Rwanda to build new green city
A new green city is set to be constructed in Kigali from 2021. The city will sit on 620 hectares and will have systems that prevent environmental degradation and air pollution. It will have clean technologies, electric vehicles, bicycle and motorcycle lanes, renewable energy, biogas plants, urban forests and sustainable waste treatment facilities among other things. It is estimated that the project will cost between US$4 and US$5 million. Rwanda Green Fund with the support of the German Development Bank is undertaking a feasibility study for this Green Pilot. It is commendable that a section of the city will also be earmarked for low-income earners.
https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/development-5-billion-green-city-begin-next-year
UK breaks coal record
The United Kingdom has not burnt any coal since 1st September 2019. This is its longest streak since the Industrial Revolution. The country plans to quit coal entirely by 2025. To help achieve this target, the UK has installed more offshore wind turbines than any other country and its vast solar panel fields are meeting growing demand. Furthermore, traditional power plants are being closed down. Many other countries are ditching traditional power sources because they are generally considered to be less environmentally friendly than renewable energy sources. Hopefully, Zimbabwe will accelerate its efforts towards renewable energy as well.
https://twitter.com/ErikSolheim/status/1126381401861963777?s=19
Airline embarks on waste management trial
Qantas Airlines has embarked on a trial zero waste flight from Sydney to Adelaide. Those on the flight used digital boarding passes, then food on board was served in sugar cane containers. In addition, passengers used crop starch cutlery to eat, everything was compostable, reusable or recyclable. It is believed that Qantas produces enough waste to fill 80 jumbo jets per year but it now plans to cut 75% of that waste by end of 2021. The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Domestic Andrew David says, “We want to give customers the same level of service they currently enjoy but without the amount of waste that comes with it.” Remarkable.
https://twitter.com/ErikSolheim/status/1126351208271241216?s=19
Indian start-up invents wristband that protects women from violence
A recent poll named India the world’s most dangerous country for women. But, this may soon change. Leaf Wearables, a start-up formed in 2015 in India has come up with SAFER-PRO, a tiny computer chip built into a wristband that sends alerts to emergency contacts in times of danger. It works even in areas without cellular connectivity. The wristband has already won them the $1 million Women’s Safety XPRIZE, a global competition for technologies that help protect women and girls from violence. The wristband will initially be sold on e-commerce websites Amazon and Flipkart before physical stores are opened in India and abroad.
