The United States has announced it is withdrawing from 66 international organizations, many of them linked directly or indirectly to the United Nations system. The decision, announced by President Donald Trump and reinforced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reflects a renewed “America First” approach to foreign policy and multilateral engagement. The full list of cut funding is here. Given the pro-terror stance for organizations funded by the UN Green Prophet sympathizes with the US and understand that what appear as cleantech or environmental projects is money sent to support countries that are anti-environment, such as Qatar. Read our article on the Union for the Mediterranean.

“Today, President Trump announced the U.S. is leaving 66 anti-American, useless, or wasteful international organizations,” Rubio said. “These withdrawals keep a key promise President Trump made to Americans — we will stop subsidizing globalist bureaucrats who act against our interests. The Trump Administration will always put America and Americans first.” The administration added that its review of additional international organizations remains ongoing.

Although the full list has not yet been released, the move has immediate relevance for sustainability, climate policy, science, and culture, where the US has historically been one of the largest financial contributors. Several UN bodies central to environmental governance are widely expected to be affected, either through full withdrawal, funding cuts, or reduced engagement.

Among the most consequential is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which oversees global climate negotiations including the annual COP summits. This year the COP31 event will be held in Antalya, Turkey. The US has already exited the Paris Agreement once under Trump and rejoined under President Biden; this announcement raises fresh uncertainty about America’s long-term role in global climate coordination.

The United Nations Environment Programme is another body closely tied to sustainability. UNEP coordinates international research, policy guidance, and monitoring on biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate adaptation. Critics in Washington argue that UNEP promotes regulatory frameworks that conflict with US economic and energy interests, while supporters say it provides essential scientific coordination that no single country can replicate alone.

Cultural and scientific organizations are also in focus. The UN’s UNESCO, which works on education, heritage protection, and science cooperation, has long been criticized by US conservatives for what they see as politicization and perceived institutional bias, particularly in resolutions related to Israel and the Middle East.

Sustainability advocates note that UNESCO’s work on water resources, ocean science, and heritage conservation often intersects directly with environmental protection. This is true, but the UN funds organizations that seem harmless, but which take a very clear political point of view that contradicts American policies and allies.

Other bodies potentially affected include the Food and Agriculture Organization, which addresses food security and sustainable farming, and the World Health Organization, whose work increasingly links environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change to public health outcomes.

Related: The UN and EU fund anti-west biases in Spain

The administration and its supporters argue that many UN and EU-aligned institutions have developed ideological and structural biases that reflect European policy preferences more than American priorities. In the EU and UN funded Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the organization operates like a pan-Arab support network instead of servicing actual countries in the Mediterranean. These critiques often point to heavy emphasis on precautionary regulation, climate mandates, and social frameworks that are seen as misaligned with US energy production, industrial competitiveness, and national sovereignty.

On the other hand, critics warn that disengagement from UN sustainability institutions risks reducing US influence over global standards that will shape markets, trade, and technology regardless of American participation.

For sustainability advocates, the moment highlights a deeper tension: whether environmental governance is best pursued through global institutions or through national and regional strategies. I personally believe that more power should be put into the hands of local organizations. The bigger and more bloated EU and UN organizations become (with non-elected leaders), the more political biases and racism creep into global policies and perception. The world needs a reset and to restart well intentioned cooperation projects from start. Because right now the UN and EU projects look like software built on code from the 80s, rickety, patched, slow to adapt, and prone to crashing under the weight of outdated assumptions.

Karin Kloosterman – Green Prophet

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Elon Musk has never been shy about grand declarations and funding Iranian dissidents, but his latest announcement landed with particular force in Washington last week. Standing beside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Saudi Arabia’s communications minister Abdullah Alswaha, Musk revealed plans for a 500-megawatt xAI data center to be built in the Kingdom — a facility nearly twice the size of xAI’s Colossus 1 in Memphis.

Saudi Arabia is investing a trillion USD in the US economy and pulling companies over to Riyadh is part of the plan. This rivals Dubai which for the last 15 years has been the Middle East investment capital. Saudi Arabia normalizing with Israel and the New Middle East is taking the UAE example to diversify its economy when oil is no longer a viable business. It’s not a question if, it’s a question of when.

“It’s going to be one of the most powerful clusters ever built,” Musk said, adding that the project, developed with HUMAIN AI, represents “a massive leap forward for global computation.” HUMAIN AI, a newcomer created with backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, fueled by ARAMCO, Saudi’s oil company will anchor the joint venture.

