For decades, corporate social responsibility often meant a logo on a football jersey, a banner at a marathon, or a handshake photo with a charity. Visibility mattered more than durability. But that model is changing.

Like we learned with Levi’s which is training teens on how to repair clothing at schools in America, some of the world’s biggest brands are investing not in events — but in people.

Kia’s new Bootcamp program is a clear example of this shift. This week, Kia Corporation (listed on the Korean Stock Exchange KRX: 000270) unveiled a documentary highlighting its flagship CSR initiative, which provides hands-on technological education to young people in Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Morocco, with expansion planned to Ecuador, South Africa, and Singapore in 2026. The goal is not short-term aid, but something far more radical in corporate philanthropy: self-reliance. They are training young people how to be mechanics – on combustion engines, hybrids and electric vehicles.

“Bootcamp is a very meaningful and valuable activity that draws a bright future from the deep well of global youth potential,” said Tae-Hun (Ted) Lee, Head of Global Operations Division at Kia. “We will continue to expand various programs that provide local partners with opportunities to acquire new technologies at world-class educational facilities while experiencing the Kia brand firsthand.”

From donations to “priming water”

Kia describes Bootcamp (which made the news in the US over carjackings using a USB cable) using a metaphor borrowed from rural life: “priming water.” Just as a small amount of water is poured into a pump to start drawing water from a deep well, Bootcamp is designed to activate long-term capacity rather than deliver one-off charity.

Instead of giving money or equipment alone, Kia provides: Training vehicles, automotive tools and diagnostic equipment, instruction in combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicle technologies, partnerships with Kia retailers, garages and local schools. During Bootcamp 1.0 in 2025, their pilot program, Kia trained 87 professional mechanics, and 34 have already secured jobs at local dealerships. Another 50 trainees are currently in training in Morocco.

Kia is not alone.

Levi’s, for example, has shifted its sustainability focus beyond recycled denim into human skills. Through repair programs in schools and community spaces, Levi’s is teaching teenagers how to fix jeans — turning clothing care into an act of climate literacy and self-reliance.

Patagonia has built its Worn Wear program around repair, resale, and repair education.

Microsoft funds cloud and AI skills programs in underserved regions.

And in the financial fintech world world, a similar shift is underway. My Say On Pay, a new intelligence platform for C-level compensation, monitors publicly traded companies to evaluate how CEO pay compares with shareholder value creation. Instead of celebrating executive excess (see our story on Rodney McMullen), the platform asks a harder question: Does leadership compensation reflect real performance? Its education arm, 36North, extends this philosophy to young investors, offering practical training in sound wealth management, long-term thinking, and responsible financial decision-making, with women investors at the core.

Together, these programs reflect the same emerging philosophy as Kia’s Bootcamp: empower people in the entire business ecosystem your business operates in with skills, not slogans.

We are entering an era where water, energy, labor, and skills are all becoming climate-sensitive resources. Societies cannot rely on governments alone to fill the gaps and AI is going to be fast replacing entry level jobs. This gives us hope that humans will still have work and purpose.

The post Kia’s bootcamp trains car mechanics on EVs and the future  appeared first on Green Prophet.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, scientists delivered another stark update: global fossil-fuel emissions are set to rise yet again this year. But for the first time, there are credible signs the world may be nearing a turning point. The timing of that peak — and what happens afterward — will depend largely on one country: China.

According to new data released by the Global Carbon Project on 13 November, emissions from fossil-fuel burning and cement production are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025, reaching 38.1 billion tonnes of CO₂. That represents yet another record high.

Overall greenhouse-gas emissions — which also include methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases — are still climbing. Yet scientists at COP30 stressed that emissions growth is slowing, and that a peak could emerge within the decade. As Bill Hare, physicist and head of Climate Analytics in Berlin, put it: “We don’t [project] the global inflection point until around 2030, unfortunately, but it does look like emissions are flattening off.”

Some researchers argue that the world may already be entering the early stages of decline for CO₂ specifically. The Global Carbon Project notes that overall carbon emissions could fall slightly in 2025 if a projected drop in deforestation and other land-use changes holds. But researchers caution that it is still “too early to say that the world has turned a corner on its fossil-fuel addiction.”

