Know Your ABC’s: Acting Bipartisan for Climate

No More HFCS, Please!

😊 The Good News - The US has joined 137 nations in ratifying a binding agreement that will help curb climate change. This international climate treaty – known as the Kigali Amendment – is key to a brighter future: it asks countries to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs.

🥾 Follow This Path - HFCs are thousands of times as powerful as CO2 in speeding up climate change, and the U.S. is one of the largest producers and consumers of them. This is America’s chance to lead by example. The country is already developing and exporting alternatives to these super pollutants that are commonly used in air conditioners and refrigerators, but joining this climate treaty takes the commitment even further. The hope is it will compel other countries to join in on the agreement too.

Dublin’s Answer To The Energy Crisis? Data Centers

😊 The Good News - The Russian war on Ukraine has put Europe in an energy crisis. (Okay, we’re not at the good part quite yet). The cost of heating is expected to skyrocket this winter, but a startup in Dublin, called Codema, has found a unique solution: data centers. These technology behemoths consume 1% of global electricity and contribute 2% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Codema is moving waste heat from an Amazon data center in Dublin to buildings and homes that need this energy.

🥾 Follow This Path - This solution is exciting because the number of data centers around the world is only expected to significantly increase, and they’re typically energy and greenhouse gas-intensive. It’s a win-win situation: reduced energy usage at the data center and lower energy costs for nearby buildings and homes.

Pump Up The (Water) — Pump It Up For Climate Action

😊 The Good News - A new, joint study by researchers in the UK and Bangladesh has uncovered that, in a happy accident, Bangladeshi farmers are helping to manage floods. They pump out water from the ground in the dry season to irrigate crops, which frees up space for flood waters during the wet season.

🥾 Follow This Path - While pumping water from the ground during the dry season is generally troublesome, the situation in Bangladesh is more complex because of the country’s geography and warm climate. This makes the region act like a sponge, soaking up excess rainwater. It’s a great example of how local communities can make farming practices more sustainable in a way that fits their home and lifestyle.

No More Gaslighting in California

😊 The Good News - California has become the first US state to ban natural gas furnaces and water heaters in homes. This ban will go into effect in 2030, and builders will be required to install zero-emission appliances. Although many local governments in California have discouraged the use of natural gas appliances in new buildings, this ban is a first-of-its-kind.

🥾 Follow This Path - This is not just a great decision for our planet, but also for our health. Studies have shown that natural gas appliances constantly leak, affecting air quality inside homes. Let’s see if other states will follow suit in transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Man(grove) — That’s A Good Combination

😊 The Good News - Mangrove forests are highly effective in helping mitigate climate change; they sequester carbon and protect coastlines from storms. The Philippines began a nationwide mangrove restoration effort in the mid-2010s, which was only successful in one area. That is, where the local indigenous community participated in the efforts.

🥾 Follow This Path - Indigenous knowledge is invaluable in understanding climate change and mitigating its effects. I’m glad that the Philippines is publically recognizing this, and I hope that more countries worldwide can work on nature-based climate solutions that integrate this traditional knowledge.

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