I woke up today thinking about Katharine Hayhoe's 10 minute video on Global Weirding made with PBS. People less focused on climate and sustainability than I am these days have been asking me lately why I am, and I feel like that video could be a good part of an answer. The earth is experiencing a fever, because of our lifestyle choices, and we're not equipped to deal with it, the video says, with science. I thought I'd share it here with you too.
Now let's talk about the biggest stories in green tech and sustainability around the world today, in general and in your specific areas of interest.
Our Visual of the Day today is a cool new technology: Satellite images that show exactly where in the complex architecture of a landfill (!) the very dangerous leaks of methane are coming from.
Ok, let's go!
-Marshall Kirkpatrick
Earth Catalyst: Boosting your efficacy and capacity with two decades of trailblazing & the newest technology
Today and every day, our system scans over 1,000 green tech and sustainability organizations for updates. Below, you'll find:
A Visual of the Day
A digest-style Table of Contents for 150 selected updates from around the green tech and sustainability world
(If you subscribe by email) 3 personalized selections just for you and your work
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Visual of the Day
The methane leak in your landfill is precisely HERE
From Carbon Mapper: "In 2022, U.S. landfills released an estimated 119.8M metric tons of methane into the atmosphere, which was 17.1% of the country’s total methane emissions according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Attention has increasingly turned to addressing methane emissions as the fastest way to slow the rate of warming in the near term. Landfills present a major mitigation opportunity, both domestically and globally, yet gaps remain in societal understanding of exactly how much landfills are emitting and where these emissions are coming from...
"Landfills are dynamic, engineered systems. Within any landfill, multiple methane sources exist, which can be diffuse (where smaller amounts of methane are emitted from multiple sources) or highly concentrated from a single point source (where a large amount of methane is emitted from a single source). Attributing these large emissions to the underlying activities and infrastructure at a landfill can help prioritize methane mitigation efforts and track progress toward abatement targets."
Today's Top Global Stories
Three Green Tech & Sustainability Stories Getting Extensive Online Media Coverage
Guardian +80 other sources: EPA bans widely used chemicals linked to cancer before Trump takes office
"The US Environmental Protection Agency has banned perc and TCE, toxic chemicals that are widely used in everyday products but strongly linked to cancer and other serious health problems.
"The move comes after the first Donald Trump administration killed the process to limit the chemicals’ uses, but the bans make it difficult for the second Trump administration to undo the rules."
2. Travel & Tour World +75 other sources: Global Tourism Emissions Surge: Top 20 Countries at the Forefront of the Crisis
"Global tourism emissions are rising at double the global economy’s rate, with 20 countries driving the surge...The findings indicate that from 2009 to 2019, tourism-related emissions surged by 40%, significantly outpacing the growth of global economic activity. Aviation remains a central issue, accounting for half of the direct emissions from tourism. The sector’s slow progress in decarbonization has made it a key obstacle in reducing the overall carbon footprint of the industry."
Utility Dive + 55 other sources: Google, Intersect Power to develop co-located energy parks with $20B of renewables, storage
"Google will buy power for planned data centers to be co-located in energy parks with $20 billion in renewable energy and energy storage to be built by Intersect Power, the companies said Tuesday."
That's one way to get around transmission and interconnection permitting challenges!
Today's Updates
Table of Contents
Agriculture (7 stories)
Carbon (13 stories)
Circular (2 stories)
Ecosystems (13 stories)
Efficiency (4 stories)
Finance (9 stories)
Grid (24 stories)
Indigenous (4 stories)
Industry (10 stories)
Policy (36 stories)
Renewables (14 stories)
Transport (16 stories)
Agriculture
Subsidised community restaurants could help tackle the UK’s broken food system – here’s how (The Conversation) - A UK researcher suggests government-funded community eateries could serve local plant-based meals to 67 million Britons, tackling food poverty while boosting sustainable agriculture.
Italy: 1.5 Gigawatts for Agrivoltaics (CleanTechnica) - Italy has awarded contracts for 1.5 gigawatts of agrivoltaic solar projects across 540 installations, primarily in the country's southern regions, in its first national tender.
Time for a ‘moral reckoning’ of aquaculture’s environmental impacts (Mongabay) - Leading ecologist Carl Safina calls for policy reforms in aquaculture, citing urgent environmental and human rights concerns that transcend economic interests.
Baobab is a superfood with growing global demand – that’s bad news for the sacred African tree (The Conversation) - Rising demand for baobab, a nutrient-rich African superfood, threatens the survival of these sacred trees as climate change and overharvesting strain local populations.
New report: U.S. food retail sector faces $219 billion risk from pesticides (Friends of the Earth) - U.S. retailers could lose $219 billion by 2050 from pesticide impacts on corn, soy, apples, and almonds, threatening financial stability and environmental health.
