Every Monday, we round up five of the best good climate news stories we’re celebrating this week. This week we’re covering electric locomotives, an international renewable energy agreement, rejected LNG permits, the EU’s plan to curb methane emissions, and the climate impacts of restoring forests. 

1. U.S. Steel debuts North America’s first all-electric locomotive

U.S. Steel unveiled North America’s first battery-powered locomotive in Pittsburgh last week.

U.S Steel will be replacing two diesel-powered locomotives with these all-electric models, which will dramatically reduce air and noise pollution for Pittsburgh communities.

Source: The Allegheny Front

2. U.S., China strike climate deal to triple clean energy capacity

The U.S. and China have agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 with the ultimate goal of accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.

Because the U.S and China are the world’s biggest polluters, their cooperation in this agreement could mean significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Source: New York Times

3. Federal court rejects Texas LNG permit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit rejected a state permit for a new liquified methane gas terminal in Port Arthur, Texas.

Rejecting the permit to build a new LNG facility means cleaner air and water for the communities in and around Port Arthur.

Source: POLITICO

4. EU to tackle methane emissions

EU governments recently struck their first-ever deal on methane regulation with a new law. It requires fossil fuel infrastructure operators to measure and report methane emissions and regularly check their sites for methane leaks. It also regulates supply chains of companies importing fossil fuels and outlaws most flaring and venting in the next 4 years.

Reducing methane emissions, which are responsible for ~30% of global temperature rise, is a crucial step toward addressing the climate crisis.

Source: POLITICO

5. Restoring forests could capture 226 gigatons of climate pollution

Restoring global forests where they occur naturally could capture an additional 226 gigatons of planet-warming carbon, equivalent to about one-third of the amount that humans have released since the beginning of the Industrial Era.

The 226 gigatons of storage cannot be achieved, however, without also cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing fossil fuel usage.

Source: New York Times

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