Renewable Revolution

Environment


By Joe McCarthy| Dec. 14, 2016

It took a while, but the consensus is now clear: climate change is a real and is a serious threat to the planet. Even better than this recognition, countries are finally doing something meaningful about it.

In the past, the stranglehold of fossil fuels proved too hard to break. But now renewable energy, combined with a renewed sense of purpose on the global stage, is making solutions appear more viable than ever. 

Part of this urgency stems from the endless parade of horrible environmental news: 2016 was the hottest year in recorded history, pollution is making life unlivable in cities across the world, oceans and forests are dying, and species are plummeting. Despite this narrative of darkness, 2016 had many environmental wins that show climate change can be reined in. 

Here are 31 wins from the past year.


Global Wins



The Fight Against Climate Change Is Now Law


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This is the biggest victory of the year. Countries finally see eye-to-eye on climate change and are striving to work together. The historic Paris Agreement binds countries around the world to robust climate change strategies. Read More. 


170 Countries Agree to Ban HFCs



Rwanda Climate Meeting to ban HFCs, greenhouse gas found in air conditions and refrigerators
Image: AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File

This is another big global win. Back in 1989, the world acted swiftly to ban chlorofluorocarbons. Twenty-seven years later, the world acted swiftly to ban hydrofluorocarbons, another ozone-eating emission. Read More. 


This Global Treaty Could Save the World's Fish


Caribbean reef shark surrounded by jacks
Image: Wikipedia Commons / Andrejs Jegorovs

The oceans are a bulwark against climate change because they absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide. While saving fish might seem tangential to climate change, any globally coordinated effort to regulate the oceans is useful because it provides a framework for future deals. Read More.


The Ozone Hole Is Shrinking


 
Ozone layer
Image: NASA

With the ozone recovering, the fight against climate change just got a little easier. Read More.


China's Message to US: Take Climate Change Seriously


US President Barack Obama with Chinese President Xi Jinping at G20 Summit
Image: AP

Historically, the US struggled to get China to set limits on emissions. So it’s good to see China — the biggest emitter in the world — taking on more of a leadership role. Read More.


India Steps Up Environmental Commitments


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at ratification of Paris Agreement on Climate Change with the UN
Image: AP Photo/Manish Swarup

As the third-biggest emitter and the fastest growing economy in the world, India's embrace of renewable energy is absolutely critical to any global climate strategy. In 2016, they made some bold commitments. Read More. 


Renewable Energy



India Turns On World's Largest Solar Power Plant


Indian girl holding solar panel.jpg
Image: Flickr: DFID

Solar technology is improving each year and the costs of installation and upkeep are dropping fast. Few countries are investing in the sun’s power as much as India and earlier this year, the country unveiled the largest solar power plant ever created. For India, this is just the beginning. Read More.


UK Goes Record 6 Days Without Burning Coal — 1st Time Since 1881


Embed from Getty Images

Any day without coal — the dirtiest possible energy source — is a good day. The UK, the original industrial power, managed to pull off this streak. Read More.


Vietnam Throws Out Coal Plans


Coal plant
Image: Flickr: Senor Codo

At this point, coal is unnecessary and needs to be abandoned. Countries like Vietnam are showing that this can be done. Read More. 


Scotland Goes Coal-Free


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Image:  Flickr: Graeme Maclean

Vietnam canceled future plans for coal plants, but Scotland got rid of coal entirely. Read More.


Solar Roads in France Will Provide Power to Over 5 million people



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Image:  Flickr: Activ Solar

This awesome project is called “Wattaway.” In the future, all roads could generate solar power. Read More.


Enormous Solar Plant Switches on in the Sahara


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Image: Flickr: GW Solar Institute

This enormous solar farm will be able to power 1.1 million homes when it’s fully completed in 2018. It's already visible from space. Read Now. 


The UK Will Officially Enshrine Zero-Carbon Target in Law

Wind Farm off the coast of Britain
Image: AP Photo/Harry Hamburg

Bold moves, even if they’re rhetorical, can help move the needle on climate change. Even though Britain offered no timeline, this promise acts as a sort of commitment device — clearly stating that a zero-carbon future is possible can quiet all the doubters who stand in the way. Read More. 


California Takes Lead on US Climate Action


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Even though President-elect Donald Trump might stand in the way of federal climate action, a lot can still be done on the state level. California is showing that it wants to be a leader on this front. Read More.


Barcelona Plans to Ban Cars From 60% of Streets


Barcelona street fair
Image: Flickr: Moya Brenn

The world is still dominated by cars and the number of cars in use is rapidly rising as poor countries make middle class living more accessible. With that in mind, it’s good to see some major cities make an effort to move beyond cars, because a future with less cars is better for the planet. Read More. 


