This month, I want to depart from focusing on the climate crisis itself and instead share some reasons for optimism. In particular, the column is devoted to 10 inspiring 2023 advancements that are helping us tackle the crisis. There are a bunch of great solutions within our reach. All we need to do is act, sooner rather than later, and en masse.
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In 2023, solar power will make up half of all additions to U.S. electricity generation, a fact that comes to us from the U.S. Energy Administration. This year, a record-breaking 25.5 gigawatts of solar projects will come online, nearly doubling the installations in 2021.
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In Europe, heat pumps are avoiding 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emission because 3 million heat pump units replaced 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Heat pumps are now helping Europe avoid 54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, approximately equivalent to Greece’s annual emissions. We are fast approaching an era when heat pumps will replace traditional fossil-fuel-based furnaces worldwide.
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Solar energy is poised to surpass oil in new investments for the first time, as the International Energy Agency reported. This shift is attributed to affordability and security concerns (read the war in Ukraine) triggered by the ongoing global energy crisis.
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In some cases, renewable energy sources have become more economical than fossil fuels. It’s a fact worth reiterating––in some cases, the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources has overtaken that of fossil fuels. Traditionally, fossil fuels held sway in the global power market due to their cost advantage. However, within the past decade, renewable energy costs have plummeted below those of fossil fuels. We’ve now reached a pivotal milestone: Constructing a new fossil fuel power plant is more expensive than establishing a solar or wind power facility, according to a recent paper published in Joule Journal. Price was the primary factor blocking the widespread adoption of renewable energy, and that’s no longer the case.
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The California High-Speed Rail Authority has unveiled more detailed plans for their long-awaited high-speed train. It will be solar powered. The train requires a substantial 44 megawatts of energy, generated by 552 acres of solar panels. Additionally, onboard batteries will amass 62 megawatt hours of power. That’s pretty amazing.
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The Sustainable Energy in America 2023 Factbook asserts that carbon-free sources accounted for over 40% of the total energy output in the United States in 2022––an all-time high. This percentage encapsulates renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power. While nuclear and hydropower remained consistent with previous years, the substantial increase primarily came from wind and solar energy.
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Brazil’s newly elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has unveiled over 20 new environmental policies. Notably, these include a commitment to zero deforestation of the Amazon. This is a promising development, considering the significant loss of 13.2% of the original Amazon forest ecosystem due to deforestation and human activities. Deforestation this year has already been reduced by 34% compared to last year.
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The Swiss populace voted for a groundbreaking climate law to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A 59% majority supported the government’s Climate Protection Targets, Innovation, and Strengthening Energy Security Act on June 18. This endorsement was even more resounding in the canton of Geneva, where 74% of voters embraced it following an exceptionally warm spring for the European nation. Imagine what would happen if we did the same in our country.
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United Nations member states have adopted a historic resolution on climate justice. This landmark resolution holds highly polluting nations accountable for failing to address the climate crisis. More than 130 U.N. member states endorsed this resolution at the General Assembly in New York, calling upon the International Court of Justice––the world’s highest court––to clarify the obligations of states in addressing the climate emergency.
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Thanks to the 1987 Montreal Pro tocol, the ozone layer is healing. The protocol focused on phasing out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, and recent studies have shown that the protective ozone layer is showing signs of recovery, with estimates suggesting a complete restoration to health between 2040 and 2070. Despite the challenges posed by high carbon emissions and air pollution, the ozone layer’s healing is worthy of celebration and predictive of what we can accomplish in the coming 27 years as we move toward a zero-emissions future.
As I said above, there are a bunch of great solutions within our reach. All we need to do is act.
Next month, I’ll cover how big industry impacts the climate crisis
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Rich Marcello is a novelist and a member of the Climate Initiative Committee. In writing his latest novel, “The Means of Keeping,” he spent several years researching the climate crisis.
