In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 24th, number 327 – 12th November 2024
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
Sea-Level rise ‘finally’ on Global Agenda, General Assembly hears, as World Leaders urge action to turn tide
September 25, 2024 - The representatives of small island developing States and low-lying countries today urged immediate international action to combat sea-level rise — a global crisis threatening the lives and livelihoods of 1 billion people worldwide — during the General Assembly’s inaugural high-level meeting on the issue. (…)
News related with SDGs number 14- Life below Water
California adopts updated Energy Efficiency Building Requirements
September 12, 2024 - The California Energy Commission has adopted the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code) for newly constructed, renovated buildings, and certain other existing buildings which will produce benefits that support the state’s economic, clean energy, climate and public health goals. As the state's primary energy policy and planning agency, the CEC updates these standards every three years to increase the energy efficiency of California’s buildings, and to lower their cost of operation. Energy efficiency also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other pollutants. Buildings are responsible for a quarter of the GHG emissions and nearly 70 percent of California’s electricity use. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
General Assembly takes Action on 6 drafts related to Sustainable Development, Marine Biodiversity Convention, Establishing International Day (…)
August 13, 2024 - The General Assembly is meeting this morning to take action on a draft resolution on “Fostering sustainable forest management, including afforestation and reforestation, in degraded lands, including drylands, as an effective solution to environmental challenges” (document A/78/L.95) and one to proclaim the “Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034” (document A/78/L.99). (…)
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land and number 14- Life below Water
World Day for Decent Work: Educators call for peace
On October 7, World Day for Decent Work, educators around the world join the global union movement in calling for peace and democracy for all. Without peace, there can be no social justice, and without social
October 7, 2024 – “The call for peace is inseparable from the call for quality public education. Education is not only a casualty of war—it is a tool for peace. The destruction of schools and the targeting of children undermine the foundations of society. When a school is destroyed, it’s not just about the building—it’s about the future. Without safe places to learn, entire generations are left behind, trapped in cycles of poverty and inequality that are hard to break. Public education is the key to fostering sustainable peace and democracy. Teachers must be given the tools and support to play this role fully”, stated Education International President Mugwena Maluleke. “At our 10th World Congress held in Buenos Aires from July 29 to August 2, education unionists made a strong call for peace through a set of resolutions that define our position as a movement. We call on all governments to adopt and implement EI’s Safe Schools Declaration and commit to protect educational institutions and the right to education during conflicts. We stand against unrestrained military spending and call on governments to instead focus on all means to promote world peace, including education. The spiral of violence must end.” said David Edwards, Education International General Secretary. (…)
https://www.ei-ie.org/en/item/29074:world-day-for-decent-work-educators-call-for-peace
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Nurturing environmentally conscious learners: Earthna’s nature-based education in Qatar
September 16, 2024 - Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, a non-profit policy research and advocacy center in Qatar, is at the forefront of promoting environmental awareness and education. By supporting schools, educators and students, Eartha aims to foster a deeper connection with nature through place-based educational materials, along with hands-on learning opportunities in environmental education. As the national operator for the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Eco-Schools program in Qatar, Earthna has developed interactive activities and place-based educational materials about Qatar’s coastal marine environment. These educational resources cover six ecosystems: the open Arabian gulf, the coral reef, the seagrass meadow, the mangrove forest, the intertidal beach, and the sabkha (i.e. coastal salt flat). In addition to developing learning resources, Earthna partners with the community, including WISE-Doha Learning Days, Qatar National Library and the Earth Cubs educational platform, to organize nature excursions for schools and communities. These excursions educate participants about different ecosystems and promote efforts to protect and restore the environment. Participants and project leaders at Earthna believe that this realization will lead to behavioral change and will shape more responsible, ethical and sustainable actions. By experiencing the direct impact of their actions on the health of the surrounding ecosystem, students will better understand their integral role in the environment on which their existence depends.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNHCR welcomes Thailand’s full adoption of international convention to protect child rights
13 September 2024 - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the Royal Thai Government’s decision to withdraw its reservation to Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which relates to the rights of refugee children. The withdrawal fulfils a key commitment Thailand made at last year’s Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. It also strongly reaffirms that refugee children must be recognized as deserving of the same rights to access education, healthcare, legal protection, family reunification and other essential services as any other child under the CRC. This important development comes at a time when the world faces unprecedented levels of forced displacement, with children disproportionately affected. Thailand currently hosts over 81,000 refugees from Myanmar across nine temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border, and more than 5,500 refugees and asylum-seekers from over 40 countries who live outside the temporary shelters.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
International Day for the Protection of Education from attack – 9 september 2024.
