2014 environmental news on earth
Here are some significant environmental news stories from 2014:
- Climate Change:
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Fifth Assessment Report, warning that human activities are causing the Earth's temperature to rise at an unprecedented rate.
- The report predicted that the global temperature will rise by 2-3°C by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase.
- Ozone Layer:
- The ozone layer, which had been depleted by CFCs and other chemicals, showed signs of recovery, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- The recovery was attributed to the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol.
- Deforestation:
- The Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, continued to shrink at an alarming rate, with an estimated 20% of its original forest cover lost in the past 50 years.
- The Brazilian government launched a program to protect the Amazon, including the creation of protected areas and sustainable forest management practices.
- Water Pollution:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.8 billion people worldwide lacked access to safe drinking water, and 2.3 billion lacked access to improved sanitation facilities.
- The European Union implemented new regulations to reduce pollution from agricultural runoff and improve water quality.
- Wildlife Conservation:
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its Red List of Threatened Species, which reported that 41% of amphibian species, 33% of reef-building corals, and 30% of coniferous trees were threatened with extinction.
- The African Elephant Summit was held in Botswana, where African leaders agreed to take action to combat poaching and protect elephant populations.
- Renewable Energy:
- The cost of solar and wind energy continued to decline, making them more competitive with fossil fuels.
- The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, set ambitious targets for renewable energy development.
- Disaster Response:
- Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, struck the Philippines, killing over 6,000 people and displacing millions.
- The European Union and other international organizations launched efforts to support disaster response and recovery efforts in the Philippines and other affected countries.
- Sustainable Agriculture:
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a new initiative to promote sustainable agriculture practices, including agroecology and organic farming.
- The European Union implemented new regulations to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
These are just a few of the many environmental news stories from 2014. It was a year marked by significant progress in addressing environmental challenges, as well as ongoing threats to the health of the planet.