Environment
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The US officially rejoins the Paris climate change agreement
One of the first things President Biden did after his inauguration was to sign an executive order saying the US will rejoin the Paris Agreement. Today, that move is official.
The future of diamonds is in recaptured CO2 pollution
The program resumed in 1951 and, by 1954, had succeeded in creating the first commercially viable lab-grown diamond. Gem-quality lab-grown diamonds wouldn’t arrive in jewelry displays until the 1980s.
IKEA will help turn a Swedish city into a sustainable community
IKEA is moving beyond the confines of the eco-friendly home to work on sustainable urban living. The flat-pack giant is partnering with the municipality of Helsingborg in its native Sweden on a green community project, known as H22, that takes in agriculture, retail and housing. In the Drottninghög suburb, IKEA will help establish an urban farming marketplace with an eye to upskilling residents and creating new jobs and businesses.
China is launching a public data platform to name and shame polluters
China is about to launch a data platform that lets the public and officials catch companies violating emissions rules.
Amazon's next offices in Virginia will include a spiraling rooftop forest
Amazon has unveiled the second phase of its HQ2 headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and the buildings will revolve around nature and sustainability.
First commercial biofuel booster rocket launches in Maine
BluShift Aerospace has successfully tes launched what it says is the first commercial biofuel booster rocket.
GM plans to exclusively sell electric vehicles by 2035
GM has unveiled plans to exclusively sell electric vehicles by 2035, dropping combustion cars entirely.
Microsoft's sustainability report is a lot more interesting as a 'Minecraft' map
Microsoft has spiced up its sustainability report with a 'Minecraft' map that reflects the company's environmental goals.
Formula One champion Jenson Button will compete in Extreme E
Former Formula One champion Jenson Button is joining Extreme E. Lewis Hamilton, the current Formula One title holder, and Nico Rosberg, the 2016 champion, have created their own teams for the electric motorsport.
The UN created a game about protecting the ozone layer
The UN has created a mobile game, 'Reset Earth,' that tasks you with saving the ozone layer.
Methane emissions declined slightly in 2020 amid lower oil and gas production
The IEA says the sector's emissions need to drop by over 70 percent by 2030.
Biden elevates science advisor to cabinet role for the first time
President-elect Joe Biden has named Eric Lander as OSTP director and presidential science advisor, putting the advisor in the cabinet for the first time.
LivingPackets will trial its next-gen smart delivery parcels in France
LivingPackets is one step closer to making the traditional cardboard box redundant. Boulanger, a major electronics retailer in France, will adopt the packaging for orders that originate from one of its stores in Paris. LivingPackets says the pilot has three basic purposes.
Lasso is working on a recycling center for the home
The collection boxed could merely be redistributed to manufacturers and turned into new products that don’t require any additional materials. Aldous Hicks, CEO of Lasso, believes that everyone should treat recycling like washing clothes and dishes.
Saudi Arabia is planning a 100-mile line of car-free smart communities
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is promising to build a network of smart cities that won’t have any cars or roads. It’s called The Line, due to its arrangement of ”hyper-connected future communities,” and will form part of NEOM, a $500 billion project announced in October 2017. According to the prince, the development will offer “ultra-high-speed transit,” autonomous vehicles and an urban layout that ensures basic facilities, such as schools and medical clinics, are never more than a five-minute walk away.
EVs made up more than half of car sales in Norway last year
Norway has spent decades planning its transition to EVs. Now its seeing the results of all that work.
Scientists turn CO2 into jet fuel
Scientists have turned CO2 into jet fuel, hinting at a future where aircraft could have net zero emissions without relying on electric motors.
Xiaomi is the next big phone brand to remove the charger from the box
Xiaomi is joining Apple (and possibly Samsung) in removing the charger from the box for its next big phone — the Mi 11 will go without.
Denmark plans to end all offshore oil and gas pumping by 2050
Denmark will end offshore oil and gas pumping by 2050 to make a clearer stand on climate change.
US, Europe and SpaceX launch a satellite to track rising global sea levels
NASA, ESA, and SpaceX have launched the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite to track rising sea levels around the world and help study climate change.