#Proof that protecting nature works

Bhutan, a Himalayan kingdom of just 800,000 people with almost 70% forest cover, has written nature protection into its constitution.

Its forests absorb more carbon than the country emits, supports rich biodiversity, and helps protect the Himalayan water systems that sustain around 1.6 billion people downstream in Asia. It is proof that one country’s choices can impact an entire region. Their latest project, Restore Bhutan, is restoring 50,000 hectares of forests, farmlands and urban landscapes by 2030.

Bhutan is a 2026 Earthshot Prize Finalist to Protect and Restore Nature.

Caroline Golin, chief growth and policy officer at NRG Energy, said that AI expansion has outpaced the infrastructure necessary to power it and that energy companies 'weren't prepared' for the opportunity in front of them as the US data center buildout ramps up even further. Despite the pressure on the grid, Golin says that the industry is working to make sure the infrastructure is in place to grow into the future

Artificial intelligence and electric vehicles are driving a surge in global energy demand, forcing electrical grids to double their power delivery by 2050. However, aging infrastructure and outdated technology threaten to hold them back. Now, companies from China to Nigeria are building next-generation grids to power AI, support electrification and potentially unlock massive economic growth.