from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has found that the IRA is expected to create more than nine million good US jobs over the next decade—an average of nearly one million jobs each year. ChatGPT isn't going to install all those solar panels. Blue Green Alliance
The technology is improving all the time too. This week alone, engineers have announced a major breakthrough on solar panels; the world's largest battery maker says it's dramatically improved charging efficiency for EVs, especially in extreme cold; and the world's largest car maker claims it's developed a solid state battery with over 1,000 km of range and just ten minutes of charging time.
That said, the real work is just beginning. As Robinson Meyer points out, the US government has never tried to change the energy system so quickly or so thoroughly. However, decarbonisation requires replacing hundreds of millions of machines and doing it faster than any previous technological shift in history. We are about to to find out if the world's most important country is up to the task. Heatmap
Last week it was NSW; this week it's Queensland, whose state government has unveiled 12 renewable energy zones forming the backbone of a $62 billion plan to decarbonise, connected to a 'super grid' of renewable power, storage and transmission lines by 2035. 'We want to establish Queensland’s transition as a best-practice case study for the nation.' Guardian
Sales of plug-in vehicles in China reached 600,000 last month, representing 35% market share, up 54% year-over-year. Considering the current growth rate, it seems very likely that China’s plug-in vehicle market share will be over 40% by the end of 2023. At the end of 2021 it was 13.2%. Clean Technica
US electric vehicle sales are gathering pace, hitting four million at the end of June. It took nearly eight years to sell the first million battery-powered cars, trucks and vans in the US, a milestone hit in 2018. The two-million mark took roughly 32 months, and the third million took approximately 15 months. The accelerating pace brought the four-millionth sale after just ten months. FT
Lamborghini has sold out its last remaining production run of fully petrol-powered cars. Order books for its Huracán and Urus models are full, marking the end of combustion-engine vehicle production for the company. Combustion engine models will be replaced by electric hybrids in 2024 and fully electric models by the end of the decade. BI
Most carbon offset programs are worthless, but we're pretty excited about rock weathering, which involves spreading carbon-sequestering, mineral-rich basalt dust on farmers’ fields. If you're looking for some inspiration, then we highly recommend this interview with Mary Yap, the CEO of Lithos Carbon (complete with bonus Calvin & Hobbes references).
We are part of the ecosystem. It’s not just something that we need to conserve and take care of. It also takes care of us. Spend enough time in nature, you will realize the climate crisis is upon us, and we need to tackle it, and we have a shared responsibility there… Finding that fount of curiosity and wonder in yourself is probably the best way for folks to realize they want to help with the climate crisis.
Hope Is A Verb
Meet Tony Rinaudo, an agronomist who has helped local communities in Niger reforest six million hectares of desert, without planting a single tree. It's one of the greatest environmental transformations on the planet, that has led to the restoration of land, livelihoods and dignity.
In the latest episode of our podcast, Tony shares his incredible journey from growing up in the Australian countryside to working in Niger during the famine of the 1980s, and the moment of "divine intervention" that seeded the technique of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, a technique that has reshaped environmental restoration efforts around the world. Tony will restore your hope in the power of science, faith and nature to mend the world.
Indistinguishable from magic
With the addition of Saturn, the James Webb Space Telescope has finally captured all four of our solar system's giant worlds. JWST's observations of the ringed planet, taken on 25 June 2023, have been cleaned up and processed, giving us a spectacular view of Saturn's glorious rings, shining golden in the darkness. Needless to say, this is not to scale. Science Alert
Moving a little farther afield, the JWST has detected methenium (CH3+) in the Orion Nebula. Methenium is a carbon compound long predicted to play a pivotal role in organic chemistry in interstellar space. Back here on Earth, an observatory at the South Pole has finally collected enough data to create a map of the Milky Way in neutrinos (usually our galaxy is mapped out with photons, particles of light).
Speaking of photons, scientists in Colorado have created a 0.4-megapixel single-photon camera—400 times as large as the previous biggest camera of its type. Single-photon cameras measure light with unrivalled sensitivity and speed and across an unmatched frequency range. With this leap in size, they're poised to transition from a lab curiosity to an industrial technology. IEEE
The world's largest spherical structure was unveiled in Las Vegas on the Fourth of July this year. Described as 'living architecture,' the 20,000-person-capacity MSG Sphere is covered in a 54,000 m2 LED screen, formed from approximately 1.2 million pucks, each containing 48 individual LEDs that can display 256 million different colours. Dezeen
The US Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a special airworthiness certificate to Armada Model Zero, a prototype electric car that can go from driving to flying by launching straight up into the air like a drone. The electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle has four wheels and eight rotors integrated into its frame, and it can now be tested in public flight demonstrations. Flying Mag
Eric Schmidt on AI and science: 'At its core, the scientific process we all learned in elementary school will remain the same: conduct background research, identify a hypothesis, test it through experimentation, analyze the collected data, and reach a conclusion. But AI has the potential to revolutionize how each of these components looks in the future.' MIT Tech Review
In 2016, around 100,000 people in the UK were given smartwatches to wear for a week. Amongst that treasure trove of data, scientists have found an objective early marker of Parkinson's disease: a decrease in mobility between 7 am and 12 pm, large enough to be differentiated from the more than 40,000 people in the control group. El Pais
Traditional CPR doesn’t have a great track record: only 7% of people who receive it before getting to hospital are ultimately discharged with full brain function. Now there's a new technique. Neuroprotective CPR, which requires three pieces of equipment (including what is essentially a toilet plunger) that fit into a backpack, has been shown to result in neurologically intact survival rates of 23%. NYT
The information highway is still super
German journalist René Pfister takes a road trip through America, with pretty interesting results. So much reporting about the United States comes from US journalists, so it's always surprising (and refreshing) to get another perspective, especially from someone for whom English isn't a first language. There's no shortage of madness, but also, so many people who would like to see the distrust and hatred come to an end – no matter what their political views are. Der Spiegel
Cultural anthropologist and blogger Deepa S. Reddy says she has the last word on the meaning of curry. It comes from the Tamil word kari, which means black, black means pepper, and pepper means spiced. A 'curry' is therefore a dish that is spiced, either with black pepper or with any other hot, pungent spice that measures itself against black pepper, as all spices once did. The destination isn't the point here, it's all about the ride. Paticheri
This one is for all the synesthesiasts out there.
And this one is for all the sci-fi nerds.
Bill McKibben attempts to chart a middle ground between the de-growthers and the eco-modernists. "I’m sympathetic to both viewpoints. Fifteen years ago, I wrote a book, Deep Economy, arguing against endless economic growth both on ecological grounds and because there’s considerable evidence it doesn’t make us happier. But I have also argued for a major-scale build-out of renewable energy. So I wonder if there isn’t a way to do both: to see green technology as a way to reduce the deadly hangover of the fossil-fuel era and also to help us move toward a more stable and stabilized civilization." New Yorker
That's all for this edition, thanks for reading. You know the drill, we'll see you next week (: Wishing you many moments of joy until then.
With love,
Gus and Amy
