Positive human impact on the environment: 10 climate wins

In the face of growing environmental challenges, which – let’s face it – we are largely responsible for, it’s easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed. But in the sea of negative news, important steps are being made to turn the tide on climate change. Here are 10 examples of positive human impact on the environment that highlight our ability to come together, change and innovate for the planet’s health.

1. Wildlife conservation efforts show positive human impact on the environment

Efforts to protect endangered species and restore their habitats help maintain biodiversity, which is vital for ecosystem health. Initiatives such as the establishment of protected areas ensure that species can thrive and ecosystems can function effectively. The Great American Outdoors Act, which was passed in 2020, awarded public lands nearly $10 billion. It is the most money that Congress has spent on national parks since the 1950s. The act also reserves funds for forests, refuges and future land purchases. 

Successful conservation stories, such as the rebound of the bald eagle in North America and the reintroduction of the European bison in Romania, underline the impact of these efforts.

2. Renewable energy use is soaring

Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gasses. Solar farms and wind turbines are now common sights, reflecting a significant shift towards sustainable energy. 

In 2023, global capacity of renewable energy increased by 50%, the fastest growth rate in the past two decades. In 2024, renewable energy growth outpaced fossil fuels for the first time. While this is good news, we continue to consume fossil fuels at record levels. We need to do much more to ensure renewable energy remains an example of positive human impact on the environment.

3. Oceans are rising up the agenda

Plastic pollution in the oceans is a massive problem for marine wildlife and ecosystems, which play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Animals can become entangled in plastic bags or ingest microplastics that may eventually enter the human food chain. 

Clearly, we need to produce and use less plastic. But cleaning up what is already out there is an important first step. The Ocean Cleanup project aims to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040. Other initiatives, like the Great Bubble Barrier, an ingenious and relatively low-tech solution that creates a screen of bubbles across canals and rivers, aim to stop plastics from reaching the ocean in the first place.

At the international level, 175 United Nations delegates agreed to negotiate a global treaty by 2024 that would curb the flow of plastics from source to sea. Called Paris Plus, the treaty would legally require countries to clean up their plastic waste. The proposed framework is stricter than the voluntary reductions countries make under the Paris Climate Agreement. 

The details still need to be hammered out, and the framework does not call for a cap or reduction in the production of new plastic. However, it proposes clearer and globally consistent definitions around the plastic lifecycle. This would guide better packaging design, product distribution, and recycling and disposal programs, helping to tackle the plastic problem from multiple angles. 

4. Sustainable agriculture is shifting the way our food is produced

Agriculture currently accounts for around a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions. Sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming, decrease the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil health. They also help farmers adapt to and mitigate climate change effects.

Regenerative agriculture is a form of sustainable agriculture that goes a step further. By working with nature to restore soil and ecosystems, this farming method aims to ensure positive human impact on the environment now and in the future. The idea is that when soil is healthy, it produces more and better food, stores more carbon dioxide and boosts biodiversity. 

5. Cities are becoming greener

Cities around the world are incorporating green urban planning principles. These include creating green spaces, promoting public transportation and implementing energy-efficient building codes. As the majority of the world’s population now lives in cities, these measures are helping to reduce urban heat islands, lower energy consumption and improve air quality. As a result, cities are healthier to live in and more resilient to climate change. They also support urban biodiversity by offering habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife. 

Singapore, which regularly ranks among the world’s 10 greenest cities, has risen to the climate challenge. Its Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme has helped install green roofs and walls, edible gardens and recreational rooftop gardens on over 110 existing buildings since its launch in 2009. It’s a mindset that has taken root: any new developments must include plant life on them now too.

