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FAO Opens Applications for Regular Volunteer Programme for Africa 2026

FAO Opens Applications for Regular Volunteer Programme for Africa 2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has opened applications for its Regular Volunteer Programme for Africa (RAF) 2026. This international volunteer opportunity invites individuals to contribute their knowledge and skills to FAO's mission of combating hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. The program is a non-staff, unpaid volunteer opportunity with assignments available in various locations for up to six months. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have completed secondary school education, and be nationals of an FAO Member country with a working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish). The application deadline is August 26, 2026, at 9:59 AM, based on the applicant's device time settings. Volunteers will be assigned duties relevant to FAO's work, supporting the transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems.
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Form Energy Receives $5.7 Million Massachusetts Tax Credit for Climate-Tech Initiatives

Form Energy Receives $5.7 Million Massachusetts Tax Credit for Climate-Tech Initiatives

Form Energy Receives $5.7 Million Massachusetts Tax Credit for Climate-Tech Initiatives
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Tesla Discontinues Solar Roof Tiles Due to Economic Non-Viability, Shifts Focus to Traditional Solar Panels

Tesla Discontinues Solar Roof Tiles Due to Economic Non-Viability, Shifts Focus to Traditional Solar Panels

Tesla Discontinues Solar Roof Tiles Due to Economic Non-Viability, Shifts Focus to Traditional Solar Panels
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7 Brew Coffee Opens New Duluth Location, Donates to Local Non-Profit Life House

7 Brew Coffee Opens New Duluth Location, Donates to Local Non-Profit Life House

7 Brew Coffee Opens New Duluth Location, Donates to Local Non-Profit Life House
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China's Solar Power Expansion Linked to Decline in Bird Diversity, Study Finds

China's Solar Power Expansion Linked to Decline in Bird Diversity, Study Finds

A new study published in the journal Science indicates that China's extensive solar power construction projects have contributed to a decline in bird diversity across the country. Researchers assessed policies promoting solar power and measured bird diversity, an indicator of ecosystem health, across 2,344 Chinese counties monthly from 2014 to 2023. The study found a modest but systematic decrease in biodiversity, particularly in wealthier, non-arid counties and areas with high numbers of vegetation-nesting birds. No significant negative effect was observed in desert regions or poverty-designated counties. The lead author, Zhang Huiming, a researcher at the Institute of Climate Economy and Low-carbon Industry at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, noted that while plant cover increased at solar project sites, this often resulted in 'inferior greening' with dense but homogeneous undergrowth lacking the structural complexity and resource diversity of natural habitats.
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China's Solar Power Expansion Linked to Decline in Bird Diversity

China's Solar Power Expansion Linked to Decline in Bird Diversity

A new analysis has found that China's rapid expansion of solar power, while contributing to clean energy goals, is having unintended negative consequences for bird diversity. The study, published in Science and led by Huiming Zhang of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, examined birdwatching and policy data from over 2,300 counties across China. It revealed that areas with stricter policies enforcing solar energy development have experienced decreases in bird diversity over the past decade. This finding adds to existing evidence that industrial development and habitat loss contribute to declines in bird populations. The construction of solar power plants can alter local vegetation and landscapes, impacting the creatures that inhabit these areas. Even attempts at 'inferior greening'—planting new vegetation after solar farm construction—did not effectively mitigate the loss of bird diversity.
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U.S. Regulators Intensify Scrutiny on Corporate Greenwashing Claims

U.S. Regulators Intensify Scrutiny on Corporate Greenwashing Claims

U.S. Regulators Intensify Scrutiny on Corporate Greenwashing Claims
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European Investment Bank Expands Critical Raw Materials Financing to €2 Billion Target

European Investment Bank Expands Critical Raw Materials Financing to €2 Billion Target

European Investment Bank Expands Critical Raw Materials Financing to €2 Billion Target
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Brookfield Renewable Faces Scrutiny Over Penobscot River Fish Kills Amidst Dam Relicensing

Brookfield Renewable Faces Scrutiny Over Penobscot River Fish Kills Amidst Dam Relicensing

Brookfield Renewable, the owner of the Ripogenus Dam on the Penobscot River, is facing increased scrutiny and calls for greater oversight following a turbine shutdown on July 27 that resulted in a catastrophic fish kill of juvenile landlocked salmon. This incident, triggered by a broken transmission line cross-arm at McKay Station, follows a similar event in 2023. Brookfield is currently in the final stages of relicensing the Ripogenus Dam, located about 30 miles west of Millinocket. Local property owners and conservation groups have filed complaints with federal regulators, accusing Brookfield of poor maintenance and repeatedly disrupting water levels, which impacts the river's renowned fishing and whitewater rafting. Critics argue that the dam's current 30-year license, inherited by Brookfield, is inadequate for wildlife protection and lacks provisions for backup systems to mitigate dramatic water flow changes. Despite ongoing concerns, Brookfield has not received license violations.
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WTW and Peterson Institute for International Economics Warn of Growing Lithium Supply Concentration Risk in South America

WTW and Peterson Institute for International Economics Warn of Growing Lithium Supply Concentration Risk in South America

WTW and Peterson Institute for International Economics Warn of Growing Lithium Supply Concentration Risk in South America
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BlackRock Inc. Acquires Significant Stake in Xcel Energy Inc.

BlackRock Inc. Acquires Significant Stake in Xcel Energy Inc.

BlackRock Inc. Acquires Significant Stake in Xcel Energy Inc.
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Sara Gómez Advocates for Power-Shifting Storytelling in Global Health and Non-Profit Sectors

Sara Gómez Advocates for Power-Shifting Storytelling in Global Health and Non-Profit Sectors

Sara Gómez, founder of Stories for Collective Change and co-founder of The Understory, is championing a new approach to storytelling within global health and non-profit organizations. Based in Tivoli, Italy, Gómez has spent over two decades working in global health across various countries, including Mexico, India, and the United States. Her work now focuses on helping organizations develop storytelling capacities and communication strategies that prioritize dignity, trust, and participatory practices. Gómez's methodology emphasizes shifting power dynamics by empowering individuals whose stories are being told, allowing them to control the narrative. This approach stems from her own experiences documenting stories where the subjects often had little say in how their experiences were represented. She advocates for methods like Photovoice, which gives cameras to community members to document their own realities, thereby shifting the power of narration. Gómez also openly shares her own professional struggles,...