Scientists have developed sponge-like materials for atmospheric water harvesting to produce clean drinking water from humidity in desert conditions. Existing designs rely on heat from the sun to evaporate water from the materials, which can take hours or days. MIT engineers have created a system using ultrasonic waves to quickly recover water from the atmospheric water harvesting material, reducing the time needed to minutes. This innovation could improve access to clean drinking water in arid regions.
Category: Uncategorized
-
CAN COP30 Media Brief – analysis of President’s draft text
The analysis of the President's draft text at COP30 emphasizes anchoring the text in best available science and the Paris Agreement temperature goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. It calls for adaptation finance to be non-debt inducing, predictable, and accessible for developing countries, recognizing the shortfall in reaching the US $100bn goal for climate finance. Developed countries and major emitters are urged to update their Nationally Determined Contributions to align with 1.5°C and address the ambition gap. A stronger architecture is needed for climate action, including high-level roundtables, annual dialogues, and collective roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels and halting deforestation. Reforming fossil fuel subsidies, addressing intersections between climate and trade, and establishing a Platform on Unilateral Trade-Restrictive Measures Related to Climate Change are also highlighted as crucial steps in advancing climate solutions.
https://climatenetwork.org/2025/11/18/can-cop30-media-brief-analysis-of-presidents-draft-text/
-
Environmental News Network – 6 Things to Know From NASA About New US, European Sea Satellite
The upcoming launch of Sentinel-6B will continue NASA's long-standing record of sea surface height data, aiding in coastal planning, infrastructure protection, and weather forecasting. This satellite, part of a series used since 1992, will cross-calibrate data with its predecessor to provide crucial information about Earth's oceans. The data collected will be essential for managing coastal flooding, supporting hurricane intensity forecasts, and assisting in astronaut return missions. This continued effort will contribute to improved climate solutions and help experts better understand and address the impacts of climate change on our planet's oceans.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77427-6-things-to-know-from-nasa-about-new-us-european-sea-satellite
-
RMI and Third Derivative Advance Cooling Innovations to Combat Global Heat Crisis
Third Derivative and RMI are collaborating to advance passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) solutions to address the increasing cooling demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional air conditioning. These technologies have the potential to lower indoor temperatures sustainably and affordably without electricity. Pilot projects in the US and India, supported by partners like the Autodesk Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund, will test the performance, affordability, and scalability of PDRC products. RMI's Global Cooling Initiative focuses on sustainable cooling solutions, while Third Derivative's Global Cooling Innovations page offers more information on innovative cooling solutions. Together, these efforts are crucial for expanding access to zero-energy cooling solutions in heat-vulnerable regions and advancing towards a more equitable climate future.
-
“Climate finance is the lifeblood of climate action”: Simon Stiell at COP30
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized the importance of climate finance in driving climate action and implementation of national climate plans. Progress has been made since the Paris Agreement, but there is still a significant gap in sufficient and reliable climate finance, especially for adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries. Developed countries were urged to double their adaptation finance and triple outflows from UNFCCC climate funds by 2030, highlighting the need for increased public finance, simplified access, and innovative financial mechanisms. Ultimately, the focus is on making climate finance more accessible, predictable, and aligned with national priorities to address the growing climate impacts, driving ambition, implementation, and creating a more prosperous and resilient planet for all.
https://unfccc.int/news/climate-finance-is-the-lifeblood-of-climate-action-simon-stiell-at-cop30
-
COP30: Spain’s unions say just transition means renewing communities beyond jobs
Unions in Spain are advocating for a just transition strategy that goes beyond plant closures to revitalize affected regions by linking public services with jobs and investment, successfully managed through negotiated territorial pacts. Job creation alone has not been enough to sustain rural life, highlighting the need for a social transition alongside the energy transition. The government has implemented various policies and actions to minimize the impacts of decarbonization and optimize outcomes through participation and social dialogue, emphasizing the importance of anticipation and adaptation to different territorial realities. The article also discusses the global effort towards a just transition to renewable energy, focusing on creating a sustainable future for future generations and ensuring that people can envision a better future through climate solutions.
-
Philippine Victims of Typhoon Odette File Landmark Legal Challenge Against Shell
Sixty-seven Philippine citizens have filed a legal claim against Shell for its role in climate change that supercharged Typhoon Odette, leading to deaths and destruction. The case is the first to directly link oil and gas-fueled climate change to personal injuries in the Global South. Recent attribution science connects climate change to increased likelihood of storms like Odette, with a study showing anthropogenic climate change has more than doubled the likelihood of such events. The case also highlights Shell's knowledge of their product's contribution to climate change and their decision to increase fossil fuel production. The article discusses the legal obligations of governments to protect the right to a healthy environment, with the opinions of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and the International Court of Justice setting a significant precedent in climate-related cases. The quality of arguments made in courts and the science backing those arguments will be crucial in determining outcomes, with the use of scientific evidence, including local indigenous knowledge, being important in future climate litigation. Claimants are seeking damages from Shell, which has a deadline to respond before formal court proceedings in December 2025.
-
Analysis: Seven charts showing how the $100bn climate-finance goal was met
Developed countries have met the $100bn climate finance target in 2022, with a significant increase in funding from the US and private investments. The top climate finance donors are Japan, Germany, France, and the US. The increase in climate finance was driven by a rise in support from multilateral development banks and an increase in bilateral finance from the US. Private investments mobilized in developing countries also saw a surge in 2022. Overall, climate finance reached $115.9bn in total in 2022. Developed countries have made a new pledge to ramp up climate finance to at least $300bn a year by 2035, with a focus on clean-power projects in African nations and adaptation projects in climate-vulnerable countries.
-
Climate TRACE identifies potential solutions to reduce emissions at every major source of greenhouse gases in the world
Climate TRACE has released a new tool that provides facility-level data to help decision-makers develop decarbonization plans, focusing on mature, commercially available solutions as well as experimental options. The tool estimates emissions reduction potential and aims to provide a global view of opportunities to decarbonize, supporting efforts to mobilize climate finance to developing countries. Climate TRACE data enables users to find relevant solutions by geography, sector, and individual asset, with a lower Difficulty Score indicating a more efficient and cost-effective solution. The Climate TRACE coalition, supported by AI specialists, researchers, and NGOs, aims to advance actionable strategies for decarbonization.
-
3 reasons why COP30 needs to put an end to fossil fuels
Civil society organizations, Indigenous groups, and frontline communities are calling for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels to keep global heating below 1.5°C, as they are the main driver of the climate crisis and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. The fossil fuel industry's expansion is putting millions at risk, with over 16% of global infrastructure on Indigenous territories. COP30 must prioritize justice and practicality to achieve a just transition, focusing on stopping new projects, aligning with science-based production reductions, and supporting developing countries with clean energy systems. Indigenous Peoples' knowledge and leadership are crucial in climate solutions, protecting biodiversity and advocating for a shift away from fossil fuels to stabilize the climate and protect human rights.
https://350.org/3-reasons-why-cop30-needs-to-put-an-end-to-fossil-fuels/