Author: Grace Liu ‘23
Thank you again for tuning into Good News Friday this week! We’re definitely getting into the swing of the semester, so a few positive reminders are always helpful. Today we’ll learn about urban agriculture in Paris, a plan to protect against heatwaves and the end of outsourced coal-fired power in China.
- Futuristic Urban Greenhouses: The Garden City Project of the Crescent Moon in Paris stunningly showcases how sustainability can be incorporated into urban design. Located in the city’s largest park, the project includes rooftop gardens, small greenhouses, and even a cattle farm. Urban agriculture has a variety of social and environmental benefits, including recreation, improved air quality, and food production.
- Biden’s Extreme Heat Protection Plan: The climate change-exacerbated heat waves of this past summer have had a devastating toll throughout the US. In response, the Biden administration has launched a plan to protect against extreme heat, which disproportionately affects the elderly and marginalized populations. The initiatives include, but are not limited to, increased workplace inspections and an expanded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. However, we hope that the administration can tackle the root of the problem in addition to mitigating the consequences.
- China Exits Overseas Coal: Nearing the November climate summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that the heavily fossil-fuel dependent country would stop investing in coal-fired power plants abroad. This is part of his commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060. This decision is given in the wake of Japan and Korea’s termination of overseas coal power last year.
Thank you for reading this week’s summary of positive environmental updates. If you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!