Why did the US invest in wildlife highways, how is Africa turning invasive plants into bioplastics, and why is Chicago leading the way in renewable energy?

*Note: I also misspoke and called Africa a country instead of a continent when I meant to talk about the country Kenya in Africa. Thank you for your understanding I make silly mistakes!

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This episode contains blogs from Happy Earth News: a summary of recent positive environmental stories that bring hope to our world.

Chicago has achieved a significant environmental milestone by transitioning all 411 of its municipal buildings, including international airports and libraries, to 100% renewable energy. Approximately 70% of this energy is sourced from a new 4,100-acre solar farm, with the remaining 30% obtained through renewable energy credits. This shift is anticipated to reduce carbon emissions by 290,000 metric tons annually, equivalent to removing 62,000 cars from the road. Additionally, the move to renewable energy has created new job opportunities for Chicago residents. The city aims to inspire other municipalities to undertake similar climate actions.

In Kenya, the invasive water hyacinth has severely impacted Lake Naivasha's ecosystem and local fishing industry. To address this, the start-up HyaPak collaborates with fishermen to harvest the plant, converting it into biodegradable packaging materials. This initiative not only offers an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastics but also provides economic opportunities for the community.

The U.S. has invested $125 million in wildlife crossings to enhance safety for both animals and humans. These structures, such as overpasses and underpasses, connect habitats divided by roads, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. Annually, over a million such collisions result in approximately 200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries, and significant wildlife fatalities, costing the public more than $10 billion. The initiative funds 16 projects across various statesIn the video above, we explore Happy Earth News from around the world.

SOURCES:

Chicago:

https://bethanystahl.com/chicago/

https://tinyurl.com/eb5j26pwInvasive

Species:

https://bethanystahl.com/how-africa-is-turning-invasive-plants-into-bioplastics/

https://eros.usgs.gov/earthshots/hyacinth

https://hyapak.com/

https://tinyurl.com/mvypbrt5

Wildlife Highways:

https://bethanystahl.com/why-the-us-invested-in-wildlife-highways/

https://bethanystahl.com/do-wildlife-highways-actually-work/

https://bethanystahl.com/dams-were-removed-heres-what-happened/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/08034/

https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/winter-2023/04

https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/wildlife-crossings/wcpp-fy24-25-grant-selections-list.pdf