1 in 4 Americans now live in a state with some restrictions on pesticides that kill bees. Photo by Erik Karits
The Presidential election results are extremely stressful and disheartening for those of us who are deeply concerned about the state of our environment. But feeling a constant sense of emergency is not sustainable. While it is easy to become discouraged by this disastrous set-back, taking a moment to celebrate how far we have come may inspire us to keep moving forward and pushing for a safe and healthy future.
To spark some joy this week and to celebrate some of our successes, here is a round-up of some positive climate and sustainability news:
- 330,000 new jobs have been created in the clean energy sector in the US. Two-thirds of new clean energy projects were built in areas that supported Trump in the 2024 election (thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act). Due to the increase in new jobs and financial investment in their regions, 18 Republican House members have advocated for maintaining IRA clean energy tax credits.
- Renewable energy now produces more electricity than coal in the US. Solar energy production increased by 36% this year. Renewable energy technology continues to advance and the costs continue to decrease.
- 12 states have restricted or banned the use of neonic pesticides to date, including Vermont! Thanks to these laws, 1 in 4 Americans now lives in a state with some restriction on pesticides that kill bees. Research has shown that neonics are highly toxic and do nothing to boost crop yield.
- The European Union voted this year to criminalize the worst types of climate destruction, including habitat loss, illegal logging, and ecosystem destruction, making it easier to hold corporations and their leadership accountable for their actions.
- This year the U.S. Dept of Transportation awarded $110 million in grants to build wildlife crossings on busy roadways. Wildlife crossings are crucial to improving habitat connectivity in busy areas while also helping to reduce the nearly 1 million wildlife-vehicle collisions that happen annually in the U.S.
- 6.2 million students across the US now attend a solar-powered school. Decreasing installation costs have made it possible for many schools to make the transition to clean energy.
We hope that you have a joyful holiday and celebrate the successes that we have to be grateful for. If you would like to contribute to positive action this week, consider participating in ‘Buy Nothing Day.’ The 32nd annual Buy Nothing Day is this Friday Nov 29th. In 35 countries around the world, people will be actively choosing not to shop. If shopping on Friday is a tradition that you’d prefer not to alter, try shopping at local stores to keep that support within our communities.
On Saturday, Dec 7th, Sustainable Woodstock will be hosting a Sustainable Crafting and Community Gathering at the Taftsville Chapel. Join us if you’d like to enjoy some hot cider, try your hand at some holiday crafting, and join in for an afternoon of collective joy. Register at https://sustainablecrafting.eventbrite.com
