Sustainability Weekly
Fridays are for…
Green Infrastructure, FEMA Flood Resilience, Renewable Energy Goals, and more!
by Alli DiGiacomo
Happy Friday! This Saturday, July 20th is National Icecream Day, coming just in time to save us from New York’s third heat wave. City councilman Lincoln Restler from Brooklyn plans to introduce a bill this week that would require landlords to buy, install and maintain air-conditioning units or cooling systems for tenants during the summer, with fines of up to $1,250 per day for noncompliance. The idea behind the legislation is to update the existing housing code so that building owners are just as responsible for keeping people cool in the summer as they are for keeping them warm in the winter. The bill would apply to high-rises, walk-ups and multifamily buildings, including those owned by the city.
Stay tuned for how this plays out, as well as a special Olympics edition next week!
Keep reading below for more sustainability news!
T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S
NYC UNVEILED NEW POROUS PAVEMENT THAT WILL HELP PREVENT FLOODING
New York City has introduced porous pavement to combat severe flooding, especially in areas like Brooklyn's Borough Park, Sunset Park, and Kensington, which have been heavily impacted by torrential downpours. Following the deadly floods in 2023, the city plans to spend $35 million over the next year to install seven miles of this water-absorbing pavement. The pavement, supported by drainage cells and stones, diverts stormwater from the overburdened combined sewer system. This initiative is part of the city's broader strategy to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to the climate crisis, which is projected to cause sea levels and annual rainfall to rise significantly by the 2030s and beyond.
FEMA WILL NOW CONSIDER CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN IT REBUILDS AFTER FLOODS
FEMA is revising its disaster recovery policies to include climate change impacts, aiming to end the cycle of rebuilding in unsafe areas. Traditionally, FEMA defined floodplains based on a 1% annual chance of flooding, known as the 100-year floodplain. However recently with increasing climate change effects, this standard often underestimates flood risks.
Under a new executive order from President Biden, FEMA will now consider future flood risks influenced by climate change, such as sea level rise and erosion, when rebuilding after disasters. This will lead to constructing higher-elevated and better-fortified buildings, particularly in coastal and river areas. This shift is intended to break the cycle of destruction and reconstruction, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars and increasing long-term community resilience.
The new rule involves rebuilding structures to at least the 500-year floodplain standard, especially for critical infrastructure, and raising buildings on stilts or pilings where necessary. This change, which might cost an additional $150 million over ten years, is viewed as a necessary investment to prevent future damages. Local updates to building standards like those in Houston post-Hurricane Harvey have already shown positive results in mitigating flood impacts.
NEW REPORT PREDICTS RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR IS ON TRACK TO HIT 2030 GOALS
New research by RMI, supported by the Bezos Earth Fund, reveals that the renewable energy sector is on track to meet net-zero goals by 2030, outpacing the International Energy Agency’s predictions. The exponential growth in solar, wind, and battery capacity is driving this progress, potentially allowing renewables to supply over a third of global electricity by 2030, up from 12% today.
Countries like China and those in Europe, as well as several in the Middle East, Africa, and eight other nations (including Uruguay and Denmark), are leading the way in renewable energy deployment. While the shift away from fossil fuels is accelerating, the fossil fuel demand for electricity is expected to decline by 30% between 2022 and 2030. This transition is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically advantageous, offering job growth, stable supply chains, and reduced energy prices. Solar energy, now one of the cheapest forms of electricity, could see prices drop to $20/MWh by 2030.
To maintain this momentum, barriers to renewable energy deployment must be removed, grid infrastructure needs to improve, and there needs to be an acceleration of growth in the Global South. Clean energy growth is essential for achieving net-zero goals and ensuring long-term energy security and affordability.
MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
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Germany has installed more solar capacity than consumer demand requires, SEB Research found, pushing energy prices into negative territory.
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The cities stripping out concrete for earth and plants.
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A news outlet in France has been fined for broadcasting climate change denial.
A startup is making butter out of CO2.