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From scientific discoveries to activist wins, here are the latest news stories showcasing the people taking on climate change and nature loss.

🏠 Using alternative building materials to capture carbon

Swapping out conventional building materials for those which absorb and store carbon dioxide could remove half of the CO2 produced by humans each year – around 16 billion tonnes. We could achieve this phenomenal reduction through modifications such as adding biochar to cement, using concrete and asphalt containing carbonate-based aggregates, and shifting to bio-based plastics and wood.

🦈 A brand new marine sanctuary

The waters around two uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean, Bikar and Bokak, have been transformed into a marine sanctuary. From sharks to turtles to the birds that soar above the ocean, this newly protected area – which is bigger than Switzerland – is a biodiversity hotspot. By allowing fish populations to thrive, this change will also support the livelihoods of nearby local communities.

“These remote atolls … are our best baselines for what the ocean could look like if we truly let it be.”

🧠 An approach to climate action from African philosophy

We might each take small actions – like cycling to work or eating less meat – to lessen our impact on the planet, but sometimes these choices can feel pointless in the face of climate disaster. This article outlines the idea of ‘complementarity’ present in African philosophy, which signifies that everything in the world, from rivers to plants to animals, is interconnected. Within these shared relationships, nothing exists in isolation, and every action, no matter how small it might seem, carries the same weight.

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