Recycling Electric Vehicle Batteries for a Cleaner Future
A British recycling company, Altilium, is pioneering a water-based method to recover valuable metals like nickel and lithium from used EV batteries. This innovative approach avoids emissions-heavy techniques such as pyrometallurgy, offering a path toward cleaner supply chains and energy independence. As the adoption of electric vehicles rises, concerns over mining’s human rights and environmental costs are growing, fueling interest in battery recycling. Governments worldwide are introducing policies to support this industry.
“We have to remove that myth that batteries go to landfill,” says Christian Marston, Altilium’s president and COO. Recycling helps break the cycle of deep, fast, and dirty mining by repurposing materials from yesterday’s batteries.
Independent Bookstores as Climate Action Hubs
In the UK, independent bookstores are becoming sanctuaries for climate action. Stores like Hold Fast in Leeds, FOLDE in Dorset, and Edinburgh’s Lighthouse are curating literature that connects readers with nature and personal action. They host events with grassroots organizers and support fossil-free publishing campaigns, using books as a launchpad for collective activism. “The way we see it, books are the starting points of action making and of change making,” says Jessica Gaitán Johannesson from Lighthouse Bookshop.
Maryland’s Conservation Milestone
Maryland has become the first U.S. state to meet the ’30 by 30′ conservation goal, protecting nearly 1.9 million acres of land. This achievement is credited to bipartisan cooperation and smart use of real estate tax funds. Despite this success, a recent budget cut may slow progress toward the state’s new ’40 by 40′ goal.
Challenges Ahead for Environmental Groups
As the Trump administration sharpens its attacks on environmental nonprofits, Earthjustice president Abigail Dillen warns of rising corporate and governmental hostility toward climate advocates. The administration has launched criminal probes and public attacks, freezing clean energy grants and amplifying claims against environmental groups.
The Global Shift to Clean Energy
Despite political backlash, clean energy technologies are accelerating globally. Economies are investing in clean energy to boost growth while limiting emissions. The Vox climate team analyzes this transition in their Escape Velocity project, examining how new technologies might overcome political resistance.
Preserving Climate and Health Data
Scientists and activists are racing to archive vital health and climate data as the U.S. government purges its websites. Networks of volunteers are working to preserve decades of public scientific data being deleted from U.S. agency websites, particularly data related to climate change and public health.
Environmental Rollbacks Under the Trump Administration
The Trump administration has introduced directives to speed up fossil fuel permits by cutting environmental reviews from years to weeks. Critics argue this silences public input and undermines legal protections, promising legal challenges against the move.
