Issue Nº 503

Thursday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• Slashing your digital footprint

• Schools with solar panels

• Stay hydrated all season long

• How regenerative agriculture can save our soil

True or False?

Peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s forests combined.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Clear Out Your Inbox For the Planet

We live a huge chunk of our lives in the digital world, and our emails, likes, clicks, and subscriptions all make a small but unavoidable contribution to climate change.

Nearly everything we do online generates masses of data that then need to be stored in huge data centers around the world, which consume a colossal amount of energy.

To help combat this in our everyday lives, here are three easy ways to cut down on your virtual - but very real - carbon footprint.

1. Delete Old Emails

Do you really need those expired discount codes from your favorite pizza place? Clearing out your old emails and unsubscribing from unwanted newsletters (though we hope not this one!) will reduce your digital footprint - and might give you some peace of mind too. 

2. Stop Saying ‘Thanks’

Did you know that every email creates around 0.3g of carbon emissions? One study found that if everyone in the UK stopped sending polite ‘thank you!’ emails, it would save enough carbon to take 3,334 diesel cars off the road. So, cut the pointless pleasantries - and if your colleagues complain about you being rude, tell them it’s for the good of the planet.

3. Cut Down on Social Media

The average person spends 145 minutes a day on social media, and at the rate these sites and apps generate emissions, that produces the equivalent of 60kg of carbon per year. Cumulatively, that’s as much as the population of Malaysia. Being more mindful of your use will help you both reclaim your time and lessen your impact on the planet.

Solar Power For the Next Generation

According to a new report, one in nine children in the US now attend a school that’s powered by solar energy. Over 800 K-12 schools went solar in the last two years, and in the last 10 years, the number of sun-powered schools has quadrupled. This was often made possible through third-party ownership models - think of a lease or subscription - meaning schools avoided the high upfront cost of installation. These solar panels are now also saving both the schools and local low-income families money on their energy bills. 

And, as well as the financial benefits, solar power in schools is being used as a jumping-off point to teach students about science and sustainability. This will hopefully create a ripple effect, as more families and members of the community become inspired to take part in the solar revolution.

Don’t Let Dehydration Catch You Off Guard

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An Intro to Regenerative Agriculture

Beneath our feet, a hidden crisis is unfolding. Thanks to industrial agriculture, the soil is eroding up to 100 times faster than it can reform. We rely on healthy soil - it’s an incredible carbon sink and supports the world’s biodiversity, not to mention it’s where the food we eat comes from. Another approach is desperately needed.

That approach is known as regenerative agriculture, and it’s one that’s been practiced by Indigenous communities for millennia. It revolves around the philosophy that everything in nature is interconnected, and we can’t ransack the soil for crops without paying the price. Instead, we need a more reciprocal relationship with the land, one that restores the soil, rather than leaving it in a degraded state.

This comes with tremendous benefits: soil is much healthier, plant and animal species can thrive as biodiversity improves, water quality improves, farms are more resilient to climate change, and farming communities can flourish.

So, what does regenerative agriculture actually look like in practice? Examples include reducing or eliminating pesticide use, and planting cover crops after cash crops - like vegetables or coffee - have been harvested to reduce soil erosion.

Other techniques involve letting livestock and crops live side by side, rotating crops to boost soil health, and no-till farming to minimize soil disturbance.

By adopting these practices, farmers can not only protect their land and livelihoods but also ensure the planet’s health and ability to support future generations.

Reflections:

• 🌎 True or False: True, peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured in next Wednesday's newsletter!