Gooddrop’s ‘grow-to-wear’ apparel business looks to mass produce cotton using vertical farms (AgFunderNews) - UK startup Gooddrop plans to produce pesticide-free cotton in vertical farms with on-site spinning mills by 2027, aiming to slash transport emissions in apparel manufacturing.
International collaboration drives Vietnam’s low-emission rice program (CGIAR) - Vietnam's low-emission rice program in the Mekong Delta has achieved a 29.6% drop in greenhouse gas emissions across one million hectares while boosting farmer profits.
Carbon
A Carbon Capture Project Faces a New Delay in a Year of Slow Progress for Coal Power Plants Looking for Retrofits (InsideClimateNews) - A major carbon capture retrofit at North Dakota's Project Tundra stalls after its lead contractor exits, reflecting wider setbacks across U.S. coal plants despite $12 billion in federal support.
Arctic has changed dramatically in just a couple of decades – 2024 report card shows worrying trends in snow, ice, wildfire and more (The Conversation) - Arctic temperatures hit record highs as snow seasons shorten, sea ice declines, and tundra shifts from carbon sink to source, according to NOAA's latest findings.
Arctic tundra is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs, US agency says (The Guardian) - Arctic tundra has shifted from absorbing carbon to releasing it, with surface temperatures reaching their second-highest since 1900, according to US climate agency NOAA.
Armed with $150 million, DAC startup Heirloom is in a ‘unique position’ | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Carbon removal firm Heirloom has secured $150 million in Series B funding to expand operations amid questions over federal support for the technology.
Equinor and partners approve execution of UK’s first carbon capture and storage projects (EnergyCentral) - Energy giant Equinor and partners have secured funding for Britain's first two carbon capture and storage projects, marking a pivotal step in the nation's climate strategy.
Why pricing carbon dioxide by source can create a new market for clean manufacturing (RMI) - Global experts predict source-differentiated CO2 pricing could boost clean manufacturing markets despite projected annual supply shortfalls of 135-884 million tons by 2050.
Climate Leadership Series: Accelerating Supplier Action (3Degrees) - Leading climate solutions firm launches video series detailing supplier engagement strategies to tackle Scope 3 emissions, which represent 90% of typical organizational carbon footprints.
Atlantic circulation collapse? New clues on the fate of a crucial conveyor belt (Yale Climate Connections) - Scientists report an 8% slowdown in Atlantic Ocean currents since 2004, warning the vital system could begin collapsing within decades if greenhouse gas emissions stay high.
Antarctica's irregular heartbeat shows signs of rapid melting (ScienceDaily) - Scientists report Antarctic ice sheets melted significantly faster 20 million years ago than previously believed, triggered by Earth's irregular orbit around the Sun.
AI predicts Earth's peak warming (ScienceDaily) - Scientists using artificial intelligence forecast Earth will surpass 2°C warming by 2050s despite aggressive emissions cuts, rendering the 1.5°C Paris goal unattainable.
Why Microsoft is testing out a new carbon removal buying strategy | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Tech giant Microsoft aims to secure up to 1 million tons of carbon removal credits by 2030 through a new partnership with Deep Sky, spanning eight direct air capture projects across Canada.
U.S. Carbon Management Strategy (Energy Central) - The Department of Energy has unveiled a detailed roadmap for managing CO2 emissions through 2030, targeting the administration's climate objectives with capture, transport, conversion, and storage solutions.
CCS: Two major UK carbon capture projects clear final financial hurdles (BusinessGreen) - Two major UK carbon capture projects have secured final funding approval, paving the way for CO2 infrastructure and CCS-equipped gas power plant construction to begin in summer 2025.
Circular
Fire, delays, and financial woes: Battery recycling had a rough 2024 (Canary Media) - Battery recycling firms weathered a turbulent 2024, with facility fires and construction delays offsetting Ascend Elements' success in lithium carbonate production amid falling commodity prices.
Connecticut Food Waste Estimation Guidance (CET) - Connecticut businesses generating over 26 tons of organic waste annually must now comply with state recycling laws through new source-separated materials guidance.
Ecosystems
Greenland is getting greener, helped by a mining company and tree enthusiasts (The Hindu) - Amid Arctic greening concerns, Amaroq Minerals supports mass tree-planting efforts in Greenland, where more than 100,000 trees across 100-plus species have taken root since the 1970s.
Sediment is a time capsule that shows how past climate change altered our landscapes – and hints at their future (The Conversation) - Ancient sediment cores have unveiled evidence of an 8,150-year-old Scottish tsunami and a massive VEI-7 volcanic eruption at Mount Mazama 7,600 years ago.
New bison arrival marks exciting step forward for Rhodopes rewilding (Rewilding Europe) - Five European bison have been released in Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains, boosting the local population to 24 animals as restoration efforts continue across the region.
