Here is the "good news" about the environment in 2021

For many people, 2020 and 2021 were very unpleasant due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the frequent weather-related disasters that caused devastating damage to property and widespread disruption in various countries around the world. To be honest, 2020 and 2021 were very disappointing and uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether 2022 will be any different. We're late in coming for good news.

With our news feeds and social media filled with all the terrible things happening in the world, Panda7 is here to shed some light on some of the best environmental stories of 2021.

Regeneration and reconstruction.

This was part of the United Nations declaration to make the 2020 Decade the " Decade for Ecosystem Restoration because it called on countries around the world to help restore more than a billion hectares of land. This decade was to run from 2021 to 2030, with the last year being what scientists called the last possible chance to reverse the devastating effects of climate change on our Earth.

While the timeline might seem daunting, in the last two decades we've already regenerated an area larger than France. These trees could help offset significant carbon dioxide emissions and provide habitats for new species. As you may already know, trees play a huge role in filtering clean air, reducing CO2, providing homes for animals and insects, and supporting communities. (Panda7 is even doing its part to plant more trees.) See here (for our pledge of donation.)

The year 2021 was marked by numerous promises to help reverse deforestation. Jane Goodall urged countries to plant 1 billion trees by 2030, and 2021 saw the launch of the rMongabay reforestation directory, which created a database of various tree planting projects.

Return and discovery of species.

In 2021, a wide range of species returned from what was thought to be extinct, and many moved off the endangered species list. In Canada, we witnessed a surge in western monarch butterflies returning from their migration. Scientists also discovered several new species in 2021, including a strange, fuzzy orange bat, a "Jackie Chan" gecko, and a skunk capable of holding hands. New data even suggests that we only know about 20% of Earth's species.

Giant pandas (Panda7's name!), which are still considered "vulnerable," are no longer on the endangered species list. Conservation efforts have significantly increased this bear's chances of survival.

Lobsters, crabs, and octopuses, while never considered endangered to begin with, were recognized as sentient beings in 2021. Several studies have shown that these creatures have the capacity to experience pleasure and pain. Some animal welfare bills will only recognize sentient beings, and these decapods and cephalopods are now eligible for protection.

A new technology could kickstart carbon-neutral agriculture.

We have seen many technological advances in recent decades, with AI taking the lead in businesses to improve customer service, the promise of self-driving cars in the coming decades, and the replacement of paper menus in restaurants with QR codes. However, new technologies also offer numerous environmental benefits. The new technology announced at COP26 has been described as having the potential to remove atmospheric methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and although it occupies far less of our atmosphere than CO2, it has the capacity to trap much more heat and contributes significantly to global warming.

Although this prospecting technology may be expensive, it has the potential to break down important heat-capturing molecules in our atmosphere, which could play a huge role in combating climate change.

Other areas are protected.

Australia has added two marine protected areas – two parks in the Indian Ocean, which together cover an area of 740,000 square kilometers. In addition, South Australia has declared Nilpena Ediacara National Park, an addition of 60,000 hectares of land, a protected national park.

National parks and protected conservation areas are essential for maintaining biodiversity in the ecosystem, as well as for education and cultural preservation. They are designed to be free from human interference, and therefore the animal and plant species that live there tend to thrive.

Fossil fuel projects are being phased out.

If you're a climate activist, you're already familiar with the damaging effects fossil fuels can have on our environment. Many fossil fuel projects that were planned for the coming years were scrapped in 2021. Europe's largest gas-fired power plant was abandoned, Biden halted the Keystone XL pipeline, and Portugal phased out coal. Even Shell, an oil giant, received a court order to reduce its admissions to 45% by 2030—again, that year, with no going back. This may not be enough to completely reverse the tide on climate change, but it's a very good start.

A brighter light for our environment in 2022.

It's easy to get caught up in the "darker parts" of our social media feeds and believe that only bad things happen in the world. We hope these news and updates from 2021 have given you a better perspective on what's coming for Earth's environment, and we hope to bring you similar good news in 2022!