Tim Treuer

Unpacking the latest IPCC report: There was lots of talk this week about the IPCC's new Working Group III report on Mitigation. Robinson Meyer had some good if gloomy analysis in the Atlantic about the diminished prospects for a 1.5-degree future, but I thought the big dimension he missed was the importance of addressing methane and just how rapid an impact that could have, which the Washington Post recently had a piece on.

 Robert Denney

Super-cycle corridors in Milan: Milan recently unveiled a project that will add 750 kilometers of new bike paths in the city. The project, named “Cambio,” will implement “super-cycle corridors” that connect with the city’s existing bike paths. The goal is to ensure 80% of homes and services in Milan are located within 1 kilometer of each bike route. Milan accelerated their move to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over cars after witnessing a significant drop in traffic and pollution during their COVID-19 lockdown.

 Paul Hawken

The true cost of direct air capture: In the far reaches of techno-optimism are those who wish to “suck” (their word) carbon dioxide out of the air, liquefy it and inject it into deep geological formations. DAC: direct air capture. Swiss company ClimeWorks just received $650 million to build a plant that will sequester 40,000 tons of CO2 per year, the emissions for a city of 6,000 people. Doing the math, that comes out to a capital investment of $16,250 per ton. Best case future operating costs would add an additional $90 per ton for renewable energy. Assuming a lifetime investment of 50 years, this would mean adding $325/ton in capital costs PER YEAR to whatever their annual operating costs prove to be. Now imagine what $650 million could do for the people and ecosystems where there is active restoration of mangroves, wetlands, seagrass meadows, tidal salt marshes, grasslands, kelp farms, and forests. Employment estimates for DAC: 400. Employment estimates for ecosystem restoration: 30,000. 

 Milica Koscica

Climate justice in architecture education: This (fairly) new architecture program at Bard College uses the dual lens of justice and climate change to train its students to interrogate how the discipline is practiced and what it produces—who it engages, who benefits and at what cost. Very different approach from traditional architecture programs and one that can hopefully encourage students to design and build different, better outcomes.

 Kavya Gopal

Europe’s new zero-waste action plan: An exciting development in the realm of No Waste is taking place in Europe. The recently published circular economy action plan is tackling the culture of ‘take, make, break, and throw away’ head-on. The plan includes right-to-repair laws, bans on planned obsolescence, and digital “passports” disclosing the environmental impact of products. Barring a veto from the European Parliament Council, the rules could go into effect potentially by the end of the year!  

 Emily Jensen

Indigenous rights in clean energy development:  This tiny toad is at the center of a dispute over a geothermal power plant project in Nevada, and highlights the importance of working directly with Indigenous people for consultation, consent, and compensation before starting any new renewable project. This community toolkit on free, prior and informed consent (which we found through research on Solar) outlines best practices.

 Courtney White

Reviving acequia water systems: This story from Spain about the revival of a centuries-old water system called an acequia struck close to home for me. The contoured ditches have historically been used to recharge groundwater supplies and grow crops in dry country. The technology came from North Africa and the Spanish brought it to New Mexico in the 1600s, where they are still the heart of local communities. Similar water system revivals are happening in Peru, Sri Lanka, and India.

 Claire Inciong Krummenacher

Indigenous groups defend the Amazon: Brazil has set a record for annual deforestation during the first three months of 2022 with a 64% increase from 2021 in square kilometers lost—an especially concerning development given that Brazil is in its rainy season, a time in which loggers and farmers don’t normally clear trees. The same day the data was released, 6,000+ representatives from 176 Indigenous groups marched on the National Congress in Brasilia to demand protection for Indigenous land and rights.

 Amy Boyer

The upside of rising gas prices: Rocky Mountain Institute has an optimistic assessment on how rising prices will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels: "The fossil fuel system should be managed for decline and not growth."

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