Beyond green tech: the real reason digital economies drive down carbon emissions
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Mar-2026 01:15 ET (24-Mar-2026 05:15 GMT/UTC)
Nations around the globe are grappling with a massive dual challenge: maintaining economic momentum while drastically slashing carbon outputs. Many policymakers have placed their bets on the digital economy as a modern solution for climate change. However, the exact mechanics of how data and connectivity actually clean up our air have remained somewhat murky. Now, a comprehensive evaluation of 259 Chinese cities cuts through the noise, mapping exactly how digital transformation drives environmental progress.
University at Buffalo researchers are creating a system and device that aims to provide regulators with a quick and reliable way to measure how much recycled plastic is in common plastic products like water bottles and fleece jackets. The work aims to curb plastic pollution and increase plastic recycling.
The National Science Foundation Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, which aims to transform upstate into America's battery tech capital, will receive $45 million over three years for the second phase of the program.
The initiative, led by Binghamton University and its core partners — Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Griffiss Institute, Launch-NY, and NY-BEST — is one of nine inaugural Engines launched under NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program.