365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

 🌿 Synthetic materials' increasing popularity comes with a significant drawback: they are non-biodegradable and cause environmental harm when they pile up in landfills. But here's an interesting solution: using natural fibers creatively can offer both useful characteristics and biodegradability! 🌱 🎋 Natural fibers, derived from sources like pineapples, coconuts, and bamboo, possess numerous advantages, including high quality, lightness, and affordability. They require minimal energy for processing and emit fewer greenhouse gases. Moreover, they empower communities by providing a sustainable income source. 🚀 In various industries like aerospace, automotive, and health, natural fibers are proving to be excellent replacements for synthetic materials. For example, they contribute to environmentally-friendly packaging and can be used for car bumpers and window frames. 🌎 🔍 To explore the wonders of natural fibers further, check out this interesting article 👇 : https://medium.c...

 🌳 Trees play a more crucial role in urban environments than many realize. 🌇 They improve residents' well-being, regulate temperatures, and reduce air pollution. But many cities face challenges in protecting trees on private land. 🌿 Discover how local governments can implement regulations and incentives to preserve trees on private land and create greener cities 👇: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-cities-can-protect-trees-on-private-land-7a4184644f29 Cities can also protect trees on private properties (credit:  M.Pakats  on  Shutterstock )

 🌍🌿 As biodiversity loss is a critical issue impacting both our environment and our health, discovering innovative ways to measure biodiversity and implement conservation measures is vital. 🔍One approach is using synthetic biology, which allows us to read, modify, and design DNA segments to address challenges like invasive species, diseases, and wildlife trade. ⚖ However, it's essential to balance the benefits with potential negative consequences. ✨ Learn more about the impact of synthetic biology on biodiversity and conservation efforts in this thought-provoking article 👇 : https://medium.com/the-environment/8-consequences-of-applying-synthetic-biology-to-protect-biodiversity-c56e0dc3a5cd Synthetic biology involves  reading, interpreting, modifying, designing, and manufacturing DNA segment  (credit:  ktsdesign  on  Shutterstock )

 🌍 One of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century is environmental pollution. 🚯 Industrial and agricultural development, rapid urban expansion, and population growth have led to contamination of our soil, water, and air with harmful substances. This pollution includes plastics, heavy metals, dyes, and non-degradable organic compounds. These toxic pollutants accumulate over time, posing a threat to our ecosystems. 💧🌱 🦠 Luckily, there is a fascinating solution called microbial bioremediation! This involves microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi that can naturally remove pollutants from soil and water. 🌱 Through biodegradation, these tiny organisms break down pollutants into harmless substances or low concentrations that meet regulatory standards. It's an environmentally friendly process that produces non-dangerous compounds like water and carbon dioxide. 📚✨ Discover more about the fascinating world of microbial bioremediation and its potential for environmental...

 🌍 Did you know that educators are recognizing the importance of environmental education in addressing global challenges like climate change and loss of biodiversity? 📚 It's great to see more initiatives integrating this crucial knowledge into educational programs. As the Dutch saying goes, "learned young is done old." 🌎Let's equip the next generation with the tools they need to protect our planet. 🖇 Check out these effective strategies for teaching environmental education 👇 https://medium.com/climate-conscious/what-makes-environmental-education-effective-7e33ab3274fb Environmental education is becoming an important part of educational programs (credit:  Rawpixel.com  on  Shutterstock )

 🌍 While renewable energy sources are replacing conventional ones, such as fossil fuels, to face the climate crisis, a challenge that needs to be overcome is the inconsistency in electricity generation from sources like solar and wind. 🔋Storing excess energy is crucial here to balance supply and demand. 💡 Discover the fascinating technologies that can store renewable energy, from mechanical and thermomechanical to electrical, electrochemical, thermal, and fuel storage 👇 :  https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-energy-from-renewable-sources-can-be-stored-696b425c302 To be able to balance the supply and demand for electricity in the grid, storing energy is essential (credit:  mipan  on  Shutterstock )

🌍 Did you know that our individual and group identities can influence pro-environmental behavior? 💚 By aligning our values and embracing identities tied to nature conservation, Fair Trade consumption, or environmental activism, we can make a positive impact. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Likewise, group identities, such as being part of an environmental or recycling group, can encourage collective action. 🌱 Discover how identities shape our behavior and contribute to a sustainable future 👇 : https://medium.com/the-environment/how-our-identities-encourage-pro-environmental-behavior-76877e7ad67c How we see ourselves influences whether we behave environmentally-friendly (credit:  Digital Storm  on  Shutterstock )

🌍 Nature never stops to amaze me! 🐦 Take the bar-tailed godwit, for instance. These majestic birds are able to fly over 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) each way from Alaska to New Zealand and Australia. 😯 What's truly astonishing is that some of them accomplish this incredible feat without any stopovers! 🔗 In this article, I explain how their bodies transform to enable such non-stop flights 👇 : https://medium.com/the-environment/why-bar-tailed-godwits-can-fly-nonstop-from-alaska-to-new-zealand-1ac110b1ac54 A bar-tailed godwit (credit:  No-longer-here  on  Pixabay )

