This week’s Current Climate brings news about the business of sustainability, highlighting the issue of increasing waste in landfills due to rising e-commerce sales. A significant portion of paper, cardboard, and plastic waste ends up in landfills, posing a challenge for environmental sustainability. Amazon’s AI model, the Package Decision Engine, has been successful in reducing packaging waste by helping make decisions at scale, saving at least 500,000 tons of packaging a year.
On the topic of green hydrogen, which has been hailed as a carbon-free fuel that could help clean up various industries and aid in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, there are hurdles to its implementation. Despite years of hype, fundraising, and government support, there is pessimism surrounding the ramp-up of the green hydrogen market. Companies like ExxonMobil and Plug Power are facing challenges with proposed guidelines for government incentives, leading to threats of delaying or canceling projects.
XPrize CEO Anousheh Ansari discusses the $100 million prize for carbon removal, explaining the progress of the competition and the criteria for selecting finalists. The competition, funded by Elon Musk and his foundation, aims to spur innovation in carbon removal solutions. The XPrize foundation has expanded into various sustainability domains, including climate and energy, biodiversity conservation, food, waste, and water, with competitions addressing critical environmental issues.
In other news, a study finds that climate change damage could cost $38 trillion per year by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for measures to mitigate its impact. Meanwhile, CO2 is identified as a factor worsening wildfires by fueling plant growth. The EPA is set to make polluters pay for cleaning up two “forever chemicals,” emphasizing accountability for environmental damage. Climate lawsuits led by diverse groups, including pensioners and babies, are ushering in a new era of legal action on climate change.
Dubai’s “Sustainable City” project, despite its initial promise, has yet to set a broader trend for sustainable urban development. China’s EV buyers’ remorse raises questions about the impact of consumer decisions on the global electric vehicle market. Jeff Bezos’ commitment to giving away $100 million for AI-based solutions to climate change showcases the growing importance of technology in addressing environmental challenges. For more sustainability coverage and updates, visit Forbes’ dedicated section on these critical issues.
