Planet Positive Pulse - April
Still in Sri Lanka... and swimming with sea turtles
I’m still out here in Sri Lanka. So I’ll be keeping this edition of the Planet Positive Pulse a little briefer than usual. But I had to share a special moment that’s going to stay with me for a while. Earlier this week, I swam with sea turtles for the first time! 😎A majestic, ancient, and utterly graceful animal — it was a real privilege to witness them up close.
My husband suggested I weave something about turtles into this week’s edition. So, I took him up on the challenge! This edition starts with a whole subsection dedicated to these incredible creatures🐢 — some thankfully positive recent news, as well as some key facts, before moving into the usual features.
🐢 Turtle-y Awesome News from the Ocean
🌊 Turtles on the Rise: A Conservation Comeback
Once hunted to the brink of extinction and battered by habitat destruction, sea turtles are making an inspiring return. A new global study published by Deakin University and NOAA in January reveals that many turtle populations are increasing, especially in regions that have enacted strong conservation measures. Nesting sites that were nearly deserted a few decades ago are now booming.
Four out of five regional green turtle populations are growing, and in Cape Verde, loggerhead nests have surged from 500 in 2008 to 35,000 in 2020. Efforts like reducing beachfront lighting, banning harmful fishing practices, and engaging local communities have made a tangible difference.
It’s a textbook case of what happens when human harm is replaced with human care. These creatures, once seen merely as food or bycatch, are now recognised as keystone species vital to marine ecosystems. They maintain seagrass beds, regulate jellyfish populations, and transport nutrients across ecosystems. Give them space and time, and they bounce back.
👁️ Eyes in the Sky: Satellites Mapping the Turtle Odyssey
Despite spending most of their lives at sea, we know surprisingly little about what turtles do between nesting seasons. That’s changing fast thanks to satellite tracking. Late last year, scientists reported that they are now attaching tiny transmitters to turtles' shells, offering a glimpse into their secret migrations.
Leatherbacks like "Donna Shello" — a contender in the Sea Turtle Conservancy's annual Tour de Turtles — can travel thousands of kilometres through international waters. Satellite data has revealed new foraging areas, migratory corridors, and nesting sites. It’s also helping us design better marine protected areas and understand how climate change is shifting turtle habitats.
Technology is helping bridge knowledge gaps, informing conservation strategies that are both science-led and place-based. It’s a brilliant intersection of innovation and ecology.
❄️ Cold Snaps & Hot Hearts: 1,200 Turtles Rescued in Florida
In one of the largest rescue operations in Florida’s history, more than 1,200 cold-stunned sea turtles were saved from frigid waters in January this year. Cold-blooded by nature, turtles become immobile when temperatures plunge below 50°F (10°C).
The rescue effort, a collaboration between local volunteers, biologists, and federal agencies, brought these turtles to warmer recovery tanks at Gulf World Marine Institute. Most survived and are now back in the Gulf.
It’s a reminder that while climate shocks are intensifying, coordinated human response — driven by compassion and urgency — can make a profound difference. These are the kinds of stories that reaffirm our shared ability to protect life when we act together.
Final Thoughts: What Turtles Teach Us
Sea turtles have lived through ice ages, shifting continents, and rising seas. They’ve outlasted the dinosaurs. Their survival today, against new and ancient threats alike, is a powerful metaphor for our own time.
We face turbulent waters, but with care, coordination, and commitment, we too can turn the tide. Whether it's through tech-enabled tracking, grassroots rescue, or smarter policy, we already have the tools. What we need now is resolve.
So here’s to the sea turtle — graceful, resilient, and quietly carrying the wisdom of the deep. May we learn from them, and protect the future they so gracefully swim into.😎
🌟 Positive Planet News
🚁 From War Machines to Wildlife Guardians: Helicopters Saving Rhinos
In a twist of fate, helicopters that once flew over battlefields are now flying over savannas — saving lives instead of taking them (see full story). Conservationists in South Africa and Namibia are using airlifts to move critically endangered black rhinos to safer and more genetically diverse habitats. Remarkably, the animals are transported upside down, a position found to be safest and most efficient. It’s an unconventional but effective method, with over 160 rhinos airlifted so far.
The contrast couldn’t be starker: once tools of war, these helicopters — some still bearing bullet hole patches — now carry hope through the skies. It’s a powerful symbol of how old technologies can be repurposed for regeneration.
🚢 Shipping’s First Global Climate Fee Set to Launch
In a landmark move, major shipping nations have agreed to introduce the first global greenhouse gas fee for the industry. Starting in 2027, ships that exceed certain emissions thresholds will pay $100 per ton of carbon emitted. The revenue — up to $13 billion a year — will fund clean fuel innovation and support developing nations in modernising their fleets.
While not universally celebrated, the fee represents a historic turning point for a sector responsible for 3% of global emissions. It's a small step toward aligning maritime commerce with climate goals.
✈️ Electric Aircraft Completes Coast-to-Coast U.S. Tour
Beta Technologies’ all-electric CX300 aircraft just completed a remarkable cross-country journey — from New York to California and back again. Over six weeks, the plane visited 22 states and 82 airports, weathering blizzards, deserts, and night flights.
More than just a test flight, the journey showcased the reliability and potential of electric aviation. Powered entirely by renewables and supported by Beta’s growing charging network, the CX300 is a glimpse into a quieter, cleaner future for air travel.