Emissions today are roughly 10% higher than when the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 — far from where they need to be to limit warming to 1.5°C. Major industrialized countries, responsible for the bulk of historical emissions, have been reducing their emissions for more than two decades. But emissions are rising nearly everywhere else, especially across low- and middle-income countries that are growing their economies and expanding energy access.

China is the deciding factor

No country shapes the global emissions trajectory more than China. Over the past two decades, China has become the world’s largest emitter and now accounts for almost one-third of global greenhouse gases. The main driver is coal: China burned nearly 2.3 billion tonnes of it last year, according to the International Energy Agency in a Nature recap.

Yet China, conversely, is also the world leader in clean-energy deployment — wind, solar, and electric vehicles — and has committed to reducing overall greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 7% from peak levels by 2035. Hare predicts that when China’s emissions peak, global emissions will peak as well.

So are we in a good place?

A growing number of analysts believe that moment may have already arrived. Data from Carbon Monitor, which tracks daily emissions, suggests China’s carbon emissions peaked in 2024 and will fall by 1.2% this year. Researchers at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report a similar downward trend.

According to Zhu Liu, an Earth-systems scientist at Tsinghua University, the biggest driver of the current decline is the collapse of China’s real-estate market, which has slashed demand for cement and steel. (See the problems of concrete and cement here) Clean-energy deployment is accelerating as well. China’s impact on other nations such as Ethiopia are also clear. Massive neighborhoods around Addis Ababa were built with cement and then abandoned. “I would say this is the peak of China’s carbon emissions,” Liu says.

Related: inflatable concrete homes made sustainably

China isn’t known for its accuracy in anything, certainly not the news. To win global favor and expanding trade agreements in EVs for instance, China will need to learn to be a bit more like the west. Countries that have bought Chinese EVs, for instance, understand they are a security risk as the Communist party can collect data and information about the drivers and the roads with the flip of a switch.

Over the years, the concerns of China spying have led to a wave of proposed bans and new rules on devices such as DJI drones, with US lawmakers and agencies worried that they could send sensitive information to China or be used for spying. The biggest push to ban DJI comes from the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The post Global Emissions Keep Rising, But Scientists Say Peak is in Sight appeared first on Green Prophet.

Climate research and advocacy organization Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE) has rebranded as GoodPower, a shift timed with Climate Week NYC. The move reflects the group’s ambition to confront rising energy costs and climate impacts while accelerating the global transition to renewable power.

Led by CEO Leah Qusba (pictured above), GoodPower combines grassroots organizing, empirical research, and digital communications to engage everyday people around the economic and social benefits of decarbonization. The organization’s work is rooted in the idea that renewable energy is not only vital for addressing the climate crisis but also essential for reducing household energy costs, creating jobs, and strengthening economic security.

The relaunch comes at a moment when energy costs are surging in the United States and globally. US electricity prices have risen more than 30 percent since 2020, driven in part by the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and data centers. Families also face compounding financial pressures from extreme weather events, rising insurance premiums, and broader economic instability. This Green Prophet article here explores how AI can help improve grid stability.

GoodPower argues that solutions already exist. Renewable power is now the most affordable and fastest to deploy worldwide, while complementary technologies such as electric vehicles and regenerative agriculture offer additional benefits for communities and economies.

A Record of Impact

The organization has built its platform over 17 years of work as ACE. Among its achievements:

• Delivering more than 3 billion ads, videos, and organic impressions to key audiences.

• Building a network of 1.4 million climate advocates.

• Helping secure local support for 6 GW of renewable energy projects now moving into construction.

• Running more than 115 research trials through its Good Data Lab.

• Registering over 350,000 under-represented voters since 2020.

• Expanding international operations to Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the UK.

This history, Qusba said, positions GoodPower to address both the climate crisis and the economic pressures facing households worldwide.

Strategic Vision

GoodPower’s new identity is paired with its 2030 Strategic Plan, “Upward Spiral.” The plan calls for scaling proven programs, investing in breakthrough technologies, and deepening work in communications, research, and grassroots field organizing. A key emphasis will be the use of AI and other tools to reach broader audiences and accelerate adoption of clean energy solutions. (Related: The UN is building a coalition to explore how AI can save the planet).

