12 Pieces of Good News About Climate Change 2023

Celebrating The Wins Against Climate Change

In the spirit of Earth Day, we want to celebrate some good news about the environment and climate. In today’s world, staying positive about climate change and the future of Planet Earth can be hard. Doomsday warnings make up headlines and conversations about the future usually sound like end-of-the-world warnings. However, there is a new approach people are taking called “climate optimism”. The term means exactly what it sounds like–focusing on the wins made in combating climate change instead of the defeats.

Positive news about the environment is much needed. People worldwide need ways to relieve climate anxiety by focusing on good environmental news. This doesn’t mean ignoring the very real problems of climate change, but it does mean shifting our perspective toward what is working so we can keep making these wins for Planet Earth. So, here are 12 positive stories about the environment.

Good News About Water

UN Water Conference Held in New York on March 2023 to Address the Global Water Crisis

In March 2023, the UN held a freshwater conference in New York for the first time in 50 years to discuss water crises. While the conference addressed the lack of progress toward water conservation, the dialogue was a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change and water insecurity. The conference focused on the Water Action Agenda, a series of pledges from governments, companies, industries, politicians, and other stakeholders across sectors to address the water crisis issues we currently face because of climate change.

Ten Nations in The Indian Ocean Commit to Creating a Network of Marine Conservation Areas to Protect the Ocean

The nations of Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and France have committed to creating an area of protected marine land called the Great Blue Wall. The Great Blue Wall initiative aims to protect the parts of the ocean that are currently unprotected, including areas that straddle national boundaries. The focus will be on protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. Tanzania is developing the first block of the Great Blue Wall named the Tanga Pemba Seascape.

Positive News About Animals

Humpback Whale Population is Growing Again Thanks to Conservation Efforts

Humpback whales were almost extinct in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to commercial whaling, but global conservation efforts have helped. As of 2022, The humpback population has rebounded from a low point of 10,000 back to nearly 80,000. While a number of humpback populations in areas of the world are still listed as threatened, this upward tick shows incredible promise for ongoing conservation efforts.

29 Species in Australia Have Been De-listed from the Endangered List

A research project in Australia has identified 29 species to remove from the country's endangered species list, including mammals, birds, frogs, reptiles, and a fish. Efforts to protect the environment in Australia have been paying off, and this win presents an opportunity to celebrate the great work of conservationists around the world.

146 New Species of Plants and Animals Have Been Added to the International Scientific Database

A total of 146 new species have been added to the scientific database of biodiversity in the year 2022. Discovered by researchers across six continents and three oceans, the new species include fish, rays, lizards, spiders, scorpions, and plants. Among them are 44 lizards, 30 ants, 14 sea slugs, 14 flowering plants, 13 sea stars, seven fishes, four sharks, four beetles, three moths, three worms, two scorpions, two spiders, two lichens, one toad, one clam, one aphid, and one sea biscuit. Researchers made their discoveries in isolated mountain peaks and hundreds of feet beneath the ocean’s surface.

Optimistic News About Renewable Energy

Solar Power Is Set to Make Up Half of All Additions to US Electricity Generation in 2023

According to the US Energy Information Administration, solar power will represent about half of all new electric energy sources in the US in 2023, with 25.5 GW of planned solar projects expected to come online this year, almost double the previous record from 2021. This estimate does not even include smaller-scale projects such as rooftop solar, which are also expected to increase significantly.

Sales Of New Gas and Diesel Cars Plummet in Europe, Rest of World To Follow

In late 2022, hybrid and fully electric cars became more popular in Europe, causing gasoline and diesel car sales to drop below 50% for the first time. During the same period, the sales of fully electric cars had the highest growth, increasing by 36%, and making up 19% of total car sales compared to 16% of the previous year, according to data from ACEA. Germany and the UK had the highest number of electric car sales in Europe. The move towards electric vehicles is promising for reducing carbon emissions worldwide.

Cost of Renewable Energy Sources Become Cheaper than Fossil Fuels ‘

Up until recently, fossil fuels dominated the global power market because of their cheap price. However, within the past 10 years, renewable energy has become significantly cheaper than fossil fuel, and it now costs more to build a new fossil fuel power plant than it does a solar or wind power plant. Price was the primary factor blocking the widespread adoption of renewable energy, meaning this decline in prices marks a significant milestone in the transition to renewable energy and in reducing carbon emissions. Since the emissions from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are only from the production of panels and wind turbines, this transition will be a huge feat.

Thanks to the 1987 Montreal Protocol the Ozone Layer is Finally Healing

Global efforts to address the depletion of the ozone layer appear to be working. The 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer called for the phasing out of ozone-destroying chemicals, and recent studies have shown that the protective ozone layer is showing signs of recovery. Some estimates suggest it could bounce back to full health between 2040 and 2070. Despite carbon emissions and air pollution still being high, the healing of the damaged ozone layer is something to celebrate.

Happy News About The Forests

One Tree Planted is Planting 900,000 Trees for Monarch Butterflies in 2023

During the fall and winter, the reforestation organization One Tree Planted will plant 900,000 oyamel pine and native evergreen trees in Mexico for Monarch butterflies. These forests offer the perfect conditions and protection for the eastern monarch butterflies after their long 3,000-mile migration south. The butterflies rest and save their energy during the winter months until seasonal changes initiate a new migration back north to lay eggs and repeat the cycle. These efforts will help to restore environmental balance.

1.5 Million Fruit Trees Planted Across India to Combat Pollution and Hunger

Our on-ground partner planted 1,533,930 fruit trees and restored 1,553 hectares of land in India last year. The planting efforts were spread across several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. The growing trees will play a significant role in addressing hunger, poverty, pollution, and climate change in rural India. These trees are just one example of creative ways to solve multiple environmental and social issues at once.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Pledges Protection of Amazon Forest

The newly elected president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has announced over 20 environmental policies, including a promise to work towards "zero deforestation" in the Amazon. This is a big deal since deforestation and human activities have already caused a loss of 13.2% of the original Amazon forest ecosystem. These efforts will help restore the health of the forests and combat global carbon emissions.

While we still have a lot of work to do to secure the health of our planet and fight climate change, we are slowly but surely making progress. Planet Earth needs us to keep making wins like the ones in this article, and for the future of our world, we need to stay on track.