September 9, 2024- The day was established by a unanimous decision of the United Nations General Assembly, which invited UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the situation of millions of children in countries affected by conflict. The General Assembly resolution states that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable education at all levels, especially for students in vulnerable situations. It also highlights the need to step up efforts and increase funding to promote safe and protective school environments in humanitarian emergencies, taking all possible measures to protect schools, students and school staff.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Lifting barriers: a new initiative addressing boys' disengagement from education.
September 2024 - Education is not only a fundamental human right but also a critical driver of economic and social development. However, many children around the world are being left behind. While girls still face the worst forms of exclusion, boys are increasingly at risk of educational disengagement. Globally, 128 million boys remain out of school, a figure that highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Bloomberg makes $600 million contribution to 4 Black medical schools
August 6, 2024 - Michael Bloomberg's organization Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $600 million gift to the endowments of four historically Black medical schools. Black Americans fare worse in measures of health compared with white Americans, an Associated Press series reported last year. Experts believe increasing the representation among doctors is one solution that could disrupt these long-standing inequities. In 2022, only 6% of U.S. physicians were Black, even though Black Americans represent 13% of the population. The gifts are among the largest private donations to any historically Black college or university. The commitment follows a $1 billion pledge Bloomberg made in July to Johns Hopkins University that will mean most medical students there will no longer pay tuition.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Takenaka introduces architecture that becomes a forest at Expo 2025 Osaka
(by Rebecca Gendron)
October 8, 2024 - In Japan, architecture and construction firm Takenaka Corporation will unveil temporary, 3D-printed structures made from plant-based resin that will turn into forests once their usable life is over. Straight-forwardly called Architecture that Becomes a Forest, the project is being displayed at the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka. As part of the interactive experience, children will be invited to attach seed paper to the pavilion and continuing watering and caring for the budding plants as the structures biodegrade. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Germany’s HopfON uses hop crop waste for construction materials
(by Rebecca Gendron)
October 8, 2024 - In Germany, a startup is using waste hops from the country’s world-renown beer-brewing industry to produce materials for construction. Called HopfON—so named because of Hopfen, the German word for hops—the company was the brainchild of two Technical University of Munich students. The company uses the leaves and vines from hops cultivation in Germany’s Hallertau region. The biomass is dried, purified, and chopped before binding agents are added. The resulting material is suitable for acoustic panels, thermal insulation, and building boards. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Hydrogen Locomotives by CPKC: Testing and Future Prospects
(by Charley Rattan)
October 4, 2024 - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) recently conducted the first tests of hydrogen locomotives, a development that could transform the freight transportation market. These tests showcased the efficiency of the new CP 1200 locomotive. Alongside the hydrogen fuel tender CP 10001, it successfully pulled a train of 152 loaded hopper cars. The testing route spanned from Sparwood to Golden in British Columbia (…)
https://energycentral.com/c/cp/hydrogen-locomotives-cpkc-testing-and-future-prospects
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Climate-smart communities bloom in Pakistan
(by Etelka Lehoczky)
September 30, 2024 – The farmers of Pakistan’s Indus River Valley contribute little to climate change, yet they are frighteningly vulnerable to it. In the summer of 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains supercharged by warming temperatures deluged the fertile plains where many of them cultivated cotton, rice, and wheat for large landowners. The floods submerged a third of the country, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing about 8 million. “We were very badly affected. We lost so many animals — buffalo, cows, and sheep. We also lost crops,” says Sughana Bheel, who was displaced along with her husband, three children, and other surviving residents of the submerged village of Nauabad in the country’s south.
