Sustainability Weekly
Fridays are for…
The Nature Record, Geothermal in NYC, Water Batteries, and more!
by Alli DiGiacomo
Happy Friday and March! March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th is International Women's Day. Women play a major role in sustainability efforts and bringing international attention to environmental protection. Studies from organizations like the United Nations show that when women are involved in environmental decision-making, communities are more likely to adopt sustainable practices and climate-resilient solutions. Read why women are key to climate action here. Further, see the 25 most influential women in sustainability of 2025, and 20 women architects who champion sustainable architecture.
Keep reading for more sustainability news…
T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S
FIRST DRAFT OF U.S. NATURE REPORT IS RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY FOR COMMENT
A first-of-it’s-kind scientific report on the health of nature in the United States was released independently this week after the Trump administration canceled the government-backed project earlier this year. It was originally announced on Earth Day 2022 under Joe Biden as the first nationwide “National Nature Assessment,” to put together existing research on the state of ecosystems across the country. After the project was canceled in 2025, ~125 scientists continued the work on their own, raising over $3 million. The 868-page draft, now called the Nature Record, is available for public comment until May 30th, and will be reviewed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. One of the report’s first chapters is on the “bright spots,” or “success stories of people and ecosystems thriving together, demonstrating resilience, biodiversity, and equitably-shared benefits.” The scientists make it clear that the thriving areas of nature are thanks to conservation, restoration, and stronger connections between people and nature, all of which could still improve ecosystems and community resilience. The report then gets into the not-so-bright parts, stating how freshwater ecosystems are described as overdrawn, polluted and fragmented, and biodiversity is declining across both land and ocean habitats. 34% of plant species and 40% of animal species in the U.S. are at risk of extinction. It also directly links environmental degradation to risks for human health, food systems, national security, and economic stability, all getting their own chapter. Read and comment on the report here. A final version is planned for this fall.
NEW GEOTHERMAL PROJECT IN BROOKLYN SHOWS IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL EVEN IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT
A new project in Brooklyn is showing that geothermal energy can work even in dense urban areas. The mixed-use development at 1515 Surf Avenue installed the largest district geothermal system in New York City. It powers a 400,000 square foot complex with over 460 apartments and retail space. Construction took months since the installation was complex. The system required drilling 153 wells about 500 feet deep. The developer, LCOR, faced challenges drilling in a tight space surrounded by existing buildings, but the high bedrock content of the soil allows for efficient conductivity and heat flow.
Geothermal systems do cost more upfront than conventional heating and cooling due to the drilling and installation costs, but incentives and tax credits helped make the project possible, and it is cheaper in the long run because of its long lifecycle and low maintenance costs. The long-term benefits of geothermal are lower energy and maintenance costs, decades of reliable heating and cooling, and cleaner energy for buildings. This project proves it can be done even in crowded cities.
SCIENTISTS DEVELOP A WATER-BASED BATTERY THAT OUTLASTS LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Researchers from City University of Hong Kong and Southern University of Science and Technology have developed a new water-based battery made from tofu brine that could last decades longer than traditional batteries. The non-toxic battery uses organic electrodes and a neutral electrolyte, which makes it safer than lithium-ion battery technology that can be flammable and typically lasts only 1,000–3,000 charge cycles. In lab tests, the new design achieved more than 120,000 charge cycles while remaining stable and environmentally friendly, since it doesn't leak toxins into the soil and ground water when disposed of.
Because the battery is water-based, it is non-flammable and easier to dispose of than lithium-ion batteries. If it can be produced at large scale, which is the next step, the researchers say it could be useful for renewable energy storage such as balancing power from solar and wind farms, or providing backup power for data centers and other facilities. Like many breakthroughs, the tech will still need to prove it can be scaled up and manufactured in a cost-efficient way before it becomes widely used, but it is a technology to keep on the radar.
MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
Winter is getting shorter in 80% of major US cities, new data shows.
A family in Ecuador has spent years building a seed bank and “living laboratory” to save endangered plant species.
Toronto’s Downsview Airport, which closed in 2024 after decades of service, is being transformed into a $22 billion sustainable 40 acre urban development called YZD. Overall, the Hangar District development will create parks and open spaces, approximately 2,850 residential units, commercial spaces, community-focused amenities, and an iconic pedestrian bridge. The project is projected to break ground in 2026.
UK's "first all-electric football stadium" set to be built for Oxford United.
NY’s landmark climate law (which calls for NY to get 70% of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and hydropower by 2030) has become the center of debate as Gov. Kathy Hochul and others argue that implementing the decarbonization mandates would only drive energy prices higher, which are mostly driven by the price of natural gas.
Massachusetts officials approve plans to build New England’s largest battery storage system on the former site of an oil tank farm near Boston.
Amazon, Google, JPMorgan Chase and other corporate giants signed onto the Superpollutant Action Initiative, a $100 million effort to fund projects that cut climate superpollutants such as methane, black carbon, and refrigerant gases.
In a global first, US startup Aikido, plans to house data centers (with AI intelligence and battery storage) inside floating wind turbine platforms.
How Will the War in Iran Affect Your Utility Bills?
Texas has officially passed California to become the leader in utility-scale solar.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down New York’s congestion pricing program are unlawful.
April 3 is officially declared 'Jane Goodall Day,' a new holiday promoting climate action.