There were environmental wins in 2023

2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record. While it’s easy to be demoralized, we can also see how essential our work is. Showing up and trying to change things is how we’re going to ensure kids have a sustainable future. Because folks like you have been engaged, there were a lot of environmental wins in 2023. Here are some of the stories that give me hope.

• India now estimates that there are 3682 wild tigers in the country, an increase of 23.5% between 2018 and 2022. More incredibly, in 2006, when India began its tiger conservation program, there were only 1411 tigers left in the wild. Steady progress comes when we act despite a bleak reality.

• Fifty-eight percent of Ecuadorians voted to protect Yasuní national park from further oil development. This section of the Amazon rain forest is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and its protection is a huge win for the planet. Really, this is my favorite news story of the year!

• Sixty-nine percent of Americans want to see the United States become carbon neutral by 2050 and 66 percent of American adults want to see the federal government encourage wind and solar power development. Seems climate action is a winning political issue. While I wish I had armed you with this data before Christmas dinner, you can always email Uncle Bill now.

• Right to repair bills are gaining momentum, with legislation showing up in 30 U.S. states. Many of the bills were watered down as people power bumped into corporate influence, but Apple has finally joined the movement, and it feels as if people will win in the end. So how popular is the right to repair movement? Only 7% of Americans are opposed to it. For comparison, 15% of adults dislike cats. (BTW, if you’re part of that 15%, my 9 year-old daughter would like a word.)

• More homeowners are shifting their yards from lawns (which are biodiversity deserts) to gardens filled with native plants, which are essential for pollinator and bird health. The Facebook group, Native Plants and Pollinator Friendly Plants of the Northeast, has 64.1 thousand members, and continues to grow. Here’s a secret: Gardening with native plants is not only important ecologically, it’s also incredibly rewarding.

With 2023 nearly done, I’m looking forward to 2024.

Personal Action: Transition more of our lawn into a small ecosystem that is filled with native plants. We started last spring, but still have a long ways to go. I’m especially excited about welcoming hummingbirds with cardinal flowers. I’ve also picked up a lot of logs through my neighborhood Buy Nothing group and I’m hopeful that as they crumble in the shade garden, they’ll be a home for frogs and salamanders.

Public Action: Help pass the Plastic Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Because it would eventually reduce waste in New York state by 90%, this legislation is a top priority for many environmental groups, including the New York League of Conservation Voters. If you live in New York state, I’d love for you to join me in pestering our reps. Get involved here.

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What are your resolutions for 2024? Jump into the comments and share your plans and goals and dreams for the new year. Together, let’s make 2024 a year filled with climate wins.