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AI & Climate Change: Harnessing Technology for a Sustainable Future

Since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, enthusiasm about the seemingly endless possibilities of artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. AI is certainly not a new technology, but technological breakthroughs for large language models over the past 12-18 months have spurred excitement for essay-writing students and magnificent seven* shareholders alike; placing a new spotlight on the technology.

*The “Magnificent Seven” stocks are the cornerstone of today’s tech market. These stocks include Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla

Graph showing the change in the share of companies mentioning AI on Russel 3000 earnings calls.

All this attention has led to massive growth in the level of investment in AI, 2021 saw almost $280 billion of global corporate investment into AI¹; this is roughly the same as the GDP of Finland and represents a 30x increase in investment from 2013. But what does this have to do with climate change?

With every year that passes, new research is published that suggests that the world is edging nearer to the point of no return. More people are turning towards climate activism now than ever before in the wake of the current climate disaster. Still, others have been patiently waiting for a breakthrough technology that will help us make the significant progress necessary to mitigate climate change completely (or just enough that we don’t wipe ourselves out), and artificial intelligence could be just that. One reason for our slow progress in this battle is the complexity of climate data; climate data sets are massive, and take a long time to collect, analyze, and interpret before top-down decisions can be made. But guess what technology does just that (hint: it starts with an A, and ends in an I), and a whole lot quicker than we’ve ever been able to.

Data Collection and Analysis

Oceans are arguably the only reason that we haven’t already wiped ourselves out as a result of climate change; absorbing 90% of the excess heat that we’ve created and 23% of human-related CO2 emissions². However, our understanding of the ocean is extremely limited, not only because we have only explored 5%³ of it, but due to how difficult it is to process the vast amounts of oceanographic data that exists. Machine learning algorithms can help identify patterns and predict changes in the ocean that will be crucial in helping us understand climate change. In addition to this, AI can be used to analyze satellite imagery to detect plastic and oil pollution, assess its extent, and predict its spread. This will be crucial in minimizing further environmental damage and is only one example of the potential of this technology to tackle climate change.

Improving efficiencies

Remember in 2021 when that ship got stuck in the Suez Canal? That caused an additional 6,847 tonnes of excess CO2⁴ to be emitted into the atmosphere. Predictive analytics is another place where AI can be useful in our battle against climate change. Of course, AI is not going to reveal the secrets of the future to us (yet…), but by tracking events with the potential to impact supply chains, AI can increase the speed of adaptation to supply chain disruptions as well as help optimize shipping routes following these disruptions; both of which will help reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and in turn our emissions.

Looking at the micro picture, AI also serves as a useful tool to help businesses improve their material, energy, and labor efficiency. This will be particularly important in the renewable energy space to help these companies reduce their costs and in turn the green premium** on their goods; making it easier for other companies and individuals to make the switch towards greener alternatives

Forecasting Natural Disasters

12,000 lives were lost in 2023 as a result of climate-related natural disasters⁵. For a long time, our methods of predicting these natural disasters were weak, and a region’s ability to prepare for these disasters heavily depended on how wealthy that region was, resulting in various forms of climate inequality. The ability of AI to crunch massive amounts of data creates ample opportunity to improve the predictive models used to analyze climate and weather patterns. The development of this technology can help improve disaster prediction and prevention strategies and potentially save thousands of lives each year.

Complications

Despite all of these potential uses of AI to combat climate change, I would be lying if I said it was all sunshine and rainbows. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst have found that the training process for one AI model can emit more than 600,000 lbs of CO2⁶ due to how energy-intensive this process is. Getting this number down will require aggressive investment into renewable energy and the integration of this energy onto the grid. As AI improves efficiencies for renewable energy companies, it also does so in the same way for much larger traditional energy players making it more difficult for renewable companies to gain price parity with traditional players. Finally, there is still a large amount of skepticism surrounding AI across the board. It doesn’t help that large language models are still in their early stages and have been seen generating some well… questionable content.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the recent explosive growth in AI has created more opportunities for us to right our wrongs to the planet and future generations. The technology is still in its early days which inspires optimism for the full extent of the good it can do; but it will require a proactive approach from researchers, companies, and regulators (who haven’t been shy in expressing their concerns). You can also make a difference in this space. Whether it’s pursuing a job in climate tech, carrying out academic research, or stewarding capital towards businesses focused on making an impact; we all have a part to play in the journey toward saving our planet!

