The year 2023 has been tumultuous. It, therefore, isn’t rare if you have missed the positive milestones for the climate and nature. Moreover, there is our “negativity bias” too, that affects the sort of information humans are most drawn to.
Some breakthroughs also don’t fall under the limelight as they are being led by grassroots communities or indigenous groups, whose voices are often marginalised. But fret not as the upcoming list is bound to make you aware of the positive events you might have missed.
List Of Positive Climate Developments In 2023
1. Clean Energy In Focus
The green energy transition has received a massive boost across the globe. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 includes $369 billion for action to reduce emissions, support clean energy and encourage electrification.
2. Plastic Manufacturers Sued
It has been estimated that a staggering 460 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced across the globe every year. Roughly 22% of that amount gets released into uncontrolled dumpsites, burned in open pits or released into aquatic or terrestrial environments.
3. Dam Removal
Dams along Oregon and California’s Klamath River have substantially reduced salmon populations. Following a long time of campaigning, the first dam got demolished in November this year – one of three set to be removed over the years.
4. Protecting The Oceans
Countries have finally agreed to a treaty to protect oceans that lie outside national boundaries. The High Seas Treaty provides a framework for setting up marine protected areas, in an effort to meet the goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s oceans by 2030.
5. Deforestation Takes A Hit
The rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has dropped sharply. It comes as Brazil’s new government has pledged to stop deforestation by 2030 and taken steps to counter criminal activity such as illegal logging. Colombia has also noted improvements.
6. Loss and Damage Fund
Nations on the frontline of the climate crisis have long been calling for funding to help them cope with the consequences. Participants at the recently-concluded COP28 Summit in Dubai reached a historic agreement to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund.
Read More: Is The Tsunami Of Climate Litigation Having A Positive Impact?
7. Bye Fossil Fuels
This one isn’t a quiet promise. The final COP28 agreement, agreed by almost 200 countries convened by the conference, for the first time included a goal to transition away from fossil fuels such as oil and gas for the sake of the planet.