GoodPower’s relaunch has drawn praise from funders and partners. Joel Clement of the Lemelson Foundation called the rebrand “deeply aligned with what this moment demands.” Funders including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation highlighted GoodPower’s evidence-based methods and ability to reach new audiences with creative, research-backed strategies.

With a redefined mission and an expanded toolkit, GoodPower aims to build the cultural and political momentum needed to accelerate the renewable energy transition. The organization frames its work as unlocking a better economy — one with millions of new jobs, lower bills, healthier communities (why was Ivanpah shut down?), and a more secure energy system.

For more information, visit goodpower.org.

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Maybe you are selling your Tesla like Cheryl Crow, and are looking for options?

As the world continues its shift toward more sustainable modes of transportation, the electric vehicle (EV) market is growing, with new models for 2025 setting new standards in performance, technology, and eco-friendliness. Whether you’re a seasoned EV enthusiast or a newcomer to the electric car world, 2025 promises to bring exciting options for every driver. Some cars may be sold as 2026 models.

Here’s a look at some of the best electric cars of 2025 that combine cutting-edge tech, impressive range, and stunning design.

1. Tesla Cybertruck

Price: Starting at $79,900
Range: Up to 500 miles
Top Speed: 130 mph
0-60 mph: 2.9 seconds

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been eagerly awaited, and it’s finally set to hit the roads in 2025. With its striking, futuristic design, this all-electric pickup promises to revolutionize the utility vehicle market. The Cybertruck’s impressive range, fast acceleration, and rugged build make it ideal for adventurous drivers. Its utility-focused features, like an armored body and spacious cargo, add to its appeal as both a workhorse and a high-performance EV.

2. Chevrolet Equinox EV

Price: Starting at $34,995
Range: 300 miles
Top Speed: 120 mph
0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds

Chevrolet’s Equinox EV will make its official debut in 2025, bringing an affordable, compact SUV option to the electric vehicle market. With a range of 300 miles, it offers practicality for everyday commuting and family trips. Its spacious interior and advanced tech features, including driver-assistance systems, make it a great choice for eco-conscious buyers looking for a well-rounded electric SUV at a reasonable price.

3. Ford F-150 Lightning (2025 update)

Price: Starting at $49,875
Range: 320 miles
Top Speed: 110 mph
0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds

While the F-150 Lightning debuted in 2022, Ford has announced significant updates and new trims for the 2025 model year. It’s our favorite truck to drive. The 2025 F-150 Lightning is expected to offer enhanced features, including improved towing capacity, better battery performance, and upgraded tech for a seamless driving experience. It’s a great choice for those who need a versatile and sustainable electric truck for both work and play.

4. BMW i7

Price: Starting at $106,875
Range: 320 miles
Top Speed: 155 mph
0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds

BMW’s flagship electric sedan, the i7, will continue to receive updates in 2025, further establishing itself as a luxury EV option. Combining electric performance with a premium interior, the i7 offers a refined experience, boasting impressive range and high-end features like advanced driver-assistance systems, an immersive infotainment suite, and sustainable materials. The 2025 update will see even more tech integrations, positioning the i7 as one of the top luxury EV sedans.

5. Hyundai Ioniq 7

Price: Starting at $62,000
Range: 350 miles
Top Speed: 130 mph
0-60 mph: 5.0 seconds

Hyundai’s Ioniq series has quickly become one of the most popular lines of electric vehicles, and the upcoming Ioniq 7 is expected to be a standout in the electric SUV market. With its futuristic design, expansive cabin, and sustainable manufacturing, the Ioniq 7 will cater to families and eco-conscious buyers looking for a versatile, long-range electric vehicle. Expect it to have cutting-edge autonomous driving technology and smart features like augmented reality displays and eco-friendly materials.

6. Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Price: Starting at $105,000
Range: 350 miles
Top Speed: 130 mph
0-60 mph: 4.1 seconds

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV will combine luxury, sustainability, and technology into one stunning electric vehicle. With a high-tech cabin that incorporates innovative user interfaces, advanced driver-assistance systems, and a long-range battery, the EQS SUV is perfect for those looking for a high-end, environmentally responsible vehicle. The EQS SUV continues the EQ lineup’s emphasis on providing a premium, sustainable experience in a full-size SUV package.