EJ implications of the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Author: Jayla Cornelius ’23

On February 6th at 4:17 am, destruction hit both the south-central Turkish city of Nurdağı and the Syrian city of Jinderis. Tectonic plates stretching eleven miles underneath this city began moving side by side in opposite directions which, in geological studies, is referred to as a strike-slip fault. The Arabian and Anatolian plates moved past each other and weakened the structural integrity of ten neighboring cities in the area. In the middle of the night, the fault yielded and the crust began to crack, releasing stored energy that was the equivalent of “roughly 8 million tons of TNT.” 23 million people have been directly affected and 7,000 of those residents have been declared deceased. Those near the epicenter of this 7.8 magnitude earthquake stood by in mourning, some of which took shelter in their cars, and waited for the possible aftershock of this already gruesome natural phenomenon. For those unfamiliar, aftershocks commonly take place after the main quake but as time passes and the earth begins to settle, they become increasingly rare. You can think of an aftershock as a reverberation in the earth’s crust as seismic waves (which dissipate the further you are from the epicenter) travel in a curving path due to changes in composition, pressure, and temperature within the layers of the Earth. The most dangerous period after the quake usually takes place within three days of the main shock for inland earthquakes such as the one in Turkey and Syria. For earthquakes occurring in the sea area, they can be seen as much as ten days later.

On February 15th, Sean Kivlehan, assistant professor of Global Health and Population at Harvard, spoke about his Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) and how shelter remains a huge concern in multiple areas of Syria which was already going through a separate humanitarian crisis. The health system was deemed fragmented and inadequate even prior to the earthquake and the level of aid required only skyrocketed further. The interruption of work and limited/nonexistent access to education force people to relocate to unknown and possibly more dangerous environments. These sensitive events surrounding Turkey and Syria have affected people all over the world and the uncertain future of both the infrastructure and economy leaves many people restless and worried.

As an environment-related blog, we hope to not only inform students about the events occurring all over the world but also emphasize the emotional toll that such events take on a number of us. The devastation ravaged on these Turkish and Syrian cities can be mitigated with more effective enforcement of building code regulations that require infrastructure plans to meet a certain standard before beginning construction. While we cannot change the past, we can learn from these events and require that both politicians and developers in cities all over the world provide an adequate level of diligence when attempting to sign off on plans that may not be up to standard for the area. This post is not meant to dive into the structural reasons of why more buildings than necessary collapsed during this event, but it is important to know that you can also help by focusing on the engineers tasked with building these structures as a way to advocate for environmental justice. For the Turkish and Syrian aid relief specifically, organizations seeking to provide aid should be in correspondence with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). As always, please visit the links below and/or explore articles on your own to stay informed.

Helpful Links:

The Turkey-Syria earthquake’s humanitarian challenges

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1154913148/turkey-earthquake-fault-lines-syria#:~:text=This%20was%20a%20%22strike%2Dslip,sliding%20past%20the%20Anatolian%20Plate.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/11/1156305956/earthquake-survivors-in-northern-syria-already-ravaged-by-war-are-unable-to-rece#:~:text=Ghaith%20Alsayed%2FAP-,People%20walk%20past%20collapsed%20buildings%20on%20Thursday%20in%20the%20town,massive%20earthquake%20devastated%20the%20region.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/02/turkey-earthquake-death-toll-seismic-waves/672978/

Good News Friday 3/10/23 – High Seas Treaty Protects Marine Wildlife

Author: Ezekiel Akinsanya ’26

Image Credit: Elianne Dipp via pexels.com

Welcome to the first edition of Good News Friday in 2023! Today we’re taking a look at the “High Seas Treaty”, the latest agreement to come out of the United Nations. The treaty centers on protecting the ocean and marine wildlife.

