Amongst the worries and hardships of 2020, there have been some environmental stories to celebrate. Here are a few from around the world and from our small part of the world here in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
2020 has been one of those years that we’ll be looking back on for many years to come. It’s been a year marked by tragedy, worry, frustration, absence, by new ways of interacting with each other and new words to our vocabulary (how many of us this time last year anticipated we’d be teaching parents and grandparents to use Zoom this year, or joining work meetings in our pyjamas!).
This year has also been a been a chance for everyone to connect more with our local communities and appreciate our local environments more. It has been a year for listening to science, and for reminding us how we can respond quickly and on a large scale to crises, an issue so important as we continue to face a growing climate crisis. And, it has generated some positive news for the environment too.
As the year comes to an end, we wanted to remember a few of the environmental good news stories from around the world and from our local area.
- Air pollution dropped during lockdown.
Back in March, as countries went into lockdown, satellites picked up dramatic drops in air pollution above cities around the world. - US starts on path back to environmental commitments.
President-elect Joe Biden intends for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, having left under President Trump. - Big companies made bold climate commitments.
One example is Microsoft, which this year pledged to be carbon negative by 2030 and to address its legacy emissions–all the carbon the company has emitted since its founding in 1975–by 2050. - New commitment to protect oceans.
Leaders of 14 countries around the world have committed to 100% sustainably managing the oceans under their jurisdictions by 2025, equivalent to an area of ocean the size of Africa. - UK’s use of renewable energy increased.
According to data on GridWatch, 37% of the UK’s electricity in 2020 came from renewable sources, up from 31% in 2019. In May this year the UK reported nearly a month without using coal power. - People want a fairer, greener Britain after Covid.
A cross-party consultation in September found people want a more community-minded, environmentally-aware future in our country. - Bristol judged to be most environmentally friendly big British city.
An overview in The Guardian noted high recycling rates, green spaces and the high number of Green Party seats on the city’s council. - Airport expansion plans thwarted.
In February North Somerset Council rejected Bristol Airport’s expansion plans – and in December, in response to an appeal by the airport, Bristol City Council also passed a motion rejecting the expansion. - Rich biodiversity in the heart of Emersons Green.
Ecological survey reveals rich natural diversity in triangle of wild flower meadow in the heart of modern housing estate. - Zoo animals to get more space in South Gloucestershire site.
Bristol Zoo Gardens will relocate to the much larger Wild Place Project site by 2024, a move that should allow more space for the animals and for more conservation work.
There is plenty to worry about in 2021, as Covid cases continue to rise, as the impacts of the last-minute Brexit deal remain to be seen, as the economic, social and educational costs of Covid continue, and as urgent work is needed to avert climate disaster.
But, amidst the fears and heartache of 2020 and concerns for 2021, we’d like to pause for a moment, on this frosty, sunny day in South Gloucestershire to reflect on some of the positives and wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