7. Toyota bZ5X

Price: Starting at $50,000
Range: 300 miles
Top Speed: 115 mph
0-60 mph: 6.0 seconds

Toyota’s bZ5X, part of their growing bZ (Beyond Zero) series, will launch in 2025 as an affordable, all-electric SUV. The bZ5X will be Toyota’s answer to the electric SUV market, competing with other mid-range electric vehicles. With a focus on sustainability, the bZ5X will incorporate eco-friendly materials, smart tech, and a comfortable driving experience. With Toyota’s reputation for reliability and its commitment to carbon-neutral production, the bZ5X is shaping up to be a solid contender in the EV space.

The post 7 electric cars for 2025 appeared first on Green Prophet.

As electric car sales roll out of the UK, TotalEnergies from France and SSE from Scotland, have signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture to establish a new major player in EV charging infrastructure in the UK and Ireland, under the brand “Source”. 

The new business partnership will create about 3000 high power charge points throughout Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, meeting demand from fleet owners and private EV car owners to get a fast charge when they stop for a coffee. Fast charge stations can “refill” a Tesla in about 20 minutes as long as there is no wait for a charge point. 

Investors know that Ireland is a great country for tech investment and companies that support them – see Ireland SEO. But in the last year or so its model for attracting international investments has been frayed. Support of EVs could open new models for startup and transportation businesses. 

In the latest news charge points are needed in more remote locations but that is not what this business deal will fulfill. 

According to the press material issued, Source will deploy up to 3000 high power charge points (of 150 kW and more) grouped in 300 “EV hubs”, targeting what they expect is a 20% market share. The majority of the charging hubs will be in prime locations in urban areas and powered by renewable energy provided by SSE and TotalEnergies. 

Several hubs are already under construction in the UK with plans for dozens more, currently in development studies, the company just announced. 

“TotalEnergies is proud to contribute to the development of electric mobility to decarbonize transportation in the UK and Irelan,” says Mathieu Soulas, Senior Vice President New Mobilities at TotalEnergies.

“This is a great opportunity to extend our network in Europe and stake out a key position as a reference high-power charging player. 

“We want to offer our customers – passenger cars and fleet alike – a nationwide, ultra-fast and reliable charging service that allows them to travel efficiently with complete peace of mind. This development also contributes to our integrated power strategy in the UK, combining renewable and flexible power generation capacity, trading and marketing of low-carbon electricity available 24 hours a day.”

In the UK, Source will provide reliable ultra-fast charging stations now needed since the enforcement into law of the UK Government’s zero vehicle emissions mandate for all new cars and vans. Getting the power supply infrastructure built for EV and fleet owners is one of the biggest challenges facing the decarbonisation of transport. Consider that in countries like Sweden you cannot rent a vehicle that isn’t an EV. 

As of this year, China is the country with the most electric cars in the world. In 2021, there were 417 million registered vehicles in China, 319 million of which were passenger cars. Of that, 13.1 million were “new energy vehicles” – those with electric, hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.

Ireland plans on putting 1 million electric vehicles on roads by 2030, while building consumer confidence in EV charging. Countries like Canada have declared that all new cars on the road must be electric by 2035. Consumers are in a panic to buy fuel-based cars such as trucks as charging stations are few and far between in northern locations. Even in cities like Toronto, consumers are complaining that they can’t get adequate charges at rental apartments. A charge would take more than 24 hours on a regular outlet. 

The partners in the new UK electric car deal with Source, such as SSE actually builds renewable energy power plants such as wind farms. 

“SSE is already playing a leading role in decarbonising the UK and Ireland’s power system including building the world’s largest offshore wind farm and transforming electricity networks,” says Neil Kirkby, Managing Director of Enterprise at SSE.

“Now this agreement will help accelerate progress towards a decarbonised transport system too, ensuring the vehicles that keep the economy moving can do so in a more sustainable and efficient way,” 

The post Ireland gets electric car fast charge stations as it aims to gain 1 million EVs by 2030 appeared first on Green Prophet.

As car manufactures switch to electric, Horse in London, Renault from France, Geely from China and Saudi Aramco which owns the world’s largest stake of oil, go all in for combustion engines.

