A breath of fresh air 😮‍💨 For the past 17 years, @nasa’s Aura...

NASA Climate Change 2 years ago

A breath of fresh air 😮‍💨 For the past 17 years, @nasa’s Aura satellite has watched our air get cleaner. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, such as coal power plants or gasoline and diesel vehicles. This air pollutant has been linked to health problems including asthma. NASA’s Aura satellite has been measuring NO2 for nearly two decades.  This animation shows the yearly average NO2 from 2005 to 2022. You can see the air get cleaner. The cleaner air is primarily due to environmental rules that have helped reduce air pollution from power plants and cars. #NASA #EarthData #NitrogenDioxide #AirQuality #Earth #NASAEarth Video Description: A data visualization of average nitrogen dioxide levels over the United States as measured from space from 2005 to 2022. At the start of the animation, dark purple spots are seen over major cities throughout the country indicating high levels of air pollution. Rural areas are shown in light blue indicating low nitrogen dioxide levels. The dark purple spots fade into orange and then yellow as you move away from large city centers, however most of the Northeast is some shade of yellow-purple. As time moves forward the dark purple spots slowly shrink and fade leaving the majority of the map light blue with only small concentrations of dark purple over New York and Los Angeles.

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 3 hours ago



Across Europe, sustainable construction is entering a phase of measurable transformation supported by rigorous whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost analysis.

In Oslo, the retrofit of a 1930s landmark using autoclaved aerated concrete demonstrates how low embodied carbon materials can deliver both preservation and performance, reinforcing circular economy in construction principles while maintaining heritage value. Ytong’s sustainable retrofit in Oslo exemplifies this evolution in practice.

Manchester’s commitment to circular heat networks marks a strategic pivot toward low carbon design at an urban scale, echoing broader ambitions for net zero whole life carbon and carbon neutral construction. This aligns with broader national initiatives such as those described in Manchester’s pioneering city‑wide energy systems.

Innovation in AI‑driven project modelling is accelerating sustainable building design through more precise embodied carbon evaluation and lifecycle assessment, improving the accuracy of whole life carbon reporting under tightening UK and European disclosure requirements. The regulatory landscape is intensifying as policymakers address the environmental impact of construction with updated guidance covering recyclability, fire performance, and environmental product declarations (EPDs), as evidenced by new fire‑rated junction guidance supporting construction safety.

Major clients adopting sustainable building practices on flagship regeneration projects such as Battersea Power Station illustrate how sustainable material specification and eco‑design for buildings now define prestige development. The convergence of green construction, low‑impact construction techniques, and sustainable urban development underlines a maturing circular economy where energy‑efficient buildings and low carbon building methods deliver resilience to climate‑driven stresses. The industry’s trajectory confirms that sustainable design and decarbonising the built environment are no longer aspirational but essential criteria for long‑term building lifecycle performance and genuine net zero carbon progress.

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