FutureProof: Tom's Tech and Sustainability Digest for March 7th

Author

Tom Raftery
March 07, 2024

Hi folks, it’s Thursday, March 7th. Only 10 days left to St Patrick’s Day (!), where will you be celebrating?

Welcome to another edition of my semi-occasional newsletter where I highlight stories at the intersection of tech and sustainability. I’m working on getting the cadence of this newsletter right. I don’t want to overwhelm people’s Inboxes. It is just over two weeks since I sent the last edition out. Is once every two weeks about right, do you think? Feel free to hit Reply to let me know your thoughts.

Now to kick off, a little poignant humour - I saw this one on Twitter and it gave me a laugh. As with a lot of the best humor, it has a not so subtle message 😀

As I said previously, Twitter has really gone downhill since Elon Musk bought it out and started dismantling all the safety systems there. I’m trying out several of the alternatives.

Feel free to connect with me on - Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. Of those three, I’m finding Threads to be the best for engagement, so far.

In the News: Technology Meets Sustainability

Some of the news stories that have caught my eye recently

  • World’s Largest Rooftop Solar Power Plant To Be Built In Denmark - Denmark is set to host the world's largest rooftop solar power plant, a 35 MW facility on DSV's logistics center in Horsens, constructed by SolarFuture.


    The project, covering over 300,000 square meters, is part of Denmark's green transition, aiming for completion in December 2024 and expected to generate 33.15 GWh annually, saving 5,300 tonnes of CO2 per year. Link.

  • Satellite to ‘name and shame’ worst oil and gas methane polluters - MethaneSat, developed by the Environmental Defense Fund and launched on March 4th, aims to provide a global view of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, offering public high-resolution data for better monitoring.


    Costing $88 million, the satellite supports global efforts to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, serving as a tool for both accountability and progress tracking in emissions reduction. It represents a significant advancement in detecting and addressing methane leaks, crucial for combating climate change. Link.

  • Zero-carbon energy generated a record 41% of US power in 2023 - In 2023, despite economic and supply chain challenges, the U.S. saw unprecedented growth in its green energy transition, with a record investment of $303 billion. Solar energy led the charge, setting new records in production, while electric vehicle sales surged by 50%.


    However, wind power faced setbacks, and natural gas remained a dominant energy source. The Inflation Reduction Act spurred significant investment in renewable energy manufacturing, notably in solar and EV batteries, highlighting a shift towards cleaner energy and manufacturing on U.S. soil. Link.

  • Switching to electric vehicles would be fantastic for kids’ health - The American Lung Association's report indicates a transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035 could significantly improve children's health, potentially preventing millions of respiratory issues and reducing infant mortality rates.


    Emphasizing children's vulnerability due to their developing bodies, the report supports accelerating EV adoption alongside a shift to a zero-emission electrical grid for maximal health benefits. Link.

  • And with that in mind it is excellent to see projects rolling out electric buses, to replace 2,800 diesel buses for school kids in Canada, and New Jersey in the US announcing a $45 million pilot program to put electric school buses in 18 school districts. In both cases, these projects are also looking at using the buses to send power back to the grid when the buses are not in use, if needed, making the grids more resilient.

  • It is superb to see Chicago joining the growing list of US cities and states suing fossil fuel companies for deceiving the public about the climate crisis. The lawsuit targets major oil companies BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Phillips 66 and Shell, alleging they intentionally misled the public about the impact of their products despite longstanding knowledge of the climate dangers of oil and gas.

  • And finally, it is supremely ironic that Exxon CEO Darren Woods has come out blaming the public for the failure to fix climate change, saying the world “waited too long”. It is particularly ironic given the hundreds of millions of dollars Exxon spends on climate lobbying

Blog posts

Some of my latest blog posts:

  • Cutting Carbon, Boosting Profit: The Power of Open Platforms in Transforming Buildings - In this blog post I discuss the impact of open platforms on building transformation. I emphasize how open platforms can drive sustainability, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance profitability in the construction industry. The article provides insights into the role of technology, collaboration, and innovation in achieving these goals. Link.

  • Sustainability as Strategy: Leveraging Environmental Goals for Competitive Advantage - In this blog post I highlight the critical role of sustainability in gaining a competitive edge for organisations. I emphasizes that integrating environmental objectives into business strategies not only aligns with corporate purpose but also drives financial value. By adopting sustainable practices, companies can enhance their resilience, attract employees, and outperform the market. Link.

Podcast Highlights

In case you were unaware, I publish two weekly podcasts:

  1. Climate Confident - every Wednesday I publish a new episode where I highlight successful climate emissions stories and strategies in order to educate and inspire more people to act, and

  2. Sustainable Supply Chain - this is a rebrand of my former Digital Supply Chain podcast. In this podcast, every Monday I publish a new episode where I talk to supply chain execs with a strong focus on thought leadership, best practices, and trends in supply chain sustainability

Latest episodes

In coming episodes of the podcasts I will be talking to companies like Siemens, UiPath, DutchX, EcoVadis, and more. Make sure to follow the podcasts in your podcast app of choice to ensure you don’t miss any episodes.

  • In yet another visible sign of climate change, cherry trees have been blossoming earlier in Japan due to warmer spring temperatures

  • Global sea surface temperatures, which were already higher than ever seen in 2023 (leading to more intense rainfall and storms), for 2024 are literally off the charts!

  • And for some good news - electric vehicle range has been increasing every year, and there are now over 30 models of EV that have over 480km (300 miles) of range



    This has in large part (along with falling prices for EVs) contributed to the rise and rise in the number of EVs being sold globally

This Edition’s Thought-Provoking Quote

  • "Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." - Gro Harlem Brundtland

Engage

  • If you made it this far, well done! If you liked this newsletter, or learned something new, feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends. Encourage folks to sign up for it.
    Do please get in touch with me with your thoughts and suggestions on how I can improve the newsletter, or with any other suggestions you may have.

  • Finally, since being impacted by the tech layoffs, I'm currently on the market for a new role. If you know someone who could benefit from my tech savvy, sustainability, and strong social media expertise, I'd be grateful for a referral.

Keep your bytes green and your planet cleaner. Until next time, may your power always be renewable and your emails recyclable. Cheers to a sustainable tomorrow!

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