Today’s ESG Updates
- Microsoft Funds Startup Pantheon: As part of its carbon removal strategy funds Pantheon which is a startup focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring ecosystems.
- Rising Racism in the UK Leads to a Decline of Health Care Workers: The number of Health Care Workers from Asia and Africa have been steadily declining in the U.K., which raises many concerns as there is already a shortage of staff in the NHS.
- Scientists Discover How Human Cells Get Invaded by Influenza: Scientists shockingly find out that human cells not only entertain but also facilitate invasion by Influenza viruses.
- Red Squirrels are Thriving in the UK: Red squirrels have expanded their range across the Highlands by more than a quarter after a 10-year reintroduction programme moved hundreds to new homes.
Microsoft funds Pantheon to support decarbonization projects
Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund has announced funding the nature-based solutions startup Pantheon Regeneration. The investment supports the scaling of Pantheon’s ecological restoration projects, aimed at reviving biodiversity and decarbonization. Founded in 2023, Pantheon’s first project, Pocosin Ecological Reserve, is one of the first commercial peatland restoration projects in the U.S. According to the company, peatland restoration is one of the highest-impact nature-based climate solutions, due to peatlands’ extremely high carbon density.
“Support from the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund is a profound game-changer. The Pantheon team has been driven from day one by the enormous potential of our ecosystem restoration work to deliver the type of landscape-scale climate solutions the planet needs and the carbon credit quality and volumes the market craves,” said Pantheon CEO Tripp Wall.
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Further reading: Microsoft Invests in Nature-Based Carbon Removal Startup Pantheon
Rising racism causes a decline in number of nurses in the UK
Between April and September, 6,321 nurses and midwives from abroad joined the register of those licensed to practice in the UK, compared to 12,534 in the same period in 2024. Suzie Bailey, an NHS workforce expert at the King’s Fund thinktank, said: “The dramatic fall in international nurse and midwife recruitment and retention should be sounding alarm bells for politicians, health and care leaders and people who rely on health and care services.” NHS staff groups said the rising tide of hostility towards migrants and hardline government changes to immigration rules were behind the apparent shunning of the UK as a destination. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said last month that NHS staff were bearing the brunt of what he called a return to “ugly” 1970s and 1980s-style racism in Britain.
Despite this documented decline, the total number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the register has grown to 860,801, the highest number ever. A record 96,593 (12%) are men.
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Further reading: Rising racism blamed for collapse in number of foreign nurses coming to UK
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Scientists discover how influenza virus invades human cells
The runny nose and fever are triggered by influenza viruses, which enter our body through droplets and then infect vulnerable cells. Using a microscopy approach, scientists in Switzerland and Japan have been able to zoom in on the outer surface of human cells in a Petri dish. They have observed the moment an influenza virus penetrates a living cell and unexpectedly discovered that the cells do not simply sit idle while the influenza virus approaches. Instead, they appear to make an effort to seize it. With this tool, the researchers demonstrated that cells assist the virus at several stages of entry. They summon important clathrin proteins to the site where the virus is attached. The membrane at that point also pushes upward, these wave-like motions intensify if the virus tries to drift away from the surface.
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Further reading: Scientists capture flu viruses surfing into human cells in real time
Return of the red squirrel
Red squirrels came close to extinction in Britain when foresters killed them as pests and their natural habitat was destroyed. Scotland is the squirrel’s heartland, home to 80% of the UK’s population of about 200,000. Becky Priestley, a project manager at Trees for Life, said: “This rewilding success story is offering hope for the long-term survival of Scotland’s much-loved red squirrels, and shows how we can make a real and positive difference to our native wildlife.” The squirrel reintroductions could help forests naturally expand because reds plant new trees by forgetting where they have buried some of their winter stores of nuts and seeds. Conservationists warned in 2024 that squirrel pox could wipe out reds in England. However, an isolated population of about 3,500 is thriving on the Isle of Wight.
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Further reading: Red squirrels expand across Highlands after 10-year reintroduction drive
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: BoliviaInteligente