Saudi Arabia’s oil company Aramco wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government is one of the world’s wealthiest companies and is by far sitting on the world’s greatest amount of oil reserves. While Aramco does invest in what seems like noble deeds – in hydrogen energy for instance – its actions of actually developing mega real estate projects such as Neom (dock your mega yacht here) and investing in combustion engine tech shows that Saudi Arabia is planning that its oil reserves will be relevant for generations to come.

The world experienced the two hottest days on record this year, on Sunday and then again it broke the record on Monday, due to climate change but for oil companies like Aramco its business as usual. Or rather, bringing business back to the 80s by investing in combustion engines.

Aramco’s market cap in 2024 was $1.814 trillion with its primary business as the exploration, production, refining, and distribution of petroleum and petrochemical products. The company is significant to Saudi Arabia´s economy, which relies heavily on oil revenues although the country is trying to be open to Western values and tourism and development in the last 5 years.

Saudi Aramco went public in 2019, leading to the largest IPO in history, raising $29.4 billion USD. Despite the large amount of cash raised, only 1.5% of the company was actually floated, with the rest still owned by the Saudi government.

Among the many directions that Aramco is taking – including investing in AI chips – Saudi Aramco is betting that the  internal combustion engine found in cars, trucks, ships and airplanes, will be around for a “very, very long time”. The world’s largest oil company does see opportunity from the rise of the electric car from its $500bn in revenues last year to take a $800 million or 10 per cent stake in Horse Powertrain, a company based in London and dedicated to building fuel-based engines.

Saudi Aramco, Chinese carmaker Geely and the French Renault, are investing in London-based Horse as the as the industry stops designing and developing its own combustion engines, it will need to start buying them from third parties:

“It will be incredibly expensive for the world to completely stamp out, or do without internal combustion engines,” said Yasser Mufti, the executive VP at Saudi Aramco responsible for the deal. “If you look at affordability and a lot of other factors, I do think they will be around for a very, very long time.”

Asked if he thought there would be internal combustion engines forever, Mufti said yes. Saudi Aramco has previously said it believes that even in 2050, more than half of all cars will still run on some sort of fuel. Horse is the “horse” they are better on.

Horse is headquartered in London with operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Türkiye. The powertrain plant in Bursa, which was part of Oyak Renault until recently, is now Oyak Horse, a new company set up under a partnership between Oyak and Horse Holding.

Horse Powertrain Limited is a joint venture holding aimed at producing powertrains, including internal combustion engines and hybrid systems.

The venture holding was established in May 2024 and is equally owned by Renault and Geely. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co commonly known as Geely, is a Chinese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The company is privately owned by Chinese entrepreneur Li Shufu, and mainly engaged in the automotive industry.

So while car companies such as Ford and GM are pressured by shareholders to shift over to electric engines, the Chinese and Europeans are opening new businesses based on what was supposed to be “past” technology.

Consider that in 2021, GM announced its intention to sell only electric vehicles by 2035.

Electric vehicles are supposed to be the only kind of vehicle on the road in countries like Canada by the year by the year 2035. The new Canadian standard requires all new light-duty vehicle sales in Canada to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2035. There are also interim targets of at least 20 percent of all sales being EVs by 2026 and 60 percent by 2030.

A growing number of people are buying electric cars, but range anxiety while towing boats or driving hours between cities in northern areas in North America is still a major concern. In rural areas of Canada and the US, locals are concerned about regular access to the grid and blackouts that can be regular during summer and winter storms.

We drove a Tesla this summer and enjoyed the acceleration speed and the cost of $20 a fill up versus $90 for the same sized car. My cousin loved hers so much that she traded in her second vehicle, a Ford truck, for a second Tesla. In her case, rural living means so much more driving for the kids. She estimates saving about $500 or more per car per month, on fuel alone.

Saudi Arabia needs to bet on the combustion engine because the lifestyle of Saudi Arabia depends on it. The moment we stop the oil and gas industry, we will solve the biggest problems with climate change and conflict in the Middle East. I find it interesting that London and the French are in on the game. We expect this from China and Saudi Arabia but opening new businesses for combustion engines? Sounds criminal to the climate movement.

::Horse

The post Saudi’s Aramco, London, China and France bet on combustion engine company Horse appeared first on Green Prophet.

The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) company BYD just signed a $1 billion USD promise with Turkey’s Industry and Technology Ministry to open a plant in the country. This is a historic deal for the Turkish automotive sector which needs the jobs and which serves as an easy bridge to Europe.

