Edition 04: February 7, 2025
The United States may be in crisis mode, but that doesn't mean progress on climate is stopping. So take some time to collect yourself and then get back to fighting for a better future!
📣 Right now the United States is experiencing a constitutional crisis and an attempted coup. Calls to action to limit the damage are changing day by day, and you can find them at 5Calls.
Scottish Court Overturns Approvals of Rosebank and Jackdaw Oil and Gas Fields
The Scottish Court of Session has overturned the approvals of two major fossil fuel development projects in the United Kingdom. The Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field projects were given permission to begin construction in 2023 and 2022, respectively, but the court ruled that both projects were unlawfully approved because the applications did not take into consideration the environmental impacts of burning all the fossil fuels that will be extracted from them. Now the developers must resubmit applications that include updated environmental impact assessments and then have them reviewed by the government again before any drilling — but hopefully none at all — can commence. This historic decision came after years of campaigning and multiple court cases filed by environmental groups, and they now hope the government will align with their own climate goals by denying permission for Rosebank and Jackdaw.
Source: David Bol writes for The Scotsman
Energy Storage Capacity in China Growing Exponentially
Last year alone China grew its energy storage capacity by a whopping 130%. Energy storage is a necessary part of our transition to clean energy because it helps make clean energy available even when it isn’t windy or sunny. Plus it helps reduce strain on grids during peak demand which in turn reduces costs and outages for customers. In 2023, China had 31 GW/66 GWh of energy storage capacity, but that number grew to 73 GW/168 GWh by the end of 2024. What’s particularly exciting about this growth is that large-scale projects are now responsible for 62% of the total capacity — which is up 52% compared to 2023. It’s safe to say that China is leading the way in proving that scaling up energy storage is possible in a short amount of time.
Source: Vincent Shaw writes for PV Magazine
Scientists Invent Biodegradable Replacement for Plastic Microbeads
Microbreads used in personal hygiene products like face washes and soaps are typically made of petroleum-based plastics, and because of that they have been banned in numerous countries. That’s why researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a biodegradable polymer that can be used as a replacement. The polymer in question is called poly(beta-amino esters), and it breaks down into sugars and amino acids instead of microplastics. Initial trials using this polymer show that it is more effective at cleansing than its plastic counterparts, and now researchers are getting ready for the first human trials using this polymer — meaning this breakthrough is one step closer to being used commercially.
Source: Kamrin Baker writes for Good Good Good
Episcopal Church Now Fully Divested from Fossil Fuels
The Episcopal Church is quite literally practicing what they preach. In 2015, they passed a mandate to divest their nearly $500 million in funds from the fossil fuel industry in order to align their finances with their scripture that calls for protecting the planet, and as of the beginning of this year, they are officially fully divested. It can feel like religious institutions do not care about the planet with the way some still blatantly deny the existence of climate change, but the Episcopal Church isn’t the only one taking action; they join a growing number of religous organizations and leaders advocating for climate action. So far hundreds have committed to divesting from the fossil fuel industry, and some — like Pope Francis — are even calling out the industry for their inaction.
Source: Mark Michael writes for The Living Church
Vermont’s Lawsuit Against Big Oil Allowed to Move Forward
Vermont filed a consumer protection lawsuit against major fossil fuel companies in 2021 for lying to the public about climate change and the role their products play in it. Numerous companies listed in the lawsuit have attempted to get the case thrown out or moved to a different court, but late last year a Vermont Superior Court Judge rejected those attempts. Now the lawsuit is expected to move to trial in state court, although no date has been set at this time. Vermont isn’t the only government trying to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable through litigation either; dozens of local and state governments are trying to do the same, and that’s why the industry is frantically filing countersuits — because they know if one government wins, there will be legal precedent to do it again and again.
Source: Abagael Giles writes for Vermont Public
Indigenous Activists Trying to Rewild Former Coal Mine Site
A coalition of Indigenous activists recently purchased a portion of a former strip coal mine site with the goal of rewilding the land — and stopping a federal prison from being built there. The Appalachian Rekindling Project is a Land Back initiative aimed at bringing traditional knowledge practices and displaced Indigenous peoples back to Appalachia, and they have purchased 63 acres in Eastern Kentucky slated for a proposed federal prison after they partnered with local residents who are not keen to replace the coal industry as their community’s main economic driver with the prison industry. The initiative aims to rewild the land using native flora and fauna — including a herd of bison — and show that a just transition should include Indigenous-led restoration efforts of the lands and waters destroyed by the fossil fuel industry.
Source: Katie Myers writes for Grist
Over 1 Million Riders Take Florida’s New Passenger Rail in First Year
It is not often that the United States gets new passenger rail, but this new rail line in Florida is helping show that the American people want more trains. Brightline is a regional passenger line in Florida that links Orlando to Miami with hourly departures, and it opened to the public in late 2023. What sets Brightline apart from other passenger rail is that it offers last mile transit options within a five-mile radius of stations that includes bikes, private taxis, and shared shuttles. Over 1.65 million riders took Brightline during its first full year of service, and because of that, plans are already underway to expand service to Tampa — and Disney World.
Source: Ryan Lynch writes for WFTV 9
Washington State Getting Ready for Solar Panel Recycling Law
In 2017, Washington State passed a law requiring solar companies operating in the state to provide customers with affordable and accessible recycling options for the panels they install. The start date for the law has been delayed multiple times over the years to ensure there is uniform recycling standards and enough recycling infrastructure for solar panels, but it is expected to finally go into effect this summer. This law still remains the only extended producer responsbility law for the solar industry in the United States, however, if the implementation goes smoothly, other states are expected to pass their own version of it.
Thank you Alaina :)