The Science Based Targets initiative, which grants certifications to companies deemed on track to reduce global warming, is dealing with staff members protesting the organization's embrace of carbon offsets. The staffers expressed concern about potential greenwashing and said the CEO and board decision was "unduly influenced by lobbyists, driven by potential conflicts of interest and poor adherence to existing governance procedures," while threatening further action. The board defended offsets, saying they are "an additional tool to tackle climate change."

Approximately 2,600 gigawatts of energy and storage capacity in the US are actively seeking grid interconnection, with wind, solar and battery storage making up more than 95% of all active capacity, according to a study led by Berkeley Lab. With most interconnection requests being canceled or withdrawn, this mounting backlog has grown to be a significant bottleneck for project development. Major interconnection reforms were adopted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2023, but they have not been implemented in most regions.

Researchers in South Florida trying to protect the coral reefs have turned to biodegradable straws in an effort to prevent fish from dining on sections of reefs built in laboratories. "They treat it kind of like popcorn," says researcher Kyle Pisano. The team says the fortresses built with drinking straws have increased the survival rate of transplanted coral to 90%, no small savings when the pieces run more than $100 each.

Electric-vehicle charging stations are connected and running software that involves the electrical grid and payment systems, making them a target for threat actors. "Providers need to think of their products as critical infrastructure and a critical component of our national security," says EVPassport CEO Hooman Shahidi.

Artificial intelligence could support many aspects of recycling, from maintaining infrastructure and improving sortation to modeling interactions in chemical recycling, said panelists during the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference in Texas. Applying AI to chemical recycling is a focus for Google X, said executive Rey Banatao.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced limits to the amount of "forever chemicals" -- which are linked to increased cancer risks, among other health concerns -- in drinking water and estimates that the standard will reduce exposure to the chemicals for around 100 million people. The agency also has finalized rules meant to lower cancer cases by requiring more than 200 chemical plants across the US to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants and perform air monitoring at their perimeters.

More than 500,000 small- to mid-sized farms have disappeared over the last 40 years in favor of industrial agricultural engines, but clean energy and other energy transition solutions can help reverse the decline, says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The USDA is directing billions of dollars toward sustainable farming practices that could help domestic producers compete internationally and recognizes the role renewables-hosting plays in revenue streams for farmers.

Cities can help mitigate the environmental and health effects of climate change by embracing urban agriculture, writes CEF Group CEO Maninder Singh. Cultivating food crops in and around urban centers can reduce carbon emissions associated with food transport, improve soil health, increase cities' aesthetic appeal, limit urban "heat island" effects and increase community engagement while also providing residents with fresh, locally grown produce, Singh writes.

As environmental consciousness continues to rise globally, the packaging sector faces increasing pressure to innovate for sustainability. This piece reviews the top 10 sustainable packaging solutions, from biodegradable plastics and recycled materials to novel packaging designs and reusable packaging.

-Karen