As with most of the world’s current AI arms race, the beating heart of the center will be Nvidia chips, which have become the gold standard for training frontier models.

Huang, who has spent the year bouncing between Silicon Valley, Singapore, and the Gulf, announced a separate 100-megawatt data center for Amazon Web Services powered by Nvidia hardware. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We’re aiming for gigawatt scale. The demand for accelerated computing is rising faster than any of us predicted.”

These kinds of deals can be run on solar power and possibly green hydrogen which Saudi Arabia is pioneering.

“Humanoid robots will be the biggest product ever,” Musk said: “Perhaps in the four or five-year time frame, the lowest-cost way to do AI compute will be with solar-powered AI satellites.”

All this unfolded one day after the U.S. and Saudi Arabia unveiled a Memorandum of Understanding on AI, designed to give the Kingdom access to advanced American systems while “protecting U.S. technology from foreign influence,” according to the White House. In diplomatic speak, that means Washington wants to ensure Riyadh remains on the Western tech grid rather than drifting toward Beijing’s orbit.

Related: Is your company investing in Riyadh or Dubai? 

Yet behind the spectacle lies a more grounded story: Saudi Arabia is betting its post-oil future on computation. The Kingdom has land, capital and political will — and it wants to become indispensable to the world’s AI supply chain.

Environmental analysts, however, are asking harder questions. A 500-megawatt data center is effectively a new industrial city. “Where is the clean power coming from?” “If this is fueled by oil or gas, it simply shifts the carbon problem upstream.”

Saudi officials insist renewable capacity is accelerating. The Kingdom has sunlight in abundance, and giga-scale construction and solar projects are rising across the desert and into the sea.

The post Musk’s Saudi Mega-Data Center Signals a Desert Arms Race for AI appeared first on Green Prophet.

The medical cannabis boom felt in Israel may show signs of a giant cooldown. Syqe was one of the darlings of the medical cannabis pharma space, as a doseable drug. This is an industry I helped spark into life when I started the Canna Tech Conference in Jaffa about 10 years ago. Much has changed and a lot of the hype has died down, mainly due to loosened restrictions on access to cannabis, making it easy for people to self medicate in the United States and Canada.

One of the challenges in cannabis as medicine is dosing (read this article on half of all medical cannabis drugs being mislabled). What’s written as THC or CBD concentration may be far from what’s inside the plant or how it affects your body, and how it’s delivered. Syqe, an inhaler dosing system in Israel promises to make dosing a pharmaceutical science, but in waiting for the coveted US FDA approval, Syqe says it needs to lay off 50 of its staff of about 150 based in Tel Aviv. If their product works they may be actually a solution to the mislabeling.

The company grew into medical marijuana stardom when Philip Morris / PMI, the cigarette company invested $20 million in 2016 and later entered into an agreement to acquire the company for ~$650 million, contingent on regulatory success. In that acquisition plan, PMI committed $120 million to push Syqe’s inhaler device through U.S. FDA regulatory hurdles. Is the money running out without results?

This backing gave Syqe financial muscle and strategic reach—but also raises reputation and strategic risks, given tobacco’s fraught public perception in the health space. Imagine if McDonald’s bought into a regenerative kale farm. The cash infusion could scale production, but people would always wonder if the lettuce was being served with a side of fries.

According to recent news Syqe Medical recently cut 50 employees, about 32% of its workforce, with the majority coming from its development (R&D) department. If the company succeeds or not, is only an insider’s guess. The inhaler uses a unique cartridge containing dozens of “VaporChips,” each holding a measured dose of cannabis flower, allowing accurate administration according to a doctor’s prescription. The question is does it work in dosing, can it work? Sometimes funds run out before the right tests can be checked and confirmed by the FDA.

On the general issue of cannabis, if you are traveling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, take note: medical cannabis, even if only in your blood, and self-medicated can land you in jail according to the law in the United Arab Emirates. Even CBD oil is a risk.

Read more on medical cannabis and medical marijuana on Green Prophet:

• Study: Medical cannabis eases chronic pain without hurting mental clarity
• Grassland: When growing cannabis lands you in jail—after legalization
• Portugal aims to be Europe’s medical-cannabis hub
• Israel trial: CBD drug tested for children with autism
• Greece legalizes medical cannabis, eyes EU grow-hub status
• Philip Morris to acquire Syqe, Israel’s dose-controlled cannabis inhaler
• Scientists boost THC in cannabis using a plant virus
• Medical cannabis & children: Hebrew University unit opens
• Cannabis for COVID-19: Israeli medical trial launches
• Throwback: Syqe’s 3D-printed, dose-controlled cannabis inhaler

The post Medical cannabis Syqe lays off 30% of its workforce appeared first on Green Prophet.

