This week, the future got a little greener, with every continent pitching in! New York City’s bold congestion pricing slashed downtown air pollution by 22% in just six months, proving clean air is both possible and practical. Across the Atlantic, the EU raised the bar for safer, fresher drinking water, shielding millions from microplastics and “forever chemicals.” And in a first since the Cold War era, both China and India shrank their coal power output: together, that’s 115 terawatt-hours of emissions avoided in a single year.

Why does this momentum matter now? Our Deep Dive unpacks Project 2025, a hidden playbook to erase climate progress, and shares why your everyday choices and local action are more powerful (and resilient) than you might think. ⬇️

🌍 NYC's Congestion Pricing Cuts Pollution

Key initiative: New York City's implementation of congestion pricing in January 2025 led to a 22% reduction in PM2.5 pollution within the designated zone over six months.

In January 2025, New York City introduced the United States' first cordon-based congestion pricing system, establishing a toll zone in Manhattan below 60th Street. This policy aimed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. A study analyzing data from 42 air quality monitors over 518 days found that, within the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), average daily maximum concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased by 3.05 micrograms per cubic meter, a 22% reduction from projected levels without the policy.

The positive effects extended beyond the CRZ, with average declines of 1.07 micrograms per cubic meter across New York City's five boroughs and 0.70 micrograms per cubic meter in the broader metropolitan area. Notably, the reduction in PM2.5 concentrations within the CRZ increased over time, from 0.8 micrograms per cubic meter in the first week to 4.9 micrograms per cubic meter by the 20th week, indicating growing behavioral adaptation to the pricing system. These findings provide the first zone-specific evidence of air quality improvements following congestion pricing in the U.S., suggesting that such policies can deliver rapid and widespread environmental benefits. (nature.com)

Quantified benefit: 22% reduction in PM2.5 pollution within the Congestion Relief Zone over six months.

🌍 EU Enhances Drinking Water Standards

Key initiative: The European Union's recast Drinking Water Directive, effective January 2026, introduces stricter quality standards and measures to improve access to safe drinking water.

The European Union has updated its Drinking Water Directive to further protect public health and ensure high-quality drinking water for all citizens. Effective from January 2026, the directive sets more stringent water quality standards, aligning with or exceeding World Health Organization recommendations. It addresses emerging pollutants, including endocrine disruptors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics, reflecting growing concerns about these contaminants. The directive adopts a preventive, risk-based approach, emphasizing pollution reduction at the source.

It also mandates improved access to safe drinking water, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups, and promotes the use of tap water to reduce plastic bottle consumption. Additionally, the directive harmonizes quality standards for materials in contact with drinking water and introduces measures to reduce water leakages and increase transparency in the water sector. These comprehensive updates aim to ensure the safety and sustainability of drinking water supplies across the EU. (europa.eu)

Quantified benefit: Enhanced protection against emerging pollutants like PFAS and microplastics in EU drinking water.

🌍 Coal Power Declines in China and India

Key discovery: In 2025, coal power generation decreased by 1.6% in China and 3.0% in India, marking the first simultaneous decline in over 50 years.

A recent analysis reveals that in 2025, both China and India experienced reductions in coal-fired electricity generation, the first concurrent decline since 1973. China's coal power output fell by 1.6% (58 terawatt-hours), while India's decreased by 3.0% (57 terawatt-hours). This shift is attributed to record additions of clean energy capacity in both countries. China added over 300 gigawatts of solar power and 100 gigawatts of wind power in 2025, significantly surpassing previous records.

Similarly, India added a record 30 gigawatts of renewable power in the fiscal year ending April 2025. These developments suggest a potential peak in coal-fired power generation, as the new clean energy capacity was sufficient to meet rising electricity demand. Given that China and India accounted for 93% of the global increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 2015 to 2024, this decline in coal power could have substantial implications for global emission trends. (carbonbrief.org)

Quantified benefit: Combined reduction of 115 terawatt-hours in coal-fired electricity generation in China and India in 2025.

📖 Deep Dive: The Blueprint to Dismantle Climate Action

While our newsletter often focuses on progress, it’s just as critical to understand the powerful political forces aiming to reverse it. A detailed new political blueprint, known as Project 2025, aims to systematically dismantle the core of U.S. climate policy and unwind recent progress on clean energy.

1. Problem Solved (The Big Idea): 
From its authors' perspective, this plan aims to "solve" the perceived problem of burdensome climate regulations by methodically deconstructing environmental agencies and prioritizing fossil fuel production above all else.