71% percent of our world is covered in water, with 97% of this water coming from our oceans. Who’s in control of the various oceans around the world has historically been one of the most contested areas within international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has established that a nation’s territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from its coastline, with an additional 200 nautical miles designated as an exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, this framework only applies to one-third of the world’s oceans. The remaining two-thirds are facing threats such as overfishing, shipping traffic, and the impact of climate change, rendering the majority of the ocean to decline.

Talks on protecting international waters started in 2004, but currently, only 1% of international waters are being protected. Saturday, March 4th 2023 marked the most significant progress we’ve made towards protecting international waters in what is being coined the “High Seas Treaty.” This legal framework presented by UNCLOS will work towards protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by regulating deep-sea mining, changing shipping routes, and investing in marine conservation. This agreement comes as part of a host of efforts to work towards The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 14).

Image Credit: Niklas Jaromin via pexels.com

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 10% of marine species were found to be at risk of extinction, and Dr. Ngoze Oguguah, the chief research officer at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research claims “the two biggest causes [of extinction] are overfishing and pollution.” It is crucial that we protect these species because over a quarter of our emissions are absorbed by the ocean. A single whale, for instance, can sequester 33 tons of carbon, which is comparable to the yearly absorption of almost 1500 trees.

Additionally, in a post-pandemic environment where the effectiveness of globalization is being questioned, this international cooperation is a massive success. The treaty also pioneers equitable climate policy; wealthy nations are pledging money to ensure the delivery of the treaty and will support developing countries in adhering to the treaty. Notable examples are the EU and the US announcing nearly €820 million ($872 million) and $6 billion respectively for international ocean protection.

However, the treaty doesn’t call for sunshine and roses just yet, the level of protection that will take place remains unsolved. Dr. Simon Walmsley, the marine chief advisor of WWF-UK said that “there was debate, particularly about what a marine protected area is. Is it sustainable use or fully protected?” Despite the progress the Treaty has made, there is still work to be done and we must continue to address these challenges and work toward finding solutions that will protect the marine environment and support life for generations to come.

That’s all for this week! Check back next week (or after spring break) for more encouraging environmental news. If you’d like to share some good news with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Sources:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1134157

https://www.noaa.gov/maritime-zones-and-boundaries

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64839763

https://news.yahoo.com/un-high-seas-treaty-why-030328266.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/05/high-seas-treaty-agreement-to-protect-international-waters-finally-reached-at-un

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/natures-solution-to-climate-change-chami

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/03/eu-and-us-pledge-funds-to-protect-oceans-at-panama-conference

Louisiana’s Slavery-Era Cemeteries Halt the Construction of a Petrochemical Facility

By: Jayla Cornelius

During the course of American history, many laws have been passed to help preserve historic sites and prevent large companies from unearthing sacred lands. The 1966 National Historic Preservation Act is an example of environmentalists’ attempts to require land developers to do adequate research and testing before obtaining approval for a construction site. The goals of this act were put into practice when Formosa, a Taiwanese industrial company, was met with swift backlash from community members living on the Buena Vista plantation in northern Louisiana. Residents hope to continue to formulate a political and legal case to prevent this facility’s construction, otherwise known as the “Sunshine Project.” In order to do this, they first had to dive about 200 years into past records to understand what truly took place on this plantation site that kept a long history of slaves in bondage.

Although there were many enslaved women, men, and children kept/kidnapped throughout the history of the United States, this case draws our attention to a particular young child named Rachel who died at the age of 11 in 1832 under unthinkable conditions. Although this is not the focus of this article, I would briefly like to acknowledge the “constant threat of disease, insufficient food, and rampant abuse” that many young children endured throughout all sections of America. Rachel’s name, amongst others, was uncovered fairly recently in a Louisiana archive and helps build the foundation to proving that this chemical facility may not only be of great environmental risk to surrounding residents but may also risk gravesite desecration.

