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It causes record heat waves destructive fires Russia’s Siberia, South America and a long drought hit The biggest floods in South Sudan For 60 years, there has been a lot of bad news about the situation global environment In 2021.
But in a year when environmental stress has worsened, among other things most effective Glasgow’s international climate talks, East Africa’s growing crops and a whole country It was destroyed by fire in western Canada – a few small shoots of hope have sprung up.
As for the state of the planet, scientists and conservationists have highlighted the five most important good news of 2021:
1) The ozone layer is healing
One of the main environmental causes of the 1980s was the attempt to prevent the enlargement of the ozone layer hole that protects the planet from harmful UV rays. Activists mobilized street protests and politicians held rallies.
And change is happening, according to one last one examine U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to regulate the depletion of nearly 100 ozone-depleted chemicals, 443 million Americans are likely to be saved from skin cancer by the end of the year. in this century.
The hole in the ozone layer remains huge, roughly North America – but every 10 years it is reviving from one percent to three, According to the UN. The hole in some parts of the northern hemisphere is expected to be completely healed by 2030, and it is expected to be completely repaired in the southern hemisphere and polar regions by 2060. According to UN data.
Global action on the issue through the Montreal Protocol has prevented more than 99 percent of the potential health consequences that would otherwise result from ozone depletion, NCAR reported.
Ecologists hope that the relative success of the ozone layer protection movement could be repeated the fight against climate change; so far, that hasn’t happened.
2) “Coral IVF” helps the Great Wall of Australia
The largest living structure in the world is under threat raising the temperature of the ocean linked to climate change coral bleaching.
This year, however, there has been some resurgence Great Choral Fence. Scientists are using man-made pools in a process similar to in vitro fertilization (IVF) by moving eggs from areas where the coral is growing. These are then transferred in an effort to regenerate areas affected by bleaching or storm damage.
The process of assisted reproduction, called “coral IVF”, has helped give birth to billions of coral babies this year in a burst of color. The reef still faces great risks, but scientists and conservationists hope to push these types of technologies more widely. recovery on world reefs, lives about a quarter of marine life.
3) Chinese giant pandas are no longer “endangered”
More than 1,800 people live there giant pandas living in the desert, China reported in July that iconic bears are no longer officially “endangered.” Conservation efforts now classify them as “weak”.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, an independent monitoring group, a similar assessment several years earlier.
Partial credit for improvement giant panda the population can be found in a vast network of protected areas in the world’s most populous country, accounting for about 18 percent of China’s land mass, according to Chinese authorities.
4) Renewable energy generation is the highest ever
However supply chain problems As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new renewable energy production capacity was expected to be established in 2021.
With new solar installations, wind farms and other technologies, the world has added 290 gigawatts of renewable energy production capacity this year, according to a report. published this month By the Paris-based International Energy Agency. In comparison, this is twice the total electricity generation capacity of Canada 145 gigawatts.
Based on these trends, renewable energy capacity could exceed the current global capacity of fossil fuels and nuclear energy by 2026. Globally, more than 90 percent of new electricity generation capacity is expected to come from renewables in the next five years. The pace of growth, however, is still not fast enough to reach the goal net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
5) The protected area extends around the Galapagos Islands
In the 16th century, the amazing life of animals in the distant Galapagos Islands led Charles Darwin to write On the Origin of Species and pioneered the theory of evolution.
Last November, It was announced by the President of Ecuador A sea-protected area around the Galapagos would cover an area of 60,000 square kilometers (37,282 square miles).
It is inhabited by giant tortoises, sea iguanas, penguins, sea lions and frigates, among other species, the area is under threat of climate change. illegal fishing and other challenges. Ecologists hope that expanding the protected area will help preserve its unique natural beauty and wildlife.
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