This week’s good climate news

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

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A boat cruises down a bayou in Louisiana

Largest ever ecosystem restoration project ready to launch in Louisiana 

The largest ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history received its final permits on Monday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the Record of Decision, approving permits for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion — a $2.3 billion investment in the fight to address Louisiana’s land loss and erosion crisis.

This is a great move for the state’s ecosystem, communities and economy.

Fish swimming around a coral reef

Landmark deal signed at COP15

At COP15, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, almost 200 countries pledged to take strong action to protect nature and stop biodiversity loss. This landmark agreement will safeguard 30% of all land and oceans by 2030 and mobilize $200 billion each year for biodiversity-related funding.

The deal also placed a special focus on areas of high biodiversity and set a goal of halving global food waste.

Outside the 3M headquarters

3M to end using ’forever chemicals’ by 2025

Facing pressure from the public and investors, 3M, a U.S. corporation, announced plans to phase out PFAS by 2025. Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS pose extreme risks to both human health and the environment. 

The Biden administration has set its sights on these dangerous chemicals, with plans to designate them as hazardous under Superfund rules. 

A postal delivery truck but not one of the cool new electric ones

USPS deliveries to go electric

This week, the U.S. Postal Service made an immediate purchase order for 66,000 electric delivery vans, a $9.6 billion investment in the vehicles and related infrastructure. This will save the USPS money on fuel and reduce air pollution in U.S. neighborhoods.

This is yet another benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act, which EDF President Fred Krupp called “The biggest thing Congress has ever done to fight climate change.”

Three semi-trucks cruising down the road

EPA announces groundbreaking Clean Trucks Plan

The air we breathe just got safer. The Environmental Protection Agency just announced stronger standards to reduce air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles.

The Clean Trucks Plan includes a series of vitally important steps to help ensure cleaner air and a safer climate for millions of people. It will also save truckers and fleets money, and create more jobs.

Let’s take action on climate together