The Climate Outlook for 2024

An article by Dana Nuccitelli in Yale Climate Connections highlights climate topics that will likely remain in the news in 2024, commenting that the year could mark a turning point for clean energy.

With 2023 as the hottest year on record, reducing climate pollution is more urgent than ever. But there’s good news: “Although the clean technology investments were only starting to be deployed in 2023, U.S. climate pollution fell by about 2-3% compared to the previous year and is now 18-19% below 2005 levels.” In the European Union, pollution fell by 6 to 7 percent.

Clean technology saw record growth too, with China accounting for over half of solar panel installations worldwide. “Experts believe that if China continues its torrid pace of deploying solar panels and wind turbines, the country could begin to displace its fossil fuel consumption and start a structural decline in carbon pollution in 2024.”

Back stateside, “Congress is to negotiate the renewal of the Farm Bill this year, which is expected to include funding for natural climate solutions. Congressional lawmakers are also expected to continue to negotiate a permitting reform deal to expedite the deployment of energy infrastructure.”