For decades, Americans have been under the constraints of low-flow showerheads, a legacy of the 1992 Energy Policy Act, which aimed to conserve water. Now, former President Trump is advocating for deregulating showerhead standards, claiming it will “liberate” the shower experience.

Former President Trump recently took to the public stage with bold comments about shower regulations, saying, “I just had a shower, and it’s great. It’s really working well.” He went on to emphasize that modern technology should allow for more water flow without restrictions, comparing the current regulations to “having a beautiful head of hair” but being “stuck with a low-flow shower.”

Trump’s lighthearted remarks about his own hair underscore the frustration many feel about the inefficiency of low-flow systems—especially when paired with the desire for a more satisfying shower experience.

But as the debate around shower deregulation intensifies, we must ask: Could this push for longer showers really be a disaster for the environment?

Recent surveys reveal a shift in generational behavior, with Gen Z spending an average of 21.2 minutes (taking “everything” showers), nearly double the time spent by Baby Boomers, who average only 12.3 minutes. For those older than that, the time drops to about 5 minutes per shower.

This generational divide reflects broader shifts in how younger people view personal care and environmental responsibility. Many younger individuals see showering not only as a hygiene practice but as a therapeutic ritual.

While this trend may initially seem wasteful, it is critical to consider the context. Recent research from Swansea, Surrey, and Bristol Universities flips common sense on its head and reveals that shower length is not necessarily linked to excessive water use.

The group installed sensors in 290 showers around the University of Surrey Campus. Over the course of 39 weeks, they gathered data on more than 86,000 individual showers, including information on average shower length and water flow rate.

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According to Ian Walker, a co-author of the study, these results point to an important showering behavior. “It suggests that people turn the shower off when they have achieved a desired sensation, not just when they have completed a certain set of actions,” he said.

The researchers also installed visible shower timers in half of the showers and found they were effective in preventing shower length from increasing as time went on. “We wonder if people ‘anchor’ on whatever is the length of their first shower, and stick to this when there’s a timer,” said Walker. The research found that the length of the showers was “quite variable,” with the average shower taking 6.7 minutes, the median 5.7 minutes, and 50% of showers lasting between 3.3 and 8.8 minutes.

Putting the findings together, the researchers saw water consumption drop from nearly 61 liters per shower in those with low pressure and no timer, to under 17 liters for those with a timer and high pressure. For showers with middling water pressures, a smart timer helped reduce water consumption by up to 53%. “This is hot water, so there are potentially massive carbon savings here,” Walker told Elemental.

In fact, their study shows that high-pressure showers equipped with timers can actually reduce water usage, even if they encourage longer shower times.

High-pressure systems help reduce the need for prolonged showers to achieve cleanliness, and the timers help users be mindful of their consumption. In these setups, a high-pressure shower with a timer used only 17 liters of water, compared to 61 liters with a traditional low-flow shower without a timer.

This research challenges the conventional narrative that longer showers inherently waste water. Instead, it highlights the importance of shower pressure and mindful consumption as key factors in reducing water waste.

Trump’s “Liberation” and What It Means for the Planet

However, Trump’s call to eliminate these water-saving regulations might be a step backward. The impact of deregulation could result in a marked increase in water and energy consumption across the country. This move could undo decades of progress in water conservation and sustainable infrastructure.

While Trump’s deregulation might come across as a quick fix, many celebrities have worked hard to promote water conservation, making personal sacrifices to set examples. Actress Jennifer Aniston, for instance, has been vocal about her eco-conscious habits, including taking shorter showers and even brushing her teeth less frequently to conserve water. Aniston’s efforts reflect a broader movement among celebrities to take personal responsibility for environmental sustainability.

Does eco-guilting work? It might in the tourist industry and at hotels where people take longer showers. Dr. Pablo Pereira-Doel, also from Surrey, said:

“Our research demonstrates that guests in tourist accommodations take shorter showers with enabling technology, reducing water, energy, and carbon emissions.”

In the first-of-its-kind study, they used a water-saving technology known as Aguardio installed in tourist accommodation shower cubicles. The system provided continuous, real-time eco-feedback to the user (their shower length) through a timer. The technology was used in combination with persuasive messages on a sticker such as “Will you beat the clock?”, “Water conservation starts with you,” and “Make a difference!” The goal was to test their effectiveness.

The positive results obtained through these experiments contributed to raising over £1 million in private and public investment to develop the Aguardio Shower Sensor solution.

