In a world overshadowed by climate anxiety, recognising the positive progress in combating the global crisis can be challenging amidst the alarming headlines. However, numerous victories for the planet are happening behind the scenes and deserve our attention.
This article will explore 7 positive climate stories to help ease your climate anxiety.
1. The World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Reaches Full Capacity
Hornsea 2, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is now fully operational. Located in the North Sea, it features 174 turbines that can generate enough energy to power 1.4 million UK homes annually. This project marks a significant milestone in harnessing wind energy for large-scale power generation.
💙 Did you know?
Hornsea 2 is capable of offsetting approximately 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to the carbon emissions of over 1.5 million cars in the UK.
2. Swiss Voters Approve Ambitious Climate Law
In a landmark move, Swiss citizens have voted in favour of the Climate Protection Targets, Innovation, and Strengthening Energy Security Act. This legislation aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through measures such as equipping buildings with renewable heating systems and supporting businesses in their transition to climate neutrality. Those who choose to replace their oil, gas or electric heating will receive financial support.
Switzerland is also one of the first countries to include a direct democracy in its climate policy decision making process, showcasing just how strong the public support is for climate action.
3. EU Provides ‘First of its Kind’ Law Which Could Bring Back Biodiversity
After months of deliberation, the EU finally enacted the first Nature Restoration Law this June. It's a significant victory for the EU's environment, citizens, and economy, as well as for the advocates of the #RestoreNature campaign!
The Nature Restoration Law targets the restoration of at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030 and aims to rehabilitate all degraded ecosystems by 2050.
The law placed an emphasis on restoring areas with the highest potential for carbon capture and storage; forests, wetlands and grasslands.
💚 Did you know?
In the Netherlands, there's a project called "Green Bridges" where highway overpasses are covered in grass, trees, and other vegetation. These eco-friendly bridges, also known as "eco-ducts," allow wildlife to cross busy roads safely, reconnecting fragmented habitats. The Netherlands has over 66 green bridges, making it easier for animals like deer, boars, and even badgers to roam freely, promoting biodiversity and reducing wildlife accidents.
4. UN chief calls for fossil fuel ads to be banned like cigarette ads
The United Nations Secretary António Guterres has urged governments and companies to ban advertisements for coal, oil, and gas to combat climate change. In a speech, he emphasised:
"The battle to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees will be won or lost in the 2020s."
He suggested to achieve this goal, which was created in the Paris Agreement in 2016 there should be rapid political action and a “clampdown” on the advertisement of non-renewable energy sources whilst this is yet to materialise into a legal ban it is certainly a step in the right direction in preventing the promotion of climate farming practices.
☠️ Did you know?
A single cigarette butt can take up to 10 years to degrade! These tiny butts are some of the most common forms of litter in the world, and they contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the environment, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
5. AI Innovations Improve Weather Predictions
Whilst Artificial Intelligence is still a scary concept to many it is making a significant contribution to climate action as it develops. Climate scientists at Oxford University of Physics have developed a revolutionary AI-based weather model that improves the accuracy of rainfall forecasts and extreme weather events. This innovative model provides high-resolution predictions without requiring additional expensive supercomputers.
Before this weather prediction has lacked accuracy meaning that vulnerable communities and their governments have been unable to prepare for extreme weather events such as droughts and floods leading to the destruction of thousands of vulnerable communities as climate change has worsened. Preventive rather than reactive action will make a huge change in communities' abilities to protect themselves from extreme weather events in the same way developed countries can.
🌤️ Did you know?
Lewis Fry Richardson was a pioneering figure in the field of numerical weather prediction and made significant contributions to meteorology and mathematics. Richardson's work laid the foundation for modern weather forecasting methods, and he is known for his innovative ideas on using mathematical equations to predict weather patterns.
6. Free public transport in Montpellier has led to 20% more journeys
Last year public transport was made free in the Montpellier area in France, allowing roughly 500,000 citizens free travel. This led to a 23.7% increase in usage in the first 3 months of this year compared to the average rate recorded in 2019.
Alongside this huge surge in public transport usage, the city's investment into more and safer cycle lanes has led to a decrease in the number of cars on the road and has reduced the city's carbon emissions.
Hopefully, this will inspire other cities to follow suit which will be beneficial for not only the planet but also our bank accounts.
🚴🏼 Did you know?
Some residents have taken up a fun challenge to see how long they can go without using their cars at all! This friendly competition has not only fostered a stronger sense of community but also led to creative ways of commuting, like organising group bike rides and "walking buses" for kids to get to school together. It's a playful and engaging way to promote sustainability and healthy living!
7. Paris is repurposing its landmarks in pursuit of a Green Olympics
As the Olympics is such a large global event you can imagine how high its carbon footprint would be.
The Olympics in Rio in 2016 produced an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of carbon! To not have a repeat of this, the Paris Olympics have focused on ensuring minimal construction takes place this year. Instead of building costly new carbon-heavy structures, the country has decided to utilise its iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower to host the events.
They have also added several new bike lanes and planted 300,000 trees to make the Olympics more green this year. It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks what the difference in emissions will be compared to 2016 with these new efforts taking place.
🥇 Did you know?
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the medals awarded to athletes were made from recycled electronic devices, including old smartphones and laptops! Known as “The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project”, this project collected approximately 78,985 tons of discarded electronics from across Japan to create 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze medals. It was a creative and sustainable way to honour the achievements of athletes while promoting recycling and reducing electronic waste.
Conclusion
The fight against climate change is witnessing significant positive developments across various sectors. From rapid advancements in renewable energy to major policy shifts and innovative technologies, these encouraging signs offer hope and set the stage for a sustainable future. By continuing to support and expand these initiatives, we can make meaningful progress in mitigating climate change impacts and securing a healthier planet for future generations.
At SkootEco, we are committed to making a tangible difference. Our projects focus on planting trees, removing plastic from waterways and coastlines, and funding global humanitarian projects. By supporting these initiatives, we aim to create a more sustainable and equitable world. You can explore all our projects and learn how you can contribute at SkootEco Climate Projects.
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