🇧🇷 Brazil Uses Sugarcane Waste to Build Roads

🇧🇷 Brazil Uses Sugarcane Waste to Build Roads

Brazil is taking sustainable infrastructure to the next level by turning sugarcane waste into roads. Brazilian researchers discovered that sugarcane bagasse ash, the ashy residue left after sugarcane is processed for sugar and ethanol, can replace a key ingredient in asphalt. The researchers claim this process makes the pavement stronger, longer-lasting, and dramatically more eco-friendly. Not only will this repurpose agricultural waste, the technology also promises to cut the carbon footprint of road construction. Brazil produces roughly 40% of the world’s sugarcane and in 2020, it crushed over 757 million tons of cane. For each ton of sugarcane processed, about 6 kg of ash is produced. This ash would normally be disposed of in landfills or applied back to the fields with minimal benefit. Using the product to create sustainable roads could have an enormous impact.

Anthony Davis, Highways Today

🛰️ Orbiting Carbon Observatories May Shut Down

The Trump administration is moving to shut down two NASA missions that monitor greenhouse gases and plant health, an important source of data for scientists. The 2026 budget proposal includes no funding for Orbiting Carbon Observatories — a free-flying satellite and an instrument attached to the International Space Station. These tools can precisely show where carbon dioxide is being emitted and absorbed. They are also used to see how well crops are growing and to help predict food shortages that could lead to civil unrest and famine. Although they have been deemed “beyond their prime mission” and don’t “align with the President’s agenda and budget priorities”, they are still more sensitive and accurate than any other systems in the world, operating or planned, and are considered a national asset.

Tammy Webber, Associate Press

🌍 June 2025 Climate Anomalies and Events

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information recently released a report on June 2025 climate anomalies and events. The average global surface temperature was the third warmest for June and second warmest for January through June since global records began in 1850. Global ocean surface temperatures were the third warmest June on record. Global sea ice extent and Arctic sea ice extent was the second lowest on record for June, while Antarctic sea ice extent was the third lowest on record. Global tropical cyclone activity was above average with nine named storms. Hurricane Erick was the earliest major hurricane on record to make landfall in Mexico.

National Centers for Environmental Information

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Check out the blogs from July:

• Critical Hurricane Forecasting Tool to End

• Top Weather Apps in 2025 According to CNET

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• A Record Amount of Flash Flood Warnings

• NEW REPORT: Analysis of 2024 One-to-Five Day Out Forecasts