Sustainability Weekly
Fridays are for…
Women’s History Month, Clean Energy, Tap Water, Marine Fungi, and more!
by Alli DiGiacomo
Happy Friday! March is Women’s History Month, and tomorrow is International Women's Day. A few ways you can celebrate are by supporting women-owned sustainable businesses, following your favorite women advocates on social media, donating, and educating yourself and others. Some of my personal favorite female leaders in sustainability are Greta Thunberg, Sylvia Earle, and Kotchakorn Voraakhom. This article highlights 6 female architects advocating for sustainability in design.
Keep reading for sustainability news…
T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S
AMERICAN CLEAN POWER ASSOCIATION RELEASED NEW REPORT ON THE STATE OF CLEAN POWER IN 2024 IN THE U.S.
According to a new report by American Clean Power Association's 2024 there was a major surge in clean energy installations, pushing total operational capacity past 300 gigawatts. “It took more than 20 years for the U.S. to install the first 100 GW of clean power, five years to install the next 100 GW, and three years to install the most recent 100 GW,” the report says. The U.S. brought more new power generating capacity online in 2024 than it has in 20 years, and renewables/storage accounted for 93% of it. Other key takeaways include land-based wind being the most abundant clean power source in the U.S., with the first large-scale offshore wind installation that came online in 2024. Also, nearly 80% of the nation’s operational clean power capacity is located in Republican districts, and 85% of newly commissioned clean energy manufacturing. Solar energy set a record by more than doubling installations from Q3 to Q4, with Texas in the lead as the top solar state.
SCIENTISTS IN HAWAII ARE TRAINING HUNGRY MARINE FUNGI TO EAT OCEAN PLASTICS
Scientists at the University of Hawaii have discovered marine fungi that can break down polyurethane plastic, offering a potential natural solution to ocean pollution. Researchers found that over 60% of fungi collected from Hawaii’s nearshore environments could consume plastic, and some increased their feeding rates by 15% in just three months. This is a breakthrough that could lead to biotechnological applications for plastic waste removal on a larger scale. Plastic in the environment today can take hundreds of years and is nearly impossible to degrade using existing technologies. Experts caution that while such biodegradable solutions are promising, reducing plastic production and implementing global policies remain the most effective strategies for tackling plastic pollution at its source.
EWG UPDATED THE TAP WATER DATABASE, REVEALING CONTAMINANTS IN U.S. WATER
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) latest update to its Tap Water Database reveals widespread contamination in U.S. drinking water, with millions of Americans exposed to harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive substances. Analyzing data from nearly 50,000 water systems between 2021 and 2023, EWG identified 324 contaminants present at levels far exceeding health-based standards, including 563 utilities reporting unsafe levels of PFAS (“forever chemicals”). While some states are taking action, regulation is fragmented, leaving individuals responsible for filtering their water. Despite new federal regulations on six PFAS chemicals introduced in 2024, outdated EPA standards continue to leave many unprotected (despite the EPA’s mandate to report drinking water data, it has never released a comprehensive database, making it difficult for the public to access information). On top of all the pending regulatory setbacks from the current administration, drinking water protections are at risk.
Check your local water quality and find guidance on filtration options here.
MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
President Trump signed an executive order directing the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, to investigate ways to boost timber production across national forests and other public lands. The order slams “onerous” policies that have “prevented full utilization” of U.S. timber resources, likely referring to environmental regulations such as the Endangered Species Act.
China wants to use nuclear fusion for clean power generation at scale by 2050, according to the country’s state-owned atomic company, China National Nuclear Corp.
Rivian announced plans to expand internationally.
National park workers are more important than you think. Here’s what they do and why we need them.
China plans to ramp up its efforts to rein in emissions, expanding its emissions trading system beyond power plants to to include industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement. “Li also confirmed China intends to continue to play a key role in diplomacy on emissions reduction, as the U.S. retreats from international cooperation,” Bloomberg reported.
Temporary 3D-printed housing helps homeless Californians get back on their feet.
The Government Accountability Office said that Congress can’t review (or repeal) the Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver that lets California set its own vehicle emissions standards.
A new report shows that a year after London expanded its low-emissions zone, air quality in the city has improved, with nitrogen dioxide levels across 2024 down significantly.
New wind turbine blades in the U.K. will be painted black to help prevent bird deaths.
NYC’s Inwood Hill Park Looks Ahead After a Fall Fire Season.