The agreement is for BYD to set up a manufacturing plant and an electric and rechargeable hybrid car production facility to manufacture f 150,000 vehicles a year. There will also be an R&D center for sustainable mobility technologies set up in Turkey.

Given the latest war between the Ukraine and Russia Turkey has made its side clear by aligning with China, Russia and Iran. This may prevent imports to Europe, setting up the Turkish car plants to export to Asian countries nearby.

The plant will is expected to employ up to 5,000 people and will start production at the end of 2026.

“Thanks to Turkey’s unique advantages such as its developing technology ecosystem, strong supplier base, extraordinary location and qualified workforce, BYD’s investment in this new production facility will further improve the brand’s local production capabilities and improve logistics efficiency,” the Chinese automaker said in a statement.

“We aim to reach consumers in Europe by meeting the increasing demand for new energy vehicles in the region,” it added.

Turkey is the third largest automobile manufacturer in the Europe area although the EU has been clear that it will not accept Turkey into the EU. It exports an annual amount of over $35 billion in cars.

The new plant will be built in the western Manisa province.

Just after the news went live the the EU increased tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese EVs to combat undermining European rivals.

Turkish-made cars enter an EU customs union that dates to 1995. Carmakers like Fiat and Renault opened plants there in the 1970s, with Ford, Toyota and Hyundai.

The new deal between Turkey and China will circumvent the high tariffs on Chinese-made cars. 

The post Chinese EV company BYD invests $1 billion to open car plant in Turkey appeared first on Green Prophet.

Norway’s Ministry of Energy has presented a proposal for the announcement of the first licensing round for deep sea mining of seabed minerals on the Norwegian continental shelf for public consultation. The proposal sets out the areas where the companies will be able to apply for exploitation licenses, so that exploration and gathering knowledge about whether there is a basis for sustainable mineral exploitation on the Norwegian shelf can begin.

Deep sea mining is expected to cause irrevocable damage to sea life, deep below the surface.

The post Norways pushes ahead with deep sea mining licenses appeared first on Green Prophet.

“A lot of people think the use of lithium-ion batteries is a good thing right now, but it is important to explore the effects that may be coming down the road.”

From cell phones to watches to electric cars, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries power a plethora of devices. The increased use of this technology means more lithium could find its way into the environment as consumers discard electronic products. Now, researchers describe how lithium can accumulate in a common Southern crustacean: the crawfish. As the season for catching and eating mudbugs comes into full swing, the researchers’ findings highlight the potential implications for public health and the environment.

The researchers will present their results today at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society.

“As aquatic organisms, crawfish can take up large amounts of lithium dissolved in water. Because other creatures — including people — eat crawfish, looking at them allows us to see how lithium moves through the food chain, and potentially into us,” says Joseph Kazery, a professor of biology.

Two undergraduate students in Kazery’s lab at Mississippi College, Andrew Doubert and Javian Ervin, are presenting results of their experiments on uptake of ionic lithium by different crawfish organs, as well as the impact of seasonal temperatures. “If crawfish are raised near a landfill or a polluted site, runoff could expose them to lithium, with effects we don’t yet fully understand,” Ervin says. “I myself eat crawfish, so this issue is important to me.”

Lithium contamination is not new. Even before lithium-ion batteries became widespread, lithium was, and still is, used as a medication to treat mood disorders. It enters the water supply in those applications because typical wastewater treatment does not remove drug contaminants. At high levels, lithium can have toxic effects on human health, including potentially damaging heart muscle cells, as well as causing confusion and speech impairment. In other animals, it can cause kidney damage and hypothyroidism. Studies have also shown that when lithium accumulates in plants, it can inhibit their growth, Kazery says.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends discarding lithium-ion batteries at dedicated collection points, Kazery says they often end up in landfills. Soaring demand along with lax disposal practices suggests lithium is on the verge of becoming a significant environmental contaminant, he says.

Read Also: The Serbs revolt against Rio Tinto and lithium mining

As fully aquatic organisms that spend their lives within a relatively small area, crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) reflect local lithium contamination and could serve as powerful bioindicators of its presence in an environment. The lithium they contain could be passed through the food chain to predators, including humans, either directly or indirectly through crawfish-eating fish that people consume.

