The high cost of defending nature

Happy Sunday!

For anyone with us for the first time, welcome to Voyage Green News! We provide a weekly dose of news and inspiration for a sustainable life. 💚 

♻️ This week’s sustainability news

At least three climate activists murdered weekly in 2023

What’s happening: Last year, 196 people who protected the environment were killed, says an annual report by Global Witness, a group from the UK exposing environmental and human rights abuses. This means that, on average, at least three people were killed every week in 2023 for standing up against land theft, pollution, and industries that take natural resources. In 2023, Colombia had the most defenders killed, with 79 deaths, the highest number recorded in a year since 2012. Honduras had 18 defenders killed, the most per capita. Together, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil made up 70% of the murders. In Asia, the Philippines had the most, with 17 deaths.

Why it’s happening: Indigenous people made up a disproportionately large share of the victims. Even though they are only 6 percent of the world's population, they made up about 43 percent of defenders killed in 2023. This is partly because companies and governments often ignore their rights. Indigenous communities live on land that has about 80 percent of the world's biodiversity and many valuable resources like minerals, metals, and fossil fuels that industries want. People often get away with violence, which encourages more of it. Most attacks are not looked into or punished.

Why it’s important: Over 2,100 defenders have been murdered since Global Witness began recording them in 2012. But the deaths listed in these reports are thought to be lower than the actual number because attacks often happen in remote areas, people are afraid of revenge, and the government hides information about the killings. The latest report only includes 22 countries, so many defender killings in other parts of the world are probably not reported. This includes a lack of information about defenders in Africa, Russia, Iran, China, and other repressive countries. Global Witness urges countries to keep track of attacks and retaliations. Better data on these incidents and their reasons would help governments improve current laws and systems. Governments and companies around the world need to do more to stop attacks on defenders and their communities and end the violence. They should also be held responsible for the violence and criminalisation that land and environmental defenders experience worldwide.

📖 Read the study: Global Witness Annual Defenders Report 2024

🤔 Another perspective: Appalling Figures

Massive increase in US solar power manufacturing capacity

What’s happening: In the two years since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed, the ability to make solar panels in the US has almost quadrupled. This information comes from the US Solar Market Insight report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie. One year before the IRA was passed, the US could only manufacture 8.3 gigawatts of solar panels. In 2023, the US installed 32.4 gigawatts of solar power, and this number is expected to grow even more this year.

Why it’s happening: Generous incentives provided in the IRA, the Biden administration’s major climate law, have boosted solar-panel manufacturing. The law has also provided funding to encourage the buildout of clean energy grids and transition away from fossil fuels across the US. Just last week as an example, the Biden administration said it would give $7.3 billion to help 16 rural co-ops that serve about 5 million homes in 23 states. Private companies will also add more than $29 billion. The goal is to create over 10 gigawatts of clean energy. Right now, co-ops have almost 16 gigawatts of renewable energy.

Why it’s important: The country’s ability to make solar panels is now almost equal to how much solar power it is installing. The big increase in U.S. solar manufacturing means the country doesn't have to rely on China for solar panels anymore. The US is still reliant on companies overseas for operational facilities that can turn raw material into the solar wafers and cells that do the magic act of transforming light into power. But this might change early next year when Hanwha Qcells begins making wafers and cells at its factory in Cartersville, Georgia. For now, China still produces most of the US's solar wafers. The recent increase in solar panel production in the US, encouraged by the IRA's clean technology incentives, shows that offering rewards is more effective than the previous strategy of imposing tariffs on Chinese products used by the current and previous administrations.

📖 Read the full article: US solar manufacturing capacity has quadrupled thanks to climate law

🌐 Travel to Sydney

The best places to picnic

Our top 20 spots: With the warmer weather arriving, there’s no better time to get out and soak up nature while enjoying the stunning views around Sydney. Ready our new article to discover our favourite locations.

😇 People doing great things

Helping farmers to leave industrialised animal agriculture

Fighting for a more just food and farming system: Mercy for Animals, a nonprofit founded 25 years ago, started the Transfarmation Project to help people leave factory farming in the US. They are working with about twelve farms, including one owned by the Faaborg family in Iowa, who switched from raising hogs to growing mushrooms. Most of the meat eaten in the US comes from big farms. Supporters say this makes meat cheaper. However, these farms are terrible for both the animals and the environment. They produce pollution and use a lot of water. To help fight global warming, the United Nations suggests eating less meat. There is also a human cost to this type of farming. The work is very hard, and many farmers make less money than what is considered the poverty level. In 2022, the average income for poultry farmers was $9,367, according to the Department of Agriculture. Many farmers also have a lot of debt from their farm buildings.

⭐️ Weekly inspiration

Alaskan public lands protected

Over 28 million acres: The decision by the Biden-Harris administration aims to protect cultural and subsistence resources across Alaska, a response to the Trump administration’s unlawful decision in its final days to end the longstanding protections without sufficient analysis of impacts on subsistence hunting and fishing.

UK’s first ‘motionless’ wind turbine installed

On a roof in Oxford: The prototype is being trialled on the roof of German carmaker BMW’s MINI manufacturing plant, before being installed elsewhere in the UK and Europe, with the technology described as a “breakthrough scalable renewable energy solution” that protects birds and runs more quietly.

New grain mix developed for climate resilience

‘Climate Blend’ flour: Developed by Breadlab, the 100% whole wheat grain mix is colourful and includes different types of seeds, such as hard red spring wheat, blue wheat, and purple wheat, and was developed to withstand the extreme heat being caused by climate change.

Crocs (the shoes) using plant materials

Starting with 25%: Recycled plant products, such a cooking oil, will now form 25% of each pair of Crocs made from Croslite, a proprietary material composed of polyethylene vinyl acetate, or PEVA, chemical components which come from fossil fuels.

California’s new national marine sanctuary

First one in over three decades: Over 116 miles (187 kilometres) of California's beautiful coastline is being turned into the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which will be the third largest in the United States.

Thanks for reading! 😄 

Don’t be shy! Hit reply to this email if there’s anything you want to share. We love to read what’s on our readers’ minds and respond to everyone.

We’ll be in your inbox again next Sunday. Until then, we hope to see you around on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. 💚