For months, the farmers of Sindh province, many of whom fled to nearby towns and cities, took refuge in tents, schools, or out in the open. Mindful of the role climate change played in the disaster, Pakistan’s Rotary clubs decided to put climate adaptation at the center of their rebuilding efforts. They worked closely with rural communities to incorporate renewable energy and indigenous building techniques and materials. (…)
https://www.rotary.org/en/climate-smart-communities-bloom-pakistan
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Hydrogen Intelligent Intercity Train
(by Charley Rattan)
September 30, 2024 - Berlin CINOVA H₂ can reach a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour, with a four-car formation carrying over 1,000 passengers. It has a continuous running range of 1,200 kilometers at 160 km/h, exceeding the distance from Berlin to London, consuming less than 0.3 grams of hydrogen per passenger per kilometer. (…)
https://www.inoreader.com/article/3a9c6e74492159db-hydrogen-intelligent-intercity-train
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
New organic thermoelectric device generates energy at room temperature
(by Riko Seibo)
September 20, 2024 - A research team at Kyushu University has developed an organic thermoelectric device capable of generating energy at room temperature. Thermoelectric devices typically require a temperature gradient, where one side is hotter than the other, to convert heat into electricity. However, this new device eliminates the need for such a gradient, utilizing organic materials to achieve energy harvesting at ambient temperatures. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Seven Years of Transforming Northern Kenya’s Livestock Value Chain
Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems (LMS) Activity, 2018-2024
September 17, 2024 – In northern Kenya, 80 percent of the population relies on livestock keeping as their main source of livelihood. To strengthen their resilience to shocks and stresses, Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by ACDI/VOCA, aimed to reduce the prevalence and depth of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. The Activity supported 55,000 livestock traders in improving their household incomes by up to 40 percent. The Activity worked with over 120 institutions and 7,405 micro, small and medium enterprises (…). The Activity collaborated with county governments and partners to formalize livestock markets and equip livestock marketing associations (LMAs) with knowledge and skills to manage markets and ensure sustainability. The operationalization of the livestock markets created jobs within the market ecosystem, including boda boda (motorcycle) operators, food vendors selling soft drinks and cooked foods, mama mbogas (fresh produce sellers), security guards maintaining safety, and cleaners upholding hygiene standards. (…)
https://www.acdivoca.org/2024/09/seven-years-of-transforming-northern-kenyas-livestock-value-chain/
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Tel Aviv University researchers enable biofuel production from wet organic waste
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
August 17, 2024 - In Israel, JNS reported that an innovative development by a team of researchers at Tel Aviv University allows for the conversion of the wet raw waste thrown in the trash into liquid and solid biofuels without the need to dry the waste. The researchers assess that fuels produced from organic waste can meet about a third of Israel’s marine fuel consumption, according to the report. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Steps for delivering aid to Gaza
October 11, 2024 – Anera’s staff in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza work hard every day to coordinate the movement of aid into Gaza. They have been able to bring into Gaza 1,78 trucks, and counting, since the beginning of the war in October 2023. With those shipments, the team has facilitated distributions of 42 million meals, seven million medical treatments, and many other necessities for Gaza families who are suffering in terrible conditions. At the core of our efforts is management of logistics and operations—from the initial dispatch of aid to its final distribution within Gaza. Our primary objective is to maximize the use of all available corridors, including Egypt, Jordan, Ashdod, and the West Bank, to get aid in as quickly and efficiently as possible. This involves overseeing transport, warehousing, and the distribution of aid received from various donors, all while maintaining a vigilant approach to security and operational challenges. (…)
https://www.anera.org/blog/steps-for-delivering-aid-to-gaza/
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The Peace Vibe Fest brings youth from 20 communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
October 2024- More than 130 citizens, young people from 20 communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the first Peace Vibe Fest, that started on September 21, the International Day of Peace, and ended on October 2, the International Day of Nonviolence. The Peace Vibe Fest contributes to better mutual understanding and celebrates efforts and initiatives for a peaceful and stable future for all.[...] Festival was organized with the support of the project „Empowering Trust and Cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Communities“ (“Možemo bolje”) that is jointly implemented by the European Union in BiH, the United Nations in BiH, the OSCE Mission to BiH and the Council of Europe – Office in Sarajevo. Heater workshops, film screenings, street actions, dialogues and musical events were held during the festival, where citizens from numerous communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina connected in fostering a culture of peace, within and between communities.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=35909
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Costa Rica: Ministry of Culture and Youth launches “Song of Peace for the Ocean” contest
October 2024- Music is a powerful tool to generate change; that is why the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) has launched the “Song of Peace for the Ocean” contest, so that a Costa Rican artist can compose the music for this hymn to the ocean.The Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, through the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ), assumes the commitment to the environment and the culture of peace, extended to human relations with the ocean, to encourage good conservation and protection practices. This is the goal of promoting Costa Rican musical composition, a song in an orchestral format with a choir which will be performed by MCJ artists, within the framework of the Third United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC), tol be held in June 2025, in Nice, France.[...] Given the relevance of the aforementioned conference, the Ministry of Culture and Youth will contribute with an artistic-cultural contribution through the presentation of the “Song of Peace for the Ocean.” This work will be performed by the Costa Rican Youth Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Choir of Costa Rica, highlighting Costa Rica’s cultural heritage and musical heritage.
