This week’s good climate news

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

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An EV charging cable about to plug into a port but it's kind of hanging in mid air like there are magnets or some invisible wizard holding it up

Universal EV charging stations on the way

The White House announced new standards for the Biden administration’s plan to build a national electric vehicle charging network in the U.S.: To receive federal funds, manufacturers must make universal EV chargers. This means any electric car will be able to charge at any electric charging station.

Major automaker Tesla agreed to open a portion of its charger network to non-Tesla EVs, to gain access to federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Wind turbines under the glow of the northern lights

$27 billion to go to clean energy projects

The Biden administration laid out how states and nonprofit groups can benefit from a $27 billion “green bank” to fund climate projects through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, will support clean energy projects in the U.S., centering low-income and disadvantaged communities, including those burdened disproportionately by health and environmental harms.

A wood stork, which is a big white bird, in its nest with a baby wood stork at its feet

Wood storks make comeback

The wood stork faced risk of extinction in 1984, but thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, over 10,000 breeding pairs exist today. The U.S. Endangered Species Act is largely credited for the storks’ return from the brink, and because wood stork populations are now thriving, experts have proposed removing these birds from the endangered species list.

The Endangered Species Act will mark its 50th anniversary this year.

A low-angle shot of an air quality monitor

Air quality stations launched in Indore

The Clean Air Catalyst partnership celebrated a major milestone: Three new reference-grade air quality monitoring stations will provide highly accurate data on local sources of air pollution and drive solutions to improve air quality in Indore, India.

These monitoring stations could become a model to help drive innovation for cleaner air across India.

A whole bunch of cars stuck in a miserable traffic jam

EU to end new gas vehicle sales

European lawmakers announced plans this week to pump the brakes on sales of gas-powered cars. The EU will ramp up electric vehicle production, as the legislation will phase out the sale of new gas and diesel cars by 2035. This new action aligns with the ambitious goals of all 27 members of the EU to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Last year, California and New York passed similar laws, but the EU market is considerably larger.

Let’s take action on climate together