Positive News: Agrivoltaics, Fossil Fuel Phaseout & Social Enterprises

Positive news highlights: Agrivoltaic crop yield boost, countries phasing out fossil fuels, UK Social Enterprise Awards, and literary prizes for marginalized voices. Focus on solutions and progress.

Agrivoltaics Boosts Crop Yields

” This agrivoltaic crop yield bump has actually been revealed for lots of other plants and solar panel mixes around the globe, including basil, broccoli, celery, corn, grapes, kale, lettuce, field turf, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and more,” lead scientist Prof Joshua Pearce from Western University, Canada, wrote for The Discussion.

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UK’s Fossil Fuel Exploration End

“Britain has actually simply made history,” said Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director, Areeba Hamid. “Closing the door to brand-new expedition marks the start of the end of oil and gas in this nation.

“Each year brings its difficulties, however 2025 saw a tough financial trading setting along with an occasionally upsetting national discussion on what it means to be British which controlled the political landscape,” claimed Peter Holbrook, Social Venture UK’s primary director. “It’s therefore really heartening to commemorate services built on care and compassion that support one of the most susceptible participants of our communities, representing Britain at its best.”

Social Enterprises Awarded for Positive Impact

Businesses that utilize ex-offenders to work on environmental jobs, train being homeless individuals to be baristas, and support Palestinian farmers were among the champions of this year’s UK Social Business of the Year award, held on Wednesday.

For thetrial, King’s hired greater than 300 individuals with serious asthma from 11 countries. Scientists located that 90% of participants who received a month-to-month tezepelumab shot were able to decrease or stop taking their daily steroid tablets, without any influence on their symptoms. Tezepelumab is an antibody which targets parts of the body immune system, lowering lung inflammation.

In spite of welcoming the announcement, Hamid said that “the existing strategy– and cash– to support North Sea employees doesn’t go far sufficient”. She included: “It’s vital they go to the heart of Britain’s transition to a clean-energy superpower, not left by it. A ₤ 20m jobs plan doesn’t make the cut.”

Cycling as Urban Solution

According to those behind the EU-funded Copenhagenize Index, it’s not nearly connected and risk-free cycle facilities. Scientists additionally evaluate exactly how equitable cycling is, and the political assistance behind cycling.

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The sleepy primate was caught on electronic camera in Uganda, home to among the largest primate populaces. There are approximated to be about 5,000 of the pets in the country, a number that looks set to be changed after Uganda introduced its first ever chimp census this year.

Under the North Sea Future Plan, little quantities of fossil fuels will certainly still be able to be extracted at or near existing wells. Advocates said that it will certainly result in relatively small quantities of fossil gas being drawn out.

Scientists are eager to find alternative therapies for taking care of extreme asthma, as long-term everyday steroid usage can lead to major health problems, including osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, and increased susceptability to infections.

The breeze, caught by digital photographer Federica Cordero, is one of a clutch of winners of the Nature in Emphasis awards. The India-based competitors intends to “disclose fresh viewpoints on the environment and shed light on immediate preservation obstacles,” said Rohit Varma, the honors’ founder.

Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Momentum Grows

After the Cop30 environment top wrapped up with zero reference of fossil fuels in the draft text, Colombia and the Netherlands pledged to develop their very own roadmap for deserting oil, gas and coal– with the support of 22 various other countries, including Australia and the UK.

The Dutch city was this week crowned the world’s ideal for biking. The Danish funding, Copenhagen, and Ghent in Belgium placed second and 3rd specifically. It pleads a concern: what makes a city cycle pleasant?

The research did not examine degree of fluency. The findings resemble the outcomes of similar researches, includingone from 2019, which concluded that learning a 2nd language in old age can improve cognition.

Under the North Sea Future Strategy, small amounts of nonrenewable fuel sources will still have the ability to be drawn out at or near existing wells. The government suggested that this would certainly sustain the UK’s power transition. Advocates claimed that it will certainly cause relatively small amounts of fossil fuels being drawn out.

While there was an absence of agreement on nonrenewable fuel sources at Cop30– a success for obstructive petrostates– around a third of nations backed phasing them out. Colombia and the Netherlands were among them, and revealed that they would individually develop a roadmap for abandoning fossil fuels. Both nations also consented to co-host the first ever Global Seminar on the Just Shift Far From Fossil Fuels, scheduled for April 2026.

The Skill Mill was among the winners. It supplies ecological work for youngsters involved in the criminal justice system. Other winners included Modification Please, which aids raise people out of being homeless by training them to be baristas, and Zaytoun CIC, which supports Palestinian farmers producing food in the West Bank.

Canadian scientists located that partial shading offered by agrivoltaic systems– solar arrays with crops expanding under them– can boost food manufacturing, while improving dirt health and wellness and motivating nutrition cycling. The advantages increase when the panels are not being used, the research study discovered, suggesting decommissioned solar ranches could still supply an economic boost to farmers.

“There is a clear energy to phase out fossil fuels, and currently is the moment to capitalise on it,” claimed Sophie Hermans, the Dutch minister for climate. “We must begin to happen what this phaseout could look like and start a concrete roadmap that allows us to incorporate the new and leave the old behind.”

“Evacuees and migrants make extremely important payments to our arts, society and culture,” said Counterpoints Art, which released the honor with Explanation Press. “Within the context of rising prejudice, it is important to maintain platforming and enhancing these othered stories in order to stress our common humankind.”

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While there was an absence of consensus on fossil gas at Cop30– a success for obstructive petrostates– around a third of countries backed phasing them out. Colombia and the Netherlands were amongst them, and announced that they would individually establish a roadmap for deserting fossil gas. The two countries additionally agreed to co-host the very first ever International Conference on the Just Shift Away from Fossil Fuels, arranged for April 2026.

Multilingualism Benefits Brain Health

The internationalstudy of more than 86,000 individuals observed just a small gap between brain age and organic age in those who talked one language. A “small” advantage was noted for bilingual participants, with significant gains seen amongst those speaking three or more languages.

The Afterthought x Counterpoints award is the most up to date literary prize to showcase writers on the margins. In 2014, the Bridport Reward launched its Never Too Late Awardto tackle ageism in publishing. It’s open to authors everywhere aged 60 or over.