Friday, August 02, 2024

Renewables records and free public transport: Positive environmental stories from 2024

Angela Symons
Fri, August 2, 2024 

Renewables records and free public transport: Positive environmental stories from 2024


Eco-anxiety, climate doom, environmental existential dread - as green journalists, we see these terms used a lot - and often feel them ourselves.

While there's a lot to be worried about when it comes to the climate and nature crises, we must not lose hope - because hopelessness breeds apathy.

The media has an important role to play in combatting climate doom. It's our job to be truthful and accurate in our reporting, not trying to downplay or greenwash the situation. But it's also our job to show that there is hope.

In 2023, as part of our ongoing effort to tackle eco-anxiety (both that of our readers and our own), we kept track of all the positive environmental news throughout the year. We racked up over 200 stories of eco-innovation, green breakthroughs and climate wins - more than double the number in 2022 and a sure sign of momentum.

In 2024, we're confident the good news will keep on coming, as renewable power soars, vulnerable ecosystems gain rights, and climate protocols start to pay dividends.

This article will be regularly updated with the latest good news. It may be something small and local, something silly that made us smile, or something enormous and potentially world-changing.

If you come across a great, positive story that we haven't covered here - please reach out to us on Instagram or X to share your ideas.

Positive environmental stories from July 2024

‘Freedom from fossil power’: Wind and solar electricity grew to all-time high in first half of 2024

For the first time, wind and solar generated more of the EU’s electricity than fossil fuels in the first half of this year.

A new analysis from energy think tank Ember has found that electricity from wind and solar grew to an all-time high of 30 per cent in the last six months compared to 27 per cent from fossil fuels. The remaining 43 per cent was made up by a mix of hydropower, nuclear and other sources.

Belgium, France, Austria: The European countries where employers must pay for public transport

In a bid to increase the attractiveness of sustainable transport and lighten the financial load of citizens, some European governments have mandated that employers must pay for the cost of public transport.

This typically works by taking out your monthly or annual travel subscription as normal and then handing your receipt to your company who will refund some or all of the amount.

Polar bear tracking tech breakthrough could boost conservation as climate heats up

Scientists have developed a new way of tracking polar bears and it could help us better understand how they cope with disappearing sea ice.

This breakthrough in stick-on GPS tracking tags will help researchers fill gaps in their knowledge about the behaviour or movement of polar bears like never before.

King Charles III bestows royal title on at-risk goats

King Charles III has bestowed a royal title on an “at risk” golden goat breed.

Christopher Price, the chief executive of the UK's Rare Breeds Survival Trust, said the King's honour offers recognition of the breed’s historical significance and its value to biodiversity, the environment and sustainable food production.

Travel by public transport and get free tickets with Copenhagen’s new green initiative for tourists

Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, has launched a new initiative called CopenPay in an effort to promote sustainable tourism.

Tourists who choose to travel by public transport or bike without using cars or taxis will be rewarded with perks such as free coffee, museum admissions, and an extra 20 minutes' ski time on the slope of a heating plant.

Trams from Switzerland and Germany are helping to decarbonise Ukraine’s public transport

Switzerland and Germany are sending more than 100 used trams to Ukraine to help the embattled country improve its public transport.

It's helping the country phase out more energy-intensive Communist-era vehicles with new ‘eco friendly’ options.

The world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger ferry is free to ride for six months

The world's first hydrogen-powered commercial passenger ferry will start operating on San Francisco Bay as part of plans to phase out diesel-powered vessels and reduce planet-warming carbon emissions.

"If we can operate this successfully, there are going to be more of these vessels in our fleet and in other folks' fleets in the United States and we think in the world," says Jim Wunderman, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which runs commuter ferries across the bay.

Rice is a silent source of methane emissions: Meet the startup helping farmers tackle the problem

Rice feeds nearly half the world’s population, but the way we grow it has left a surprisingly high methane footprint.

In Indonesia, Rize is helping farmers to adopt new agricultural methods, which could cut the region’s emissions while boosting farmers’ profits.

Meet the Turkish teens developing a cheap and fast solution to crop failure

“In Türkiye, we are living the effects of climate change. This region was Mesopotamia, where agriculture and civilisation was born, but now people are struggling with climate change and drought,” says 17-year-old Beyza, a runner-up of The Earth Prize.

Beyza and her team set out to address these issues with Plantzma: an easy-to-use device that leverages plasma to create more resilient crops and enrich irrigation water.

Hungarian scientists capture majestic wild horses in their natural habitat thanks to drones

Researchers in Hungary are using drones to track the movements of an almost 300-member herd of endangered horses.

The Przewalski's horses live on remote plains, far away from human interference.

These wild horses were once extinct in the wild, but thanks to captive breeding programmes there are around 2,000 Przewalski's horses roaming free again.

New UK government lifts ‘absurd’ onshore wind ban: What could it mean for bills and net zero?

The UK’s new Labour government has scrapped a de facto ban on onshore wind farms in England, opening up the potential for every UK home to be powered by clean energy.

Deforestation in Colombia fell to historic low in 2023: How did they achieve the drop?

Deforestation in Colombia fell by 36 per cent in a year, marking a new record low.

It's especially good news the world's largest rainforest, the Amazon, one-third of which is in Colombia.

The drop happened between 2022 and 2023 and comes off the back of years of campaigning by Indigenous activists who depend on the Amazon for their homes and livelihood.

'Great news': Ecuador river is granted the right to not be polluted in historic court case

In an unusual ruling, a court in Ecuador has ruled that pollution has violated the rights of a river that runs through the capital, Quito.

Activists who filed the complaint said the decision is “historic”.

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