Water stress is increasing and is already one of the most important global environmental threats. It is being accelerated by population growth and climate change, causing severe and rapid changes in the global freshwater structure and putting food and water security at risk.

Wellness and Sustainability: The Global Context

Interestingly, the push for longer, more luxurious showers is not isolated to the US. In Japan, bathing is a deeply ingrained cultural practice, with a focus on therapeutic experiences. The Japanese onsen culture, which I experienced last year near Fuji Mountain, at a ryoken and onsen in Hikone. The Japanese, emphasize the mental and physical benefits of long, hot baths, which often combine relaxation and cleanliness in a ritualistic fashion. Some Japanese towns have hot springs flowing right through them, and they tap into this free resource by diverting the water to private and public bathhouses separated for women, men, and families.

This approach to water use doesn’t view extended bathing as wasteful but as an essential part of well-being, with the water used in these environments often recycled through geothermal systems.

Related: The barrel sauna longevity hack

The debate over shower regulations is complex, and saving water really depends on where you are and how you get the water. Gen Z’s longer showers, for instance, reflect broader shifts toward self-care and wellness. Yet, as the Surrey study suggests, the real environmental impact isn’t about how long you spend in the shower — it’s about the pressure, technology, and awareness driving consumption. With the right technologies, we can have both long, satisfying showers and minimal water usage.

Instead of deregulating, we should focus on integrating advanced shower technologies, such as high-pressure systems with timers (also great for teens who forget themselves), to help people be more conscious of their water use without sacrificing comfort. After all, modern solutions exist that make longer showers sustainable, even in the face of growing environmental concerns.

The post Trump’s “Shower Liberation” Proposal: A Disastrous Step Back or a New Path to Efficiency? appeared first on Green Prophet.

This sign was in a New York supermarket in January of this year. Have you seen one like it where you live?

Eggs are scarce these days, and when you can get your hands on a dozen, the price shocks you.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current average cost of a dozen eggs in the U.S. is $4.95. That’s 53% more than a year ago: a wallop to the wallet.

Ordinarily, you wouldn’t think twice about scrambling a couple of eggs, or cracking half a dozen eggs into cake batter, but now eggs are so expensive that people are almost hoarding them. And if you’re paying more for breakfast at the corner café these days, it may be that they’re adding a surcharge for the eggs used.

The rise in the cost of eggs is due to the virulent outbreak of H5N1, a contagious, fatal strain of avian flu that’s killed 140 million egg-laying birds since early 2022 and continues sweeping through American chicken farms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that  more than 20 million egg-laying chickens in the U.S. died from avian flu last quarter alone.

Turkeys, ducks and other poultry die in the millions as well, but for the American consumer, it’s about those chicken eggs. 250 million eggs are consumed each day in the country. Where will the eggs come from?

Some are actually smuggling eggs in from Canada and Mexico. But it looks like legitimately imported eggs will come from Turkey. The American Farm Bureau Federation says that the US is looking to import 420 million eggs from there this year. Yet Turkish eggs probably won’t cover the demand.

“While this is enough to offset some productions losses, it won’t provide much support if HPAI (avian flu) continues at its current pace,” said Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Why not go self-sufficient and raise chickens?

Green Prophet’s Karin Kloosterman raised chickens in her backyard. Read all about it here.

Consider the benefits. Fresh eggs at hand, of course. Even meat, if you’re willing, and raise enough hens. With success, you may cover expenses and even make some money selling surplus eggs, or barter with them. I can see bartering 4 eggs for a bouquet of garden roses, or 12 for an hour of light housework. And there’s the enormous satisfaction in taking charge of your food supply.

Consider also how involving kids in the routine outdoor tasks builds character, as old folks used to say. It’s different from getting an allowance for helping around the house when it’s real, live creatures a kid is helping with. A healthy hen can live 10 or even 15 years, although her egg-laying will taper off after age 5 or so; long enough to become a pet if you allow it.

Chickens don’t need to free range to be happy, healthy and productive. It’s possible to raise chickens even in cities. What you need is a backyard and commitment. A well-built coop and an enclosed run offer protection from predators and the weather, as well as space to nest and run around.

There’s plenty of reliable information about raising backyard chickens on the Net. The University of Minnesota Extension site offers a comprehensive beginner’s guide. Here’s another useful guide from PetMD about what you need to know about raising backyard chickens.

If this strikes a note, do your research before buying a flock of chicks. You’ll need zoning permits and probably, the neighbor’s agreement. Consult local authorities such as your local homeowners association or poultry enthusiasts in your community.

