A tale of two continents: Europe’s emissions rose by one fifth in the spring, as manufacturing and construction rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, in China, emissions scarcely grew in the spring and fell in the summer amid a shortage of coal and a slowdown in construction. Carbon emissions from European Union countries were 18 percent greater in the second […]
180 zoos, aquariums, and museums from all 50 states sign in support of 30×30 and America the Beautiful
In an unprecedented show of support for conservation, more than 180 zoos, aquariums and museums (ZAMs) from communities in all 50 states recently signed on to a letter of support for the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, and specifically the incorporated commitment to protect 30% of nature – lands, waters and ocean – by 2030 (“30×30”). Earlier this year, the […]
Nissan to Spend $18 Billion Developing a Cheaper, More Powerful EV Battery
Over the next five years, Nissan Motor Company will put 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) toward developing a cheaper, more powerful battery to serve its expanded lineup of electric vehicles, the company announced Monday. Nissan plans to unveil 15 new EV models by 2030, as well as an additional eight partially gas-powered models. Such vehicles will account for half of […]
From Pollutant to Product: Consumer Goods From Captured Carbon
We’ve already poured so much carbon into the atmosphere that now simply cutting emissions isn’t enough to forestall the effects of climate change. Sequestration has to be part of the solution, but we can’t possibly plant enough trees. So some folks are getting creative, using circular design principles to create new products out of our biggest problem waste. Earth911 publisher […]
No Country Has Met Welfare Goals in Past 30 Years ‘Without Putting Planet at Risk’
No country has managed to meet the basic social needs of its population in the past 30 years without putting undue pressure on the Earth’s supply of natural resources, according to a study. Looking at a sample of 148 nations, research by the University of Leeds found wealthy countries were putting the future of the planet at risk to make […]
Former Coal Plant Site Being Transformed Into a ’15-Minute City’
A decommissioned coal-fired power plant in a Toronto suburb will be developed into a small town with 8,000 housing units, as well as office buildings, shops, parks, and other amenities all within a 15-minute walking distance. The site on the shores of Lake Ontario was home to a massive power plant that cut the community of Mississauga off from the […]
Why Putting Solar Canopies on Parking Lots Is a Smart Green Move
Fly into Orlando, Florida, and you may notice a 22-acre solar power array in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head in a field just west of Disney World. Nearby, Disney also has a 270-acre solar farm of conventional design on former orchard and forest land. Park your car in any of Disney’s 32,000 parking spaces, on the other hand, and […]
New Study Shows Which Places Must Be Protected to Stave Off Catastrophic Climate Change
A new study maps out the old growth forests, peatlands, and mangroves that must be preserved to prevent catastrophic climate change. Though these areas cover only around 3 percent of land, they contain vast stores of carbon that, if unleashed, could not easily be recovered. “The consequences of releasing this stored carbon would stretch on for generations, undermining our last […]
How to Repair the World’s Broken Carbon Offset Markets
In the wake of the Glasgow climate summit, governments must now return to the daunting challenge of making good on their emissions-reductions pledges, which at this point remain insufficient to hold warming below 2 or even 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. Recognizing there are many political constraints that will make it difficult for countries to adopt policies that cut […]
Young Filipino Entrepreneur Looks to Build Southeast Asia’s Biggest Solar Plant
Leandro Leviste, a 28-year-old Filipino entrepreneur, is planning to build what would be the largest solar installation in Southeast Asia, a 500-megawatt plant around 80 miles north of Manila, Bloomberg reported. “The Philippines is an exciting place for the renewable transition because of the high price of conventional generation sources,” Leviste told Bloomberg. “Solar can go mainstream here faster than […]