Climate Wrapped: 2023
From being the hottest year on record, to new and upcoming policies and innovations, 2023 was a rollercoaster.
With 2023 now behind us, we can look back and get the birds eye view of everything that occurred throughout the year in climate change. Furthermore, to fully learn from the events of 2023, we need to analyse what next steps need to be taken this year in 2024 to help reverse climate change. To accomplish this, we need to look at the good and bad things of this year and make new year resolutions for the world to help be more sustainable as a whole.
Although we constantly hear about the horrors of climate change, there have been good things that happened in 2023. Let’s take a look back at some of those advancements in climate change solutions:
- Electric Vehicle Advancement: Electric vehicles (EV) have made a huge leap since now they make up 15.5% of the automobile industry. This rise in EV purchases will be beneficial for the planet because the transportation industry makes up 20% of the emissions. Additionally, the cost to produce EV’s are decreasing as well since the batteries that are needed to power the vehicles are becoming less expensive. Furthermore, with the US passing the Inflation Reduction Act, people are more incentivized now to purchase EV’s since through this act they recieve tax credits for owning and electric vehicle. Through these initiatives, the amount of gas powered cars on the road are slowly decreasing leading to more benefits for the environment
2. Increase in Renewable/Clean Energy: The Inflation Reduction Act also carried extensive funding for renewable energy. This act is the largest climate fund ever and is helping to boost innovation for more clean and renewable energy for the nation. Furthermore, for the first time we are seeing a decrease in emissions in one sector, the power sector. This increase in renewable energy use is shown in the downward trend starting in power emissions as of this year. This is phenomenal to see since we can see that it is possible for those number to not only slow down but also reverse as well.
3. Countries Controlling Methane: Although methane is less abundant in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide, it is more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere and accounts for a quarter of our warming since pre-industrial times. Furthermore, methane also breaks down faster meaning cutting down on methane would greatly help the environment. Additionally, we see that companies with high methane emissions have decided to crack down on their rates and promise to reduce their methane emissions. At the recent UN climate conference, they state they will soon require large oil and gas companies to cut down and watch their methane emissions, and in response, many big companies such as Exxon and BP have pledged to reduce their methane emissions at least 80% by 2030. Furthermore, along with this may countries have also pledged to do the same. With all these different policies and action against methane, it is predicted if these initiatves succeed, it can ease global emissions by around 30% by the end of this decade.
However, with the plethora of good news and advancements throughout this year, we also have experienced some major setbacks and warning signs along the way. Let’s explore some of these red flags in our climate throughout the year.
4. Hottest Year on Record: As stated earlier, 2023 has been the hottest year on record and this is not a positive sign. Although we see good advancements like explained above, we still have a long way to go to reverse the severe damage done to the environment. Temperatures are continuing to rise as we speak and the window to fix this is slowly closing. Scientist are saying that at this rate of temperature increase, we may start to pass our 2 degree Celsius limit which we enforced on ourselves during a UN conference. If we surpass this limit, this would mean a much more alarming situation for the climate than we would ever be able to imagine. Moreover, some are saying that the changes such as heat, drought, and rainfall are happening faster than expected meaning the temperature is increasing faster than expected. All these signs that we are seeing should be a bright red flag for all of us worldwide.
5. Natural Disasters Increasing: Over the year we have seen the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increasing. For example, we see number of hurricanes and floods increasing which is a sign of the level of climate change on our climate. Furthermore, because of the increase in the frequency we are spending on average 18 billion dollars on natural disasters. As we see the spike in natural disasters, we can infer that this is a result of the increase in temperature and other climate change factors. These billion dollar disasters are not only costing our pocket but is affecting the lives of millions globally. The increase in natural disasters are a glimpse of what will happen in the future if we do not fix the climate.
What does 2024 hold?
While the past year held a spectrum of events that showed us a part of the climate solution, we need to move forward with greater speed in 2024. This year has gone in the books for some beneficial advancements, however, unfortunately most of them have been grim insights into our future if we don’t make serious change in the coming year. As a whole, let us make some new year's resolutions for the climate.
1. Federal Action: We have seen states take action on climate topics, however, I feel if we truly want to succeed to reverse climate change we have to have more federal action. Biden did have the largest federal funding for climate innovations, however, I feel we need more intense and direct action from the federal government to get into the specific aspects of our life that are causing climate change.
2. Increase in EV’s: As discussed previously, EV’s are helping the environment due to the influx of purchases. However, to genuinely make a difference in climate change today, we need to see EV’s becoming more affordable and easier for customers to buy and replaces gas cars on the road in 2024. This ties to the Inflation Reduction Act and how we need more action like this from the government in the coming year not only to boost EV sales but to also boost other climate solutions.
3. Treaties and International Solutions: Countries individually have been creating solutions on a federal and national level, however, climate change is a collective problem which needs to be solved collectively. Conferences like the UN and and COP are beneficial for our future and is the only solution. Climate change being a global issue, we won’t be able to fix it if each country individually tries to solve their problems internally. We need to share our solutions and work together. This is not like the space race were we are fighting each other, this is potentially the end for everyone if we do not find a solutions as a world.
4. Regulate Our Emissions More Specifically: Many forecasters are predicting 2024 will continue to bring warmer temperatures. Temperature increase are only one way the climate is warning us about what will come in the future. The weather phenomenon of El Niño explains how there is one strip in the central part of the Pacific Ocean that consists of warm water. Scientists are prediciting as the water gets warmer there, this water will move and cause warmer temperatures as well. The only real and effective way to decrease the temperature is look at our greenhouse emissions. Gases like methane and carbon dioxide are only examples of greenhouse gases tackling our climate today that we need to rope in the coming year. The way to do that is a combination of individual and federal action, as well as large enterprises who release a good amount of emissions.
In 2023, the world grappled with the reality of climate change, with record-high temperatures and increasing natural disasters serving as urgent reminders of the looming crisis. Despite these alarming signs, the year also witnessed positive developments, such as the growth of electric vehicles, boosted by incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act, and a surge in renewable energy funding. Additionally, international efforts to tackle methane emissions from major corporations and countries held the promise of significant global emissions reduction. As we enter 2024, it is essential to make resolutions for our planet, emphasizing stronger federal actions, enhanced affordability and adoption of electric vehicles, and international collaboration to collectively combat climate change and secure a sustainable future for all.