With a well-informed plan in hand, you can go into your home egg production confidently. And beat the market.

Here are some eggy recipes to fire up your chicken-raising ambition:

Shakshuka, Tunisian Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce

Saudi Arabian Spiced Eggs

The post Hard To Get Eggs? Raise Chickens! appeared first on Green Prophet.

Electric bikes and scooters has transformed the way pedestrians can zoom around a city and town with ease – especially during the last mile of public transport. City and town life can be a whirlwind of bustling streets, crowded public transportation, and fast-paced changes.

For seniors, navigating this dynamic environment can pose unique challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining independence and mobility. This is where e-mobility solutions, especially electric tricycles, step in as a game-changer. Mooncool sent us an electric bike to review and we are waiting for our off-grid “pilot” Raven to have enough winter battery and snowmelt for her review.

Meanwhile:

Why E-Mobility Matters for Seniors

Mobility isn’t just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about preserving autonomy, staying socially connected, and maintaining mental and physical health. Just like new moms enjoy using the baby stroller for carrying small purchases made at the mall or market, an e-bike can help older people maintain mobility and allow them to do their every day shopping and errands. As people age, traditional modes of transportation may become less accessible. Buses are hard to alight, and can be slow and overwhelming. Driving can be stressful or unsafe due to declining reflexes or vision issues. Some people choose to not keep a car in the town or city for its restrictive cost and upkeep on insurance and repairs.

Enter electric tricycles—a perfect blend of stability, ease, and efficiency. With three wheels, these bikes offer the balance seniors need, eliminating the fear of tipping over. Plus, the electric assist reduces the physical strain, making it easier to travel longer distances without exhaustion. E-bikes are getting their moment in the sun for wheeling kids around the city. Seniors want their turn.

The Advantages of Electric Tricycles

1. Enhanced Stability and Safety: The three-wheel design offers a solid foundation, reducing the risk of falls. This is where company’s like Mooncool safety design for elder people truly shines, providing extra features tailored to senior needs, like anti-slip pedals, low step-through frames, and ergonomic seating. The grandkids like to jump on the back!
2. Affordable Transportation: Owning a car comes with hefty expenses—fuel, insurance, maintenance. Electric tricycles, on the other hand, are a one-time investment with minimal upkeep costs. They’re an affordable solution for seniors looking to maintain mobility without breaking the bank.
3. Eco-Friendly Choice: E-trikes produce zero emissions, making them a green alternative to cars. Seniors who care about leaving a positive environmental legacy will appreciate this eco-conscious option.
4. Health Benefits: While the electric assist helps on tough terrains, riders can still engage in light physical activity, promoting cardiovascular health, joint mobility, and mental well-being.

Mooncool Safety Design: Built with Seniors in Mind

When it comes to senior mobility, safety isn’t negotiable. Mooncool safety design for elder people prioritizes features that address common concerns:

• Low Center of Gravity: Reduces the risk of tipping over, even on uneven surfaces.
• Enhanced Braking Systems: Ensures quick, controlled stops.
• Comfortable Seating: Ergonomic seats with back support reduce strain during longer rides.
• Visibility Features: Built-in lights and reflectors improve visibility in low-light conditions.

These thoughtful design elements help seniors feel confident and secure, encouraging more frequent use and greater independence.

Affordable Freedom in the City

For seniors, the cost of mobility options can be a barrier. But electric tricycles are an affordable alternative that offers long-term value. They eliminate the recurring costs associated with cars and provide the freedom to explore the city without relying on public transport or family assistance.

Moreover, many cities are expanding bike lanes and e-mobility infrastructure, making it safer and more convenient than ever to use electric tricycles. Seniors can run errands, visit friends, and enjoy outdoor spaces, all while maintaining control over their schedule.

::Mooncool 

The post The Growing Importance of E-Mobility for Seniors in the City appeared first on Green Prophet.

Deep in the Kubuqi desert in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, rows of blue solar panels glisten under the winter sun, converting sunlight into electricity that flows into thousands of households. Sandy and mostly devoid of life, the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia once had a reputation for being a “sea of death.”

Now, according to NASA tracking solar power developments in China, China’s dune fields have become a sea of solar energy, transformed by a surge of newly installed solar panels. The construction is part of China’s multiyear plan to build a “solar great wall” designed to generate enough energy to power Beijing. China is now the world’s biggest producer of solar power.

