Progress in protecting our planet is being made everywhere, from the nations with the most rainforests, to American car dealerships, and even in honeybee hives.
Companies, governments, and people here on Earth are constantly working toward — and succeeding in — creating a cooler future for us all.
Here are three huge wins to celebrate:
The nations with the most rainforests are teaming up to protect them
Brazil, the DRC, and Indonesia together have more than half of the tropical rainforests on Earth. On Nov. 14, the countries formally entered into an agreement to ensure that these diverse ecosystems are conserved. Dubbed the "OPEC for rainforests," this partnership will strategize on how to best protect these forests, which are vital to slowing the overheating of the planet.
Scientists are developing the first vaccine for honeybees
Honeybees are incredibly important pollinators, which help us grow food around the world. But due to a variety of threats, like disease, pesticide use, and parasites, they are at risk. Luckily, University of Georgia scientists are developing the first vaccine to protect honeybees against disease (specifically, American foulbrood, a fatal bacterial disease of honeybees that can ravage a hive). Instead of using syringes, researchers will feed the queen bees sugary water with the vaccine, which she will pass along to her offspring. The vaccines could be available to beekeepers as soon as next year.
Electric vehicle sales have boomed this year
If you've been seeing more electric vehicles (EVs) around your neighborhood recently, you're not alone. In the first nine months of 2022, there have been at least 530,000 new EVs registered across the U.S., as reported by Utility Dive. This represents an almost 60% jump when compared with the first nine months of 2021. And this trend is likely to continue as the nation adopts cars that run on cleaner, cheaper energy.
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