Sustainability is one of those words that has lost most of its meaning thanks to a steady drumbeat of corporate marketing and greenwashing. “Going green” often means buying some useless carbon credits or slapping a few choice buzzwords on a label. Rarely does it seem to hold any value anymore.
We only get one planet
Sustainability often gets glossed over in the tech world. But true environmental stewardship demands we think deeper about the lifecycle of our devices — and the energy that powers them.
Illustrations by Nico H. Brausch for The Verge
But as the planet careens toward a future made uncertain by climate change, true environmental stewardship requires we take a closer look at the meaning of sustainability — and how we can achieve better results in a world ruled by digital devices.
In this series, The Verge looks at how key aspects of our lives — from the devices we use, to the food we eat, to the cars we drive, to the houses we live in — are changing in ways previously thought impossible. Along the way, we sought to answer some key questions like: Can we build houses to withstand climate change? Is there such a thing as a truly repairable smart phone? How can you charge an EV in the middle of nowhere? Can AI help farmers meet the demands of the future? And will robot cars make pollution worse?
Because if the future is going to be sustainable — truly sustainable — the work needs to start now.
The US is the world’s biggest producer of oil and gas. Can Granholm chart a path to a more sustainable future?
Justine Calma
Can New York make heat pumps work for renters? It’ll try with public housing first.
Justine Calma
AI could become a major source of planet-warming emissions. How can the smart home industry build products more sustainably?
Yessenia Funes
Sustainable tires are becoming a reality, but are they coming soon enough?
Tim Stevens
The effort to climate-proof our housing is running into a mess of problems, including aging housing stock, out-of-date zoning laws, and NIMBY-ism. Can we build our way to a better future?
Abigail Bassett
Sustainably charging electric vehicles and providing power to over 250 people for eight days in the middle of the desert is no easy task. Renewable Innovations has the answer.
Emme Hall
Uber and Lyft were supposed to reduce carbon emissions, but they turned out to be polluters. Robotaxis look to repeat some of the same mistakes.
David Zipper
Homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint by getting rid of polluting appliances have the US government’s full support. Not so with apartment dwellers.
Yessenia Funes
Applying the advancing tech to how we grow and cultivate our food has some big upsides — but is it worth the cost?
Abigail Bassett
Apple stunned the world when it came out in support of California’s right-to-repair law. But software locks and other obstacles seem to signal that the fight is far from over.
Maddie Stone
The US is the world’s biggest producer of oil and gas. Can Granholm chart a path to a more sustainable future?
Justine Calma
Can New York make heat pumps work for renters? It’ll try with public housing first.
Justine Calma
AI could become a major source of planet-warming emissions. How can the smart home industry build products more sustainably?
Yessenia Funes
Sustainable tires are becoming a reality, but are they coming soon enough?
Tim Stevens
The effort to climate-proof our housing is running into a mess of problems, including aging housing stock, out-of-date zoning laws, and NIMBY-ism. Can we build our way to a better future?
Abigail Bassett
Sustainably charging electric vehicles and providing power to over 250 people for eight days in the middle of the desert is no easy task. Renewable Innovations has the answer.
Emme Hall
Uber and Lyft were supposed to reduce carbon emissions, but they turned out to be polluters. Robotaxis look to repeat some of the same mistakes.
David Zipper
Homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint by getting rid of polluting appliances have the US government’s full support. Not so with apartment dwellers.
Yessenia Funes
Applying the advancing tech to how we grow and cultivate our food has some big upsides — but is it worth the cost?
Abigail Bassett
Apple stunned the world when it came out in support of California’s right-to-repair law. But software locks and other obstacles seem to signal that the fight is far from over.
Maddie Stone
