Latest news with #climateactivists
Wall Street Journal
02-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Physics Behind the Spanish Blackout
When a grid failure plunged 55 million people in Spain and Portugal into darkness at the end of April, it should have been a wake-up call on green energy. Climate activists promised that solar and wind power were the future of cheap, dependable electricity. The massive half-day blackout shows otherwise. The nature of solar and wind generation makes grids that rely on them more prone to collapse—an issue that's particularly expensive to ameliorate. As I wrote in these pages in January, the data have long shown that environmentalists' vision of cheap, reliable solar and wind energy was a mirage. The International Energy Agency's latest cost data continue to underscore this: Consumers and businesses in countries with almost no solar and wind on average paid 11 U.S. cents for a kilowatt hour of electricity in 2023, but costs rise by more than 4 cents for every 10% increase in the portion of a nation's power generation that's covered by solar and wind. Green countries such as Germany pay 34 cents, more than 2.5 times the average U.S. rate and nearly four times China's.
Fast Company
23-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
What's actually driving the protein boom?
There's a quiet transformation underway in how we eat. It's not being led by chefs, influencers, or climate activists. It's being driven by a new class of pharmaceuticals that are changing the way millions of people relate to food itself. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy work by altering hunger signals in the brain. These medications don't just help people feel full sooner. They are reshaping consumption patterns across the board. When hunger changes, everything from portion sizes to snacking habits and flavor preferences follows. This is fueling a broader redefinition of how we think about protein. What used to be a food category mostly associated with muscle-building or dieting is now at the center of a cultural and metabolic shift. We're entering a new phase where people are eating less but expecting more from what they do eat. That's why protein is showing up in unexpected places—pasta sauces, pancake mixes, condiments, even mustard. Yes, protein mustard. Some of this feels like marketing gone rogue. (How much seasoning do I need to eat before it impacts my protein intake?) But the underlying trend is real. People want smaller portions with higher impact. This shift disrupts the conventional thinking that indulgent foods (hamburgers, ice cream, chocolate) must inherently lack nutritional value, while healthier options (kale salads or plain tofu) can't offer true enjoyment. GLP-1 breaks down this barrier, emphasizing the need for indulgence and nutrition to coexist. This shift is especially visible in the snack aisle. A recent W all Street Journal article spotlighted how protein-rich snacks are rising in popularity as consumers seek satiety and nutrition in smaller formats. This isn't about indulgence anymore. It's about optimization. At the same time, the definition of protein itself is evolving. New formats are emerging, from refined plant-based offerings to fermentation-derived and cultivated proteins. At Aleph Farms, the cultivated meat company I lead, we designed a product that is right-sized for the GLP market. Our first Aleph Cut is called a 'Petit Steak,' which is smaller and thinner. These aren't just replacements for conventional meat. They are recalibrations, designed for consumers who want fewer bites, but better ones. Even pharmaceutical companies are taking notice. Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, recently funded research into less-processed plant proteins at the University of Copenhagen. It's a strong signal that food innovation is starting to orbit around a new gravitational center: changed appetites. For the food industry, this isn't just about cutting portion sizes or slapping 'high protein' on a label. It's about rethinking what protein can mean when hunger looks different. Can it be lighter and still satisfying? Can it be more sustainable without losing its emotional resonance? Can it become something people seek out, not for fullness, but for fulfillment? In the GLP-1 era, people aren't eating to feel full. They're eating to feel nourished, energized, and in control.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Montreal wants to install 11,000 new EV charging stations by 2030. Is that actually doable?
The announcement, made at the Montreal Climate Summit, has those in the EV industry wondering if the lofty goal is possible. Currently, there are more than 3,000 charging stations across the island.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ScotRail peak fares to be scrapped in major change
Travellers will be chuffed as ScotRail peak fares will be scrapped as part of a major change, it has been announced. John Swinney has said peak rail fares will be canned in Scotland 'for good'. READ MORE: Part of busy Glasgow train station to remain closed as works delayed In his programme for government speech, he told MSP's: 'Last year, in the face of severe budget pressures, we took the difficult decision to end the peak fares pilot on our railways. 'But now, given the work we have done to get Scotland's finances in a stronger position, and hearing also the calls from commuters, from climate activists and from the business community, I can confirm that, from September 1 this year, peak rail fares in Scotland will be scrapped for good. 'A decision that will put more money in people's pockets and mean less CO2 is pumped into our skies.' This is a breaking news story, more as we have it...
