Pace.

Welcome to Climate Positive! If you are here to doom scroll, you're in the wrong place. This newsletter (aspires to) post weekly, pulling together top headlines supporting a narrative that climate action is actually happening and making a real difference.

Wow what a week with so much positive news. Read on to see how climate investing is roaring back this year, how plastic bag bans are working, how solar installations are tracking faster than any tech in history, and electric heat pump sales rising to levels above gas furnaces significantly slashing emissions.

Bans on Single-Use Plastic Bags Seem to Be Working

A recent report covered by Mother Jones found that plastic bag bans in US cities and states have effectively reduced plastic bag consumption. Drawing on industry and government data, the report -- co-published by Environment America, US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, and Frontier Group -- suggest that these bans eliminate nearly 300 single-use plastic bags per person annually. Notably, New Jersey's ban, implemented in 2022, has led to the elimination of over 5.5 billion plastic bags per year, showcasing significant impact. Across various jurisdictions, bans have resulted in the removal of millions of plastic bags annually, contributing to environmental preservation. The study underscores the importance of well-designed bans that discourage the use of all disposable bags and promote reusable alternatives, urging policymakers to consider comprehensive measures. More here on the history of plastic bags in the U.S. (first patented in Europe in 1965) and the impact of plastic bag bans at scale.

Solar is now being installed faster than any technology in history

According to this article in Renew Economy, the cumulative global installed solar capacity, which is already tenfold larger than ten years ago, is actually doubling every 3 years. This means that the global solar capacity surpassed nuclear installed capacity in 2017, wind in 2022, and hydro in 2023. More data here which also has visuals around how the costs of renewables like solar are plummeting.

Climate tech investment roars back with an $8.1B start to 2024

According to a recent story by our friends at TechCrunch , climate tech startups raised an astonishing $8.1 billion the first quarter of this year, approaching record levels of investment, with the total value soaring by nearly 400%. Noteworthy investments were directed towards materials-focused startups, particularly those involved in green steel and battery technologies, and could mark the beginning of a broader trend towards substantial investment in climate tech startups -- reflecting (you guessed it) the sector's critical role in addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable innovation.

The Heat Pump Era Has Arrived

Heat pumps are hot (see what I did there?). In 2023, heat pumps outsold gas furnaces according to a story in Canary Media Inc. , and the gap is growing. Even according to this article in WIRED , the writer notes that the increasing adoption of heat pumps signals a significant milestone in residential heating and cooling solutions, and offer substantial environmental benefits by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly when connected to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. However, Canary Media Inc. recently wrote a piece about how heat pumps slash emissions even if they're connected to a "dirty grid".

Please do share any positive news/stories you see that would be a fit. The more positivity and awareness we can build around progress, the more action we can inspire through hope. Like and follow if you'd like to see more. And if you'd like my team to help tell your positive climate story, ping me.