What’s Happening: Letitia and Maggie’s Good News Update: Part 2

There is More Good News in the World Than Bad

Part 2 of 2

After getting another cup of coffee, Letitia pulled out some climate based articles and newsletters she had brought with her and said  “People are also continually working on climate issues. While Trump thinks Climate change is a hoax, there is much good happening all over the world everyday. The negative things the U.S. Federal Government does creates both headlines and despair, but the GOOD THINGS produce HOPE and a better world. The several climate based newsletters I receive report on both the good news and the bad.”

“According to a number of sources, including Bill McKibben, a prominent American writer and climate activist, and an article in the Globe and Mail by Omer Aziz, the big news in the climate world is the fast transition that is taking place to renewable clean energy. Particularly to solar and wind, much of it is coming from China. 

Over the past year the growth of solar and wind generation systems in the world outpaced the rise in the demand for energy. Aided by the continual lowering of prices and the development of batteries that can store solar power, China has become a huge manufacturer of solar panels making solar and wind less costly than fossil fuels. Consequently they export a huge number of solar panels and batteries to many countries including the developing world.

“This means many people, particularly in Africa, are receiving electricity for the first time. Think of the impact this will make, not only for the people personally, but also the economy and the jobs it creates. Because of this development banks have agreed to provide an estimated $32 billion in financing for Africa alone. Other countries like Bangladesh are also benefiting. In 2024 China also produced 75% of all electric vehicle batteries, and 60% of wind turbines. Renewables have now overtaken coal as the world’s greatest source of electricity and China has added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined.

“Other countries are making significant advances too. Morocco has committed to making the country a leader in energy transition and has pledged $32 billion towards the use of Hydrogen. India, the world’s most populous country, generated less electricity from fossil fuels than the year before, and the electrification of their enormous train system is moving at a fast pace. It is now estimated India will reach their net zero goal 5 years ahead of target. Jordan has a new Green Energy policy. Uzbekistan has just created their first Hydrogen project. According to The Population Matters Newsletter, Sierra Leone in West Africa has lost about 25% of their mangrove forest over the past 35 years. Mangrove trees do much to protect the coast from erosion and are a great home to many species of fish. With the help of donations from people all over the world and local volunteers they are making great strides in preserving these forests.

“You may recall during last year’s Olympics, the mayor of Paris stated the legacy from these games will be that people will be swimming regularly in the Seine in 2025. This has come true. This has attracted tourists and an estimated 40,000 people have swum in the Seine this summer. For those who can swim on their backs there is the added bonus of a view of the Eiffel tower. The Paris council has also recently voted to have 500 more streets become car free.”

Maggie piped in and said “I understand while the feds in the U.S. are stepping back, companies, states and municipalities are doing some good things. New York City for instance introduced a $9/day fee for cars coming into the city. The money is being used to improve public transit, and according to reports, the city has already seen more unjammed bridges, calmer streets, fewer accidents, more on time buses and improved equipment. 

“The New York Times is running a series of climate action stories entitled ‘50 States, 50 Fixes’. There is now a car free community near Phoenix, and I understand in Boise Idaho, which has been using thermal energy since 1890, has over 20 miles of pipes, and heats 88 buildings in their downtown core with geothermal energy. I was told Zion national park has recently replaced their old gas driven buses with electric ones. Apparently it has cleared the air.”

Closer to home she mentioned “The city of Toronto has added $2 billion to their budget to fund climate programmes and the Ontario government has committed to building several nuclear plants. In fact, construction of a new generator is now underway in Clarington. Just the other day the Feds and the province committed to a further $3 billion for new nuclear plants. While controversial and risky to build, Nuclear is clean and once built very inexpensive.

“There were several positive takeaways from the recent COP 30 meetings that took place in Brazil. They included:

 1) The presence of many indigenous peoples from around the world. Their involvement because of their past history of good stewardship can make a huge contribution to the climate movement.

  2)  Much of the focus was on implementing what had been decided on at previous meetings and the progress made since the first meetings.  

3) Even though it was not included in the final resolutions, 80 countries called on creating a pathway to  ending the use of fossil fuels.

“There is also an initiative in 6 communities to pick up garbage along the Great Lakes shoreline in 6 communities: Collingwood, Kingston, Thunder Bay, Owen Sound, Chatham Kent and Cobourg. The first pick up on Sept 28th attracted 415 volunteers. Every year approximately  10 million tons of plastic enter the Great Lakes. The volunteers collected 1600 kilos of litter, including plastic food wrappers. St Catharine’s Mayor, Mat Siscoe says he hopes this will become an annual event.”

Thinking of her own son Letitia thought, this would be a great initiative for scouts, guides and school children. “There is a lot of positive climate activity going on” said Maggie, “and the more action, the more HOPE,” interjected Letitia. 

Reading from another Newsletter, The Climate Optimist According to Katharine Hayhoe, the editor and also the chief Scientific officer of U.S. based Nature Conservancy and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people says “The best way to get people started in climate action is to have a conversation about climate.” She believes fear and guilt do not drive change, but love and focus on our shared humanity does. Hayhoe, a Canadian, and a committed Christian, also believes that individual actions matter and ripple outwards, & hope, she says is found in action, and every choice and every action matters

They sat without saying anything for several minutes.

Finally Letitia said, “We have just lost an environmental legend, Jane Goodall. While she has passed on, her legacy continues. Jane had a lot of HOPE. 3 reasons she continually gave were:

 1) She believed we humans, because of our advanced cognitive development, can solve the climate crisis.

2) Nature is resilient, look at the blades of grass that creep up through the cracks in the sidewalk, or the rebirth of Mt St Helens from the volcano several years ago. People were camping there a few years after the eruption.

3)The future is with our young people. ”No she said “The future is now, the children are making it happen every day.” I remember an oft quoted comment from Jane, “Every individual and every action matters. Every individual has a role to play and every individual makes a difference.”

More silence, then Maggie looked at her watch. “There are so many more good things that are happening, but it is time to go home to my family.” Letitia agreed. They paid their bill, gave each other a big hug, and the parting words “See you next year”, then they both hopped on their bikes feeling very uplifted, and rode off in different directions.

As Maggie turned the corner she thought, “I must get my daughter connected with Jane Goodall’s youth based programme Roots and Shoots.” Letitia too had a thought, “I must speak to my son’s school and work with them to involve the children in the Great Lakes clean up.”

Both great 2026 initiatives.

Till next time, 

Chris Snyder

Climate Optimist

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