For its experiments, the team purchased crawfish bred for research. Knowing that the liver collects toxins from the human body for subsequent removal, Doubert wondered whether lithium would accumulate in the crawfish version of this organ: the hepatopancreas. To find out, he added ionic lithium to food for five crawfish, while giving another five lithium-free food. He then examined the amount of lithium present in four of their organs after one week. He found, on average, the most lithium in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, followed by the gills, the hepatopancreas and, finally, the abdominal muscle in the tail.

The researchers think the GI tract likely contained the highest level because the lithium-spiked food remains there during digestion. Meanwhile, the gills and the hepatopancreas both pick it up while removing it from the body. People predominantly eat the tail, which appears to take up lithium, but not as readily as the other body parts studied.

Doubert also found that 27.5% of the lithium he fed them had passed from the animals’ GI tracts into other tissues. Animals further up the food chain can accumulate higher levels of toxic substances if they eat contaminated prey, so lithium will likely become more concentrated in the predators of crawfish. The researchers expect the high rate of absorption Doubert saw to exacerbate this accumulation in both humans and the other animals that eat crawfish.

Water temperature that crawfish inhabit varies significantly throughout the year. Those shifts affect the animals’ metabolism, even causing them to become inactive during winter. Knowing this, Ervin decided to look at the effects of temperature on lithium uptake. He placed crawfish in tanks kept at temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit and added a consistent concentration of ionic lithium to the water. After five days, he found that lithium uptake by the abdominal muscle and a part of the crawfish that Doubert did not study — the animals’ exoskeleton — increased in the warmest tank. These results suggest that the animals may contain the most lithium during the warm months, according to Ervin.

The crawfishes’ weight also decreased in warmer water. At this point, it’s not clear how or whether the crawfishes’ weight loss was connected to the lithium they accumulated, Ervin says, noting that the team plans to follow up on these results.

“A lot of people think the use of lithium-ion batteries is a good thing right now, but it is important to explore the effects that may be coming down the road,” Doubert says.

The post Electric battery materials, like lithium, entering our food chain appeared first on Green Prophet.

Of course, we’re not talking about green-colored cars; we’re talking about eco-friendly cars, which there is a huge market for. While having a car with a cleaner fuel source doesn’t affect how well you drive and your chances of getting into an accident. But that doesn’t mean that your car insurance providers won’t appreciate your efforts in reducing your carbon footprint. Several car insurance companies do offer a discount for drivers of green cars. 

Car Insurance For Green Cars

Hybrid and electric cars require car insurance as any normal vehicle would. Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry at least a certain amount of basic car insurance or liability coverage. There is no specialized car insurance for green cars like hybrid and electric models, so standard auto coverage will do just fine. Green cars tend to be safe as well, so car insurance premiums for them aren’t as high. 

Green Cars And Standard Cars

When it comes to owning a green car, it’s really no different from a standard one but in some cases you can get rates for car insurance on the cheap. Electric and fuel-based cars both handle on the road the same, and there really are no new features to learn about eco-friendly cars. Except that there are no moving parts in the engine and they tend to not break down. Fuel cost is not the only difference. The only difference is their fuel and fuel cost, which is enough to influence a buyer’s decision and to make a difference. 

Green Car Insurance Discount 

If a car insurance provider finds that your car actively reduces your carbon footprint, then they can give you a discount on your coverage. Ask around about carbon taxes and incentives because your state or province, or even town might have benefits that effect This discount on your rates can go up to 20%. Every major car insurance company has green car discounts, as would smaller, local ones. This is based on an annual basis of saving. 

Other Insurance That Can be Discounted For Being Green 

Eco-friendly insurance discounts aren’t just available in the realm of car insurance. Your home, for example, can be made green and reduce your carbon footprint. This also qualifies you for a green discount on your homeowners’ policy. The same can also be said for a motorcycle insurance policy as there are eco-friendly ones on the market. 

Carbon Footprint

For reference, a carbon footprint refers to anyone’s carbon dioxide output. It can be applied on a daily, weekly, or annual scale as a measurement. A green insurance discount is usually given if it is proved that someone has reduced their carbon dioxide output. The most prominent way that humans produce carbon dioxide is with their car so driving less or having an eco-friendly one is the most common way to earn the discount. 

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