BNEF’s latest annual New Energy Outlook details a “much changed” global market, spurred by energy security and huge uptake of cheap solar and batteries. Source: Solar will be largest power generator in “much changed” world by 2032, but battery storage is the big mover Awesome.

“I grow old gracefully,” said Susan Young Browne, who just received permission to keep driving until 115 years old. That’s a testament to Browne enduring aptitude (and attitude) for life; having recently celebrated her 108th Birthday at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Delaware. Browne was in Delaware in 1918 during Segregation where she worked on […] The post 108-year-old Delaware Woman Renews Her Driver’s License to 2033, Works Out Thrice a Week appeared first on Good News Network.

From a New Zealand outlet comes the story of a man who saved a dog from the pound, and the dog who saved him from perishing in a house fire. Even though her new forever home has turned to ashes, Hazel the dog managed to save the only thing that really mattered: a life. With […] The post Dog Saved from Pound Rescuers New Owner from House Fire: ‘A genuine treasure’ appeared first on Good News Network.

“I think it’s over there, to the right, but the grounds are so big I’m not sure where it is exactly,” says Anna Massong, director of technical services at Sceaux City Hall, as we study a map beside the grand iron entrance gates of the Lakanal School.  Built in the 19th century, the secondary school is surrounded by an impressive green expanse of about 10 hectares (about 25 acres) containing 388 different plant and tree species. But after a few minutes of strolling along a dirt path, students draped on the sun-kissed grass to each side, the object of our search becomes clear: It towers above other trees, the trunk is as thick as an SUV and its oval-shaped leaves are colored like ripe plums. The remarkable tree at Lakanal School. Credit: Peter Yeung This 240-year-old, 30-meter-high purple beech tree was given the label of an Arbre Remarquable or “Remarkable Tree” of France — a recognition of the country’s most exceptional and unique trees — in 2023. And it has become an emblem of the French city’s comprehensive efforts to keep its trees rooted for the long-term. Sceaux, a short hop south of Paris, has long been renowned for what the city calls its “Plant Heritage.” Although urban, the city is home to more than 65,000 trees across parks, other green spaces and private properties. Hundreds of thousands of people descend on the immaculate, 181-hectare (447-acre) Versailles-esque Estate of Sceaux each year to admire the Japanese cherry blossoms. Within the city limits, there are 143 “remarkable” trees. But Sceaux’s trees, despite their widespread recognition, are vulnerable. In recent years, the city authorities have identified a significant number of threats: roots under stress (due to people walking on the soil above or utilities networks constructing pipes under them), a rise in chemical and plastic pollution, the rise and spread of diseases, and climate change, which has reduced rainfall and brought more extreme weather. Enter Sceaux’s regal response: a Tree Charter. On October 2, 2019, the municipal council unanimously adopted an ambitious and comprehensive set of guidelines and policies to protect its precious green giants. The 17th-century Château de Sceaux. Credit: Peter Yeung “Sceaux is a special place, it has a lot of trees,” says Philippe Laurent, the mayor of the city since 2001. “But this plant heritage is something that builds itself over time, it requires both individual and collective action. That’s why we made the charter.” Developed in consultation with scientists and residents, the Tree Charter lays out how Sceaux intends to protect and expand its urban canopy. It is structured around three main strategic directions — or, perhaps more fittingly, branches — and features a number of specific commitments. Weighed down by negative news? Our smart, bright, weekly newsletter is the uplift you’ve been looking for. [contact-form-7] Firstly, the charter sets out to deepen knowledge of the city’s trees and showcase them. Therefore, authorities carried out an inventory of all the trees, which is regularly updated. They also published educational materials for the public and practical documents on good tree management for private landowners, and launched regular guided walks to spread awareness and appreciation of the trees. Secondly, the charter aims to improve tree health, both in public and private spaces. A dedicated team has been tasked with planting, pruning, watering and otherwise regularly monitoring all trees. Meanwhile, after consultation with scientists, the city only plants species adapted to the local soil and climate, especially drought-resistant varieties. In order to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks, newly planted rows of trees feature alternating species, as opposed to the single-species rows deployed before. A greened street in Sceaux. Credit: Peter Yeung The charter’s third objective focuses on the future heritage of trees in Sceaux. The city has therefore set up partnerships with major landowners in the municipality, such as the French train company RATP, to incentivize them to protect the trees on their properties. In the event that a tree is damaged during construction work, companies and landowners must pay an agreed compensation fee. And for any tree that is felled, two must be planted. A subsidy of up to €200 is also offered to residents to encourage them to plant trees themselves.  “We see trees as a long-term investment,” adds Mayor Laurent. “They boost biodiversity, they contribute to urban resilience, they help us to relax.” The city’s tree team is nimble and inventive in its efforts, whether that be installing wheelchair-friendly grills to protect tree roots while remaining accessible for residents or supporting ailing trees by injecting nutrient supplements into the soil around them. “What we do here is never static,” adds Massong. “We’re constantly monitoring, constantly trying to improve.” Urban trees across the planet are under increasing threat from drought, pests, diseases, urbanization and political neglect. As a result, dedicated, comprehensive policies like Sceaux’s Tree Charter are becoming more important, according to Ian Whitehead, an urban forestry researcher at the European Forestry Institute. “It seems to be a very good starting point,” says Whitehead of Sceaux’s charter. “But the devil is in the details.” Tree diversity needs to be considered in terms of age and distribution as well as species, he adds. The urgency to find sustainable systems to protect and fortify trees in cities will only increase: The proportion of the world’s population living in urban areas is set to rise to 68 percent by 2050, up from 55 percent in 2018, according to UN projections. Newly planted trees near a school in Sceaux. Credit: Peter Yeung “There are many issues,” says Whitehead. “It’s quite difficult for us to keep up with these challenges.” But if properly supported, Whitehead adds, urban trees have the potential to provide wide-ranging benefits: They give shade, balance humidity, purify the air, act as habitats for wildlife and relaxation space for citydwellers. “The benefits span the environmental, social and economic,” he says. Whitehead and his colleagues at the European Forestry Institute have published a number of reports aimed at helping cities support urban trees, including through the creation of Local Urban Forestry Action Plans that “consider the whole urban environment, moving away from a focus on individual areas.” Their research has found urban forests have a multiplier effect: The city of Lisbon, for example, earns a return of $4.48 for each $1 invested in urban forestry projects, thanks to the provision of services such as “lowering temperatures during heatwaves, reducing storm water run-off in response to extreme rainfall events, absorbing atmospheric pollutants and contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of city residents.” Whitehead praises the European cities of Krakow, Zagreb and Edinburgh for their embrace of technology to closely monitor urban forests. And he adds that although major, wealthier cities like Paris and Barcelona often have access to the best data, there are nonetheless high-quality EU satellite data sources as well as open-source mapping tools such as i-Tree that are available to everyone. In Sceaux, authorities are also taking a citizen-first, grassroots approach, running workshops for residents and schoolchildren to discuss the value of trees. But convincing private landowners to invest in their trees and do extra work to maintain them remains a challenge, even if younger generations are more receptive. “It’s clear that the people of Sceaux are more interested in trees now,” says Mayor Laurent. “But city hall can’t do everything. It’s a charter, not a law. We can only use pedagogy. Some people simply don’t care, even if many do.” Wait, you're not a member yet? Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join Cancel anytime But as the city heats up, the importance of trees may become harder to ignore. Massong and her team have been targeting “heat islands” by removing concrete from the urban environment, such as at the Ailantes Square, thereby giving trees space to breathe, allowing stormwater to be soaked up more easily. It has also been planting new tree saplings, in turn also providing shade for locals. Sceaux is betting that making trees infrastructure rather than ornament will make the city livable decades from now. “Trees are a true heritage and ecological asset within our territory,” she says. The post The French City That Champions Its Trees appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.