5 Things To Celebrate: Environmental Success Stories

2020 has been an intense year. From COVID-19, to international protests on police brutality, from a wildfire season like no other, to an unprecedented election, there seems to be a major event at every turn. Our social media feeds, news sites, and inboxes have all been filled with an influx of turmoil. But if we pull back the veil, there are positives to be found. People have had tough conversations, come together to make change, and adapted to extraordinary times. 

The environment has also been vastly impacted this year, for bad, but also for good. Let’s take a look at some success stories, or even just steps toward improvement, that our planet has enjoyed during 2020. 

1. Vermont bans trashing food scraps

On July 1, Vermont became the first state to require compost. On the Vermont State website, it reads “If it was once part of something alive, […] it does not belong in the landfill”. The site offers different solutions for what to do, suggesting a backyard compost, or a drop-off/pick-up option. Additionally, it explains in detail the purpose behind this new law. Not only do food scraps take up unnecessary space in a landfill, but when trapped by other trash, they create more methane, a major greenhouse gas. According to the EPA, over a period of 100 years, methane is 25 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. The benefits of composting also have a direct financial impact for families. When encouraged to compost, people realize how much they waste, and scale back. It’s estimated that a family of four can save about $1,500 a year by reducing their waste. Want to learn how to compost at home? Here’s a good resource.

2. The U.S. House passed the Clean Economy Jobs Innovation Act

This $135 billion bill package funds research and development programs at the Department of Energy (DOE). Passed by the House on Sept. 24, 2020, the package focuses on clean infrastructure and creating jobs, offering more funds to electric vehicles. It also offers a “phasedown” of hydrofluorocarbons, and advances the effort to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. This transforming Act has yet to be passed by the Senate, but has made its way over one major hurdle. 

Read this report by The Climate Majority Project to learn more on investor risks and benefits to the “net-zero by 2050” goal. 

3. COVID-19 sparks a decrease in emissions

Although devastating populations and economies worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic has given our planet some minor relief. After two months of lockdown, CO2 emission levels in China had decreased by 25 percent. The primary causes of this drop are due to a decreased necessity for transportation and electricity and industrial shutdowns. Although it is challenging to pinpoint and track direct reasons for a decrease in carbon emissions, there has been a noticeable decline. The National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan has documented that “fossil-fuel derived CO2 emissions” (FFCO2) decreased by a statistically significant amount in China this past Spring. By no means does this mean that we are out of the woods on the carbon front, but it is reassuring to be able to visibly see a difference in the span of just a few months that is a direct response to human actions. This proves that with combined international effort, FFCO2 emissions can be quickly curbed. 

4. The decline of the U.S coal industry

Coal has been on its way out for a few years now, but COVID-19 has significantly sped up the process. Similar to the reasons mentioned above for China, the amount of coal used for electricity in the US dropped by 40 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Thus far, there have been thirteen plant closures announced, including 33 coal boilers (a device that burns pulverized coal). These 33 boilers alone emitted 511 million tons of carbon in the past decade. With the help of COVID-19, the outdated coal industry is forced to reevaluate their product. There is a clear movement away from coal, and hopefully, funding for the coal industry can shift over to clean energy such as solar and wind power.

5. New York Bag Ban

New York state uses 23 billion plastic bags annually and about 85 percent of those end up as litter. According to Gov. Cuomo, 12 million barrels of oil are used yearly to make these bags. However, on March 1, 2020, the Bag Waste Reduction Law was passed. Although it faced a lawsuit that delayed its enforcement, by Oct. 2020, the law went into effect. New Yorkers are encouraged to use reusable cloth bags or carry their purchases. New York now joins seven other states, including California and Hawaii, that have a bag ban in place. This seemingly small bit of legislation largely impacts the daily lives of the average consumer, and hopefully sets a good example for other states to follow suit. 

Although we have a long way to go, 2020 has brought some environmental successes. The coronavirus pandemic, by no means a virtue, put regular life on hold, and proved that nature can quickly bounce back. If we continue on this trend, implementing environmentally sustainable legislation and changing the way we live, it is possible to reverse some of the harm we have caused.

Want to learn more? Here are some things to read, watch, and stay updated on in the coming months. 

To read:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

No One Is Too Small To Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg

To watch:

David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet

Stay tuned:

What will the new presidency’s policy be surrounding climate change?

Will the Senate Pass the Clean Jobs and Innovation Act?