WASHINGTON, D.C.—A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirms that during the first three-quarters of 2024, solar remained the nation’s fastest growing source of electricity as the mix of all renewables increased their output by nearly 9 percent. In its latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through September 30, 2024), EIA says the combination of utility-scale and “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar increased by 25.9 percent in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic expanded by 30.1...

Did you notice the heat last year? Earth’s average surface temperature in 2024 was the warmest on record, according to an analysis led by NASA scientists. Global temperatures in 2024 were 2.30 degrees Fahrenheit (1.28 degrees Celsius) above the agency’s 20th-century baseline (1951-1980), which tops the record set in 2023. The new record comes after 15 consecutive months (June 2023 through August 2024) of monthly temperature records—an unprecedented heat streak. “Once again, the temperature record has been shattered—2024 was the hottest year since record keeping began in 1880,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Between record breaking temperatures and wildfires currently threatening our centers and...

PARIS—UNESCO and the Relais & Châteaux Association announce having signed a partnership agreement to develop and implement joint projects supporting the sustainable conservation and use of biological diversity through the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions and savoir-faire. “The partnership with UNESCO is a natural step for our Association to take: Our objective is to support and encourage change, to continue to rethink our properties’ operational models so as to dovetail travel—a source of personal enrichment—with environmental, social, and economic objectives,” explains Laurent Gardinier, President of Relais & Châteaux. “Never in history has nature experienced such dramatic decline. One million species—of the eight million...

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN—Addressing world leaders during Ocean Action Day at COP29 in Baku, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) called for urgent climate investment in coastal and marine tourism to protect it from escalating climate risks. To achieve necessary mitigation, WTTC says that coastal and marine tourism will require annual investments of $30 billion for direct emissions reduction, with total needs reaching as high as $65 billion when including climate adaptation efforts. Developed in collaboration with Iberostar Group and Oxford Economics, the soon to be released report, “Climate and Ocean: Quantifying Coastal and Marine Tourism and Protecting Destinations,” underscores the dual...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—A new 250-room floating hotel is being proposed for Vancouver by Finnish hotel developer, Sunborn International Holding (SBIH). In partnership with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), the hotel will be a unique, world-class hospitality venue, bringing new jobs, economic growth, and creating a new destination on the water. “The new floating hotel will be a jewel for the crown of Vancouver’s waterfront,” says Graham Clarke, Chairman of VHFC. “The new property will contribute to the urgent need for hotel rooms in Vancouver in an innovative and effective way, with no permanent footprint or environmental ramifications, adding new public spaces, viewpoints, cafés and restaurants to Vancouver’s vibrant waterfront.” The...

ATLANTA—Interface, Inc., the global flooring solutions company and leader in sustainability, revealed a first-of-its-kind carbon negative nora rubber flooring prototype that stores more carbon than is emitted through its manufacture. This latest innovation quickly follows Interface’s recent “all in” commitment to invest in product development and manufacturing efforts that drive carbon reduction and storage, without offsets. Interface is showcasing the carbon negative prototype at BAU, the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems, taking place January 13 to 17, in Munich, Germany. The nora by Interface rubber flooring prototype has a carbon negative footprint when measured cradle-to-gate, storing more...

ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL—Octant Évora, located on 27 acres within the UNESCO-listed city of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region since 2021, opens now its doors to the Perdiganito Reserve. Nestled amidst the stunning landscapes of Europe’s largest reservoir, the expansion project covers six hectares and offers an array of new features designed to preserve the natural reserve’s authenticity while offering unique experiences for couples, families, and children. The Land of Explorers The first stop is the Land of Explorers, an imaginative space dedicated to the hotel’s youngest guests, designed to help them foster a deeper connection with nature. This area offers interactive experiences such as stargazing, a story tree,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Ambitious climate and decarbonization efforts have heightened the demand for electrified and energy-efficient buildings. Regulatory frameworks are evolving from simple incentives to stringent compliance measures. Recently, states and cities have enacted building performance standards (BPS) that mandate energy performance and emissions reductions, as well as implementing benchmarking and transparency policies. As a result, real estate operators must meet these standards to mitigate financial risks associated with non-compliance, further motivating them to enhance performance. Simultaneously, utilities and third-party program administrators are tasked with meeting multi-year energy savings targets, concentrating on initiatives like peak demand reductions. This alignment of incentives fosters...

Las Vegas Sands was recently recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), with placement on both DJSI World and DJSI North America for the fifth consecutive year. To learn more about Sands’ initiatives, I took a look at its latest ESG report that covers activities through 2023. The company’s commitment to sustainable development and operations is reflected in the People, Communities and Planet pillars that make up its corporate responsibility platform. For this blog I took a look at the progress Las Vegas Sands is making under its Planet pillar. Emissions & Energy Efficiency Compared to its 2018 baseline, Las...

NEW YORK—Preferred Travel Group is proud to announce the official launch of its Climate Action Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at addressing the climate crisis and driving meaningful change within the travel and tourism industry. This plan, created in partnership with the Travel Foundation, a prominent international sustainable tourism organization, underscores the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and engaging associates in climate action at every level of the organization. Building on the Preferred Travel Group signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Climate Action Plan aims to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 50 percent by...