In the sea of alarming news that we see on a daily basis, it can be easy to lose sight of the environmental progress we make. Though it is undeniable that we do have a tremendously long way to go, it’s important to take a moment to appreciate the small milestones along the way. 2022 was no different in terms of giving us its fair share of noteworthy environmental highlights.
Take a break from doom-scrolling and join us on the journey that is this list of some beautiful things we’ve achieved this year!
Photo credits: David Groves
Endangered Species Are Being Reintroduced Around The World
As much as climate change affects us, WWF says that the loss of habitats and species is just as big of a threat to our planet. Jobs, food, economies and overall human health all stand to be affected by wildlife preservation. Because of this, it's monumental when species that've been on the verge of extinction get to be reintroduced into the world. Some animals that’ve been reintroduced around the world are cheetahs, wild bisons, vultures, lynxes, and wild horses.
Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/juanbuis
Reusable McDonald's Packaging in Europe
Images of reusable McDonald’s packaging were taking the internet by a storm back in November of this year with social media users being delighted over the retro design.
They were first spotted by a French Twitter user who shared pictures of some glasses, chip holders and even Happy Meal boxes. The packaging is part of a trial across a few fast food locations in France and the rest of Europe, McDonald's has said.
Photo Credits: Arteum Ro
More Renewable Energy than Coal in USA This Year
This year in the United States, renewable energy has been on track to produce more energy than coal.
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), over a fifth of all electricity by the end of 2022 will come from hydropower, wind and solar.
The only other year this happened was 2020 when energy generation was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Sea Salt Battery 4 Times More Powerful than Lithium
Researchers have created a new (and cheap) battery with four times more energy storage than lithium.
This battery is constructed from sodium-sulphur*. This battery is low-cost and more environmentally friendly than existing options.
*a type of molten salt that can be processed from sea water.
Photo Credits: Dusan Veverkolog
Jonathan the Tortoise Celebrates 190th Birthday
The world’s oldest living land animal, Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathon celebrated its 190th birthday. His birthday - 1832, predates the postal stamp invention, as well as the inventions of the telephone and the photograph.
He has also lived through a series of monumental events in history including the US civil war, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, and two world wars.
Photo Credits: Gustavo Quepon
We hope this serves as a reminder for you to take the time to look for the rainbows in what can feel like an everlasting storm. With all the bad we consume, there’s a lot of good if we just look for them. Come back soon for more positive environmental news, as we plan on continuing this series!