“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
Hal Borland, Author
For some reason I have never been a fan of best and worst of the year lists. So, you’re not about to see a rundown of the top climate news stories or innovations of 2024. But the last article of the year seems like a good place to reflect on the big picture – the good, the bad, and the ugly in climate this year. I’ll reverse the order a little to finish on a high note.
The bad
With only a few days left, it’s already certain that 2024 will be the hottest year ever recorded. Sadly, the previous record-holder was 2023. These aren’t the kind of records we want to keep breaking. Extreme heat around the world killed thousands this year, as well as impacting agriculture, wildfires, quality of life, and the economy. The hot air and ocean temperatures also contributed to increasingly extreme weather events.
The ugly
Due in large part to what I just highlighted in “the bad”, we experienced 24 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the US this year. If it feels like you can’t catch a breath between them, you’re not wrong. There are fewer days than ever separating these devastating events.
The good
On a positive note, the percentage of clean energy in our grid is higher than ever, and growing. Coal has dropped dramatically, and renewables are on the rise. In addition, nuclear is experiencing a renaissance. Clean energy (renewables plus nuclear) now powers about 40% of our grid. The percentage of renewables is projected to increase as the costs of solar and wind continue to drop. This gives me hope that we may be approaching a positive tipping point in the transition away from fossil fuels.
It’s a wrap
Nobody knows what the new year will bring, and so much is beyond our control. My goal for Unheating is to stay focused on doing what I can to help protect the future for us and the generations to come. In the new year I plan to ask for your thoughts on how Unheating can improve, but for now I just want to thank you for coming along for the ride. I hope you get to slow down and enjoy some time with family and friends. Cheers!
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.