The World Can Now Use More ‘Clean’ Energy Than ‘Dirty’ Energy


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Image:  Jonathan Potts/Flickr

The world recently passed a major milestone — more money is being invested in renewable energy than dirty energy sources. Read More.


Costa Rica Is Trying to Go a Year Without Fossil Fuels

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Image: Flickr: trishhartmann

Costa Rica has an abudance of powerful rivers that fuel some mighty hydroelectric plants. While hydropower remains controversial, it's better for the environment than fossil fuels. Read More.


Corporate Sustainability



Patagonia's Black Friday Scheme Just Raised $10M for the Planet


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Image: Flickr | Mike Boruta

The problem of climate change can’t be solved without the private sector. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see a fashion giant like Patagonia campaign so forcefully for the planet. Read More. 


Adidas Shoes Made From Ocean Plastic Are Finally Here


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Another win for corporate sustainability — Adidas partnered with ___ to cull plastic from the oceans to make these cool shoes. While not directly related to climate change, the massive problem of ocean pollution is in the same environmental matrix. Read More.


Conservation


Obama Protects ‘Fragile and Unique’ Arctic Ocean From Offshore Drilling


US approves Arctic oil exploration plan.jpg
Image: Flickr: wsquared photography and creative

Obama isn’t sitting around during his final year in office. He’s cementing his legacy and tying up loose ends. One area that he’s been particularly active in is conservation. Future generations will undoubtedly thank him for protecting fragile spaces like the Arctic Ocean. Read More. 


Obama Creates First US National Monument in Atlantic Ocean


Atlantic Ocean, cartwheel
Image: Flickr: Hammonton Photography

Oceans take up more than 70% of Earth. When they’re healthy, the rest of the planet is healthy. That’s why the creation of this massive marine sanctuary was so important. Read More. 


To Protect Hawaii’s Waters, Obama Creates World’s Largest Marine Reserve

Marine reserve in Hawaii designated by Obama
Image: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research/AP

The waters around Hawaii are biologically rich but they’re also fragile. Now a huge swath will remain protected. Read More.


Obama Ends Drilling Plans in Atlantic



Embed from Getty Images


This is another last-minute victory by Obama. Read More.


Norway Commits to Zero Deforestation


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Image: FAO

Deforestation and climate change go hand-in-hand — the more trees there are, the more carbon is absorbed. Good job, Norway. Read More.


New Zealand Grants Personhood to River and Park


new zealand land personhood ny times.jpg
Image: The New York Times

This might seem silly, but with legal protections, wildlife is a lot safer from destruction. And if corporations can be considered people, why not actual living organisms? Read More.


People Power


These Kids Are Suing the Government Over Climate Change


Earth Guardians, kids sue government on climate change
Image: Youtube/Alliance for Climate Education

Twenty kids aged 8 to 20 are tired of watching politicians equivocate on climate change and are saying that the status quo of fossil fuels is legitimately criminal. Go youth! Read More.


Standing Rock Protests Halt Dakota Access Pipeline


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Image: Facebook/Veterans for Standing Rock/Wes Clark Jr.

The fight to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline achieved a major victory earlier this month when the Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to look for a new route. While this isn't the end of the saga, it showed that environmental protest can be effective. Read More.

4,000,000 Pounds of Trash Cleared in World’s Largest Beach Cleanup


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Image:  Omar Sharif

This is a great example of how regular people can make a big difference. Read More.


Leonardo DiCaprio Uses Oscar Win to Call for Climate Change Action

Embed from Getty Images

If you combine his influence and passion, DiCaprio might be the world’s biggest environmental champion. When he won his first Oscar earlier this year, he used the occasion to call for climate action. Read More. 


Indian Woman Brings Global Attention to Massive Forest Fires

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Image:  Anup Sah Photography

Droughts are becoming more common as climate change intensifies. In some places, this drying out is causing devastating forest fires that get worse each year. This woman was tired of the sense of complacency surrounding the burning of a forest in India. So she decided to act. Read More.


Pope Gets 3,500 UK Churches to Switch to Renewable Energy

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Image: Flickr: Catholic Church (England and Wales)

Pope Francis has emerged as a fierce defender of the environment. As one of the most influential people on the planet, his words carry a lot of weight. Read More. 


Topics|Environment, Climate change, 2016, End of the Year

Written by Joe McCarthy

Joe McCarthy is a Content Creator at Global Citizen. He believes apathy is the biggest threat to creating a more just world and tries his hardest to stay open-minded and curious. Living in New York keeps him aware of how interconnected our world is, how every action has ripples.

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/31-environmental-victories-of-2017-climate-change/