🏙️ Windows That Power Cities: Solar Glass Breakthrough
Imagine skyscrapers that generate their own electricity — without changing their appearance. That future is closer than ever thanks to a breakthrough in transparent solar technology. Researchers in Denmark have developed semi-transparent solar windows that match the efficiency of traditional panels, while letting 30% of visible light through.
These see-through panels use affordable materials and could one day turn office buildings into self-sufficient power stations. It’s a bold step toward Europe’s vision of zero-energy buildings by 2050.
Want more uplifting and solutions-focused news? Then check out Climativity Fix The News, and follow Ecologi on social media.
🚀 Inspiring Climate Innovators
🔌 Tuk-Tuks Go Electric: Sri Lanka’s e-Shift Movement
In a promising leap for sustainable urban transport, Sri Lanka’s e-Shift initiative is converting the country’s iconic three-wheel tuk-tuks from petrol to electric. Backed by Vega Innovations and supported by CDB Finance, the project focuses on making clean mobility accessible and affordable.
With more than 1.5 million tuk-tuks on Sri Lanka’s roads, the impact could be massive. The conversion reduces emissions, slashes fuel costs (down to less than Rs 7/km), and requires no special driver’s license or emission test. The electric tuk-tuks can travel up to 150km on a single charge.
Through its Concept Centre, e-Shift is also educating the public, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and building momentum for a cleaner transport future. It’s a homegrown solution that addresses pollution, economic resilience, and the rising demand for energy independence — one quiet, electric ride at a time.
🔍 Climate Careers
Climatebase: A Fellowship for the Future
If you're considering a career pivot into the climate space, the Climatebase Fellowship might be just what you're looking for. Applications are now open for Cohort 8 of this 12-week climate career accelerator — a program designed to help professionals transition into impactful roles in climate, launch their own ventures, or deepen their expertise.
The Fellowship blends expert-led curriculum, project-based work, and ongoing community membership to support job seekers and founders alike. Participants join a dynamic global community of professionals across sectors who are united by a drive to create real climate solutions.
With over 100 guest speakers per cohort, regional meetups, and continued support through job fairs, demo days, and peer-to-peer groups, the Climatebase Fellowship is more than just a course — it’s a gateway into a growing ecosystem of climate action.
Ready to accelerate your climate career? Cohort 8 applications are now open. Learn more and apply at Climatebase.org.
💰 Sustainable Investing Updates
UK’s Nature Finance Standard Sets Global Benchmark
In a world-first, the UK has launched a new government-backed framework to guide green investments and boost nature restoration. The Overarching Principles Standard (BSI Flex 701), developed by the British Standards Institution, aims to tackle greenwashing and ensure nature-positive investments deliver real environmental outcomes — from wetland restoration to water quality improvements.
The move positions the UK as a leader in nature-based finance, aligning biodiversity gains with economic opportunity. Environment Secretary Steve Reed underscored the importance of this new standard in helping businesses confidently support nature recovery while avoiding hollow sustainability claims.
Backed by cross-national support from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, this standard is not just a policy tool — it’s a new market signal. With further standards like a Natural Carbon Standard in consultation, this effort could unlock scalable, high-integrity nature markets across the UK and beyond.
📖 Academy of Life Planners Insights
💡 Patient to Planner: NHS Wisdom in Financial Well-Being
At the Academy of Life Planning, the future of financial planning is inspired by the principles of healthcare. Taking cues from the NHS Long Term Plan and person-centred care models, their approach views individuals not as passive clients but as active participants in shaping their own prosperity.
Just as the NHS believes most people can manage their health with the right support, the Academy applies the same philosophy to wealth. Their GAME Plan framework empowers individuals to become their own life planners — accessing guidance only when it’s most needed, not relying on ongoing intermediaries.
The model is built on dignity, autonomy, and holistic well-being. By centring planning around each person’s story, values, and purpose — and treating life goals like a personalised health plan — they shift the financial conversation from “what can you afford?” to “what truly matters to you?”
It’s a radical reframing, and one that replaces dependency with dignity. Through education, digital tools, and self-directed strategies, the Academy is showing how lessons from our most trusted public service can lead to a future of financially empowered individuals.
🌀 Rethinking Retirement: Regeneration, Not Resignation
Why retire at all? As traditional pension systems face mounting pressure, a growing movement is reframing retirement not as a wind-down, but as a purposeful pivot. The Academy of Life Planning argues for a more holistic view of later life, focusing on human capital — our skills, passions, and contributions — over purely financial capital. With the right planning and support, later life can become a time of regeneration, not retreat. Whether through flexible work, mentoring, community involvement, or creative projects, retirement can evolve into a deeply fulfilling new chapter.
Curious to discover more about any of the themes discussed above, then check out the Planet Positive Planning website.
Copyright Planet Positive Planning Limited. Contact me by email at neil@planetpositiveplanning.com. Planet Positive Planning Limited is a service sector trading company, providing "educational financial services" and regulated by the Competition and Markets Authority and Registered in England and Wales number 15759784. As defined by PERG8.26 of the FCA Handbook, these services do not require FCA regulation. Registered office address 2 Joshua Pedley Mews, London, E3 2ZE, United Kingdom. Information Commissioner's Office reference number C1531204.