The project, expected to be finished in 2030, will be 400 kilometers (250 miles) long, 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide, and achieve a maximum generating capacity of 100 gigawatts. So far, Chinese officials say they have installed about 5.4 gigawatts. The US Geological Survey which is part of the Department of The Interior captured photos from 2017 to 2024 to show how quickly the plant has expanded.

The Kubuqi’s sunny weather, flat terrain, and proximity to industrial centers make it a desirable location for solar power generation. Panels are being installed in a long, narrow band of dunes just south of the Yellow River between the cities of Baotou and Bayannur. NASA’s OLI (Operational Land Imager) and OLI-2 on Landsat 8 and 9 captured this pair of images showing the expanding footprint of solar farms between December 2017 (left) and December 2024 (right).

The solar farm that resembles a galloping horse—Junma Solar Power Station—was completed in 2019, setting a Guinness world record for the largest image made of solar panels.

It generates approximately 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of 300,000 to 400,000 people.

Junma means “fine horse” in Mandarin.

In addition to generating power, planners hope that the installation will have other benefits. They think it may help curb desertification by preventing the movement of dunes and slowing winds. Also, the elevated panels create shade that slows evaporation and may make it easier to grow pasture grasses and other crops beneath them. Analysis of Landsat data indicates that solar projects have contributed to the greening of deserts in other parts of China in recent years.

Since 2024 China leads the world in solar energy production

As of June 2024, China led the world in operating solar farm capacity with 386,875 megawatts, representing about 51 percent of the global total, according to Global Energy Monitor’s Global Solar Power Tracker.

The United States ranks second with 79,364 megawatts (11 percent), followed by India with 53,114 megawatts (7 percent).

China’s solar growth has been particularly rapid during the past decade. Between 2017 and 2023, the country’s operational solar capacity surged by an average of 39,994 megawatts per year. The solar capacity of the United States expanded by an average of 8,137 megawatts over the same period.

Beneath the panels, different types of shrubs stand tall despite their dormant yellowed leaves, shielding the land from wind and sand.

“By the end of 2023, this one-gigawatt solar power project was successfully connected to the grid, transforming over 30,000 mu (about 2,000 hectares) of desert into a sea of solar blue, with thriving vegetation flourishing beneath the panels,” said Na Guiting, who is responsible for the solar great wall project.

The project Na is working on is the first phase of the Kubuqi Desert Ordos Central-Northern New Energy Base.

As one of China’s first large-scale renewable energy bases with a capacity exceeding 10 gigawatts, the base is set to develop eight gigawatts of solar power, four gigawatts of wind power, and four gigawatts of supporting coal power.

The electricity generated will be transmitted to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region through an integrated system combining solar, wind, coal, and energy storage, with 230,000 mu dedicated to photovoltaic sand control.

Once the project is completed, it will deliver approximately 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with over 50 percent coming from clean energy sources, according to Na.

It is equivalent to saving about 6 million tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 16 million tonnes each year, Na added.

The Kubuqi project exemplifies China’s broader effort to integrate renewable energy with ecological restoration. In the arid expanses of northern China, advanced technology is reshaping the battle against desertification, turning it into a narrative of resilience and renewal.

“I never would have imagined that as a farmer, I could find work in the sand dunes,” said Qin Zhaoping, a resident of Hengliang Township in Gansu’s Gulang County. His job involves adjusting the sprinkler irrigation systems beneath photovoltaic panels and tending to the thriving sand plants.

According to official data, 53 percent of China’s treatable desertified land has been restored, leading to a net reduction of approximately 4.33 million hectares of degraded land.

In November 2024, a three-gigawatt solar power station in Otog Front Banner of Ordos, built by CHN Energy Investment Group, was connected to the grid. It is currently the largest single-capacity solar power base built on a coal mining subsidence zone in China.

The power station is expected to generate 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to meet the yearly energy needs of two million families.

The post China’s solar great wall to power Beijing – captured by NASA appeared first on Green Prophet.

A new UN report shows that nearly 1.4 billion hectares of land (just over 10 percent of the total global land area) are already impacted by salinity, with an additional one billion hectares at risk due to the climate crisis and human mismanagement. Soils became saline from water overuse. Aquifers become brackish and precipitation that is lacking cannot replenish the natural balance back to the soil, making them unsuitable for farming. This Saudi Arabian company Iyris is working to solve agriculture on brackish (salty aquifers and land).

So who are the worst-affected?

Today, 10 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States, Iran, Sudan, and Uzbekistan account for 70 percent of the world’s salt-affected soils.

The Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils report was presented today during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok. The event discussed an action plan for halting and reversing soil degradation and water scarcity.

