It’s well known that the media never talk about trains arriving on time. So much so that following the news can be totally depressing. Without denying the great threats and difficulties facing our times, there is also very good news that sometimes reaches us and which is not relayed enough. To ignore them is to condemn ourselves to despair. Here are three recent pieces of information that make us smile again.
Major progress against deforestation
Deforestation of the Amazon in Colombia is down 36% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to a government report. It reached its lowest level in the history of records. To obtain this good resultPresident Gustavo Petro limited the expansion of agribusiness in the forest and created reserves where indigenous communities can harvest forest products.
This progress was also made possible by peace agreements between the Colombian government and regional guerrilla groups. Finally, financial incentives were given to farmers to carry out certain conservation projects.
This public health problem is on the decline
Our World in Data reports that lead exposure has dropped significantly in the United States over the past fifty years. This material, toxic to humans, was used in many products (gasoline, paint, pipes, etc.).
If this problem seems to be on the way to being resolved among Uncle Sam, this is not the case in poorer countries where the use of lead is sometimes not monitored or regulated at all.
The beneficial effects of renewable energies on health
According to a recent study, the accelerated use of renewable energies between 2019 and 2022 has made it possible to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. This last point thus makes it possible to reduce cases of chronic respiratory diseases. The study even puts the benefit generated by these installations at $249 billion for the community.
To achieve this result, researchers focused on SO2 and Nox produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, often linked to cases of asthma and other health problems. You can find more information on this subject in the article from our colleagues at the Guardian here.
That’s it for this week. If you liked this article, you can always reread the previous part of this section to find other good news that has gone relatively unnoticed.