Jane Patton, a campaign manager with a Washington DC organization, quotes that “the spiritual and religious significance of gravesites has been upheld by courts of law in the United States and in other countries over and over again.” Efforts from Jane and other members of grassroots organizations has continued to give voices and humanity back to people who had their identities taken away by slavery.

Fellow lovers of nature may understand me when I say that our environment often tells us all we need to know and speaks to us in various ways. In this case, nature tries to tell us the history of this terrain through various anomalies that might indicate gravesites. One of these anomalies is the clusters of vegetation still seen in otherwise flat and cultivated areas that could be remnants of past magnolia and/or willow trees that were often planted to celebrate the lives of those lost.

Telling the history of this land makes this story more real for people. The potential unearthing of Black residents’ ancestors and the potentially harmful chemicals being released from the site may be enough to halt the construction of yet another chemical plant inconveniently placed in a minority neighborhood. In this environmental justice series, I hope to provide short but coherent glimpses into injustices happening around the country. While I will continue to highlight environmental injustices that have negatively impacted many communities, I believe this story shows the brighter side of what can happen if we remain active on the front end to combat this harmful issue.

There is a long tradition, specifically in the South, of Black leaders doing their own extensive research and investigations to reclaim their land and, with that, their identities. This example in northern Louisiana shows how we as a community can combat the growing dangers of new fossil fuel infrastructure and work to protect any and all “descendants of men and women who were kidnapped from Africa; who survived the Middle Passage; who were transported to a foreign land; and then sold on auction blocks and enslaved.”

Here are some resources for anyone interested in exploring this issue further:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/20/formosa-sunshine-project-louisiana-rachel-buena-vista-plantation-taiwan

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_c58e7f22-3997-11ec-909f-9bdd7461a90c.html

https://www.reuters.com/legal/louisiana-judge-cancels-air-permits-controversial-plastics-plant-2022-09-15/

Good News Friday 5/6/22

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! Today, we’re covering the growth of wind power in the United States, a breakthrough in solar cell efficiency, and sustainability programs from cities around the world.

Image credit: Brett Sayles via pexels.com

Wind power becomes second-largest source of US electricity: According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity generation through wind power exceeded generation from coal- and nuclear-based sources to become the second-largest source of electricity nationally for the first time in American history on March 29. On that day, the combined wind turbines of the Lower 48 produced just over 2,000-gigawatt hours of electricity or 19% of the national energy mix. This follows a strong trend of growth in wind energy throughout the country. In the year 2000, for example, total annual US wind energy generation was approximately 6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh); by 2021, that number increased to 380 billion kWh.

2. Engineers create more efficient energy-producing cells: Engineers at MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently designed a thermophotovoltaic (i.e., capable of directly converting heat to electricity) cell with an efficiency of over 40%, which exceeds the efficiency of traditional steam turbines. The new design can generate electricity from a heat source ranging between 1,900 and 2,400 degrees C. For context, most commercial photovoltaic panels (i.e., capable of converting sunlight to electricity) have an average efficiency of 15% to 20%.

3. A review of global cities’ sustainability programs: Around the world, cities have made their own commitments to sustainability goals. Copenhagen, Denmark is on track to achieve net-zero by 2025, 25 years before the country’s national net-zero target. Mumbai, India recently accelerated its own net-zero plans, moving its carbon neutrality target up by 20 years from 2070 to 2050. And Paris, France is engaging in experiments about a “15 minute city,” or the idea that everyone living within a city should have access to essential urban services within a 15-minute walk or bike, limiting transportation emissions. For extra details on these cities’ sustainability efforts, visit the original article here.

That’s all for this week! Check back next week for more positive environmental news. In the meantime, if you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Good News Friday 4/15/22

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! Today, we’re covering Apple’s use of low-carbon aluminum, the development of a solar cell capable of generating electricity at night, and the creation of a new project to better understand thawing permafrost and help Arctic communities.

