England has a bright idea: solar on every new home 

Starting in 2027, nearly every new home built in England will have to include solar panels. The mandate, which U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says will be published in the coming months, is projected to save homeowners more than $1,300 a year on energy while reducing planet-warming pollution. 

Government leaders have promised that 1.5 million new homes will be constructed to address the nation’s housing crisis before the end of the next parliament, which would be in 2029 at the latest, although elections could be called sooner. Adding rooftop solar to these homes will help the U.K. reach its goal of 95% clean electricity by 2030. 

California’s climate program is paying off (literally)  

California’s cap-and-trade program — which essentially requires polluters to pay for their emissions — is doing more than cutting harmful pollution; it’s putting money back in peoples’ pockets.  

In April, residents saved an average of $137 on their utility bills thanks to the program. Since 2012, the system has brought in $28 billion — $11.6 billion of that sum has been invested in projects benefiting communities like parks and playgrounds. 

Lawmakers are now considering extending the successful program through 2045, a move that would bring in another $47 billion to fight climate change while saving consumers money.  

New satellite offers a fresh look at forests 

The European Space Agency recently launched a satellite that will scan 1.5 trillion trees the same way a CT scanner offers a look inside the human body.  

The first-of-its-kind satellite will allow scientists to accurately measure how much carbon is being stored in rainforests for the first time, providing a better way to gauge the impact of deforestation on the climate.