A new study confirmed that electric vehicles are already making a ‘remarkable’ difference for cleaner air
While scientists have long suspected that electric vehicles lead to an undeniable reduction in air pollution, scientists used satellites to measure just how big that impact is.
From 2019 to 2023, a national team of scientists measured nitrogen levels across nearly 1,700 ZIP codes in California, the state with the highest rates of EV use in the country, and found that for every increase of 200 electric vehicles, nitrogen dioxide emissions decreased by 1.1%.
As the study’s lead author said, “We’re not even fully there in terms of electrifying, but our research shows that California’s transition to electric vehicles is already making measurable differences in the air we breathe.”
Why is this good news?Air pollution from combustion engine vehicles has been shown to exacerbate asthma and respiratory disease, increase hospital and emergency room visits for respiratory illness, worsen lung cancer outcomes, cause adverse birth outcomes, and more. Cleaner air means a healthier planet and healthier people.
Scientists are turning cigarette butts into sustainable construction bricks. Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in the world, with over 6 trillion tossed each year, and because they’re made of plastic, nicotine, tar, and heavy metals, they’re not just a public health risk — they’re an environmental hazard.
New study finds that people and wildlife are thriving in UNESCO-protected sites
A new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization found that wildlife and people are thriving in protected areas, even more so than expected.
Worldwide, there are more than 2,260 UNESCO sites across over 13 million square kilometers, and they support the livelihoods of 900 million people. About a quarter of these sites also overlap with Indigenous communities, many of whom help protect the flora and fauna that they live alongside.
Within these sites, wildlife populations have remained stable despite a 73% global decline in monitored species across five decades. In fact, 60% of the world’s species are found within the sites, which boast a stunning array of biodiversity.
A co-author of the study said, “It’s good news, it shows that these sites are extremely resilient in the face of a changing world.”
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