Excessive salinity reduces the fertility of soils and severely impacts environmental sustainability. In the countries most affected by this issue, salinity stress can lead to crops yield losses – such as rice or beans – of up to 70 percent.

Related: are US aquifers damaged beyond repair?

This comes at a time when there is an urgent need to boost food production to feed a growing global population.

The report estimates the area of salt-affected soils at 1 381 million ha (Mha), or 10.7 percent of the total global land area. It further estimates that 10 percent of irrigated cropland and 10 percent of rainfed cropland are affected by salinity, although uncertainty remains high due to limited data availability.

Models of global aridity trends indicate that, under the existing trend of temperature increase, the affected area may increase to between 24 and 32 percent of the total land surface. The vast majority of aridification is expected to occur in developing countries.

The drivers of salinisation are both natural and induced by humans

The climate crisis is increasing aridity and freshwater scarcity. Rising sea levels are projected to place more than one billion people in coastal zones at risk of progressive flooding and salinisation by the end of the century. Additionallly, global warming is contributing to salinisation through the thawing of permafrost.

Inadequate agricultural practices also play a significant role. These include irrigating crops with poor-quality water, inadequate drainage, deforestation and the removal of deep-rooted vegetation, excessive water pumping in coastal and inland areas, the overuse of fertilisers, de-icing agents, and mining activity.

Global freshwater use, in particular, has increased sixfold during the last century, contributing to groundwater salinisation due to the overexploitation of aquifers for irrigation purposes.

Call for action

Since salt-affected soils account for at least 10 percent of land, their sustainable management is crucial to meet growing food demands. The report offers a series of strategies for managing salt-affected soils sustainably. Mitigation strategies include mulching, using interlayers of loose material, installing drainage systems and improving crop rotations.

Related: This sweet pea is smart when choosing a bacterial partner

Adaptation strategies include breeding salt-tolerant plants (such as halophytes, which flourish in mangrove swamps, tropical sand and cliff shorelines, and even salt deserts) and bioremediation – using bacteria, fungi, plants or animals to remove, destroy or sequester hazardous substances from the environment.

By highlighting the critical link between sustainable soil management, water quality, and food production, “the report outlines strategies for the recovery of agricultural salt-affected soils, including emerging fields like saline agriculture and salinity bioremediation,” Lifeng Li, Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division, and Jorge Batlle-Sales, Chair of the International Network of Salt-affected Soils (INSAS), wrote in its Forward.

The report also calls for a legal framework at the national and international levels to safeguard natural saline ecosystems and ensure the sustainable management of agricultural soils under irrigation, particularly in areas at risk of salinisation. The main goal is to protect productivity, quality, and overall soil health, ensuring food quality and quantity for future generations.

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OceanWell secures $11M in series A to build deep-sea water farms as a new approach to desalination, with less energy used, no waste

Desalinating water seems like the golden solution to a dry world. Israel does it. Saudi Arabia does it. Island communities are doing it. But desalination should be a last resort because it’s energy intensive and it has environmental coastal effects. The salty brine is devastating to animals and plants on the shore. Could a novel solution from the US mine water from deep in the sea, using the ocean pressure as the means to drive osmosis through desalination membrane cells?

OceanWell, a water technology company based in Los Angeles, announced $11 million in Series A funding this week to scale its modular deep-sea water farms and launch California’s water farm pilot with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD).

Related: harvesting energy from the waves

OceanWell is developing modular deep-sea water farms made up of pods that harness natural hydrostatic pressure at depths of 400 meters for reverse osmosis desalination. Each pod can produce up to one million gallons of fresh water daily, and the modular design allows for scalable projects based on demand.

Each pod requires 1.5MW to operate to pump water from the pod to the shore. And the salt water released from the process is not considered detrimental to the ocean floor.

This technology ensures ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and PFAS, while its components are engineered for durability in harsh deep-sea environments. Unlike traditional desalination methods that are energy-intensive and threaten marine life, OceanWell’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 40 percent, while protecting marine life and eliminating toxic brine disposal.

“Our goal is to provide utility-scale, reliable and sustainable freshwater solutions that can supply clean drinking water to communities across the globe,” said Robert Bergstrom, Founder and CEO of OceanWell. “We’re grateful to our investors whose collective expertise across water technology, manufacturing and infrastructure project development will be invaluable to our company, and particularly as we look to scale up operations in the coming months.”

Kubota Corporation, a century-old leader in water infrastructure manufacturing, the family office of Jon Hemingway of Carrix Ports, and Charles McGarraugh, former head of metals trading at Goldman Sachs, participated in the round.

