Network Insights - Oct 10 2025

Weekly impact, news, and predictive insights from the world's largest social entrepreneur network.

Global – A new report published Tuesday shows a historic shift: renewables produced more electricity than coal in the first half of 2025. Solar and wind growth outpaced global electricity demand, with solar meeting 83% of the rise and many countries setting records. Social entrepreneurs are naturally involved in and helping to accelerate the clean energy transition in a variety of ways—including UK-based Mark Campanale, whose Carbon Tracker Initiative introduced investors to the concepts of 'stranded assets' and 'carbon bubble' via a landmark research report that helped launch the global fossil fuel divestment movement.

Global – "Having respect for animals makes us better humans." Jane Goodall's words resonated across our community this week, among her collaborators and those inspired by her lifelong changemaking and contribution. Ashoka Fellows working in a similar vein to deepen human bonds with nature and animals include: Bart Weetjens' APOPO trains African pouched rats to detect landmines, wildlife trafficking, TB, even earthquake survivors; in Argentina, Kai Pacha (her adopted name means "puma protector of the here and now") helps humans coexist with pumas; while Rwanda's Olivier Nsengimana has mobilized communities to grow the endangered grey crowned crane population 4x in a decade. Join us next week to explore human kinship with animals with Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda's first wildlife veterinarian, who has focused on mountain gorilla and human health for 20+ years. With Gladys, we'll touch on lessons from the wild and Jane Goodall's legacy (read her tribute). RSVP. 

Europe – Alberto Alemanno's The Good Lobby proposes a framework for EU decisions to consider long-term impacts on future generations (read here); over 400 organizations across Europe, including Maciej Otrębski's RoślinnieJemy, are challenging the EU Parliament's ban on using terms like "burger" for plant-based foods; Ugo Vallauri's Restart Project shares e-waste reduction strategies at Camden Council's circular economy debate (watch); and Thorkil Sonne receives Denmark's Knight's Cross of the Order of Dannebrog (more) for two decades of his organization Specialisterne's impact creating employment for neurodivergent people (including those with autism) and inclusive work cultures.