Five new municipal conservation areas spanning over half a million acres protect sensitive ecosystems in southern Ecuador’s Manabí province (Andes Amazon Fund) - Five new conservation areas in Ecuador's Manabí province will safeguard 596,589 acres of biodiverse ecosystems, protecting endangered species and supporting local communities.
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil gets U.N.'s highest environmental honour, says he 'stood up for what's right' (The Hindu) - Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil has been awarded the UN's Champions of the Earth honour for his Western Ghats conservation efforts and contested 2011 environmental safeguard proposals.
Cabo Pulmo is at risk of being plundered for profit – again (Greenpeace) - Mexican authorities have approved two major tourism projects near Cabo Pulmo National Park, endangering one of the world's most successful marine conservation sites and its vibrant coral reef ecosystem.
Monarch butterflies to be added to threatened species list in the US (The Guardian) - Monarch butterflies face potential US threatened species listing by 2025, following an alarming 81% population decline over 25 years due to climate change impacts.
Upon reflection: Study gauges grasslands’ climate-fighting powers (Conservation International) - New research reveals southern African grasslands deliver superior climate cooling effects compared to trees, reflecting more sunlight due to their lighter coloring.
Seals strategically scoot around the seas on icebergs (ScienceDaily) - Researchers find harbor seals choose icebergs based on speed and stability, with mothers selecting slower bergs for pupping and all seals opting for faster ice near food during molting season.
While Indian rock python population dwindles elsewhere across T.N., it thrives in Moyar Valley (The Hindu) - Researchers have documented 80 Indian rock pythons across three tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu's Moyar Valley, even as populations decline elsewhere in the state.
Dam Removal Revitalizes Salmon In Win For Native Tribes (CleanTechnica) - Salmon have returned to spawn in Klamath River tributaries for the first time in 100 years following the removal of four major dams, marking a victory for Native American tribes.
The Aral Sea: From lake to desert to forest (DW) - Scientists have planted over 2 million saxaul trees across Kazakhstan's former Aral Sea bed, transforming the dried basin into forest to combat dust storms and restore local ecosystems.
Enigmatic Alpine avalanches to get a boost as Earth warms (Nature) - Scientists warn that climate change could trigger more water-infiltration avalanches in the Swiss Alps, even as snowpack levels decline across the region.
Efficiency
Why environmental messaging isn’t connecting with utility customers | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Amid rising energy costs affecting 24% of households, utility customers show stronger interest in financial incentives than environmental benefits when considering clean power programs.
Schneider Electric data center innovations shed light on AI strategy (Utility Dive) - Schneider Electric partners with NVIDIA to launch eco-friendly data center designs and UPS systems optimized for AI computing demands.
Students in Illinois get paid to learn skills for jobs in energy efficiency (Yale Climate Connections) - Students in Illinois are earning $15 per hour while obtaining energy efficiency certifications through a program aimed at increasing minority representation in the sustainability sector.
Wrong trees in the wrong place can make cities hotter at night, study reveals (ScienceDaily) - Urban trees can cool cities by up to 12°C during daytime hours, but may inadvertently trap heat overnight, depending on species selection, climate conditions and city design, researchers found.
Finance
What you need to know about nature data licensing (Cecil Earth) - A new guide details three key approaches to nature data licensing, highlighting safeguards for Indigenous knowledge and fair compensation for providers.
Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency (Nevada Clean Energy Fund) - Federal tax credits in Nevada now offer homeowners up to $3,200 for efficiency upgrades, 30% for renewable systems, $5/sq ft for commercial buildings, and $7,500 for electric vehicles.
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance calls for mandated scope 3 emissions disclosures (Utility Dive) - Global investors managing $11 trillion in assets urge regulators to require scope 3 emissions reporting to enhance data quality and decarbonization efforts.
With $800,000 in New Grants, Inside Climate News to Expand Local Environmental Journalism (Inside Climate News) - Inside Climate News will expand local environmental reporting in New York City and Texas after receiving $800,000 in grants from Sloan, Meadows, and Knight foundations.
The rise of the AI infrastructure asset class | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Major investors are pouring billions into AI infrastructure assets, with experts projecting $1 trillion in data centers, power plants, and transmission lines needed by 2030.
eBook: Sustainability in marketing and advertising (Greenplaces) - New guide outlines sustainable practices for marketing and advertising professionals seeking to implement eco-friendly strategies.
SwitchedOn Podcast: How real estate agents stonewalled renewable upgrades for private renters (RenewEconomy) - Real estate agents blocked a free renewable energy upgrade scheme that would have benefited both landlords and tenants, causing the program's collapse.
The Department of Energy’s loan office is more popular than ever | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - The Department of Energy's loan office has committed $55 billion across 33 projects amid surging applications and faster deal closures as companies race to secure funding before potential political changes.
New loss and damage fund boss urged to keep costs down (Climate Home News) - The incoming head of the climate loss and damage fund faces pressure to curb operational spending, with only $69m secured and growing concerns over travel, consultancy and staffing costs.
