Positive environmental news stories

[Brian G Turner]

With all the news about human-induced climate disasters, it would be easy to get swamped by negativity about the environment. I figure we therefore need a thread to show some of the more positive stories about how the world is actually achieving important net neutral goals, with the aim not simply of slowing global warming, but even eventually reversing it.

Here's a couple for starters:

1. The UK was the first country to industrialize coal power - but now has stopped producing energy from coal:

UK to close last coal power station after 142 years

The UK's last coal power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, is due to end operations on Monday.

www.bbc.co.uk

2. China may be the biggest CO2 polluter - but it is also the biggest driver of green energy, building almost twice as much solar and wind capacity than every other country combined:

China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'

China on Friday passed a new energy law to promote carbon neutrality, state media reported, as Beijing moves ahead with its pledge to decarbonize its economy by 2060.

phys.org

I don't know if we have an existing thread on this - if so, I'll moved this thread into that one.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Just to add, China also has a massive re-forestation program on the go:

Satellite-based evidence supports China's claim of increased forestation to sequester carbon

An international team of forest and resource management specialists, ecologists and conservationists has verified the claims of China's national greenhouse gas inventories regarding major forest biomass carbon gains.

phys.org

 

[Danny McG]

Not forgetting all those fans to cool down the Earth!
(I can't believe this guy actually thought this was true)

 

[BAYLOR]

With all the news about human-induced climate disasters, it would be easy to get swamped by negativity about the environment. I figure we therefore need a thread to show some of the more positive stories about how the world is actually achieving important net neutral goals, with the aim not simply of slowing global warming, but even eventually reversing it.

Here's a couple for starters:

1. The UK was the first country to industrialize coal power - but now has stopped producing energy from coal:

UK to close last coal power station after 142 years

The UK's last coal power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, is due to end operations on Monday.

www.bbc.co.uk

2. China may be the biggest CO2 polluter - but it is also the biggest driver of green energy, building almost twice as much solar and wind capacity than every other country combined:

China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'

China on Friday passed a new energy law to promote carbon neutrality, state media reported, as Beijing moves ahead with its pledge to decarbonize its economy by 2060.

phys.org

I don't know if we have an existing thread on this - if so, I'll moved this thread into that one.

It might be worth noting that China's heavily investing in fusion power as well.

 

[Dave]

It's difficult, because what has been agreed falls well short of what is required, but this will help because the production of Steel in the traditional way contributes significantly to overall carbon emissions, estimated at between 7% and 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Forging a Sustainable Future: The Rise of Green Steel Plants

Green steel represents a pivotal change in steel production, focusing on eco-friendly practices and technological advancements to combat climate change.

www.azocleantech.com

 

[Vertigo]

I loved this BBC news story I heard recently. Basically they decided to try and reboot a river (in Somerset). As I understand it they simply filled the river in completely and let it do its own thing, find it's own course, create ponds etc. (though it looks like they added quite a few tree trunks). Apparently hugely successful with huge diversity of flora and fauna.

 

[CupofJoe]

Cheap fix floated for contrail plane vapour's climate impact

The warming impact of the vapour trails that emerge from airplanes is being discussed at climate gathering.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[SilentRoamer]

I'm actually not sure on how "green" solar/wind actually is. It's the same as windfarms - I'm not sure there have been any proper studies on carbon impact of the mining, assembling, transportation and ongoing maintenance of these types of technologies.

 

[Overread]

I'm actually not sure on how "green" solar/wind actually is. It's the same as windfarms - I'm not sure there have been any proper studies on carbon impact of the mining, assembling, transportation and ongoing maintenance of these types of technologies.

The big thing is capacity and demand.
Wind and Solar are good, but both are variable power sources that don't coincide with demand. Both will vary a lot with the time of year and the weather - winter time and you will draw far less power from solar than in the summer; esp if you are further from the equator. Wind can randomly be super great one moment and then totally dead another.

My impression is that nuclear is the best all round. The waste product is a problem, but otherwise its cleaner than most other power sources for the volume of power it can output and for the fact that its constant. It doesn't rise and fall with the weather.
Fusion power is the absolute dream power - a few years back they managed a stable reaction with more power out than in in the USA so that's a huge leap. If that could be built into a sustained reactor system then I think that's the fuel for the future at least so far as electrical energy is concerned.

 

[Vertigo]

My impression is that nuclear is the best all round. The waste product is a problem, but otherwise its cleaner than most other power sources for the volume of power it can output and for the fact that its constant. It doesn't rise and fall with the weather.
Fusion power is the absolute dream power - a few years back they managed a stable reaction with more power out than in in the USA so that's a huge leap. If that could be built into a sustained reactor system then I think that's the fuel for the future at least so far as electrical energy is concerned.

Agreed. Sadly I suspect it's still at least a decade or two, probably more, before we'll have anything actually on line. I remember years ago someone, possibly Brian Cox, saying solar/wind/wave etc. would never realistically provide all our future power needs and that fusion was essential for our future. I tend to agree. And we still need a truly sustainable battery technology.

 

[Dave]

Education (as always) is key. This won't persuade the conspiracy theorists and is only for the UK, but given poor the level of general knowledge, and especially among journalists, it should already be happening. Please sign.

Petition: Run a public information campaign on the climate crisis

Communicate clearly: 1) the science behind the climate crisis - how & why for the first time in the last year we've averaged 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels 2) the implications of going beyond this and what needs to be done to address it globally, nationally, locally and individually.

petition.parliament.uk

 

[Harpo]

World’s largest coral found in the Pacific near Solomon Islands

The coral could be 500 years old and is bigger than a blue whale, scientists say.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Montero]

More happy stuff. From Fauna and Flora, who've been around about 120 years and work on restoration and protection with local people, they are reporting a lot of success with Caribbean Island re-wilding.

Thirty islands restored in 30 years

Fauna & Flora and partners have now restored 30 Caribbean islands, saving over a dozen species from extinction in the process.

www.fauna-flora.org