5 reasons to be optimistic about climate change

Arabia Weather - The year 2023 was a period full of horrific weather news, as we witnessed unprecedented global temperatures, a proliferation of extreme and deadly weather events, in addition to continuing high rates of pollution and carbon emissions.

Despite this gloomy atmosphere, there is still room for optimism, according to a report published by CNN. We have witnessed record numbers being achieved in the field of renewable energy. Some countries have taken cautious, but historic steps towards building a future free of fossil fuel dependence.

Here are 5 reasons to be optimistic about the world's climate future

A boom in renewable energy

With the growing need to quickly phase out fossil fuels that contribute to global warming, promising signs are emerging in clean energy around the world. Portugal relied solely on renewable energy sources for six consecutive days from October 31 to November 6, a shining example worth following.

2023 saw the largest increase in renewable energy capacity to date, according to the International Energy Agency. China, the world's biggest climate polluter, has made significant progress on renewable energy sources, with the country expected to exceed its wind and solar targets by five years.

According to a report published in June, China's solar energy production capacity has become the largest in the world. However, we must not forget at the same time that China has also boosted its coal production this year, as a result of the increasing need for energy for air conditioning and refrigeration in light of extreme heat waves.

Agreement targeting fossil fuels

After more than two weeks of fraught negotiations, the COP28 climate summit held in Dubai, UAE, concluded with nearly 200 countries pledging an unprecedented commitment to transition away from fossil fuels.

Although the agreement fell short of calling on the world to phase out coal, oil and gas, it called on countries to “contribute” to “the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.”

Declining deforestation in Brazil

The Amazon forest is the largest rainforest in the world, and plays a vital role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon, which forms part of the pollution resulting from global warming. After years of widespread forest destruction in the Brazilian Amazon, we will see good progress in 2023 towards reducing this destruction.

Deforestation in Brazil decreased by 22.3% in the period extending to last July, according to Brazilian government data. Despite this, Brazil's deforestation rate remains close to double the rate recorded in 2012, which is considered an all-time low. About 9,000 square kilometers of rainforest were destroyed in this period, indicating that ongoing efforts must continue to achieve the Brazilian President's commitment to achieve "zero deforestation" by 2030.

The ozone layer is recovering well

Last January, a United Nations panel of environmental experts announced that the ozone layer around the Earth is on track to fully recover in the coming decades. This improvement is due to the phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting chemicals worldwide.

Electric car sales rise

This year has seen the popularity of electric vehicles skyrocket, with sales in the United States reaching an all-time high. Individuals in China and Europe have also purchased electric cars in large numbers.

Electric cars rely on renewable energy sources and play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions from road transportation, which is responsible for about one-sixth of the world's pollution, according to the International Energy Agency.

Electric vehicle sales in the United States will reach exactly one million in 2023, an annual record according to a report from Bloomberg.

Electric cars also accounted for about 8% of total new car sales in the United States during the first half of 2023.

In China, electric cars accounted for 19% of total car sales, and worldwide, the share of electric cars reached 15% on average, according to a Bloomberg report.

Electric vehicle sales in Europe also rose by 47% in the first nine months of 2023, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Source: alhurra