The Progress Playbook

The Progress Playbook™ is dedicated to sharing effective strategies for creating a better world. We highlight successful policies and initiatives that promote sustainable development, which can be adopted in other regions. This resource is designed for policymakers, business executives, community organizations, and everyday people. We operate independently, with our funding sourced from advertisements on our website and contributions from our readers.

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By matching Brazil and the UK's climate ambitions, the world could secure a liveable future

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

Brazil and the UK have set 2035 decarbonisation targets that are aligned with what’s required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, according to an analysis by BloombergNEF. The background: So far, only 20 countries have submitted their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — or climate change mitigation pledges to the world — for the next decade.
In numbers: Global EV boom is increasingly curbing oil demand

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

The world’s growing fleet of electric vehicles is starting to meaningfully curb oil demand, new data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows. In 2024, the global stock of electric cars displaced over 1 million barrels per day of oil consumption, according to the agency. That equates to roughly 1% of total demand for oil, which is also used to make plastics and a wide range of every-day products and fuels.
How Hungary became the world's solar energy leader

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

Hungary has quickly become the world leader in solar energy integration thanks in part to generous government assistance programmes. Solar accounted for 25% of the country’s electricity generation in 2024, more than any other nation, according to data collated by research group Ember. Hungary overtook Chile last year to claim the top spot. The solar surge has been remarkable — in 2018, the technology made up just 2% of Hungary’s power output.
Nick Hedley

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

How Hungary became the world’s solar energy leaderThanks partly to its feed-in tariff scheme, solar accounted for 25% of the country’s electricity generation in 2024. In numbers: How Beijing cleaned up its airFine particulate concentrations have fallen 67% since 2013 thanks to a series of interventions. But more work is needed.
In numbers: How Beijing cleaned up its air

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

Beijing’s air pollution levels have fallen dramatically since peaking 12 years ago thanks to a series of regulatory interventions, data shows. The context: Fuelled by a growing population and rising wealth, the number of cars and factories in and around the city swelled in the 1990s and 2000s. By 2013, concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reached an average of 89.5 μg/m³, which is 18 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit.
Inside Florida's unlikely transformation into a solar superpower

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

Despite being run by a pro-fossil fuels governor who has clamped down on decarbonisation efforts, the US state of Florida is fast transforming itself into a solar energy superpower. The background: Even as governor Ron DeSantis erased most references to climate change from state laws last year, the shift to solar energy was gathering momentum.
Next-generation sand battery to be built in Finland

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

Two Finnish energy companies are planning to deploy another, more advanced ‘sand battery’ that can store electricity, rather than just heat. Polar Night Energy and Valkeakosken Energia say they’ll start work on the plant in the second half of 2025. The pilot facility will convert electricity into heat, using sand as a medium. That heat can then be used by nearby households or manufacturers, or converted back into electricity when needed.
Lessons from Wales’ future generations law

1 month ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Anna Patton

For the past decade, a groundbreaking law has required all public bodies in Wales to consider the long-term impact of their decisions. A new report detailing the legislation’s successes and shortcomings to date could help guide other nations that are considering a similar approach. The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, which marked its 10-year milestone last week, has received “strong support” across the public sector, according to the assessment.
Londoners are swapping cars for bicycles at a rapid pace, data shows

2 months ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

The number of Londoners who cycle regularly has surged over the past few years thanks to a deliberate strategy to promote the healthy, emissions-free mode of transport. The city’s latest traffic survey, which is conducted every second year during the autumn months, shows that the number of people cycling was 57% higher in 2024 than just two years before, and 70% up from 2017 levels.
These US states are leading the way in curbing methane emissions from landfills

2 months ago | theprogressplaybook.com | Nick Hedley

A growing number of US states have set stronger standards than federal regulations to curb methane emissions from landfills, and they’re creating something of a “domino effect” that’s spurring action across the country, according to a new analysis by non-profit think tank RMI. The context: Because they contain huge volumes of decaying food scraps and other organic waste, landfills are major sources of methane, a greenhouse gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over the near term.