For the past decade, most stories covering climate change have been disheartening, as we read how we are consistently destroying our home planet. It seems as though nothing positive is coming out of the news anymore when it comes to our Earth. This month, though, several local and global projects that are actively trying to tackle climate change deserve the spotlight.

In April of this year, the United Nations reported that 29 countries had pledged “more than $5 billion” to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The GEF works with 18 diverse agencies to tackle climate change, and it also has a grants program that serves “indigenous peoples, community-based organizations, and other non-governmental groups” that work to tackle this issue. Over 500 million people do not have access to electricity, and the communities living in Toledo, Belize are no different–but three local women are working to change that. Four indigenous communities now have electricity thanks to them, as they have installed solar energy systems that now provide electricity to over 1,000 residents. The best part? They have saved an estimated “6.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.”

According to the World Economic Forum and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “950 million hectares of new forests will be needed to arrest climate change.” That’s about 3,667,971 miles–and Earth’s diameter is only 7,918 miles. In short: that’s a lot of trees! One climate change focused project that’s centering around forests is Chloris Geospatial. The project uses satellite technology to map and measure the world’s “natural capital,” and by also observing financial markets, they can “convey the positive impact businesses [can] have on nature.” What’s our “natural capital?” Forests! They can “directly measure” the world’s carbon emissions from satellites, and by doing so can more accurately address and quantify the tools we need to fight climate change.

On Earth Day of this year, Maine governor Janet Mills “awarded $2.5 million in grant funding to 75 communities across Maine” to help fight climate change. Governor Mills and the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future recognizes the “serious threat” that climate change will pose to the communities of Maine, and as such have created the Community Resilience Partnership. This program aims to reduce carbon emissions as well as become stronger against climate change.

While the world tends to focus on the grim parts of climate and environmental changes to our planet, remember that there are many people and organizations that are attempting to reverse and minimize the consequences. Research what local projects are happening in your town, and you may be pleasantly surprised to see how active your community is!

Citations

1. “Small solutions, big impacts: 5 community-based projects tackling climate change” news.un.org. https://news.un.org/en/story/2…

2. “Earth Day 2022: 3 amazing projects that are tackling climate change with trees” World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda…

3. “On Earth Day, Governor Mills Announces $2.5 Million for 75 Maine Communities to Fight Climate Change” Maine.gov. https://www.maine.gov/governor…

4. “Global Environment Facility” UNEP. https://www.unep.org/about-un-…

5. “Chloris Geospatial” https://chloris.earth/