The Future of Climate Change: 5 Highlights in March 2022

“The Future of Climate Change” is a monthly series: we choose 5 beautiful things that shaped the future of climate action in the past month.

If it makes the world a better place, we want to talk about it.

News on halting biodiversity loss, reducing carbon footprints, becoming carbon neutral, cleantech innovations, climate change solutions, and everything in between. 🌿

Plus! When you start looking, you’ll notice so much good happening. That’s why we had to include a Biodiversity & Sustainability bonus at the end!

So, if you're asking "is there any good news about climate change?" then yes -- here's the good climate news from February 2022!

Italy makes protecting the environment part of its constitution

With what is now called a historic vote, Italy made protecting the environment part of its constitution.

The Italian parliament approved a law that means:

• the state must safeguard ecosystems and biodiversity “in the interest of future generations”
• health and the environment must be protected by the economy
• private industry can no longer impact the climate
• animals must also be protected

The minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, said the law allows Italy to have “well-defined rules” for protecting the planet - especially as today’s actions will have consequences for future generations.

Tiger populations finally show an increase after over a century of decline

A rare and hard-fought conservation success story is finally happening: a century-long trend of wild tiger decline has finally been reversed.

A study by WWF shows tiger populations are increasing, partly because of several restoration efforts. One of them is the Tiger Summit.

The first Tiger Summit gathered experts to determine ways to conserve tiger populations across 13 countries. The first record of the tiger population recovering was in 2016, which was the first glimpse of hope.

“The 2010 Tiger Summit launched an unprecedented set of tiger conservation initiatives,” commented Stuart Chapman, head of the Tiger Summit, “The results show what can be achieved through long-term partnerships for species recovery. The dedication of field teams, conservation partners, and communities living in tiger territories has led to these extraordinary results.”

The University of Exeter project gets £10 million for biodiversity research

Researchers have received £10 million to take real action on halting biodiversity loss.

The grand plan of ‘Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach’ (RENEW) is to:

• investigate and tackle biodiversity loss
• work with landowners, businesses, and communities
• restore woodlands, wetlands, and farmlands across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

It’s a collaboration between researchers at the University of Exeter, the UK, and the National Trust. It received a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council.

Coca-Cola will make at least 25% of their packaging reusable by 2030

After increased criticism over plastic pollution, Coca-Cola has pledged to change its packaging policies and make at least 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030.

The change will be implemented on:

• the glass and plastic bottles sold to consumers
• the containers used at soda fountains and dispensers

"Reusable packaging is among the most effective ways to reduce waste, use fewer resources and lower our carbon footprint in support of a circular economy," commented Ben Jordan, senior director of packaging and climate at Coca-Cola.

This news is added to this list to highlight that putting pressure on corporations does work.

All there is to do now is hope Coca-Cola will really keep these promises and for other companies to follow suit.

Iceland to ban commercial whaling by 2024

Iceland is one of the few remaining countries that still hunts whales commercially. They’ve now pledged to ban whaling by 2024!

Even though the reasons behind it don’t seem to be protecting whales, it’s still amazing to see whaling will end there.

Iceland’s fisheries minister Svandis Svavarsdottir said the demand for whale meat has dramatically decreased and is no longer profitable.

With Iceland promising to end commercial whaling, Japan and Norway will be the last two remaining countries still allowing it.

List of Biodiversity News

• Millions of mangrove trees to be planted in Mozambique in a conservation deal between the southern African nation and Blue Forest. 
• Cuba established a new marine protected area that’s protecting a lot: from reefs and mangroves to Hawksbill turtles and groupers.  ‍
• Australia pledges $700 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef which is home to more than 1500 types of fish, over 400 kinds of hard corals, and dozens of other species. ‍
• Mycorrhizal fungi promotes greater tree species diversity, a study by the University of Montreal says. ‍
• Scientists discovered a mushroom capable of eating plastic‍
• A new €800 million Biodiversity fund has been announced to fund further protection of Earth’s biodiversity.
• A community in Kenya regrew its forest, a reforestation success story! ‍
• Scientists have mapped the world’s ‘whale superhighways’.

List of Sustainability News

• Earthsavers community is live! A community about quite literally saving Earth. A place to ask questions, find answers together, and take real action on tackling climate change ad biodiversity loss. ‍
• Ecuador’s top court rules for stronger land rights for Indigenous communities.
• New Californian law aims to eliminate food waste while feeding those in need.‍
• The biggest power plant in coal-reliant Australia is to close early -- an amazing seven years early!  ‍
• India is strengthening their climate targets and is aiming for net zero by 2070. ‍
• The Finnish Climate Change Panel is demanding more from the government. ‍
• COP26 deal sparks hope for a positive tipping point.
• Chemists are developing a radical new way to make it easier and more profitable to recycle plastic.

Author note about the “Future of Climate Change” series: the climate crisis has become an inevitable part of our everyday lives, making it easy to get lost in Doomsday thoughts. In reality, attempts to halt climate change are happening all the time. The key is to notice them. That's what this series is about. Will you come back next month to read the new one?

Oh also, did you see the beautiful 12 Positive Climate Stories from 2021?

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