By the team at Goodjuju
As our world develops, we learn more and more about the effects humans have on the environment. Plastic waste, usage of limited resources, and carbon emissions damage our ecosystem. Therefore, more people are starting to speak up and take action against pollution, planning sustainability projects to greet the arrival of spring.
From grassroots efforts to corporate commitments, this spring marks a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change and pursuing a greener future. This blog will explore some of the most inspiring sustainability projects taking root this season.
A Look at Upcoming Sustainability Projects in 2024
GrowNYC Community Gardens: Cultivating Connection to Nature
With the rise of urban architecture in modern times, cities lack greenery, and for this reason, one of the most popular sustainability projects this spring is community gardens in urban areas. Community gardens are a great way to promote sustainability and revive caring nature in individuals, bringing people together and connecting us to nature.
GrowNYC has built over 160 community gardens in public housing developments, daycares, and senior centers. These gardens are found in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island.
GrowNYC holds the Annual Spring Plant Sale, a spring sustainability project that benefits the community and the environment in multiple ways:
- A sense of community – community gardens provide a shared space for people to enjoy nature and its calming aura. As the name suggests, it brings individuals together, strengthening community bonds and awakening empathy.
- Fresh produce – community gardens in urban areas increase the scale of healthy products by providing fresh produce. The arrival of spring increases the amount of healthy and fresh produce accessible to metropolitan areas with the help of this sustainability project.
- Mental health – connection with nature is crucial for mental health. Taking walks in parks, enjoying picnics in daylight, and connecting with new people are all forms of therapy and beneficial for mental health. The increase in the number of community gardens in spring is helpful as the arrival of warmer days encourages people to take advantage of the project and appreciate it more.
This project brings people together and promotes community gardens as a successful and necessary urban development. Such sustainability projects educate society, grow agriculture in urban areas, provide fresh produce, and expand green space.
Community gardens bring sustainability and nature into urban areas, as planting them around buildings, balconies, and rooftops is possible. Many companies, like GrowNYC, have taken on operating large rooftop soil farms, forming educational programs and partnerships with local schools, providing fresh produce to urban dwellers, and cultivating a new generation of environmentalists.
Renewable Energy Projects: Powering a Sustainable Future
Renewable energy projects are genuinely powering a sustainable future. These sustainability projects of 2024 are inspiring new generations to care for nature, teaching us that we don’t need to take from the earth to gain energy.
Solar panels, wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, biomass, and many other means of receiving power through renewable energy sources allow engineers and constructors to develop renewable energy projects to power a sustainable future.
2024 is the year of development; we expect large-scale offshore wind turbines with gigawatt capacities to grow fast. Countries including the United States, UK, Canada, India, and China use wind turbines as energy sources.
Here is the list of ten large solar projects in development in the United States of America you can look forward to:
- CD Solar Project (Nevada) is a 2,000 MW solar and 1,000 MW battery storage facility.
- Oak Run Solar Project (Ohio) – solar energy initiative developed on 10,000 acres of land north near Plumwood in Madison County
- Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar (California) – this sustainability project in 2024 is a solar facility with a 500 MW capacity
- Dogwood Creek Solar (Texas) is a 506 MWdc and 389 MWac storage capacity
- Eagle Eye Solar Project (Arizona) comprises a nominal 400 MWac power generating facility and a 400 MW battery facility
- Koshkonong Solar Energy Center (Wisconsin) – a 300 MW solar electric generation facility and a 165 MW battery facility
- Nolin Hills Power Project – Solar Project (Oregon) – around 600 MW, with 340 MW from wind and 260 MW from solar
- Rocky Run Solar (Virginia) – this sustainability project will generate up to 300 MW of electricity to power 75,000 homes at peak output
- Sunfish Solar 2 Project (Michigan) – a solar facility with 309 MW capacity
- Goldfinch Solar (Kentucky) – a solar facility with a 250 MW capacity
Such projects are crucial for homeowners to avoid leaving carbon footprints. Solar power, for example, is a simple way for property owners to stay sustainable and avoid damaging the environment while decreasing energy bills and maintenance costs.
Sustainable Fashion: Redefining Style
In recent years, we have witnessed a shift toward conscious and sustainable practices in the fashion industry. In the spring of 2024, we expect large clothing companies to embrace sustainable fashion and redefine style to decrease the environmental impact.
Fast fashion is one of the industries most harmful to the environment. With new trends emerging each season, generations get rid of old clothes to buy new ones, leading to massive waste and depletion of natural resources.
The Paris Good Fashion movement, established in 2020, aimed to transform Paris into a sustainable fashion city by 2024. The movement has brought together over 100 members of different categories, including brands such as Lacoste, Balzac, Balmain, Schiaparelli, and Bompard and groups such as LVMH, Kering, Richemont, and the Etam Group.
Paris Good Fashion launched a citizen consultation project in 2020 to solve the issue of fast fashion and the produced waste, asking, “How can we all act together for a sustainable fashion for all?”. The project continues to thrive with over 107,000 participants and the growing demand.
Paris Good Fashion is working on a new sustainable fashion project in 2024, the development of a Methodology Act for the Fashion & Luxury sector – the goal of this sustainability project is decarbonization.
The methodology was developed by ADEME (Environment and Energy Management Agency) and World Benchmarking. “The goal is to create a concrete international benchmark capable of evaluating and measuring industry progress in decarbonization.” – Paris Good Fashion’s Isabelle Lefort.
Today, more and more brands are participating in sustainable fashion projects, using renewable resources as materials, recycling, and upcycling. Many influencers and fashion experts are on the way to promoting slow fashion, emphasizing quality over quantity and encouraging new generations to avoid constant consumption. Moreover, using eco-friendly materials for clothes is a massive step toward sustainable fashion redefining style.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, as we embrace the arrival of spring in 2024, it’s evident that sustainability projects are blooming with remarkable vigor and purpose.
From community gardens fostering connections to nature in urban landscapes to renewable energy initiatives powering a greener future and the transformative shift towards sustainable fashion, this season marks a turning point in our efforts to combat climate change and preserve our planet for future generations.
By continuing to support and participate in these initiatives, we can cultivate a greener, more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. Let us seize this moment to nurture our planet and build a more resilient and harmonious relationship with the natural world.