(https://youtu.be/tnNiWkayHLQ?feature=shared)
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=35934
News related with SDGs number 14- Life below Water
Addressing children and adolescents’ mental health with theater in Gaza
October 2024- As part of its mandate for culture, UNESCO continues to address and support the critical need for psychological and emotional support for children living in conflict zones. In Gaza, UNESCO partnered with the Basma Society for Culture and Arts to enhance the resilience of children through puppetry, focusing on using puppet shows as a therapeutic and educational tool to support children affected by the ongoing conflict. Whilst also creating a safe and supportive environment where children can express their feelings, understand their experiences, and find hope amidst the challenges they face. The play unfolds by depicting daily life during the conflict, with the children discussing the past and the current reality. During the play, the children recalled happier times with celebrations, then shifted to a harsh reality that is faced by conflict. As part of this program, parents were also targeted to raise their awareness, on how to interact effectively with their children during crises. It helped 180 parents enhance their children's mental health and psychosocial well-being; by creating a safe environment for their children. [...]
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The Chinese couple behind a kitchen that helps cancer patients and families
October 2024- For just 3 yuan, patients and their relatives can use the kitchen facilities
Wan Zuocheng and his wife Hong Gengxiang run a back-alley kitchen near a hospital that treats cancer patients in China’s eastern province of Jiangxi. For just 3 yuan (43 US cents), patients and their relatives can use the kitchen facilities to make home-cooked meals instead of eating hospital food. Many people who use the kitchen say it is a godsend that helps their recovery. As time passed they added more utensils, appliances, stoves, and ovens to their stall. This came with gradually increasing use of water, electricity, and coal, but as the costs rose, so too did the community, supporting the couple and their efforts to provide the invaluable service they relied on. Donations began to outpace expenditures, and now nearly 10,000 people come to cook in the cancer kitchen.
[...]
News related with SDGs number 2-Zero Hunger
Youth Summit on Peace and Sustainable Future Wraps Up Successful Week in Montpellier, France
(A press release from Open PR)
September 2024- [...] Youth Summit on Peace and a Sustainable Future, which took place from July 22 to 26, 2024, in Montpellier, France. The Summit was hosted by Montpellier Mayor Michael Delafosse and Dr. Andrise Bass, Founder of The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research. Also attending and mentoring were Prince Jean Louis Bingna, Dr. Bruno Mpondo-Epo, and Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo from the IBTK Foundation, which was founded to inform students about public policy as it pertains to the international community. “The message from the Summit was unequivocal, ‘This is our time, this is our day, this is our future,” … “The young people implore those with influence to ‘Help they lead, because they are ready to be leaders.'” The Summit provided a platform for young people from more than forty countries to explore and debate the merits of issues related to global peace and sustainability. Views and conclusions about what actions should be taken were decided upon by the students, and the findings will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=35563
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
German researchers using mycelium to produce wide range of recyclable products
(by Meghan Sapp)
October 10, 2024 - In Germany, fungi have more to offer than meets the eye. Their thread-like cells, which grow extensively and out of sight underground like a network of roots, offer huge potential for producing sustainable, biodegradable materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park are using this mycelium to develop a wide range of recyclable products, from wallets and insulation to packaging. The fungal materials can be cultivated with a wide range of properties. Depending on the application, they can be hard-wearing, stretchable, tear-resistant, impermeable, elastic, soft and fluffy, or open-pored. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announces $24 million of awards for innovation in multiple clean energy sectors
October 5, 2024 - New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced more than $24 million in awarded contracts for 26 innovation projects in multiple clean energy sectors, joining the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) growing portfolio of more than 200 innovation projects. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Aemetis Biogas completes first stage of multi-dairy anaerobic digester construction
(by Meghan Sapp)
October 4, 2024 - In California, Aemetis Biogas has completed initial construction of a multi-dairy anaerobic digester to process waste from approximately 14,000 dairy cows in Merced County, California. The multi-dairy digester is expected to begin operations by year-end 2024 and produce more than 200,000 MMBtu per year of renewable natural gas (RNG). The digester is designed to collect waste from four dairies that are each located within one-half mile from the multi-dairy digester. The project is connected to the 36-mile Aemetis biogas pipeline. (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Water production from thin air observed in real-time
