This week, we're exploring efforts to cut car emissions in multiple cities, the winners of the XPRIZE on carbon, and the continued growth of renewable energy in the United States.
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Cities embrace bikes and other transpiration reforms to reduce emissions: The cities of New York, London, and Paris have implemented measures to limit cars, such as cutting speed limits, charging traffic for entering city centers, and penalizing drivers of polluting cars. Early results show positive effects, including reduced travel times in New York, improved air quality and decreased traffic accidents in Paris, and a 33-39% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions in London. In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo introduced 50kph speed limits on the city's outer ring road in October, which has led to a 12% improvement in air quality and a 17% drop in traffic accidents over the following five months, as well as signs of lower congestion. Additional measures included higher parking fees for SUVs and a ban on motorized through-traffic from the city center. The city of Oslo has also embraced lower speed limits, car-free zones, and improvements to public transport, walking, and cycling. While these measures have helped reduce smog, the city still suffers from high levels of particulate pollution from other sources. The city of London has had an ultra-low emission zone in place for over five years, which initially covered a small area of the city center and has since been expanded to cover almost 600 square miles, making it the largest in the world. The data shows that the zone has cut emissions of nitrogen oxides by between 33% and 39%, which are air pollutants linked to lung problems, asthma, and inflammation, while foot traffic and spending in shops has not dropped.
Startup plans for air taxis in NYC: Archer Aviation plans to launch an electric air taxi network in New York City, allowing passengers to travel from Manhattan to nearby airports within 15 minutes. The company has partnered with United Airlines to offer air taxi rides as an add-on to traditional airline tickets, with a proposed network of nine core nodes, including airports and heliports. Archer is waiting for FAA approval of its five-seat eVTOL aircraft, dubbed Midnight, and aims to achieve certification by 2026, with plans to launch air taxi services in other cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.
NY pension funds push climate action: New York City's public pension funds are prepared to drop asset managers that do not comply with the city's climate plans. Asset managers, including BlackRock, must provide credible transition plans aligned with the city's goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040 by a June 30 deadline. Failure to provide actionable plans may lead to the pension funds putting their investment mandates out to bid, potentially replacing non-compliant managers.
XPRIZE announces carbon prize winners: The XPRIZE competition for carbon removal, backed by the Musk Foundation, awarded $100 million to companies that remove carbon from the atmosphere, with the grand prize of $50 million going to Houston-based startup Mati Carbon. The company uses enhanced rock weathering technology to permanently draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide by applying finely crushed basalt on agricultural lands. Other winners include NetZero, Vaulted Deep, UNDO Carbon, Planetary, and Project Hajar, which received smaller prizes for their carbon removal technologies.
US renewable energy continues to scale: In an op-ed, Carl Pope writes that the US has made significant progress in expanding its renewable energy capacity, with over half of its power coming from zero-carbon sources and an expected 84% increase in renewable energy generation in the next five years. Despite this progress, the Trump Administration's promotion of fossil fuels is hindering the country's goals of reindustrialization and energy dominance, with cheap and clean energy being a key tool to achieve these goals. The private sector is driving the growth of renewable energy, with 97% of new electricity added to the US grid in Trump's first year being renewable-sourced, and it is up to local communities and businesses to take responsibility for planning and meeting their energy needs to avoid power shortages and blackouts.
UK confirms major carbon capture project: The UK government and Eni have confirmed a flagship carbon capture project, HyNet North West, which will capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from industrial plants around Liverpool and Manchester from 2028. The project includes a 38-mile pipeline that will initially carry 4.5mn tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, rising to 10mn tonnes a year after 2030. The project is also expected to create 2,000 jobs. The project has received £2bn in supply chain contracts and is part of a larger effort to support the UK's energy transition and net zero target, with the government offering almost £22bn of support over 25 years to HyNet and another project.
China pushes back on Trump order on seabed mining: China's foreign ministry claims that President Trump's executive order to accelerate seabed mining in international waters "violates international law and harms the overall interests of the international community." The US has not ratified the Law of the Sea Convention, allowing Trump to unilaterally decide on issuing permits for seabed mining, which many countries and environmental groups oppose due to environmental risks. The Trump administration argues that extracting minerals from the ocean floor is crucial for advanced technologies, but critics say it will harm the ocean and the country.
Carbon-positive hotel in Denver: The Populus Hotel in Denver claims to be the first "carbon-positive" hotel in the United States, meaning it sequesters more carbon than it emits. The hotel's sustainable features include a concrete mix that emits 30% less carbon dioxide, repurposed materials, and a biodigester that turns food waste into fertilizer. However, climate change experts question the effectiveness of the hotel's carbon offset measures, such as tree planting, and argue that real sustainability requires changes in governmental policy rather than individual actions.
Belgium brewery installs heat pumps: New Belgium Brewing is implementing an industrial-sized heat pump from AtmosZero to reduce its carbon emissions, with the first unit to be installed in May. The AtmosZero heat pump, described as "the F-150 of heat pumps", can produce steam from ambient air without needing extra ducts or installation, making it a more efficient and cost-effective option. The new heat pump is expected to shave off about 9% of New Belgium Brewing's carbon emissions, and its operating cost will become even more competitive as electric grids transition to renewable energy sources.
COP30 president has big expectations for China: Andre Correa do Lago, the president of COP30, expects China to set "ambitious" climate targets. China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, is developing nationally determined contributions to be published in the months ahead. Lago believes China can serve as a lesson to other nations that the energy transition can bring about economic rewards, despite its struggles to reduce coal consumption.
Mass coral bleaching: Eighty-four percent of the world's coral reefs are now impacted by the worst reef bleaching event in recorded history, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative. The bleaching event, which began in 2023, is blamed on warming oceans and has surpassed the previous bleaching event from 2014-17. Scientists emphasize that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to protect coral reefs and that inaction will have devastating consequences.