  🌍 Did you know that hydrogen is emerging as a promising renewable energy source with various applications? 🚀 Although hydrogen is the simplest and lightest atom in the universe, it holds great potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 🔗 In this article, I explain how it can be put to good use in different sectors 👇 : https://medium.com/the-environment/how-hydrogen-can-be-put-to-good-use-in-different-sectors-607f6a9b0dd7 Hydrogen is an important molecule for a more sustainable future (credit:  peterschreiber.media  on  Shutterstock )

 🌿 Many species are facing extinction, posing a threat to our ecosystems. To tackle this, we must adopt more environmentally friendly habits and engage in environmental protection. ⛰ But how can we better understand the state of our environment? One fascinating method is studying environmental DNA (eDNA). 🔬 By analyzing DNA left behind by plants and animals, we can monitor biodiversity and determine which species have visited an area. 🧬eDNA analysis has numerous advantages, such as being non-evasive, applicable in various ecosystems, and allowing for autonomous sample collection. It's an accurate and efficient way to identify species. 🔗 Learn more about how eDNA contributes to biodiversity conservation strategies here: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-environmental-dna-research-contributes-to-biodiversity-conservation-d59bc6c2b1ac DNA research can be used to find out more about biodiversity in an area (credit:  FOTOGRIN  on  Shutterstock )

 🐛 How fast do you think a worm can eat a plastic bag? 🔗 You can find the answer for 5 different worms in this article 👇 : https://medium.com/climate-conscious/5-plastic-eating-worms-3eace65e4bce Some insects can digest plastic (credit:  Michiel de Wit  on  Shutterstock )

  🐞 Did you know that organic farming can increase biodiversity and minimize harm to the environment? 🌱 By implementing techniques like mixed crop fields, smaller fields, border strips, and diversified crop rotations, we can further enhance biodiversity and maintain sustainable food production. 🔗 Learn more about these strategies in this article. Let's support eco-friendly agriculture for a healthier planet! https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-organic-farming-can-be-made-even-more-environmentally-friendly-be55fe42686c Organic farming is a great way to make today’s farming more environmentally friendly (credit:  Bits And Splits  on  Shutterstock )

  👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Did you know that public acceptance plays a crucial role in the success of renewable energy projects? 💚 Factors like trust, distributional justice, siting, and socio-demographic factors influence whether communities embrace renewable energy. 🔗 Learn more about these factors and their impact on renewable energy acceptance in my article. Let's work together for a sustainable future! https://medium.com/climate-conscious/factors-influencing-the-acceptance-of-renewable-energy-projects-a91cfaa0ffd0 The local community plays an important role in the success of a renewable energy project (credit:  Andrey_Popov  on  Shutterstock )

 🧠 Did you know that heavy metal pollution can cause Parkinson's disease? 😞 Exposure to metals like iron, copper, and manganese increases the risk of developing this progressive neurological disorder. These metals disrupt the balance in our bodies, damaging neurons and leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. 🔗 Learn more about the link between heavy metals and Parkinson's disease in this article: Water polluted by the heavy metal copper (credit:  joserpizarro  on  Shutterstock )

 💡 Did you know that digitalization in the energy industry has led to the collection of vast amounts of energy-related data? 🔢 This "Big Data" holds immense potential for improving energy systems and ensuring energy security. With the five V's of big data - volume, velocity, variety, value, and veracity - we can extract valuable insights and drive operational, technical, and environmental benefits. 🔌 One remarkable application is load forecasting, which helps utilities plan capacity, reduce costs, and ensure a reliable energy supply. Learn more about the transformative power of big data in energy systems management: https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/4-ways-big-data-can-be-used-to-improve-energy-security-dd917be37f17 Huge amounts of data can be analyzed to obtain information that helps improve the energy system and ensure energy security (credit:  Yurchanka Siarhei  on  Shutterstock )

 💵 Did you know that banknotes made from wood, cotton, and linen fibers can have negative environmental impacts? 🌳 They require a significant amount of natural resources and production chemicals, tear easily, and are not very resistant to environmental factors. 💸 That's why many countries are transitioning to polymer banknotes, which are made of substances like plastic and offer numerous benefits. Polymer banknotes improve security, increase durability, reduce production costs, and are more environmentally friendly. Over 45 countries currently use polymer banknotes, and this number is expected to exceed 65 by 2030. 🔗 Discover more about the advantages of polymer banknotes and their impact on daily transactions: https://medium.com/the-environment/3-reasons-why-polymer-banknotes-are-taking-over-daily-transactions-b3871e42d557 A polymer bill (credit:  Prachaya Roekdeethaweesab  on  Shutterstock )

