Ubuntu Studio’s positive news round-up – Friday 3rd June 2022
Ubuntu Studio’s positive news round-up
Ubuntu Thoughts / 5 Min read
Friday 3rd June, 2022
Callum Berry
Content & Media Manager
Content & Media Manager
Good morning readers! We hope you’ve had a restful week. We’re here again to top things off with some wholesome and positive eco news. Let’s get the show on the road…
Carbon clean up crew
It’s been reported that major tech companies are set to invest nearly $1 billion into carbon removal over the next 8 years. Finally, some actual movement towards a solid target.
Apple and Salesforce said that they would be investing half a billion dollars into carbon capture technology—a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and reduces global warming at the same time.
However, the argument still remains that while these are positive steps towards addressing the carbon dilemma, solutions such as carbon capture will need to be ramped up far more extensively if they are to make a dent in the emissions that Big Tech itself is responsible for. Many industries still claim they have no choice but to continue to create emissions as they seek to look for alternative ways of continuing to do business, simply because there is no way for them to function with renewables just yet.
But we’re not wholly convinced by this. True, the most cost effective method of doing business right now may be to continue the ways of old and burn fossil fuels to keep costs low and margins high. However until we invest—and we mean properly invest—in alternative ways of working, even if that means taking a hit to profit, then we’re not going to see the change we need to not only halt warming, but start to reverse its effects.
Apple and Salesforce said that they would be investing half a billion dollars into carbon capture technology—a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and reduces global warming at the same time.
However, the argument still remains that while these are positive steps towards addressing the carbon dilemma, solutions such as carbon capture will need to be ramped up far more extensively if they are to make a dent in the emissions that Big Tech itself is responsible for. Many industries still claim they have no choice but to continue to create emissions as they seek to look for alternative ways of continuing to do business, simply because there is no way for them to function with renewables just yet.
But we’re not wholly convinced by this. True, the most cost effective method of doing business right now may be to continue the ways of old and burn fossil fuels to keep costs low and margins high. However until we invest—and we mean properly invest—in alternative ways of working, even if that means taking a hit to profit, then we’re not going to see the change we need to not only halt warming, but start to reverse its effects.
The forests of Kyrgyzstan
An NGO is testing a smartphone app in the region of Kyrgyzstan that can map pasture health and provide insightful real-time environmental information.
Kyrgyzstan's ancient walnut forest spans tens of thousands of acres across the flanks of the Babash-Alta mountains. For generations, these natural woodlands have supported communities living on its fringes, in a sprawling network of villages collectively known as Arslanbob.
But the forests are coming under pressure from climate change, soil erosion, and overgrazing.
A local NGO called Camp Alatoo has developed an app to enable herders in the area to help map pastures, identify areas of overgrazing and let them recover. The government is working to boost supplies of seeds from healthy pastures, to disperse amongst the barren ones.
Kyrgyzstan's ancient walnut forest spans tens of thousands of acres across the flanks of the Babash-Alta mountains. For generations, these natural woodlands have supported communities living on its fringes, in a sprawling network of villages collectively known as Arslanbob.
But the forests are coming under pressure from climate change, soil erosion, and overgrazing.
A local NGO called Camp Alatoo has developed an app to enable herders in the area to help map pastures, identify areas of overgrazing and let them recover. The government is working to boost supplies of seeds from healthy pastures, to disperse amongst the barren ones.
Tasmania triumphs
Tasmania has become one of the first parts of the world to become not just carbon neutral, but carbon negative by reducing logging activities.
"Tasmania has gone from being the emitter of carbon dioxide to now removing more than it is emitting to the atmosphere," Griffith University researcher Brendan Mackey said.
"Tasmania being carbon negative is largely due to [the country’s] responsible forest management—our balance of plantations and native forestry and the simple fact that in Tasmania every single tree that is harvested is replanted or regenerated for the future."
Following the latest COP flop last year, we’re still hearing way too much about hitting neutral targets instead of looking further to creating net negative emissions. The people of Tasmania have shown it’s possible, even in an industry that’s so often associated with the degradation of natural resources and a core contributor of GHGs.
If Tasmania can lead the way, there’s no reason why others can’t follow. We hope you’re listening Brazil…
"Tasmania has gone from being the emitter of carbon dioxide to now removing more than it is emitting to the atmosphere," Griffith University researcher Brendan Mackey said.
"Tasmania being carbon negative is largely due to [the country’s] responsible forest management—our balance of plantations and native forestry and the simple fact that in Tasmania every single tree that is harvested is replanted or regenerated for the future."
Following the latest COP flop last year, we’re still hearing way too much about hitting neutral targets instead of looking further to creating net negative emissions. The people of Tasmania have shown it’s possible, even in an industry that’s so often associated with the degradation of natural resources and a core contributor of GHGs.
If Tasmania can lead the way, there’s no reason why others can’t follow. We hope you’re listening Brazil…
Well that’s all from us at Ubuntu, we hope that we gave you the lift you needed to power through the last few hours of Friday! Have a great weekend, and be sure to follow our socials so you know when the next PNR comes out (every Friday).
Got an interesting story you’d like us to highlight? Feel free to send in your ideas to callum@ubuntustudio.co.uk and you could be featured in an upcoming PNR!
Got an interesting story you’d like us to highlight? Feel free to send in your ideas to callum@ubuntustudio.co.uk and you could be featured in an upcoming PNR!
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We appreciate that all life on earth is under threat, so we’re using the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations—to do something about it. Reducing the negative impact on people and the planet.
If you're looking to make a change in how you market your business, we'd love to chat. Find out more at ubuntustudio.co.uk.
We appreciate that all life on earth is under threat, so we’re using the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations—to do something about it. Reducing the negative impact on people and the planet.
If you're looking to make a change in how you market your business, we'd love to chat. Find out more at ubuntustudio.co.uk.
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