Grid
The AI paradox: energy-hungry technology could speed clean energy transition (Utility Dive) - AI systems could drive nearly half of U.S. electricity demand growth through 2028 while speeding clean energy adoption via enhanced grid monitoring and project efficiency.
AEMO dials back forecasts for home battery uptake, VPP participation, as push for rebate grows (RenewEconomy) - Australia's energy market operator slashes home battery forecasts amid sluggish consumer demand, sparking industry calls for a national rebate scheme.
Stepping up to achieve local climate progress despite federal headwinds (Utility Dive) - Burlington Electric Department pledges $20M in bonds toward clean energy programs, pushing ahead with climate initiatives despite potential federal policy shifts under a future Trump administration.
A new way to fix grid bottlenecks for EV charging: flexible connection (Canary Media) - California utility PG&E's new Flex Connect pilot enables EV charging stations to bypass grid constraints through automated power controls, accelerating connections by several years.
How cyber attacks could threaten the energy transition | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Cyber attacks and IoT devices pose mounting risks to clean energy and grid infrastructure, warns Microsoft executive.
PJM expects summer peak load to grow 2% a year on average, driven by data centers (Utility Dive) - Data center expansion in Virginia and other regions will drive PJM's summer peak load up by 2% annually through 2045, according to new forecasts.
Explaining the ‘Watt-Bit Spread’ | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Data centers' electricity-to-computing conversion value is driving 'Watt-Bit Spread' growth, yet current pricing models fail to incentivize needed infrastructure expansion, explains developer Brian Janous.
Gridmatic Surpasses 1GWh of Energy Storage Under Management and Sees Major Growth in Retail Business (Gridmatic) - Energy marketer Gridmatic now manages 1GWh of battery storage across CAISO and ERCOT markets, delivering 61% above-average revenue in ERCOT through AI-powered solutions.
Texas storage deployment saved at least $750M since 2023: ACP (Utility Dive) - Energy storage deployment in Texas has saved consumers $750M since 2023, with 5GW of new capacity reducing peak power prices and strengthening grid reliability.
EnergyCo has come a long way, but still to convince developers NSW is open for renewables business (RenewEconomy) - EnergyCo's expansion to 200 staff faces hurdles in attracting renewable developers to NSW, amid concerns over transmission timelines and regional conflicts.
Entergy Louisiana Green Tariff Programs Enable 3,000 Megawatts of New Solar Energy (CEBA) - Entergy's three green tariff programs, approved by Louisiana regulators, will enable 3,000 MW of new solar capacity, tripling the state's current and approved solar installations.
Hundreds of New Gas-Fired Power Units Planned as U.S. Gas Output Soars (POWER Magazine) - Five states are fueling record U.S. natural gas output of 113 Bcf/d, spurring plans for 200-plus gas-fired power units totaling 86 GW through 2032.
Data center growth ‘dwarfs’ anything we’ve seen in computing history | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Former Meta energy chief warns AI-driven data centers will require 50GW of new US power capacity by 2030, marking the largest expansion in computing's history.
Honorable Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission and GEAPP Partner to Accelerate Maharashtra’s Energy Transition (GEAPP) - Global Energy Alliance and Maharashtra regulators forge partnership to modernize power grids and reform regulations, advancing the state's shift toward renewable energy sources.
AI-fuelled cloud storage boom threatens Irish climate targets, report warns (The Guardian) - Ireland's datacentres now consume energy equivalent to the nation's entire wind power output, as surging AI and cloud storage demands pose risks to climate goals.
Meta's all-of-the-above strategy shows why powering AI is so complex | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Meta's ambitious energy strategy combines 4GW nuclear, 760MW solar, and gas-powered data centers with carbon capture to fuel expanding AI operations.
Study: Surge in grid patents as companies target AI breakthroughs (BusinessGreen) - Patent applications for grid technologies soared to record levels in 2022, propelled by AI-driven energy software advances and China's expanding clean tech sector.
Investors Are Expecting a Natural Gas Boom. Will They Get It? (Heatmap News) - Power companies' stocks surge as artificial intelligence drives energy demand, yet experts warn grid limitations could hinder natural gas growth plans.
Storm Darragh showed me how unprepared my family – and Britain – are for disaster | Gaby Hinsliff (The Guardian) - Storm Darragh's widespread blackouts across Britain reveal critical gaps in national resilience, as digital dependencies leave millions vulnerable to climate-driven infrastructure failures.
Google plans to build gigawatts of clean power and data centers together (Canary Media) - Tech giant Google unveils $20 billion plan to co-locate data centers with renewable energy facilities by 2030, partnering with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate.
Massive data centers consuming large amounts of energy have eyes on South Dakota (Energy News Network) - Tech giants are eyeing South Dakota's cold climate and wind resources for data centers that could each consume up to 500 megawatts of power, challenging local utilities.
