There has been a lot of bad news about the global environment in 2021.
But amid a year of worsening environmental stress includingmostly ineffectiveinternational climate negotiations in Glasgow, locust plagues ravaging crops in East Africa, and an entire town being destroyedby fire in western Canada some small shoots of hope have emerged.
Scientists and conservationists highlighted five of the most important good news stories for 2021 when it comes to the condition of Earth.
1) The ozone layer is healing
It was one the most important environmental causes of the 1980s: trying stop the hole in ozone layer, which protects our planet from harmful UV radiations, from getting bigger. Activists mobilized street protests and politicians held summits.
According to a recent study, there is change.StudyThe US National Center for Atmospheric Research, (NCAR), reports that the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which regulates nearly 100 man-made chemicals that deplete ozone layer, will ensure that 443 million Americans are spared skin cancer by the end of the century.
The hole in the ozone layer is still enormous, approximately the size of North AmericaBut it is slowly recovering at a rate ranging from one to three per cent every ten years. According to the UN. The northern hemisphere’s hole is expected to be completely repaired by the 2030s. Full repair of the southern hemisphere, polar regions, and the northern hemisphere is possible by the 2060s.UN data.
NCAR reported that global action via the Montreal Protocol has prevented over 99 percent potential health effects resulting from ozone loss.
Environmentalists hope that the relative success in protecting the ozone layer will be replicated in combating climate change. This has not happened so far.
2) Coral IVF aids Australias Great Barrier Reef
Rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change are threatening the world’s largest living structure. Coral bleaching has been caused by rising ocean temperatures.
The Great Barrier Reef has seen some recovery this year. Scientists have used man-made pools in a similar process to in vitro fertilisation, moving eggs from reefs where coral was growing. These eggs are then transferred to areas that have been damaged by storms or bleaching.
Coral IVF, or assisted spawning (or coral IVF), was instrumental in the births of billions more coral babies this past year. This led to an explosion of colour. While the reef remains in serious danger, scientists and conservationists believe these technologies can help accelerate recovery in the world’s coral reefs, which are home to approximately 25% of marine life.
3) Chinas giant pandas no longer endangered
China is home to more that 1,800giant pandas, and reported in July that the famous bears are no longer endangered. They are now considered just vulnerable, thanks to conservation efforts.
An independent tracking group, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), made a Similar assessmentMany years before that.
According to Chinese authorities, a portion of the credit for the increase in the giant panda population can also be traced back to an expanded network protected areas in China, the most populous country in the world. These areas cover about 18% of China’s landmass.
4) Renewable energy generation reaches all-time high
Despite supply chain problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemics, 2021 was predicted to be a record year for new renewable energy production capacity.
According to a report, the world has added 290 gigawatts to its renewable power production capacity by installing solar panels, wind farms, or other technologies.This month’s publicationParis-based International Energy Agency. This is twice the total electricity generating capacity in Canada, which is about 145 gigawatts.
These trends suggest that renewable energycapacity could surpass the global current capacity for nuclear energy and fossil fuels by 2026. Globally, renewables will account for more that 90 percent of new electricity-generating capacity over the next five years. However, the pace of growth is not fast enough for us to reach our goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050.
5) Protected area extends around Galapagos Islands
Charles Darwin, a pioneer of the theory of evolution, wrote On the Origin of Species in 1921 after witnessing the incredible animal life of the Galapagos Islands.
Ecuador’s president announced in November that the marine protected area around the Galapagos Islands would be expanded by 60,000sqkm (37,282 square miles).
The area is home for giant tortoises and marine iguanas as well as penguins, sea-lions, frigatebirds, and sea lions. However, it is under threat from illegal fishing, climate change, and other threats. Environmentalists believe that expanding the protected area will help to preserve its unique natural beauty, wildlife, and biodiversity.