China's monumental climate shift: embracing a “post-peak" era in the coming years
China, the world's economic giant, is on the verge of a watershed moment in its environmental history. After decades of rapid development and skyrocketing emissions, signs point to a near-term peak in carbon output, providing hope for global climate efforts. According to the Center for Research Read More...
The European Union's satellite initiative targets climate-driven threats to forests
The European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) formed a collaboration to address climate-related risks and protect forests through the use of satellite technologies. Sentinel satellites: forest guardians The proposal calls for the use of Copernicus Sentinel satellites to monitor Read More...
The future of wind turbine towers may be made of wood
While wind turbines only cost 11 grams of carbon per kilowatt-hour (compared to the combustion of natural gas at 450 grams), there is always room for improvement. Opponents of wind energy have criticized the carbon footprint of the steel required to build wind towers and turbines. Unknowingly, they Read More...
Tel Aviv is becoming an e-scooter city
No two cities are the same, and each one has its own particular changes to make to achieve its climate goals. New York is making plans to become “spongier” to handle excess water. Panama City, Florida is transforming into a tree city, planting over 100,000 new trees, and Tel Aviv, Israel aims Read More...
Ultra-Low Emissions Zone extended to all of London
The Optimist Daily has followed the progress of London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) since the beginning when mayor Sadiq Khan planned to reduce the city’s air pollution and introduce a charge on the most polluting vehicles in the city. In 2019, ULEZ was enacted, charging motorists £12.50 Read More...
Oslo ahead in reaching no-emission travel by 2030
A new study by a coalition of non-governmental organizations called the Clean Cities Campaign analyzed 36 European cities to see if they are on track to achieving pollution-free mobility before 2030. The coalition looked at factors such as road safety for pedestrians, access to climate-friendly Read More...
UK households get paid to curb daily energy use
Households in the UK could soon be paid to curb their electricity usage for a certain time of day (during peak usage hours) under a new scheme to help reduce energy bills while pushing for a zero-carbon power supply system. Starting in this past week, the trial for this plan, led by Octopus Read More...
Prosumers: How these Swedish homes produce and consume their own energy
In the quest to run on 100 percent renewable electricity, Sweden is transforming homes into highly efficient ‘prosumers’—buildings that both produce and consume the vast majority of their own energy. One example of this in action comes from the city of Ludivika where 1970s flats have Read More...
Microsoft launches two initiatives to help corporates slash emissions
This week, software giant Microsoft joined eight other global corporations to launch Transform to Net Zero, a coalition that was created to help businesses erase their carbon footprint. The coalition, which includes companies such as Nike, Unilever, and shipping company Maersk, aims to set an Read More...
This court case shows people can force governments to achieve climate goals
While it might seem like a strange time for a government to start making new climate commitments, the Netherlands had little choice. A court case brought by environmental groups in 2014 and upheld by the supreme court last year has forced the government to act to reduce emissions to 25% below Read More...