DOE Earmarks $305 Million for Energy Storage in California Buildings (POWER) - The Department of Energy will provide $305.5 million to install Nostromo Energy's IceBrick thermal storage systems in 193 California commercial buildings, targeting reduced emissions and grid pressure.
How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity (Renewable Energy World) - U.S. utilities are deploying demand response, storage, and new generation solutions to power AI data centers consuming over 100 megawatts each.
The White House’s farewell to an energy industry facing load growth | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - White House climate advisor Ali Zaidi challenges energy sector to embrace clean power solutions as U.S. electricity demand is set to surge 15.8% by 2029.
Indigenous
Financial impacts of regenerative agriculture on Native farms and ranches (EDF+Business) - A new three-year study will analyze how regenerative farming methods affect financial outcomes, soil quality, and livestock health across Native American agricultural operations in the Great Plains.
New set of human rights principles aims to end displacement and abuse of Indigenous people through ‘fortress conservation’ (The Conversation) - Global conservation organizations must now respect Indigenous land rights and prevent displacement in protected areas under new UN Environment Programme principles.
Mulheres da Terra indígena Yanomami criam cartilha de Direitos Humanos (ISA) - Indigenous women from Brazil's Yanomami territory have created a human rights handbook, with 24 Yanomami and Ye'kwana women collaborating to address healthcare, women's rights and cultural preservation.
Construction of Indonesia’s new capital sees port activity crowd out fishers (Mongabay) - Port activity for Indonesia's new capital has disrupted fishing grounds in Balikpapan Bay, endangering the livelihoods of 4,126 fishing families who rely on the waters.
Industry
Herve Beuffe steps aside as CEO of Tiamat (Tiamat Energy) - After leading the French sodium-ion battery maker since its 2017 CNRS spin-off, CEO Herve Beuffe has stepped down from Tiamat Energy.
Empowering Electrification: Transforming Industries (MCE) - California's ambitious industrial electrification plan aims to achieve 100% clean energy across ports, construction, and tourism by 2045, creating sustainable jobs while cutting emissions.
Q&A: What could a US-China trade war mean for the energy transition? (CarbonBrief) - China's latest export controls on critical minerals targeting the US follow earlier restrictions on gallium, germanium, graphite, and antimony, which had minimal impact on global supply chains.
Why haven’t companies ramped up electrolyzer production? | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Electrolyzer makers are holding back on scaling production amid market uncertainty, as manufacturers await U.S. Treasury guidance on tax credits for green hydrogen.
Hydrogen For District Heating Part of German Research Project (POWER Magazine) - German researchers are testing waste heat from PEM electrolyzers for district heating networks at Stadtwerke Zittau, as part of the government-funded IntegrH2ate initiative.
Green Hydrogen: How Germany and the World Can Create a Sustainable Future Together (Energy Central) - Global powerhouse Germany forges partnerships with Namibia, China, Saudi Arabia, Norway, and the USA to spearhead green hydrogen development through its QuadCore hybrid energy system.
The risk of scaling 100x | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Industrial filtration firm Via Separations faces significant hurdles in its ambitious plan to scale operations 100-fold at an Alberta paper mill, confronting weather, workforce, and financial obstacles.
Day in the Life at Radiant (Radiant) - Nuclear engineer Sophia Dorisio details her work designing reactor components for Radiant's 2026 activation plans at Idaho National Lab.
Six Companies Tapped for $2.7 Billion LEU Push to Boost Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply (POWER Magazine) - Six companies will compete for $2.7 billion in contracts to produce low-enriched uranium domestically, as the Department of Energy seeks to reduce U.S. reliance on Russian nuclear fuel.
FOAK founder on scaling 100x — and what she would have done differently | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Via Separations CEO reveals key insights from 100x scale-up of membrane technology at Alberta site, highlighting workforce expenses and cold-weather building hurdles.
Policy
US supreme court hears oil railway case with environmental protections at stake (The Guardian) - A Utah oil railway project that could boost production to 350,000 barrels daily faces Supreme Court scrutiny over environmental review requirements.
AI predicts that most of the world will see temperatures rise to 3°C much faster than previously expected (ScienceDaily) - AI analysis reveals 26 global regions will surpass 3°C warming by 2060, with numerous areas hitting 1.5°C and 2°C thresholds by 2040.
Alabama’s Public Service Commission Shuts the Public Out While Setting Utility Fuel Cost Rates (InsideClimateNews) - Alabama regulators blocked public input on utility fuel costs by declaring rate changes aren't "proceedings," despite state law permitting citizen intervention in such matters.
How Climate Anxiety is Fueling ‘90s Nostalgia (Atmos) - Amid mounting climate concerns, young consumers are finding solace in '90s trends and Y2K aesthetics, fueling a surge in retro merchandise sales and digital content.