Image credit: Torsten Dettlaff via pexels.com

Apple sources low-carbon aluminum: Apple recently announced that it intends to use the “first commercial-purity primary aluminum at industrial scale,” produced through “the world’s first direct carbon-free aluminum smelting process,” in its iPhone SE products. This new aluminum is produced by ELYSIS, a joint venture by Apple, Rio Tinto, Alcoa, and the governments of Québec and Canada. While this might not sound immediately revolutionary, aluminum production is well-known as an extremely carbon-intensive process, with 11.5 tons of CO2 per ton of aluminum produced emitted on average. As a result, this innovation in the smelting process could have a significant impact on global emissions, not least because Apple is expected to sell 30 million iPhone SEs this year.

2. Engineers develop nighttime solar panels: Engineers at Stanford University have developed a solar cell that can generate some electricity at night. The cell, which “incorporates a thermoelectric generator, which can pull electricity from the small difference in temperature between the ambient air and the solar cell itself,” produces enough electricity to power some nighttime lighting and off- and/or mini-grid applications.

3. Major permafrost study to be launched: This week, a coalition of scientists, policy experts, and advocates announced a 6-year, $41 million project to “fill in gaps in monitoring across the Arctic of greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost, currently a source of uncertainty in climate models,” and to “develop policies to help mitigate the global impact of permafrost emissions and, locally in Alaska, assist Native communities that are struggling with thawing ground and problems that arise from it.” The Arctic Institute, for example, predicts that an increase in global temperatures of 3° C (5.4° F) could melt 30-85% of the Arctic’s top permafrost layers.

That’s all for this week! Check back next week for more positive environmental news. In the meantime, if you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Good News Friday 4/1/22

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! Today, we’re covering changes to car emission rules in California, a new threat to the invasive Burmese python in Florida, and the rediscovery of a “lost” bat species.

Image credit: Life of Pix via pexels.com

California regains right to set auto pollution rules: The Biden administration recently “restored California’s legal authority to set auto pollution and mileage rules that are tighter than federal standards, a potent climate policy that had been stripped away by former President Donald J. Trump,” according to the New York Times. Under California’s rules, car mileage will have to be continuously improved and tailpipe emissions cut at a rate faster than the federal standard. In 2019, transportation accounted for 41% (or approximately 171.5 million metric tons) of the state’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Image credit: Joshua Santos via pexels.com

2. Florida bobcat targets invasive python: Motion sensor cameras deployed by ecologists in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve recently captured a bobcat eating Burmese python eggs, a possible sign of natural competition to combat the invasive python’s population growth. The python predator species is suspected of causing significant population declines of local species like marsh rabbits, leading to the formation of efforts like the Python Elimination Program to limit their damage.

Image credit: Tsvetoslav Hristov via pexels.com

3. Experts rediscover critically endangered bat species: According to Bat Conservation International, a team of experts has recently rediscovered the Hill’s horseshoe bat, a critically endangered “lost” species not been observed for decades. As insectivores–i.e., insect eaters–bats are frequently viewed as keystone species, or “organisms that play a key role in and have a disproportionate impact on their surrounding ecosystem.” The rediscovery of such animals therefore provides some hope about the future of their native ecosystem.

That’s all for this week! Check back next week for more positive environmental news. In the meantime, if you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Good News Friday 3/18/22

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! Today, we’re covering

China completes first “Vertical Forest City”: In Huanggang, China, the city’s first Vertical Forest City Complex has recently been completed. Essentially a vertical greenspace, the approximately 500-person residential complex features balconies and plant installments containing over 5,000 shrubs and trees. This building joins a growing trend in urban planning of incorporating green spaces into building projects, which are touted as reducing energy consumption and removing carbon dioxide from the air. Like many other vertical forest projects around the world, Huanggang’s example is the product of architect Stefano Boeri’s designs. (For other examples of his work, see his website).

Image Credit: Carlo Martin Alcordo via pexels.com

2. UK grocery stores aim for refillable groceries: Five grocery stores and suppliers in the UK (Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, and CHEP) have joined the Refill Coalition (run by Unpackaged) and pledged to “roll out unpackaged options in-store as well as letting people fill containers with essentials during home deliveries” by the end of this year. This comes as the UK Government last year announced plans to phase out single-use plastics (it is estimated the UK uses 2.5 million metric tons of single-use plastic packaging annually).