October 3, 2024 - In a groundbreaking study, scientists at Northwestern University have, for the first time, witnessed hydrogen and oxygen atoms merging to form nano-sized water bubbles at the molecular level. This study aimed to unravel the mechanism behind how palladium, a rare metal, catalyzes this reaction, shedding light on new ways to accelerate water generation. (…)
News related with SDGs number 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
Study: Plant-rich food systems could yield five-times the climate impact than green energy projects
(by Stuart Stone)
Sep 23,2024 - Shifting to a plant-rich food system represents 'spectacular pay-off' as climate benefits per dollar far outstrip those on offer from renewables and EV projects, a new study claims
Investing in the development of plant-rich food systems could offer more than five-times the emissions cuts provided by the same investment in renewable energy, and four times the reduction on offer from electric vehicles (EVs). That is the striking conclusion of a new report published today at the start of New York Climate Week by the Tilt Collective and tech firm Systemiq. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Scientists call for unified global action on microplastics
Sep 20, 2024 - A new report emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation to combat the growing issue of plastic pollution, with science offering ample evidence to guide action. An international team of experts argues that a worldwide approach is crucial to address both plastic and microplastic debris, as current national legislation is insufficient to tackle the problem. (…)
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
The solar pump revolution could bring water to millions of Africans but it must be sustainable and fair
(by Alan MacDonald)
Sep 9, 2024 - It’s a truly dreadful irony: for many of the 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who lack access to even a basic water supply, there is likely to be a significant reserve in aquifers sitting just a few metres below their feet. Groundwater – the water stored in small spaces and fractures in rocks – makes up nearly 99% of all of the unfrozen fresh water on the planet. Across the African continent, the volume of water stored underground is estimated to be 20 times the amount held in lakes and reservoirs (…).
News related with SDGs number 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
UNESCO helps future generations to safeguard intangible heritage
October 2024- There is a risk that, in the face of increasing globalisation, certain elements of intangible cultural heritage may disappear without any help. UNESCO is working with communities to help protect our living heritage. While protecting culture has long meant protecting monuments, statues and iconic sites, UNESCO has broadened our understanding of heritage and transformed public policies to also safeguard living traditions and cultures.
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-helps-future-generations-safeguard-intangible-heritage
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Addressing the mental health of children and teenagers with theater in Gaza
October 2024- In Gaza, UNESCO collaborated with the Basma Society for Culture and Arts to improve children's resilience through puppet theatre, focusing on the use of puppet shows as a therapeutic and educational tool to support children affected by the ongoing conflict . While creating a safe and supportive environment where children can express their feelings, understand their experiences, and find hope amid the challenges they face.
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/addressing-children-and-adolescents-mental-health-theater-gaza
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Artificial intelligence used with cold war spy satellites can detect ancient underground aqueducts
October 2024- Using artificial intelligence, Spanish archaeologists have identified ancient irrigation conduits in desert regions around the world. The AI was trained to pore over old photos taken by spy satellites during the Cold War and look for evidence of underground aqueducts that transported water from plateaus or mountains down to the scorching plains.
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
UNESCO launches "TRANSFORMAR-NOS" manuals to enhance socio-emotional skills in educational communities in the region.
October 2024- The manuals align with the Transformar-nos framework’s broader goal: to create collective processes of transformation through socio-emotional learning, with a focus on making educational centres key players in fostering a more supportive, diverse, and inclusive society. This approach enhances the socio-emotional skills of educational communities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
UNESCO welcomes the G7 declaration of culture ministers.
September 2024- In a landmark move, the G7 countries adopted the Naples Declaration of the Culture Ministers during a meeting presided over by Italy. This momentous occasion represents a decisive step towards integrating culture into social and economic policies in the world’s largest economies and the contribution of UNESCO as a leading multilateral partner.
