April 2026 Update

4/6/26 UPDATE: AUTONOMOUS DRONES

Re: Chapter 4.4 TRANSPORTATION: CAN WE KICK THE OIL HABIT?

Autonomous electric drones for delivery are developing rapidly, and can save lives by transporting medical supplies. Rwanda has signed an agreement with U.S. startup Zipline to become the first country in the world with nationwide drone delivery.¹

A Zipline drone delivering a package. Photo by Roksenhorn from WikiCommons, CC-BY-SA-4.0

The agreement is supported by a $150 million grant from the U.S. Department of State.² Zipline has already saved many lives by using their drones to transport drugs, vaccines, blood, and anti-venom products to remote areas in several African nations. A 2025 study found³ that medical facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana that were served by Zipline drones saw a 56% reduction in maternal deaths compared to the same facilities before drone deliveries.⁴

In all countries, delivering medical supplies by drone could help under-equipped clinics (especially in rural areas) quickly get the specialty medicines they need. And during climate disasters, like hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, drones could deliver essential survival tools like water purification filters or anti-smoke masks straight to households — even in areas cut off by damaged roads.

1. Team Zipline. “Rwanda Expands with Zipline to Become First Country in the World with Nationwide Autonomous Delivery Including Africa’s First Urban Drone Delivery Network.” February 5, 2026. https://www.zipline.com/newsroom/news/announcements/rwanda-expands-with-zipline-to-become-first-country-in-the-world-with-nationwide-autonomous-delivery-including-africa-s-first-urban-drone-delivery-network

2. United States Department of State. “Advancing the America First Global Health Strategy and Promoting American Innovation.” November 25, 2025. https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/11/advancing-the-america-first-global-health-strategy-and-promoting-american-innovation

3. Kremer, P.; Haruna, F.; Briegleb, C.; Esi Amoah, M.; Fosu Oteng, K.; Boadi, S.; Dwomoh, S.; Bentil, A.; Tinkorang, E. “A Mixed Method Impact Assessment of the Use of Aerial Logistics to Improve Maternal Health and Emergencies Outcomes in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.” BMC Health Services Research 2025, 25, 390. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12479-1

4. Ayinuola, A. “New Study Finds Zipline’s Drone Deliveries Reduce Maternal Deaths by 56.4%.” Business Africa Online, April 7, 2025. https://businessafricaonline.com/new-study-finds-ziplines-drone-deliveries-reduce-maternal-deaths-by-56-4

March 2026 Update

03/08/26 UPDATE

Re: Chapter 3.5 (D) A RACE AGAINST TIME

The Energy Information Administration projects that the United States will build a record-high 86 GW of new power capacity from all sources in 2026, including 43.4 GW of solar (51% of the total), 24.3 GW of battery storage (28%) and 11.8 GW of wind (14%). That’s 93% renewables in new energy construction, and just 7% new fossil gas!

U.S. planned utility-scale electric generating capacity addition for 2026. Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration

In 2026, renewables are projected to provide 93% of all new-built electricity-generating capacity across America.

This is in spite of the Trump administration’s determination to stall renewable energy projects and promote coal, oil and gas. On February 11, 2026, the Washington Coal Club, a coal industry lobbying group, honored President Trump with the "Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal" award at the White House. The award, a bronze statue of a miner, recognized his actions to support the industry, including directing the Pentagon to buy coal-fired power. 

Meanwhile, renewable energy has become the world's primary source of new electricity, with solar and wind driving a rapid global transition. Global renewable capacity is projected to nearly triple by 2030, with over 30% of global electricity already generated.

February 2026 Update

02/01/26 UPDATE

Re: Chapter 2.1(E) MELTING ICE

Melt ponds formed over the surface of Arctic ice. Image credit: Jeremy Mathis/NOAA

Some more bad news: Dust from the ice-free margins of Greenland, which are expanding due to global warming, is blown by winds onto the ice sheet. The dust contains phosphorus and other nutrients that promote the growth of algae on the glaciers. Because of their dark color, the algae promote warming and melting of the ice (a positive feedback for warming). The algae cause an estimated 13% of the surface ice melting. The area of ice colonized by algae is likely to increase as warming continues.

UPDATED FIGURE 13, showing the Arctic sea ice extent minimum during September with added time points for 2024 and 2025, from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. In 2025, the total sea ice coverage was the 10th-lowest on record.

Map images show the minimum Arctic Sea ice in 1979, 2020, and 2025, as derived from satellites’ passive microwave data. Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, downloaded from https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4867 and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5583.