There is a rising mismatch between clean water supply and demand – with experts projecting that 5 billion people could be without clean drinking water by 2050. The problem is driven by rising demand for water in key economic sectors like agriculture, industry and manufacturing and compounded by the effects of climate change such as drought and flooding.

Since 1970 water demand has increased by 1.7x, while global supply has dropped by 50 percent. OceanWell aims to provide affordable, abundant freshwater with its deep-sea pods, which produce 1 million gallons per day of potable water each. OceanWell’s first water farm is being developed in its home state, California.

Since its founding in 1890, the Osaka, Japan-based Kubota Group has been working to solve social issues through superior products, technologies, and services in the areas of food, water, and the environment. To address the globally worsening issue of water scarcity, Kubota has increased investment in cutting-edge water technologies. Japan is a large island in need of alternative freshwater solutions.

“One of Kubota’s goals is to provide comprehensive solutions for the entire ‘water circulation loop’ from water production and supply to wastewater treatment and reclamation. OceanWell’s innovative technology, which can provide a stable long-term supply of potable water to water utilities in water-scarce regions, is indispensable for achieving this goal,” said Eiji Yoshioka, Director and GM of the Water and Environment Infrastructure Consolidated Division of Kubota.

Today’s announcement comes a year after OceanWell partnered with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District to establish California’s first water farm, aimed at supplying fresh drinking water to a region recovering from years of record-breaking drought.

Previously, the company completed prototype testing at the US Navy’s Deep Ocean Simulation Facility. OceanWell is supported by a working group of 24 state water authorities in California and aims to build 15 water farms across the globe.

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Building with invasive plants; Healing through shared war stories

U.S. Veterans, Iraqi refugees and the public will join environmental artist Sarah Kavage and Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi in constructing an Iraqi guest house, called a mudhif. Constructed of phragmites, an invasive reed grass, this traditional Iraqi marshland structure will be built on the grounds of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Northwest Philadelphia. 

Mudhifs have traditionally been used for town meetings and ceremonies. At the Roxborough site, it will serve as a gathering place to share experiences of war through storytelling, healing and recovery among U.S. Veterans, Iraqi immigrant communities and the public.

The construction of the cutting-edge art installation Al-Mudhif will kick off on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, with a dedication ceremony. The building process involves tying bundles of reeds into 20-foot-long columns, and then shaping them into huge parabolic arches. Hand-woven mats are then tied over and between the columns, forming a roof. Finally, crafted lattice panels are attached to the sides, allowing for both sunlight and airflow into the interior and enclosing the entire hut.

Connecting with Iraqi communities in nature through the building process of this sanctuary offers a significant memorable and cultural space for U.S. Veterans who were deployed in Iraq to connect with local Iraqi communities and culture.

“It is not often that Veterans are able to heal and connect with residents from areas that were engaged in conflict,” said RADM Karen Flaherty-Oxler, Director of the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz (Philadelphia) VA Medical Center. “Opportunities such as this help bring their experience full circle, often providing closure, healing and building bridges across cultures.”

South Philadelphian Marine Corps Veteran Leroy Anthony Enck says, ”For some veterans and military members, our time in Iraq was marked with loss and destruction: losing fellow service-members in body or spirit, witnessing a similar loss among indigenous communities in Iraq, and observing—despite our best efforts—the environmental destruction our presence and operations facilitated. 

“Some of us have struggled with the larger moral implications of this impact, and after participating in the difficult work of moral engagement, have decided to dedicate ourselves to this work as atonement. Now, we have an opportunity to engage in the hefty work of building: constructing the first mudhif outside of Iraq, building new community with our brethren among the former Iraqis who now call Philadelphia home, and giving—rather than taking—an opportunity for generations young and old to experience greater understanding of people and flora displaced through no choice of their own.”

The involvement of Iraq War Veterans in the project was facilitated by Reverend Chris Antal, a Staff Chaplain at CMCVAMC. Antal had this to say, “Some Veterans who served in Iraq are often burdened by difficult memories and painful emotions. Collaborations such as this help build trust, foster reconciliation and create a sanctuary amidst the calming presence of nature.”

The project is part of a larger art initiative Lenapehoking~Watershed with the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) for which Sarah will create multiple site-specific, temporary installations along the Delaware River circuit trail, exclusively using natural materials such as meadow grasses and invasive phragmites. We will activate the installation of the Al-Mudhif with an accompanying exhibition and extended programming around the exchange of war experiences, healing, and intercultural encounters from June to October 2021.

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