6. Circular economy initiatives are taking off

In the circular economy, the traditional linear ‘take – make – waste’ approach is replaced with a closed-loop system. In this system, waste is not produced in the first place. Instead, products are designed to be easily repaired, reused or made into new items at the end of their life, in a smooth circle. This approach conserves resources, reduces pollution and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Examples of successful circular economy initiatives can be found around the world. They include bioplastic made from fish waste, ‘reversible architecture’ that allows buildings to be deconstructed and their components reused, and durable smartphones designed to reduce e-waste. These examples highlight the positive impact humans have on the environment when we use our ingenuity for good.

7. Positive human impact on the environment reflected in electric vehicle uptake 

Technological advancements, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and energy-efficient appliances, are transforming how we live and reducing our carbon footprint. EVs, for instance, emit significantly fewer pollutants compared to conventional vehicles, helping to decrease air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Innovations in battery storage and smart grid technology also enhance the efficiency of renewable energy use.

But perhaps the most surprising thing about this positive human impact on the environment is that 30 years ago, EVs were considered a joke. In Norway, the first electric vehicle was a converted Fiat Panda that took two days to charge and had a range of just 40 miles. Thanks to the stubborn belief of its inventor, architect Harald Røstvik, and some star power provided by the ’80s pop group A-ha, EVs in Norway now outsell fossil fuel-powered vehicles by four to one. That’s the highest market share in the world. Globally, nearly one in five cars sold in 2023 was electric, most of which were in China, Europe and the US.

8. Natural solutions are getting their due

Fungi, algae and other living organisms have the remarkable ability to absorb or break down toxic substances like pesticides and heavy metals. This process of using living organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants is called bioremediation. 

Bioremediation is relatively inexpensive, sustainable and can be applied to clean up various contaminated environments without introducing additional chemicals. This is typically done on a large scale, for example at oil spill sites or abandoned mines. But community organizations are also increasingly using bioremediation. 

Upland Grassroots in Limestone, Maine is bioremediating Loring Air Force Base. The site is one of several in the United States with PFAS (also known as forever chemicals) in the soil, which can cause cancer and other negative health effects.   

The site has since been taken over by the M’ikmaq Nation, the Indigenous Tribe of Aroostook County. Tribal members joined forces with scientists to plant fiber hemp to pull the PFAS out of the ground. Although fiber hemp cannot remove all contaminants, the scientists found that a significant number of PFAS chemicals cling to water molecules as they are drawn up the hemp’s stem and leaf tissue. These can then be harvested and moved to a designated waste site, where there is less chance of the chemicals ending up in water sources and spreading to other areas.

9. Over 100 countries have adopted a human right that also benefits nature

The human right to a healthy environment, which was first recognized in Costa Rica’s constitution in 1994 and officially adopted by the UN as a universal human right in 2022, underscores the principle that everyone deserves to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 

This right in Costa Rica provides robust protections, ensuring that all citizens have access to unpolluted air, clean water and a balanced ecosystem. Equally important is that the right provides a powerful foundation to protect nature itself.

Following Costa Rica’s example, over 100 other countries, such as France, South Africa and Brazil, have since adopted a similar right. Although it is not a silver bullet for nature – deforestation continues in the Amazon, for example – the right has empowered social justice movements. It is also increasingly used as a trump card in climate lawsuits.  

10. International climate agreements are making history

International climate agreements are crucial for addressing climate change. They facilitate global cooperation, set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development practices. Although these targets are frequently not met, such agreements nevertheless help keep countries on the same page – and accountable to their citizens – when it comes to protecting the environment and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

In June 2024, the European Council passed the nature restoration law. The landmark law goes beyond protecting nature to bringing it back to places where it has been all but lost. European Union countries will have to restore at least 30% of habitats such as forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes and coral beds from a poor to a good condition by 2030. That target rises to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. As part of this, an additional three billion trees will be planted and at least 25,000 km of rivers restored.

Positive human impact on the environment is possible

While major challenges remain, these examples of positive human impact on the environment illustrate positive progress. From greener lifestyles to international climate agreements, these efforts demonstrate our individual and collective potential to tackle climate change and create a more sustainable and resilient world.