Image Credit: Magda Ehlers via pexels.com

3. World leaders to develop plastic treaty: At an UN environment assembly in Nairobi, Kenya late last month, representatives from 173 countries agreed to develop treaty on plastics to be developed over the next two years. The ultimate goal of the treaty will be to eliminate plastic pollution. Approximately 300 million metric tons of plastic waste are produced each year, and of all 7 billion metric tons of plastic waste produced to date, only 10% has been recycled.

That’s all for this week! Check back next week for more positive environmental news. In the meantime, if you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Good News Friday 12/10/21

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Happy first post-classes Good News Friday! We hope you’ve had the chance to destress a bit before the semester fully wraps up. In the spirit of motivating you through the end of the semester, here is some more positive environmental news! Today, we’re covering India’s solar power expansion, Colombia’s efforts to confront environmental crimes, and McDonald’s Canada’s project to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledges to increase solar power: India’s leader recently pledged that his country would move away from its current dependence on coal to instead produce more energy via solar power and other renewables than its entire grid produces now by 2030. This comes after he made a pledge at the recent COP26 conference that India would aim to achieve net zero by 2070. As one of the largest energy consumers in the world, the majority of India’s electricity is sourced from coal, meaning this new goal could have a profound global impact on international efforts to fight climate change.

2. Colombian police will expand investigations of environmental crimes: Earlier this week, Colombia’s government announced that its national police would be deploying 100 criminal intelligence and investigation officers to target environmental crimes. These crimes include things like illegal mining, animal trafficking, and the targeting of environmental activists. As Colombia faces increasing environmental degradation, this new effort might provide some hope for the success of environmental initiatives there.

Image Credit: Mikechie Esparagoza via pexels.com

3. McDonald’s Canada aims to cut single-use plastics: By the end of this month, “McDonald’s Canada… will introduce wooden cutlery, wooden stir sticks, and paper straws at more than 1,400 of its restaurants across [Canada],” which will eliminate 840 tons of plastic waste. This could serve as a model for the almost 13,700 McDonald’s across the United States and nearly 40,000 McDonald’s restaurants around the world

That’s all for now! Check back next week for more positive environmental news, and until then, feel free to get in touch if you have environmental news to share and best of luck with the end of the semester!

Good News Friday 11/5/21

Author: Camellia Moors ’22

Hello and welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! In the midst of ongoing COP26 talks, we’re discussing some recent major climate announcements, including a fund for renewable energy projects in developing economies, financing for a clean energy transition in South Africa, and an international pledge to phase out coal-fired power plants.

A new fund for clean energy investments is formed: Several philanthropic organizations and international development banks joined forces this week to announce the formation of a $10.5 billion fund intended to “help emerging economies with growing energy needs make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources.” Known as the Global Energy Alliance, the group’s commitment comes because several large and/or developing nations recently called for the investment of $100 billion annually by developed countries for the purpose of furthering international climate goals.

2. South Africa to receive financing to phase out nonrenewable energy: In the wake of requests for international financial aid to achieve climate goals mentioned above, this week South Africa announced Britain, France, Germany, the U.S., and the EU will dedicate $8.5 billion towards South Africa’s efforts to “install more clean energy, accelerate the country’s transition away from coal power and cushion the blow for workers who may be affected by the shift.” Currently, South Africa accounts for approximately 17.8% of the world’s coal consumption, meaning this decision could have a significant impact on global carbon emissions.

Image Credit: Markus Spiske via Pexels.com

3. International coalition to pledge to phase out coal: The British government announced that it has brokered a deal between 18 unnamed countries at COP26 to phase out the use of domestic coal-fired power plants and eliminate funding for international coal projects. Coal as a fuel source emits a relatively large amount of carbon dioxide per kWh of electricity generated, making this commitment an important first step in the energy transition.

That’s all for this week! Tune in next time for more positive environmental news. In the meantime, if you have any good news you would like to share, please contact us!