Acting through art, poetry that inspires climate action (Greenpeace) - Artists and activists united outside the International Court of Justice for a candlelight vigil and poetry readings, merging creative expression with environmental advocacy through the "Just Poetry" initiative.
Georgia groups applaud withdrawal of air curtain incinerator permit (Southern Environmental Law Center) - Atlanta lumber company withdraws permit request for incinerator that would have released more than 50 tons of particulate pollution yearly into the Bankhead neighborhood.
2024 California Clean Energy Hall of Fame Awards Event (California Energy Commission) - California's Clean Energy Hall of Fame inducts four pioneers, including DOE's Jean Rodriguez and Stanford's Julia Zeitlin, for their transformative work in renewable energy and climate solutions.
Energy transitions seem impossible (EnergyCentral) - Climate action faces setbacks as fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29 outnumber delegates from vulnerable nations, casting doubt on global net-zero commitments.
Trump Promises ‘Fully Expedited’ Permitting in Exchange for $1 Billion of Investment (Heatmap News) - Companies investing $1 billion or more in the US will receive fast-tracked regulatory and environmental permits under Trump's latest campaign pledge.
CSIRO’s nuclear costings have recklessly ignored construction risk, and the taxpayer will pay (RenewEconomy) - CSIRO's $8.5 billion nuclear estimate falls short of actual global costs ranging from $14.9-27.5 billion per gigawatt reactor, raising concerns over taxpayer exposure.
Breaking: Shell backs down in its lawsuit against Greenpeace (Greenpeace) - Energy giant Shell withdraws its million-dollar lawsuit against Greenpeace over North Sea protests, agreeing to limited restrictions and a £300,000 donation to RNLI.
A Critical Raw Material Supply-Side Innovation Roadmap for the EU Energy Transition (SYSTEMIQ) - EU report identifies seven technologies and policies to boost domestic mineral production for clean energy goals, as current output meets only 3% of transition needs by 2030.
Transition Uncertainties - Goals without plans. (Energy Central) - Experts warn America's 2050 net-zero emissions target faces significant hurdles, with grid limitations, unproven technologies, and community opposition threatening progress toward climate goals.
Green flags?? (ACE Space) - Federal initiative directs $118 billion toward climate projects in disadvantaged areas, with $1.7 billion earmarked for electric vehicle production transformation.
Safe Drinking Water Act: 50 Years of Progress (EPA) - Federal oversight has safeguarded clean drinking water access for Americans since 1974, collaborating with state, tribal and local officials to protect public health.
Unintended Consequences: A Monkey Wrench in Climate Change (Energy Central) - Flawed climate models are undermining renewable energy planning and bolstering skeptics' arguments against climate change, warns leading scientist.
Neil Chatterjee's political balancing act | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Former FERC chairman Neil Chatterjee has joined Voltus and AiDash boards while advising Trump's team, suggesting AI energy demands will bridge political divides on clean and fossil fuel policies.
Ceasefire in Gaza: A Human Rights Day Imperative (Friends of the Earth International) - Global environmental federation demands immediate Gaza ceasefire as death toll reaches 43,000 and ecological damage mounts across the war-torn region.
ARISE Symposium advances global agenda on climate and disaster resilient infrastructure (UNDRR) - Global leaders gathered in Dubai to spearhead climate-resilient infrastructure initiatives, as 120 experts tackled extreme heat challenges and regulatory frameworks at the ARISE Symposium.
Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) (PreventionWeb) - International aid organization PUI delivers humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction to communities affected by conflicts, disasters, and economic hardship through local interventions and nature-based solutions.
The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC Ireland) - Ireland's independent climate council delivers science-backed advice to guide national policies toward achieving net-zero emissions and environmental sustainability.
Greenpeace salutes Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nihon Hidankyo’s role in making nuclear weapons illegal (Greenpeace) - Japanese atomic bomb survivors group Nihon Hidankyo has won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize after 60 years advocating for the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Deadlocked plastic treaty talks will lead to renewed negotiations in 2025 (Mongabay) - Nations failed to reach consensus on binding plastic production limits, forcing a delay in treaty negotiations until 2025 with a new 22-page Chair's Text as foundation.
Shell settles multimillion-dollar SLAPP lawsuit against Greenpeace (Greenpeace) - Oil giant Shell ends legal battle with Greenpeace by pledging £300,000 to RNLI and accepting limited North Sea protest restrictions, with no liability payment required.
Can Support for Clean Energy Withstand Changing Political Winds? (Yale E360) - Political analysts say corporate investments and Republican district stakes in clean energy could shield most Inflation Reduction Act provisions from future presidential threats.
Climate conundrums: COP’s waning influence, Newsom’s Tesla troll, and more | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Political climate experts examine COP29's diminishing impact, while California proposes excluding Tesla from EV rebates and Congress weighs permitting reforms.
