Interesting stats on EVs and energy use in the US, developments in wind and tidal power, a plastic recycling microfactory, and an "unprecedented collapse" in EU fossil fuel generation.
The bones of our modern world are sculpted in concrete. It's the second-most consumed material in the world (after water) and we use 30 billion tonnes a year of the stuff to create and maintain our roads, buildings, and infrastructure. It's also responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions – which is why, if we want to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we need to come up with a greener way of making it.
This Circular article seems to do a good job of summarizing the opportunities and challenges. The good news is, it sounds like we may have the technology to make it happen. The information is UK-specific but I think it largely applies to other countries as well. I also think the Green Alliance report on Circular Construction referenced in the article is worth reading as well. Building construction accounts for a whopping 38% of all emissions – and the faster we can shrink that number, the better.
Not as exciting as it sounds – BUT it is another example of a valuable source of biomaterials that we've been throwing away or burning instead of making better use of it.