 🌊 Did you know that ocean waves have the potential to become a great source of renewable energy? 💡 Converting mechanical wave energy into electricity, wave power devices offer a promising solution for clean energy generation. 🔗 Check out these fascinating articles explaining different wave energy technologies: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-electricity-can-be-generated-from-ocean-waves-f22c80799a8b and what challenges still need to be overcome: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/why-ocean-wave-energy-isnt-our-main-renewable-energy-source-yet-c02d2f1cce32 ✉ Subscribe here to receive email notifications for future science communication articles: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/subscribe 🖊 Please reach out when you need support with science communication. Using wave energy is challenging, but possible! (credit:  eamesBot  on  Shutterstock )

🌍 Did you know that online shopping is predicted to surpass in-store purchases this decade? While this trend offers convenience, it also has significant environmental implications. The massive amount of packaging waste generated by online purchases are concerning. 🌱 To address this, innovative approaches are emerging to make packaging more environmentally friendly. One way is by utilizing new materials like cellulose, which is abundant and renewable. Edible materials such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and resins are also being explored. These materials not only offer sustainability but also enhance the properties of packaging. 🔗 Discover how these and other innovative strategies are reshaping e-commerce packaging for a greener future: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-packaging-is-becoming-more-environmentally-friendly-b4e9afee578b Online purchases use much more packaging than in-store purchases (credit:  Negro Elkha  on  Shutterstock )

🌱 Did you know that urban gardening can contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs )? 🍆 By cultivating crops in urban areas, we can make a positive impact on poverty reduction, hunger prevention, health improvement, economic growth, community building, responsible production, climate action, and biodiversity preservation. 💚 This is because urban gardens create job opportunities, provide access to nutritious food, enhance physical and mental well-being, strengthen communities, promote responsible resource usage, reduce carbon emissions, and support wildlife habitats. 🔗 Let's explore the transformative power of urban gardening for a sustainable future. Read more: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-urban-gardening-contributes-to-sustainable-development-goals-785df8d72af5 With urban gardening, you can make a positive difference (credit:  AYA images  on  Shutterstock )

🌐 Did you know that #climateChange and #biodiversity loss are linked in a complex relationship? 🌊 Today on #WorldOceanDay , it is an excellent time to realize that oceans are affected by both. And climate change not only affects biodiversity in oceans but is also influenced by it. 🔗 Curious to learn more about how these crises intertwine? Check out this insightful article: https://medium.com/the-environment/3-tragic-consequences-of-global-warming-on-ocean-biodiversity-65c98ee2c08b A huge number of species live in our oceans and are affected by climate change (credit:  Irina Markova  on  Shutterstock )

  ⚽ Last year, the World Football Championship in Qatar was highly critiqued because of human rights violations, but did you know there were also positive aspects of the stadiums they built? 🏟 From using sustainable construction materials to reducing energy use and light pollution, they implemented new innovative stadium designs, making large stadiums more eco-friendly. 🔗 Discover how innovative stadium designs in Qatar are contributing to a greener future from this alternative point of view: https://medium.com/the-environment/the-future-of-stadiums-5-sustainable-practices-that-change-the-game-aaff0eb220e9 Stadiums are usually impressive buildings but should and can be made more environmentally friendly as well (credit:  Fitria Ramli  on  Shutterstock )

🎉 Exciting News! I'm thrilled to announce that I'm giving birth soon — to a book! 👶 Just like an unborn baby, this book is a product of passion, dedication, and countless hours of nurturing. 📚 I'm excited to introduce "A Guide to a Healthier Planet: Scientific Insights and Actionable Steps to Resolve Climate, Pollution, and Biodiversity Issues"! 📅 Expected date of birth: October 27th, 2023. 🌱 This book is all about bridging the gap between scientific insights on pressing environmental issues and empowering everyday people to take action. It delivers fascinating facts about #nature and #sustainability , inspiring to make a positive impact on our planet. 📖 With chapters sourced from my work on medium.com/@ErlijnG, along with exclusive content, this book brings together open-access research articles rarely discussed in popular discourse. It delves into crucial concepts, unveils far-reaching consequences, and sparks the desire for change. 💡 What sets this boo...

🌞Did you know that end-of-life solar panels can turn into a worldwide problem if not properly handled? ♻With the increasing number of solar panels reaching their end-of-life, recycling becomes crucial. 🍸Extracting materials from old panels can be used in innovative ways, such as repurposing glass, aluminum, polymers, and silicon for pavements. 🌿Discover how recycling solar panels can contribute to a more sustainable future:  🔗 https://medium.com/the-environment/how-solar-panel-waste-is-paving-the-way-to-a-more-sustainable-future-3d4e521c791d Solar panel waste can be used in the construction of pavements by reusing valuable materials (credit:  Shutterstock.AI  on  Shutterstock )

  🙁 Did you know that extreme climate events can have a significant impact on our mental health? 🌊From heat waves to floods, tornadoes to wildfires, and droughts, these events can lead to anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 👪And issues can even be passed on to future generations! 🔗 Learn more about the relationship between extreme weather and mental health in this eye-opening article: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/how-extreme-climate-events-impact-mental-health-e26ed17923dc Extreme climate events not only affect the environment, they also affect our mental health (credit:  SunshineVector  on  Shutterstock )