2022 has not been the best year for the climate. Never before has the world emitted as much CO₂ from fossil sources as in 2022. Based on the climate pledges the world’s countries have put forward so far, we are heading for 2.5 degrees of global warming by 2100. In comparison, this year’s heat waves, floods and extreme weather occurred with 1.1 degrees of warming. At the same time, several experts point out that the world has also taken some steps in the right direction. Here are five news from 2022 that can give reason for hope. Nature agreement adopted The world’s countries adopted an agreement in December which aims to stop and reverse the loss of nature by 2030. The agreement is referred to as the Paris Agreement for nature. One of the most important points in the negotiations on the nature agreement has been the point about “30 within 30”. This means that at least 30 percent of sea and land areas must be under conservation or protection by 2030. These are the most important points in the new nature agreement. The targets must apply until 2030, which is when the targets in the agreement must be reached. In the agreement, there is an overarching goal that biological diversity must be used and managed in a sustainable way. Effective protection and conservation of at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas, with an emphasis on areas of particular importance for biological diversity. Restore at least 30 percent of destroyed or damaged terrestrial, inland waters and coastal and marine ecosystems Reduce nature loss in areas with high biodiversity to close to zero. Halve global food waste, and achieve a significant reduction in overconsumption and waste production. Prevent the introduction of alien, harmful species, and at least halve the introduction and establishment of other known and potential alien, harmful species, and eradicate or regulate alien, harmful species on islands and other priority areas. Phase out or reform subsidies that damage biodiversity, while increasing positive incentives for conservation and sustainable consumption. Mobilize at least 200 billion dollars per year in funding for national and international initiatives for biodiversity – both public and private funds. Increase financial aid to poor countries by almost NOK 200 billion annually by 2025. Furthermore, the text proposed that this be further increased to almost NOK 300 billion by 2030. The agreement contains requirements that large transnational companies monitor, assess and be open about risks and impacts their business may have the biodiversity. There must be free access to nature’s gene bank for everyone. This must be ensured by placing a “tax” on products that are developed based on data from this gene bank. The income from this fee goes to a fund that will be used to preserve and restore nature in poor countries. – It is incredibly good that the countries of the world have managed to gather around an ambitious and clear nature agreement, Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide told news shortly after the agreement was hammered out. Breakthrough for fusion power On the eve of the year came the news that there has been a major breakthrough for fusion power. The news comes from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California, USA. For the first time, scientists have managed to create a reaction that generates more energy than is used. This could be a big step towards a world that is less dependent on fossil fuels. Fusion energy is a form of nuclear energy, unlike the existing nuclear power, fusion power is based on fusing together lighter particles, creating helium as a waste material. The raw materials used for fusion energy are found everywhere in nature. Historic climate law in the USA As the summer drew to a close, the USA passed the most comprehensive climate law in American history. It can cut the USA’s emissions by around 40 percent by 2030. It can have an impact on the whole world. The USA is the world’s second largest emitter. The “Inflation Reduction Act” is a broad package of measures that covers everything from the prices of medicines to taxes on companies. But it also contains 370 billion dollars for a number of climate measures. Among other things: Tax benefits for the purchase of new and used electric cars Support for making homes more energy efficient Tax benefits for the production of solar panels, wind turbines and batteries Investment in technology such as carbon capture and storage $4 billion to combat drought Strengthening the protection and restoration of forests A new « Green bank” which will invest in clean energy, especially in poorer parts of the country A new tax from 2025 on the strong greenhouse gas methane In addition, the important climate dialogue between the US and China was formally resumed during the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. Lula will take over as Brazil’s president soon. Photo: Partido Trabalhista Presidential elections in Brazil On October 30, Brazil elected Lula da Silva, also known as Lula, as its new president. It is expected that he will take up his new role as early as January 1, 2023. Lula promised that the country is ready to take back its place in the fight against the climate crisis, especially when it comes to the Amazon rainforest. One of Lula’s main election promises has been to stop deforestation in what is considered the world’s most important rainforest. Under current President Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation has accelerated. In 2021, around 13,000 km² disappeared. During Lula’s previous terms as president, Brazil managed to slow down deforestation. Photo: DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP An analysis carried out for Carbon brief shows that Brazil can cut deforestation by 89 percent by 2030, if Lula keeps his election promises. Further development in renewable energy – Growth in renewable energy is a slow, creeping change. But there is even more of it in 2022 than in 2021. It is very positive to see, climate researcher Bjørn Samset at Cicero to news. On the eve of the year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) came out with a new report. In the next five years, the same amount of renewable energy will be developed as in the previous 20, the report states. That is equivalent to the entire power capacity of China today. Among the reasons are Russia’s war in Ukraine and the energy crisis. The EU’s aim to break away from dependence on Russian gas has accelerated its renewables plans. The IEA also refers to investment in renewables in China, the USA and India. Here at home, wind power has already broken records: Germany’s largest floating solar park. Photo: Martin Meissner / AP At the same time, this has not led to a major drop in fossil energy, at least not in the short term. An example is Germany. 47 percent of the energy they used this year was renewable, and the EU has approved a renewables package for the country of 28 billion euros. But this year, Germany has also resorted to climate change coal in the face of the energy crisis. – It was a good year for renewable energy, but unfortunately not a bad year for fossil energy, says Vibhuti Garg, economist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis to AP. Still, the IEA says there is unprecedented momentum behind renewable energy. – This is a clear example of how the energy crisis can become a historic turning point towards a cleaner and safer energy system. Renewable energy’s continued acceleration is crucial to keeping the door open to limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, says IEA director Fatih Birol. – We have not saved either the climate or nature yet. But we have decided on a way forward that can take us there. Now we actually have to do it, says Samset. – Apathy is the last thing we need right now, he says.
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