Sustainability Weekly
Fridays are for…
Protected Marine Areas, Sustainable Affordable Housing, the UN Ocean Summit, and more!
by Alli DiGiacomo
Happy Friday! Happening this week in France is the UN Ocean Summit. So far, leaders pushed for stronger ocean protection, with 18 more countries backing the High Seas Treaty (now close to being activated). They called for a ban on deep-sea mining and pledged to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. New marine reserves, funding, and tech tools like AI were announced to fight overfishing, pollution, and climate impacts. Read more about it here.
Keep reading for sustainability news…
T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S
THE WORLD’S LARGEST MARINE PROTECTED AREA WAS CREATED BY FRENCH POLYNESIA
French Polynesia just announced the creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA), covering its entire exclusive economic zone of nearly 5 million square kilometers. The plan was shared during the U.N. Ocean Conference in France and includes strict protections against practices like bottom-trawling and deep-sea mining. Within this area, 1.1 million square kilometers are classified as highly or fully protected, where only traditional fishing, ecotourism, and scientific research are allowed. The government also committed to expanding this by another 500,000 square kilometers by World Ocean Day 2026. President Moetai Brotherson emphasized that this step aligns with international conservation standards set by the IUCN, noting that local regulations were upgraded to meet those benchmarks. MPAs are proven to help marine ecosystems recover and adapt to climate change, and officials hope this effort sets an example for other countries. Currently only 8.3% of the ocean is protected, and research suggests 85 new MPAs would need to be created daily to meet global goals by 2030. Samoa also made a similar pledge, and Brotherson stressed that while island nations manage large ocean areas, they often lack the resources to enforce protection laws, so global support is crucial.
SHIPPING CONTAINERS MAKE UP A NEW “HURRICANE-PROOF ECO HOTEL” IN FLORIDA
After being destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in the mid-2000s, the Flamingo Lodge in Florida’s Everglades National Park has finally been rebuilt. This time it was built as a sustainable, hurricane-resistant hotel made entirely from white steel shipping containers. The original lodge, a beloved destination since the 1960s, was torn down in 2009 after extensive storm damage. The rebuilding was made possible by the National Park Service and a private company, Flamingo Adventures. The new version has 24 rooms grouped into four clusters, plus a separate restaurant and bar, all elevated on 13-foot concrete pillars to withstand extreme weather. Sustainability is central to the design, with features like solar panels, LED lighting, low-flow plumbing, and energy-efficient windows. Reopened in late 2023, the lodge is now the only hotel within the park and an important alternative to camping or staying nearly an hour away.
A NEW ALL ELECTRIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS THE GREENEST RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IN D.C.
The Faircliff, a new 125-unit all-electric affordable housing development, has opened in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., representing the city’s greenest residential project to date. Developed through a collaboration between John Moriarty & Associates, Jonathan Rose Cos., Somerset Development Co., and Housing Up, the eight-story building replaces the old Faircliff Plaza East complex. Of the original 80 families from Faircliff Plaza East, 80% chose to return. The project includes 45 additional units for households earning up to 50 percent of the area median income, as well as nine three-bedroom units set aside as Permanent Supportive Housing for formerly homeless or at-risk families. The $93.2 million project was financed by a combination of public and private funds, including major contributions from the DC Department of Housing, DC Housing Finance Agency, DC Housing Authority, Capital One, Boston Financial, Eagle Bank, and DC Green Bank. The Faircliff has earned both Passive House and LEED Platinum certifications, features EV charging, a solar-integrated green roof, and carbon-injected concrete that significantly cuts embodied emissions. Amenities include a fitness center, courtyard with a playground, rooftop event space, and a community center offering programs in health, education, employment, and housing support.
MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
What it’s like to live in a (recycled) glass house.
Trump confirms his administration is ‘not going to approve windmills’ because they’re eyesores.
EPA files rule to weaken power plant emission regulations.
NOAA shuts down Climate.gov after Trump fired the entire staff last month.
The World Bank lifted its ban on funding nuclear energy projects.
Trump blocked California's first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
22 young people filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its anti-environment executive orders. They allege that by intentionally boosting oil and gas production and stymying carbon-free energy, federal officials are violating their constitutional rights to life and liberty.
Solar manufacturer Qcells launches a new venture that will recycle about 500,000 solar panels annually at its Georgia factory.
Chicago-area Sun Metalon startup turns steel and aluminum waste into usable metals.
How Restored Wetlands Can Protect Europe from Russian Invasion.