Small Steps That Made a Big Impact for the Climate This Past Year

Amid rising global temperatures and intensifying weather events, 2024 brought its share of challenges. However, it also delivered some promising developments for the planet that deserve recognition. Here are some of the notable environmental strides made this year.

Coal Power Ends in the UK

The UK marked the end of an era by shutting down its last coal-fired power plant in September. The closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar facility, which had been operational for decades, symbolized a significant shift away from coal, the energy source that fueled the Industrial Revolution. The site is now undergoing decommissioning, with possibilities of transformation into a renewable energy hub, similar to West Yorkshire’s Ferrybridge C plant, which now serves as a large-scale battery storage facility.

Global Green Energy Expansion

Renewable energy witnessed remarkable growth worldwide, with wind power in the US setting new records and solar energy becoming the most economical option in many regions. China played a pivotal role, accounting for nearly half of the global renewable capacity by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Fatih Birol, IEA’s executive director, noted that this surge in clean energy was primarily driven by economics rather than policy, calling the trend a “beautiful story.”

Nature Granted Legal Personhood

A growing movement to recognize natural entities as legal persons gained momentum in 2024. From the peaks of New Zealand’s Egmont National Park to a section of Brazil’s ocean waves, ecosystems were given rights to protection and restoration. Ecuador continued to lead in this space, with courts upholding the rights of forests and rivers, setting an example for safeguarding endangered ecosystems.

Marine Protections in the Atlantic

The Azores announced a new marine protected area spanning 30% of the surrounding Atlantic, making it the largest in the region. Half of this zone will prohibit resource extraction, while the remainder will have strict protections. These measures are crucial, given the region’s rich biodiversity, which includes rare hydrothermal vents and hundreds of marine species.

Deforestation Slows in the Amazon

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest dropped by over 30%, reaching its lowest level in nearly a decade. This progress came despite severe drought conditions and increased wildfires. The reduction aligns with Brazil’s pledge to end deforestation by 2030 under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.

Indigenous Leadership in Wildlife Recovery

In California, the Yurok Tribe celebrated the return of salmon to the Klamath River after the removal of four dams blocking their natural migration. Similarly, their long-term efforts to reintroduce California condors to their ancestral lands saw continued success, with the population steadily increasing.

These victories remind us that even in a year marked by environmental challenges, determined efforts can lead to meaningful progress for the planet and its inhabitants.

Related Content:

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• U.S. Opposition to Climate Obligations Sparks Outrage at U.N. Court
• Chinese Scientists Innovate to Develop Climate-Resilient Potatoes Amid Growing Food Security Concerns
• Barbados Leads Global Effort with Pioneering Debt Swap for Climate Resilience

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!