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-welcomes-g7-declaration-culture-ministers?hub=701
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Rules, regulations and environment
(top)
King of the Netherlands inaugurates electrolyzer for green hydrogen funded by LIFE
(by Juan Pedro Tomas)
October 10, 2024 - In the Netherlands, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency reported that His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially inaugurated a new electrolyzer for green hydrogen production near Utrecht on 4 October. (…) The LIFE NEW HYTS project is focused on advancing the use of green hydrogen in the heavy transport and civil works sectors, particularly for trucks and other large vehicles. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Raízen, Shell and SENAI to invest $21.4M in Brazilian Bioenergy Center
(by Meghan Sapp)
October 10, 2024 - In Brazil, Raízen, Shell and SENAI announced an investment for the construction of the Bioenergy Center, located in the planned neighborhood of Reserva Jequitibá, in Piracicaba. The groundbreaking event marked the beginning of construction on the modern set of laboratories and pilot plants, which will be located at the epicenter of the agribusiness innovation ecosystem, close to startups, companies and universities that are relevant to the country. The new Center’s mission is to develop decarbonization solutions from sugarcane. (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
Tunisia's Green Hydrogen Plan
(by Charley Rattan)
September 30, 2024 - Tunisia’s strategy outlines a comprehensive roadmap for the development of its green hydrogen industry. The plan includes a massive expansion of renewable energy, primarily solar and wind, to drive green hydrogen production. In addition, Tunisia will repurpose its existing natural gas pipelines to transport green hydrogen, connecting the country to European markets. (…)
https://www.inoreader.com/article/3a9c6e74492159e3-tunisias-green-hydrogen-plan
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Local communities back state’s first renewable energy zone to offer future beyond coal
(by Joshua S Hill)
September 30, 2024 - Local communities are getting behind what is expected to be Queensland’s first Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), following over 1,000 in-depth conversations centred on delivering better local outcomes. The Callide REZ in Central Queensland was one of 12 renewable energy zones proposed by the Queensland government in July 2023, part of a $62 billion plan to phase out coal power and shift to 80 per cent renewables. The Queensland government followed this up in March of this year with a renewable energy zone roadmap that laid out a framework to connect 22 gigawatts of new capacity to the grid (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
US and India team up for clean energy, bet big on hydrogen and green fuels
(by Jim Kendrick)
September 19, 2024 - In Washington D.C. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met to review the progress of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. The partnership seeks to enhance clean energy innovation, strengthen energy security, and accelerate the clean energy transitions in both countries. Key areas of progress include renewable energy deployment, energy storage solutions, and green hydrogen initiatives. (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
World’s largest coal port installs solar
(by Joshua S Hill)
September 13, 2024 - The Port of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port, has completed the installation of its first major rooftop solar system, as part of the Port Authority of NSW’s ambitions of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. Located atop the Newcastle Port Centre, the new 35.6kW solar system consists of 81 solar panels and will generate on average 150kWh per day to reduce the Centre’s reliance on grid electricity. The installation of the Port Authority’s first rooftop solar system follows previous moves to ‘offset’ 100 per cent of its electricity usage with power purchase agreements with a local solar farm and wind farm. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
The critical role of power digitalization in innovative building design
(by Conrad van Rooyen)
August 21, 2024 - Smart buildings are no longer a niche market. Rising energy costs and a targeted focus on emissions reduction have underscored the importance of resource management. As a result, more than 115 million smart buildings are expected to be operational by 2026 – a 150% increase from 2022. This incredible growth highlights the critical importance of digitalization in innovative building design. Utilizing embedded smart sensors, digital twins, automated monitoring systems, and advanced data analytics in the building design is key to meeting sustainability goals. These integrations transform energy management, enhance sustainability, and improve operational reliability throughout a building’s lifetime.(…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Partnership to transform Risavika into a green ammonia hub
(by Jim Kendrick)
August 15, 2024 - In Norway, Iverson eFuels reports the Port of Risavika Norway is set to become a hub for green ammonia, potentially replacing over 102 million liters of diesel annually in maritime operations. By 2029, Iverson eFuels plans to produce 200,000 tons of green ammonia annually, which could render nearly 2,000 port calls at Risavika emission-free. This ambitious initiative, launched during the political and societal forum Arendalsuka, is the result of a new partnership between Iverson eFuels, Stavangerregionen Havn, ASCO Norge, and St1, all committed to making green ammonia as accessible as fossil fuels. (…)
News related with SDGs number 14- Life below Water
* * * * * * *
(top)
Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”