The idea that 2016 was an unequivocally and uniformly bad year is getting thrown around very casually these days. Here are a few reasons for why that narrative is overstated.
Brady Dennis and Chris Mooney looked to the environment, of all places, to find five positive news stories from the year 2016.
That's not to say all the news was good. Raising all sorts of alarms on the environmental front: the hottest temperatures on record, failing Antarctic ice sheets, seal level rise, and more.
Thankfully there were some bright spots in the environmental news, with more details and links included in the full article:
- Global carbon emissions appear to have stopped increasing.
- Worldwide, wind and solar are booming.
- World leaders seem determined to combat global warming (well, most world leaders).
- Technology is providing a glimmer of hope.
- The oceans are finally getting the attention they deserve.
FULL STORY: It wasn’t entirely bad news. Here are five positive environmental stories from 2016.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
How Extreme Heat Impacts Children
As summers get hotter and more dangerous, parents can take steps to protect kids from heat-related illnesses.
Colorado Landfills Emit as Much Pollution as 1M Cars
Landfills are the third-largest source of methane pollution in Colorado, after agriculture and fossil fuel extraction.
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Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.
Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.
Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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Custer County Colorado
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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