How US Climate & Air Pollution Policy Might Change Following The Election (CleanTechnica) - Religious environmental advocates warn that key climate initiatives, including truck emissions standards and power plant rules, face potential dismantling under the next administration.
Social Media Is a Growing Vehicle for Climate Misinformation (InsideClimateNews) - Social media giant TikTok failed to curb climate misinformation during COP29, with false content reaching millions of users across multiple platforms, a Global Witness investigation reveals.
Spain adopts paid ‘climate leave’ policy following deadly floods (Mongabay) - Spain has enacted a four-day paid 'climate leave' policy after floods killed 225 people in Valencia, allowing workers to remain home during severe weather events.
Informe de OTEA y BC3 sobre la Transición Energética Justa en España en 2023 (BC3) - Spain's energy transition shows mixed results as household bills fell 9.8% and green jobs rose by 25,000 to 530,978, yet 1.3 million people remain in energy poverty.
Local tax breaks for LNG plants don’t benefit communities, report says (Climate Desk) - Tax incentives given to LNG facilities in Louisiana and Texas have failed to deliver promised economic benefits to local communities, according to a new Sierra Club report.
La extrañamente hiperactiva temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 2024 termina (Yale Climate Connections) - The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season concluded with 18 named storms, including 11 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, despite an unusual mid-season lull.
The Information Note for the Global Platform 2025 is now available in all six official UN languages (UNDRR) - The UN's disaster risk reduction platform guide has been translated into Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish before next year's Geneva conference.
University of Melbourne in top ten for global sustainability rankings (University of Melbourne) - The University of Melbourne maintains its position as Australia's leading institution in sustainability, ranking ninth worldwide with a near-perfect score of 98.3 in the QS Sustainability Rankings.
Report: Utilities charge customers for lobbying, corporate branding, and luxury lifestyle expenses (Energy and Policy Institute) - U.S. utilities billed customers for lobbying, advertising, and executive luxuries while imposing record $9.7 billion in rate hikes during 2023.
Leah Stokes: 2024 Stephen Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication (Climate One) - UC Santa Barbara Professor Leah Stokes has been honored with the 2024 Stephen Schneider Award, recognizing her excellence in climate science communication and policy expertise.
Renewables
Part 2: How To Repurpose Your EV Cargo Rack For Solar Panels (CleanTechnica) - A new expandable solar roof rack system for electric vehicles offers DIY installation and promises 30-40 miles of daily charging range while maintaining just 2% aerodynamic drag.
Nextracker delivers its first 100% domestic solar trackers (Renewable Energy World) - American manufacturer Nextracker has delivered its first fully domestic solar trackers to SB Energy's 570 MW Pelican's Jaw project, bolstering U.S. clean energy production.
BP puts Australian offshore wind interests into new “capital lite” venture with Japan energy giant (RenewEconomy) - Energy giant BP merges its 13GW offshore wind portfolio with Japan's Jera Nex in a 50:50 joint venture, scaling back its renewable investments.
Florida has installed the second most solar power capacity in the country in 2024 (SEIA) - Florida added 3.1 GW of solar capacity through September 2024, trailing only Texas nationally, and is projected to lead residential solar installations by 2028.
Peter Dutton’s bid to politicise top science agency is ‘absurd’, former CSIRO energy director says (The Guardian) - Former CSIRO energy chief rebuffs Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's claims of bias, citing data showing nuclear power costs 50% more than renewable alternatives.
InterContinental Energy Celebrates 10-year Anniversary (InterContinental Energy) - Global clean energy developer InterContinental Energy marks 10 years of hydrogen innovation in Perth, having secured $94 billion in government funding for sustainable power initiatives.
Grid Connections 2024: Who’s going where in Australia’s energy transition (RenewEconomy) - Key leadership shifts sweep Australia's energy sector, with fresh appointments at Vestas, Net Zero Economy Authority, EnergyCo and multiple renewable firms shaping the nation's power transition.
NSW gets lion’s share as 19 solar, wind and hybrid projects win Australia’s biggest renewable tender (RenewEconomy) - New South Wales secured 3.6GW of Australia's record 6.4GW renewable energy tender, spread across 19 solar, wind and hybrid projects to replace aging coal infrastructure.
Researchers took the key weakness of renewable energy and made it a superpower (Anthropocene Magazine) - Scientists at MIT found strategic placement of wind and solar installations across regions can slash costs while boosting reliability through enhanced resource coordination.
CIS auction wins ensure South Australia will be first grid in world to reach 100 pct net wind and solar (RenewEconomy) - South Australia is poised to achieve 100% net wind and solar power by 2027, becoming the world's first gigawatt-scale grid to reach this milestone.
Google’s future data centers will be built next to solar and wind farms (The Verge) - Tech giant Google will invest $20 billion to construct data centers beside solar and wind farms, partnering with Intersect Power to power AI operations with on-site renewable energy by 2026.
