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If you have been keeping track of climate and environmental news over the past few months and years, chances are you’re feeling a bit uneasy about our future here on this planet. There’s no denying the fact that human activity has done immense damage to the Earth’s ecosystems and atmosphere, but is our situation really as hopeless as it often seems? Though far too few media outlets, environmental or otherwise, take the time to feature the positive progress we have made, research from a variety of key areas indicates that we have come a long way already and have the tools at our disposal to create even more substantial change in the future.
To begin with the forward progress that has already begun to occur, data from a number of key environmental focus areas–such as the emergence of clean energy, the rate of carbon emissions, and more–indicate that we are moving in a good direction to tackle climate change. Clean energy is on the increase, with solar energy, wind energy, and even niche forms like hydroelectric and nuclear energy are growing steadily. If countries around the world can maintain the current rate of clean energy progress, we will be well on the way to meeting the current climate goals that have been set for the end of the century. Beyond this encouraging boost to clean energy production, carbon emissions by even those countries with thriving fossil fuel industries actually appear to be on the decline. As clean energy becomes increasingly reliable, prevalent, and affordable, comparatively expensive fossil fuels will likely begin to loosen their grip on the world. At some point, it simply will not be profitable for companies and consumers to rely on fossil fuels as their main source of energy. Considering that profit and consumer expense are two of the main driving motives for the continued use of fossil fuels, it is possible that the very systems which once worked against climate repair will begin to work with the efforts to conserve our planet as these trends progress into the future.
Environmental concerns are acknowledged now by more people than ever before, and this heightened consciousness has led to technological advances, increased community outreach, and more thoughtful behavior by policy makers and average citizens alike. Scientists are breaking new ground every year, researching alternative sources of fuel, microorganisms that may be able to break down plastics, and ways of trapping carbon artificially. Communities around the globe are taking steps to preserve the ecosystems all around them, helping to repair damaged areas, preserve threatened wildlife, and clean natural spaces of contaminants like litter. Influential figures in the public eye, from popular YouTubers to celebrities, have inspired their followings to make change through various charities and events. Even at a political level, climate and environmental issues have become some of the main topics for government meetings both local and global. Community organizers are pursuing sustainable architecture like forest skyscrapers that contain thousands of trees and house hundreds of people, helping with concerns over lacking enough horizontal space to hold both our expanding population and the photosynthesizing plants we need to keep our air breathable. Though the impact of these efforts is currently restrained by the rate of environmental destruction, their effect will increase substantially if the current sustainability trends we have noticed can be maintained over the coming years.
Looking more pointedly into the future brings the most encouraging messages yet. Research in every critical area has definitively shown that we are not doomed. Compared to early projections, which warned of catastrophic temperature increases by the end of the century, modern climate predictions place us at an increase that, though not ideal, is not an immediate death sentence for our planet. We are still at a point in time where much of the damage we have done can be either reversed or minimized if we put in the effort. Most ecosystems, for example, have the ability to recover from even extreme human disturbance within our lifetimes. Not only that, but recovered and thriving ecosystems become much more resilient when it comes to future disturbances, including climate change; therefore, if we make a point of repairing our ecosystems, they will be better prepared for any climate change we can't contain. Further economic analyses have also demonstrated that repairing our ecosystems, especially our oceans, is actually more cost-effective than the current systems we have in place. If we were to convert 20% of our oceans to marine reserves, for example, local economies would benefit from increased tourism, and fishing harvests around the borders of the reserves would be far better (and more sustainable) than those currently taken from unprotected populations. Protecting our planet isn’t just a net benefit for the continuation of life as we know it–it’s a net benefit for businesses and other profit enterprises, who tend to act as some of the most formidable roadblocks faced by environmental progress.
While it’s very important to acknowledge the obstacles standing in the way of environmental repair, it is equally as important to keep ourselves appraised of the positive progress we are making now and can make in the future. Failing to recognize the hope in our current situation only hinders our ability to make the change we want to see. The quickest path to defeat is by defeating ourselves, so it is crucial that we allow ourselves to see the good as well as the bad. It is my hope that, by writing this article, you will be encouraged to take an occasional break from the negative news and seek out a silver lining that will help you find the strength to keep fighting. Our situation isn’t hopeless, so don’t let yourself be fooled into believing that it is.
Sources & Further Reading
This video by Kurzgesagt is much more thoroughly-researched than its quippy title would lead you to believe. It offers a great breakdown of where we are now and mirrors the sentiment of this brief article regarding the need to stay encouraged in the face of pressing global issues like these. Its visuals are engaging and its science is well-supported by a substantial list of sources; if you want to know more, this video is a must-watch!
Speaking of engaging and well-researched videos, this TED Talk by Enric Sala offers a great expansion on the idea of ecosystem restoration and the benefits of investing effort into our environment. If you were skeptical of how restoring the ecosystem could possibly be profitable from an economic standpoint, I would highly recommend you watch to see the detailed breakdowns offered in this presentation.
This article showcases some of the intriguing forest skyscrapers referenced above, which offer one potential solution for both population and climate concerns. If you're curious about what the future of sustainable living may look like, this article is a great place to start your journey of imagination.
If scientific research is more your speed, this article summarizes the findings of many researchers regarding the rate at which ecosystems recover. It might not seem outwardly that groundbreaking, but this new understanding is actually quite groundbreaking, shattering earlier assumptions that ecosystem recovery was the process of centuries and millennia.
This website is dedicated to bringing light to positive news regarding our environment that is otherwise difficult to find from mainstream sources. If you are hoping to stay hopeful as you consider our environmental circumstances, this site is a great place to find the silver linings you crave. It even has a mailing list that will connect you with positive stories on a weekly basis!
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