Here are today’s stories of progress in the fight against the climate crisis and nature loss.

🐋 Conversing with whales

Could we soon understand whale song? Marine biologist David Gruber thinks so. His organisation the Cetacean Translation Initiative is harnessing AI with the hopes of one day decoding whales’ speech – and even allowing us to have a conversation with the underwater giants. Should this breakthrough occur, he believes it will be a huge step forward for the movement to give nature legal rights, and overturn people’s apathy towards the damage being inflicted on the natural world. 

🔋 Solar for renters

Solar panels that hang off balconies could open up at-home renewable energy to a brand new consumer base: renters. While rooftop solar installation often requires homeownership, these plug-in solar panels are far more accessible for renters who want to contribute to the country’s push for decarbonisation while shaving money off their energy bills. Currently, over a million people in Germany have installed these panels, and the number is rising quickly.

🌱 Letting kids get their hands dirty

In Finland, a bold experiment to move children’s kindergartens outdoors has proved beneficial for their health, rapidly strengthening their immune systems. Daycare centres have been rewilded and children were encouraged to get their hands dirty, with plants specifically chosen for their rich micro-biodiversity. The results demonstrate how our health depends on the health of the ecosystems around us, a connection that is especially important for the very young.

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📝 The Green Light is written by freelance writer Molly Millar.