Some (Good) News About Climate Change

 It wasn’t that long ago when the topic of Climate Change was a commonly investigated topic in the United States. Once termed “Global Warming” in the 1980s and 1990s, the phrase still refers to the phenomenon of severely transitioning weather patterns caused by increased atmospheric warming brought on by continued use of fuels and products that release emissions of greenhouse gases.

There is some good news about Climate Change, but it is coming from countries other than the United States, the nation that elected a climate change denier, receiving over one billion dollars in campaign contributions from oil, coal and gas providers. The result of which was the defunding of the Natural Weather Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These organizations served to inform those in the target areas of dangerous and sometimes deadly storms of natural disasters coming their way have been crippled by the Executive Branch of the U.S. government.

Even a cursory examination of long-term warming trends and the increased frequency and strength of extreme weather activity such as storms such as hurricanes, tornadoes and flash floods. The awful truth is Climate change is real, and humans are the cause for it.

Therefore, it is understandable to feel a sense of trepidation when considering the scale of climate change, but there is indeed significant momentum building, with a range of recent efforts on the world stage aimed at mitigating its effects and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.¹ While challenges persist, the progress being made offers a genuine cause for optimism.

One of the cornerstones of global climate action remains the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015.² This agreement commits nearly all nations to take action to address climate change, with the overarching goal of limiting the global temperature increase to "well-below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and ideally to 1.5°C.³ A key mechanism of the Paris Agreement is the requirement for countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), outlining their targets and policies for emission reductions.⁴ These NDCs are intended to be progressively more ambitious over time.⁵ [1]

In the past year, we've seen continued updates and reinforcements of these commitments. For instance, the European Union has demonstrated significant leadership, reporting a more than 37% drop in emissions in 2023 compared to 1990 levels.⁶ This is largely attributable to a growing embrace of renewable energy and decreased reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuels, alongside improvements in energy efficiency across various sectors.⁷ Their ambitious goals include a net 55% reduction below 1990 levels by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, backed by thousands of policies and measures at the member state level. [2]

Beyond established targets, the focus has increasingly shifted to the implementation of concrete strategies across key sectors. The energy transition is paramount, with a rapid global acceleration in the deployment of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power.⁸ The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that 80% of the world's energy could be generated from renewable sources by 2050. [3] This shift is not merely an environmental imperative but also an economic opportunity, creating green jobs and enhancing energy security.⁹

In the transportation sector, electrification is gaining significant traction.¹⁰ Nations like Indonesia, for example, are actively highlighting their commitment to reducing aviation emissions, working towards their Net Zero Emission target by 2060.¹¹ This involves improving energy efficiency in airport and flight operations, utilizing low-carbon fuels, and strengthening emission reporting regulations. [4] The development of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of charging infrastructure are further contributing to this decarbonization.

Land use and forestry are also critical areas of focus. Forests act as vital carbon sinks, and efforts to halt deforestation, promote sustainable land management, and restore ecosystems are increasingly recognized as essential mitigation strategies.¹² Practices like agroforestry, reforestation, and sustainable livestock production are being integrated into national action plans.

International cooperation remains a driving force. The Bonn Climate Conference in June 2025, for instance, served as a crucial preparatory meeting for the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, underscoring the ongoing dialogue and negotiation among nations to enhance climate ambition.¹³ News from Amnesty International [5] and Climate Action Network [6] highlights the urgent need for states to commit to a full, fast, fair, and funded fossil fuel phase-out, emphasizing the human rights implications of climate inaction and the need for scaled-up climate finance for developing countries.¹⁴

While the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently released a report in May 2025 forecasting continued near-record temperatures in the coming five years, serving as a stark reminder of the urgency, it also reinforces the scientific consensus that every fraction of a degree of warming matters.¹⁵ The report's findings, highlighting an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will be warmer than 2024 (currently the warmest on record), underscore the imperative for accelerated action. [7]

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 continues to provide transparency in national and international climate politics by assessing the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU across categories like GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use, and Climate Policy.¹⁶ [8] Such indices play a vital role in holding nations accountable and spurring greater ambition.

Despite the ongoing challenges and the need for even more aggressive action, recent steps taken on the world stage to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions offer a robust basis for optimism. From ambitious international targets and rapid renewable energy deployment to international dialogues and accountability mechanisms, the global community is increasingly mobilizing to address this existential threat. The collective efforts, though still insufficient to fully avert all impacts, are demonstrating that a low-carbon, resilient future is not merely aspirational but increasingly within reach.

That being said, it would be very encouraging to see some real leadership coming from one of the World’s greatest Greenhouse Gas producers, the United States of America, as it pertains to mitigating and repairing the damaging effects of this scourge of Climate Change, along with a return to fighting for a reduction in the proliferation of those same said emissions. Sadly, Americans have to deal with the cards that they must use in front of them.

If you are a concerned American, then you will do your due diligence and research the candidates to vote for in the coming electoral primaries. Also, please make sure you are registered to vote and have not been taken off the voting roles in your state, district, and town.

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References

[1] "The Paris Agreement." UNFCCC. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

[2] "Progress on climate action." European Commission. Available at: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/progress-climate-action_en

[3] International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). "Global Energy Transformation: A Roadmap to 2050, Executive Summary." Available at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21898IRENA_Global_Energy_Transformation_2018_summary_EN.pdf

[4] "Ministry highlights commitment to aviation emissions reduction." Antara News. July 17, 2025. Available at: https://en.antaranews.com/news/366993/ministry-highlights-commitment-to-aviation-emissions-reduction

[5] "Global: Urgent action needed as climate crisis leads to devastating new harms to human rights." Amnesty International. June 16, 2025. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/global-urgent-action-needed-as-climate-crisis-leads-to-devastating-new-harms-to-human-rights/

[6] "Climate Action Network Position: The world needs a fair, fast, full, and funded fossil fuel phase-out." Climate Action Network. November 2023. Available at: https://climatenetwork.org/resource/climate-action-network-position-the-world-needs-a-fair-fast-full-and-funded-fossil-fuel-phase-out/

[7] World Meteorological Organization (WMO). "Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2025." May 2025. Available at: https://wmo.int/sites/default/files/2025-05/WMO_GADCU_2025-2029_Final.pdf

[8] "Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)." CCPI.org. Available at: https://ccpi.org/