2. The Policy 'Cookbook' (A Food Metaphor):
How would such a rapid reversal work? Think of a nation’s energy and environmental policy as its official cookbook. Over the last few years, the U.S. has started adding many new, forward-looking recipes: ones for solar power, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency, largely through legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Project 2025 is a plan to not just ignore these new recipes, but to rip them out of the cookbook entirely. The blueprint details steps to repeal the IRA, withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and slash funding for clean energy. More than that, it proposes re-writing the entire cookbook to feature just one main ingredient: fossil fuels. The plan explicitly calls for gutting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the nation’s head chef for environmental rules, and firing thousands of the expert civil servants who help implement these policies, ensuring the old, carbon-heavy recipes are the only ones left to cook with.

3. Global Potential [Reversed] (The Sobering Metrics):
The potential impact of this plan is staggering. The Inflation Reduction Act is projected to cut U.S. carbon emissions by about 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and has already spurred over $200 billion in private investments for clean energy projects. Dismantling it would not only erase these gains but would likely cause U.S. emissions to rise. The plan would also immediately halt the momentum of the Paris Climate Agreement, as the U.S. is the world’s second-largest emitter. This reversal would severely undermine global trust and cooperation, ceding leadership and the booming clean-tech market to other nations.

4. Wisdom from the Source: 
The architects of the plan are candid about their intentions. Paul Dans, director of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project at the Heritage Foundation, stated their goal is “to prepare an administration to deconstruct the administrative state,” signaling an aggressive, top-to-bottom overhaul from day one.

Why is this important for you? 
Hearing about such a comprehensive plan to reverse progress can feel overwhelming and demoralizing. It’s easy to think, "If the government tears up the rulebook, what's the point of my small effort?" This is precisely where the "salad and gym" mindset comes in. Even if national policy takes a huge step backward, the progress made by states, cities, businesses, and individuals becomes more critical than ever. Continuing to support clean energy, adopt efficient technology, and drive demand for sustainable products keeps the muscles of the green economy strong. It's like continuing to eat healthy and work out even if your country's official dietary guidelines suddenly promoted only junk food; your personal health still benefits, and you help keep the knowledge and demand for a healthier lifestyle alive for when the guidelines inevitably change back. These actions create a resilient foundation that is much harder to dismantle and much quicker to build back from.

Search Sources
➡️ aol.com
➡️ theguardian.com
➡️ reuters.com
➡️ nytimes.com
➡️ insideclimatenews.org

💡 5 Quick Wins

🔌 Use thermal curtains/night blinds and daytime solar gain: Saves ~60–180 kg CO₂/year
Close thick curtains or insulated blinds as soon as it gets dark; open south‑facing ones in late morning to let the sun heat rooms. Add snug side returns and a tight top pelmet (or tape) to stop warm air looping behind the fabric.
Why it matters: Nighttime heat loss through glass can double in winter; stopping draughts at windows is a low-cost 5–10% cut to heating.

🔧 Bleed radiators + add reflector foil on external walls: Saves ~30–120 kg CO₂/year
If some radiators are hot at the top and cold at the bottom, bleed them. Slide radiator reflector foil (or a thin rigid panel) behind units on outside walls to bounce heat back into the room.
What it means for you: Faster warm‑up, less boiler/heat‑pump runtime, and cosier rooms without touching the thermostat.

🕒 Gentle thermostat schedule: 1–2°C night/away setback with timed preheat: Saves ~50–200 kg CO₂/year
Program a small setback (e.g., 20°C → 18.5–19°C) from 23:00–06:30 and while you’re out; schedule a 30–60 min preheat before wake/return.
Why it matters: In well‑insulated European homes this trims 3–8% without the “cold morning” penalty. Avoid deep setbacks that force long reheat cycles.

🛋️ Personal heating for your workstation (heated throw/cushion) and drop room setpoint 1°C: Saves ~100–300 kg CO₂/year
A 50–100 W heated throw warms you, not the air. Combine with slippers and a warm layer; lower the room from 20°C to 19°C.
What it means for you: Comfort right where you sit during long winter evenings or WFH days, at a fraction of the cost of heating the whole room.

🚗 Winter tyre pressure check (monthly in the cold): Saves ~20–60 kg CO₂/year and boosts safety
For ICE/HEV/EV, cold weather drops pressure ~0.1–0.2 bar per 10°C. Keep tyres at the door‑jamb spec; low pressure increases rolling resistance and stopping distance.
What it means for you: Fewer € at the pump/plug, better grip on wet or frosty roads.

🌟 Here's a wild idea: what if being the bearer of good news became your superpower? While everyone else is competing to share the latest crisis, you could be the friend who shows up with hope in your back pocket. It's like being a walking antidote to all the negativity out there. Think about it, when was the last time someone thanked you for sharing bad news? Exactly. But good news? That's the stuff friendships are made of.

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