These ferries speed commutes and cut pollution — and they fly

The extensive, all-electric tram system in Strasbourg has emerged as a solution to address air pollution and street congestion caused by cars as well as a critical medium of transport as the city expands its low-emission zones. The tramway's ridership has been resilient, even during the pandemic, and its inspiring a revival of the system across France.

Austria rolled out the KlimaTicket, an annual pass that gives the holder access to all forms of public transportation in the country, to encourage increased use of public transport with an eye toward climate change mitigation. The uptake has exceeded expectations with 134,000 tickets sold within just the first two months, but it's still unclear what effect the program will have on the country's carbon emissions.

Community-first car-sharing options, usually run by cooperatives and nonprofits, are making electric vehicles accessible and affordable for all. They offer cars that anyone can rent for a membership or hourly fee, sometimes partnering with community groups and organizations to lower the rate.

Innovators are developing new air conditioning units to keep people cool as temperatures and humidity rise without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside improved energy efficiency, the new tech focuses on sensing and reducing humidity in real-time and adjusting itself as humidity fluctuates throughout the day.

Getting to public transportation can be difficult for commuters. Microtransit is easing that burden and reducing emissions by replacing individual car trips. Partnerships between cities and companies ensure shared, on-demand scooters, bikes, or vehicles are available to help people reach public transportation.

Whether encouraged by government incentives and regulations, environmental impacts, or business benefits, restaurants are switching to electric cooking appliances like induction cooktops instead of gas-powered options.

Kansas City has converted nearly 100,000 of its streetlights to LED bulbs over the last several years. The swap saves on energy, meaning less power is needed from the local coal-fired power plant.

Two transportation companies, Freebie and Slidr, are teaming up with towns in Florida to provide free, on-demand shuttle services with electric vehicles. The app-based system helps bolster transit networks and fill gaps in services.

An architect in Chennai, India, is retrofitting private residences and public buildings to be more sustainable. They make changes like installing energy-efficient upgrades, solar panels, improved ventilation, and low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water and energy consumption.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church went carbon neutral. After installing an eclectic heat pump system, the California-based parish regained momentum on a years-long renewable energy path, updated all its appliances to eclectic, and installed another solar array.