2023: There Was Good News

Wrapping up 2023, I am gratified that this year we had 7200 visits to this website. Thank you. We also started a podcast, “Your Planet, Your Health.” It is available on the major streaming platforms and on Luc Lewitanksi’s YouTube page with some cool images and video clips.

Let’s end the year together looking at the very real progress we have made and successes we have achieved.

Of course, we reported on many positive stories this year on our website News section. For example, we have a post about how we are on the path to have half of the world’s energy be clean energy by 2030, much faster than many thought possible. Along those lines, CNN recently reported on an analysis authored by Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyaka of renewable energy progress for the organization Ember that suggests we indeed have “reached ‘the beginning of the end of the fossil age’ … ‘We are entering the clean power era.’”

The report was based on “data from 78 countries representing 93% of global demand for electricity…

“Nearly 40% of global electricity is now powered by renewables and nuclear energy…a new record high… Wind and solar made up 12% of global energy production, up from 10% the previous year… solar energy was the fastest growing source of electricity in 2022 for the 18th year in a row, rising 24%... wind generation increased by 17%.”

Wiatros-Motyka concluded: “‘A new era of falling fossil emissions means the coal power phase down will happen, and the end of gas power growth is now within sight. Change is coming fast. However, it all depends on the actions taken now by governments, businesses and citizens to put the world on a pathway to clean power by 2040.’”

Let’s look at how some others wrapped up the year:

An article in the Guardian summarized many reasons that scientists think this year is the beginning of the end for fossil fuels. The article points out that some climate scientists are “cautiously optimistic.”

From the Guardian article:

“The International Energy Agency (IEA) raised hopes earlier this year of an end to the fossil fuel era when it predicted for the first time that the consumption of oil, gas and coal would peak before 2030 and begin to fall as climate policies took effect.

“‘It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’ – and the sooner the better for all of us,” said Fatih Birol, the head of the IEA.’

“An analysis of China’s carbon emissions – the highest in the world and more than the emissions of the US, India and Russia combined – found that they may reach a peak this year before falling into a structural decline by 2024. The study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, undertaken for Carbon Brief, found that China’s rollout of wind and solar power had been faster than expected this year and could eclipse the country’s growing energy appetite.

“A peak in China’s emissions this year was also found by Climate Analytics, a climate policy institute, which predicted that an emissions peak for the world’s most energy-hungry nation could drive the world to an emissions “tipping point” in 2023.”

While the article points out there are also indications that these assessments might be overly optimistic, the author, Jillian Ambrose, concludes:

“There will need to be great strides in addressing the world’s record high carbon emissions, but from next year there’s a strong chance that at least they will be moving in the right direction.”

Grist, a climate and environmental news source, summarized their stories for the year. Highlights include:

A bilateral agreement with China to accelerate renewable energy.

Biden Administration proposing a rule streamlining permitting clean energy projects.

Actions by states, tribes and US territories to accelerate progress.

Solar panel and battery recycling is making progress.

Coal-fired electricity is down 42% from its peak in 2011.

New Mexico issued a moratorium on oil and gas leases near schools and daycare centers.

The Environmental Protection Agency introduced regulation to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas by 80% (see our recent post on the EPA rules on methane).

Efforts to use natural sources to decrease carbon are continuing to increase.

Progress has been made on fast chargers for electric vehicles; California has 10,000 public fast chargers.

There have been new climate disclosure laws for businesses and pressure on companies that produce plastic.

Start-ups are making advances on carbon-negative concrete, including building materials that store carbon, though these are not ready for prime time.

They highlight the role of young people in climate efforts, including lawsuits.

Let’s also add that besides climate lawsuits, as we discussed in our podcast episode “Gaslighting,” there have been successful lawsuits against manufacturers of PFAS, toxic “forever chemicals,” with over 11 billion dollars awarded so far. Plastics manufacturers are also being sued for pollution. Environmental litigation is international. The Guardian documented a long litany of actions against governments and industries around the world.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) review of 2023 reported on continued successes in:

Preventing stratospheric ozone layer depletion (our next podcast is on this topic)

The fight for climate justice

Efforts to control plastic pollution

The “high seas” treaty to protect marine biodiversity

Efforts to create a global instrument to end plastic pollution and a global framework on toxic chemicals (which they estimate causes 2 million deaths each year).

A BBC end of the year wrap-up on the climate highlighted:

Movement on clean energy, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States.

They noted that “the world was set on track for emissions from the power sector to peak in 2023.”

The first removal of dams along Oregon and California’s Klamath River to protect salmon.

The treaty to protect the high seas.

The slowing of deforestation of the Amazon (as we discussed in our third podcast episode “Rainforest Restitution”). 

The EU “promises to become forest-friendly.” The latter is so very important. Saving forests as ecosystems is vastly more important than planting trees.

Don’t count people out. Sure, some are recalcitrant, some are ideologically bound to be obstructionist or are driven by fear, greed and distrust. But you may also be surprised! Our last news post shared recent data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication that shows most Americans consider climate change a problem, and that has increased over the last decade. Earlier in the year we posted that polls found that many conservatives in “red” states, including North Carolina and states in the Rockies, support clean energy.

So, stay strong. We can do this! We are making progress, even if not nearly enough yet. But maybe this is just how it starts. It may soon be too late, and certainly the world we once knew is gone, but we can strive for a new world, a positive vision, where a healthy planet fit for humans and other earthlings survives and even thrives.

The usual mantras:

Fight inertia. Do what you can, when you can.

Take positive action in your life when possible.

Talk to others in an open and inviting way. Bring them into the tent.

Contact your elected officials and others in charge who can help create positive change. Criticize or offer encouragement and support where appropriate.

Vote. Help/encourage others to vote.

Donate to those fighting the good fight if you have more money than time or expertise.

Mostly, don’t give up or give into despair. We’re not there yet. This may indeed be what the beginning of the end of fossil fuels and new attitudes and initiatives to protect planetary health looks like.

See you next year.