Celebrating Climate Wins: 10 Sustainable Slays of 2022
In Union Square, NYC, you might have noticed the countdown clock that tells us how much time we have left until climate disaster. The clock has docked another year off of our timers, but what the clock doesn’t tell us is all of the amazing things that have happened with every passing minute. To close out 2022, we wanted to highlight and celebrate a few climate wins from this year to remind our community that change is possible. How did Mother Earth and humanity slay this year? In a million-and-one ways, but here are ten of our favorite sustainable slays of 2022.
Credit: Francia Marquez Twitter
The Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, has recently called for reparations for Afro-Latinos, who have been disproportionately affected by climate change. Slaaaaay! This powerful call-to-action recognizes that marginalized communities, like Afro-Latinos, are often the ones who bear the brunt of the negative impacts of climate change. The Vice President is acknowledging the systemic inequalities that have contributed to the disproportionate burden faced by Afro-Latinos, and is taking steps to rectify these injustices. This is the slay of all sustainable slays, as it highlights the need for climate action to be grounded in social justice and equity, rather than just focusing on isolated technical solutions to environmental problems.
Credit: National Geographic
A coral reef in the Pacific, believed to be dead, has experienced a remarkable rebirth this year. We propose a move to rename this reef Buffy the Climate Change Slayer. This slay can be attributed to two key factors. The first is that half of the corals hadn’t died as was previously thought. The second is that the Kiribati government decided to protect those waters. This resurrection proves that these ecosystems are resilient and can recover from environmental stressors like warming oceans and ocean acidification. Coral reefs are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, providing a habitat and food for many marine species and protecting coastlines from storms and erosion. The coral reefs experiencing rebirth despite the challenges posed by climate change are a beacon of hope for the long-term survival and recovery of these vital ecosystems.
3. France to Require Parking Lots to Be Covered with Solar Panels
Credit: Architectural Digest
In November, France’s Senate chose to slay by approving new legislation that would require all parking lots with capacity for more than 80 vehicles to be covered by solar panels. This legislation will help France to increase the use of solar energy, reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels, and contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy. Solar panels can also help reduce the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon wherein cities become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the absorption of heat by paved surfaces like parking lots. The can also positively affect air quality and temperatures. France's requirement for parking lots to have solar panels is a mega slay in the direction of sustainability.
Credit: Scientific American
In a historic slay, Los Angeles made the decision to phase out all oil wells. This decision represents a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Oil and natural gas production are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, as the extraction, transportation, and use of these fossil fuels all contribute to the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. By phasing out all oil wells, Los Angeles is taking a proactive step towards reducing these emissions and shifting towards more sustainable energy sources. The decision particularly slays given the size and influence of Los Angeles. They are setting an example for other cities and regions to follow in transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Conceptual rendering of the Binational River Park. / Credit: Overland Partners
In March, the City of Laredo proposed and unanimously approved plans for a binational river park. City officials from both border cities, Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, are “working to transform their shared river into an ecological restoration project.” A binational slay! The park will span approximately 6.3 miles and focus on conserving the Rio Grande River. Parks and protected areas help to preserve natural habitats and biodiversity, which is critical for the long-term health and resilience of ecosystems. The construction of the binational park will help to protect the diverse range of plants and animals that inhabit this region. The park is also an important recreational space for people on both sides of the border, providing an opportunity for people to engage with nature and appreciate the natural world. This project will hopefully encourage people to take action to protect and preserve natural resources and build communities across borders in a space that was once proposed to be the border wall.
Credit: NPR
In August, The White House passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a significant sustainable slay that aims to address a wide range of issues, including the climate crisis, health care, and infrastructure. With a budget of 790 billion dollars, the IRA is expected to create approximately 9 million jobs, remove toxic lead pipes from communities across the country, lower energy costs, lower costs for prescription drugs, and lowering healthcare costs amongst many other key goals. In addressing these issues, the IRA aims to improve the quality of life for people across the country and create a more sustainable and equitable future. While the full extent of the IRA's impacts are not yet clear, it is hopefully a slay in the right direction towards addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the country. For a deeper look at the IRA, we put the legislation under a burning white light and asked the question: “The Inflation Reduction Act: Sus or Susty?”
Credit: PBS
The Land Back Movement is an “Indigenous-led environmental, cultural and political movement that seeks to place Indigenous land back in Indigenous hands.” Colonization enacted violence towards both the Indigenous people, whose land was stolen from them, and the land that was taken, which has been destroyed by extractive colonial practices. Some examples of land reclamation this year are the Esselen tribe purchasing 1,200 acres in Big Sur, California to be used for educational, cultural, and conservation purposes and the Save the Redwoods League purchasing 523 acres of forest in Mendocino County and then transferred ownership of the property to the Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. Indigenous communities have slayed for centuries in connecting to the land and upholding traditional land-management practices that often prioritize the health and well-being of the environment.
Credit: Queens Daily Eagle
We’ve been holding out for an NYC sustainable slay since the city cut sanitation funding in 2021, and this year they delivered! In January, the Offshore Wind NYC project was announced. A crucial tri-state project that will help New York City move to 100-percent clean electricity by 2040. Building offshore wind farms will help NYC to significantly increase its use of renewable energy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Offshore wind farms can also create habitat for marine species like fish and birds and can improve water quality by reducing the need for fossil fuel-based power plants that release pollutants into the air and water. Much like in France, offshore wind farms can help to reduce the urban heat island effect and positively affect local air quality and temperatures. We love to see NYC slaying more than just the runway by taking the steps to transition to a low-carbon economy.
Credit: UN Environment Programme
In March, the United Nations sustainably slayed by passing the UNEA Resolution “End Plastic Pollution.” Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue that has had heavy impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. The plastic pollution resolution aims to reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment and promote the use of alternatives to single-use plastics. The plastic pollution resolution also aims to promote the development and use of plastic waste management technologies like recycling and composting. Improved waste-management practices will help to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
This year, for the first time, renewable energy is on track to produce more energy than coal in the US. This sustainable slay represents a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources. Coal is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, as the extraction, transportation, and burning of coal all produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The fact that renewable energy is now producing more energy than coal is indicative of a shifting industry that will (hopefully) eventually rely solely on renewable energy. This is also a reminder that It is possible to transition away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy sources. If our elected officials and the heads of major companies hope to slay another day, they will continue to invest in and support the growth of renewable energy.
Which sustainable slay were you thrilled to hear about this year?