Benjamin Felser

Brazil models jaguar reintroduction - An orphaned jaguar will become the first male Panthera onca to be reintroduced into populations in the Amazon rainforest in 2024.  Led by the science, ecotourism and rehabilitation organization Onçafari, the decade-old national program has become a model for similar ones in Argentina and Mexico. While the limited scale and high cost (~$100,000) of jaguar reintroductions may have less of a significant impact on the larger populations found in the Amazon, the program could be successful in benefiting deeply threatened jaguar populations in the nearby Atlantic Forest. With only 12% percent remaining of this biodiversity hotspot which once covered millions of kilometers, the Atlantic Forest’s 300 remaining jaguars inhabit only 2.8% of their original range. As keystone species and apex predators, jaguars play a crucial role, and their reintroduction could significantly contribute to rewilding and restoration projects across the Americas.

 Claire Krummenacher

Colombia's women-led electric bus system: Created under Bogotá Mayor Claudia Lopez, public bus company La Rolita has launched an all-electric bus fleet focused on gender equity and community outreach. The fleet, charged nightly using certified clean energy, covers 11 routes spanning 338 kilometers of the city, including working-class districts that had gone without public transit for nearly a decade. The electric buses require minimal maintenance, cost less to operate, and experience fewer service disruptions, enabling La Rolita to meet its commitments to the public. Notably, women- who face significant barriers to entering the formal economy- make up nearly half of the drivers, who are paid well above Colombia's minimum wage. In the coming years, Bogotá plans to transfer operations of the city's public cable car to La Rolita and pilot an electric school bus program, in addition to ensuring that 50% of its rapid transit fleet is electric by 2030.

 Tim Treuer

Car dealers standing in the way of EV adoption: There are more regenerative solutions to transportation than electric vehicles (i.e. biking, mass transit, 15-minute cities), but nonetheless, battery-powered EVs will likely play an essential role in addressing emissions in coming decades. Even major automotive companies are getting on board, planning transitions away from internal combustion engines. Unfortunately, there's still a major roadblock to wider EV adoption: car dealerships. If you've ever wondered why buying a car is so much more of a hassle than any other major purchase, it's because dealerships have quietly amassed huge political power and enormous wealth. A Slate reporter attended their big annual convention, and the picture he paints of the industry's receptiveness to EV sales is bleak. Say what you will about Tesla, but it's hard to hate on their direct-to-consumer model and transparent pricing after reading this piece.

 Courtney White

Seaweed Is Hot: Seaweed has been making headlines as this NY Times story describes. An ancient and nutritious food source for many cultures, the more than 12,000 different species of seaweed are finding new ways to be useful. It is being developed as a substitute for plastic packaging. It can be planted in the ocean to sequester atmospheric carbon. Seaweed farming could reduce the need for terrestrial crops. A variety of red seaweed called asparagopsis can dramatically reduce the amount of methane produced by cattle when added to their feed as a supplement (see our Asparagopsis Nexus). An Australian start-up that plans to feed seaweed to cows drew financial backing from Bill Gates. There are challenges, however– including the cost of seaweed production and how to scale it up without damaging ocean ecosystems. It is also unclear how warming temperatures will affect seaweed biology. Massive seaweed blobs are threatening beaches. If these challenges can be overcome, then seaweed’s future looks bright!

 Scott Hannan

Colorado farm links community agriculture and community solar energy: Agrivoltaics, the synergistic use of solar energy production and agriculture on the same land, is fast becoming an important innovation to help boost renewable energy production and help farmers navigate a changing climate.  Farmers are embracing the opportunity to diversify their farms and ranches by using solar arrays to reduce water usage or provide shade for grazing animals, all while producing energy to run their farms and sell to their communities. Jacks Solar Garden in Colorado is the largest active agrivoltaic research site in the U.S. and produces 1.2 MW of power, which is distributed to local homes and businesses.  The land beneath and beside the solar panels is used by Sprout City Farms to grow crops, pollinator plants, and to keep bees.  They have also created the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center to help educate future leaders in the agrivoltaic industry.  

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