The world is going through a lot. Instead of focusing on bad news, we’ve rounded up the most encouraging environmental stories that made headlines this month
The climate crisis is becoming more and more urgent and dire, but planet-loving people, organizations and governments are making moves to mitigate the uphill battle that our planet is facing. Instead of just dwelling on the challenges, it's important to also acknowledge the progress being made to a more sustainable future.
So let’s celebrate these environmental wins that happened in July and stay motivated to protect the planet...
1. Deforestation in Indonesia is at a record low
Photo by Bob Brewer on UnsplashDeforestation in Indonesia is down 75 percent, its lowest level since monitoring began in 1990. The decrease is mostly due to government policies, such as moratoriums on clearing forests and new licences for oil palm plantations. Indonesia holds one-third of the world’s tropical rainforests, which are home to people, birds, orangutans and other species, so these conservation tactics are vital.
2. Canada bans sale of fuel-burning cars and light-duty trucks by 2035
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashIn an effort to lower CO2 emissions, the government of Canada is phasing out fuel-powered vehicles, setting a ban on the sale of fuel-burning new cars and light-duty trucks by 2035. This means that only zero-emissions cars and trucks will be permitted to be sold.
3. Giant pandas removed from endangered species list
Photo by Michael Payne on UnsplashChina has announced that giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered, thanks to extensive conservation efforts, including expanding their habitats and repopulating bamboo forests. With the giant panda population growing to 1,800 in the wild, the beloved animals are still classified as vulnerable and conservation efforts will continue, but their future is looking brighter than it has in the past.
4. Asia’s richest man is investing $10.1 billion USD into clean energy
Photo by Appolinary Kalashnikova on UnsplashAfter making his fortune in fossil fuels, Asia’s richest man, Mokesh Abani, is shifting his priorities and investing 750 billion rupees, or $10.1 billion USD, into clean energy over the next three years. Abani says, “The age of fossil fuels, which powered economic growth globally for nearly three centuries, cannot continue much longer. The huge quantities of carbon it has emitted into the environment have endangered life on Earth.”
5. A technology-based study is helping to reduce tree loss in the Peruvian Amazon
Photo by Hans Luiggi on UnsplashIn a randomized, controlled study, an area in the Peruvian Amazon has been able to reduce tree loss by half in the first year of the project thanks to technology. Conservation groups have equipped Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon with cell phones that work with satellite technology to monitor deforestation activity, allowing the community to track and deal with the activity in the best way. The research was welcomed by Indigenous groups, according to BBC.
We hope these pieces of good news will encourage you to think positively and motivate you to play your part as we work towards a more sustainable future!