California Power Group in PPA With 384-MW Solar Project (POWER) - The 384-MW Eland 1 solar-plus-storage project, featuring 150 MW/600 MWh storage capacity, has begun operations in California under a power purchase agreement with Southern California Public Power Authority.
Two major wind farms power up in Victoria, adding 300MW new renewables capacity (RenewEconomy) - Two Victorian wind farms have commenced operations, delivering 300MW of renewable energy capacity capable of powering 208,000 homes.
'It's time to seize the moment': How UK renewables could overtake fossil fuel power in 2024 (BusinessGreen) - UK renewable energy sources are set to outpace fossil fuel power generation for the first time next year, marking a pivotal shift in the nation's energy landscape.
Transport
Zeekr Sales Increase 106% in November (CleanTechnica) - Chinese automaker Zeekr delivered 27,011 electric vehicles in November, marking a 106% increase from last year and pushing total deliveries to 391,566 since its 2021 launch.
Xiaomi Targets 130,000 Sales in First 10 Months, Announces SUV — YU7 (CleanTechnica) - Chinese tech giant Xiaomi aims to sell 130,000 electric vehicles in 2024 while unveiling plans for its YU7 SUV, set to launch mid-2025 after its SU7 sedan debut.
Tesla 2nd Highest Selling Automaker in California (CleanTechnica) - Despite a 12% sales decline in early 2024, Tesla remains California's second-highest selling automaker as electric vehicles capture 22.2% of the state's market share.
Dutch airport Schiphol capped at 478,000 flights per year to reduce noise (The Hindu) - Dutch officials have slashed Schiphol Airport's yearly flights from 500,000 to 478,000, targeting a 15% noise reduction by 2025.
Kaluza launches EV smart charging pilot program in Japan with Honda, ALTNA and MC Retail Energy (Kaluza) - Energy software firm Kaluza debuts Japan's first hardware-free EV smart charging pilot with Honda, connecting directly to vehicles to optimize charging schedules.
Q&A: How Girteka is Turning Ambition into Action on Net Zero Goals (EDF+Business) - Europe's largest logistics provider, Girteka Group, advances its net-zero goals through rail expansion, eco-driving initiatives and strategic partnerships amid strict EU regulations.
Stellantis and CATL to Invest Up to €4.1 Billion in Joint Venture for Large-Scale LFP Battery Plant in Spain (Stellantis) - European automaker Stellantis and battery giant CATL will invest €4.1B to build a 50 GWh LFP battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain, with production starting in 2026.
BloombergNEF: Global lithium-ion battery prices hit record low in 2024 (BloombergNEF) - Global lithium-ion battery prices plunged 20% to historic lows as manufacturing expansion and falling raw material costs reshaped the EV market landscape.
Experience the 1st Electric Hydrofoil: A Pollution-Free Silent Electric Hydrofoil Ferry That Captures the Timelessness of the Sea (CleanTechnica) - New Zealand's first electric hydrofoil ferry has begun offering 40-minute zero-emission rides for up to 8 passengers in Auckland's waters.
Octopus Energy to invest in low carbon aviation fuel specialist NGF (BusinessGreen) - Octopus Energy's generation division has backed Nordic Generation Fuels' plans to build two sustainable aviation fuel facilities in Finland.
Why Rivian’s Stock Is Up (Heatmap News) - Rivian shares soared 11% after Benchmark Securities issued a "buy" rating, validating the automaker's EV production through Amazon and Volkswagen deals.
Tesla Model Y & Model 3 Take Gold & Silver in California Auto Sales (22 Charts) (CleanTechnica) - Tesla's Model Y and Model 3 claimed first and second place in California's Q3 2024 auto sales, marking the first time electric vehicles have topped the state's sales charts.
Overcoming Barriers to Electric Vehicle Adoption in Underserved Communities (Better Energy) - The Great Plains Institute's expanded Charging Smart program aims to boost EV infrastructure in rural areas through technical support and GM-funded grants.
The T1 Pro E-Cargo Bike Shows Some Next-Level Thinking (CleanTechnica) - The new T1 Pro e-cargo bike boasts AI safety features, auto-deploying stability wheels, dual batteries offering 200km range, and 220kg cargo capacity for family transport.
Trump To Trample On USPS Electric Delivery Vehicle Contracts (CleanTechnica) - Trump team eyes canceling USPS contracts worth billions for 66,000 electric delivery vehicles from Ford and Oshkosh, despite postal service's independent authority.
We Have Toxic Winter Air Again On The Utah Wasatch Front. What Are We Doing About It? (CleanTechnica) - Utah's Wasatch Front battles 23 days of unhealthy winter air annually, prompting officials to expand electric transit and boost EV incentives despite slow renewable energy adoption.
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