Big climate wins from 2024

Yes, the results of the U.S. presidential election weren’t good news in our efforts to stop climate change. But 2024 had some major victories you might not have heard about.

Voters in Washington state overwhelmingly supported keeping a 2021 climate program designed to boost public transit, clean school buses, solar energy, forest-fire prevention and more.  

Internationally, Canada, the U.K., Mexico and Norway, as well as the European Union pledged to reduce climate pollution, and 20% of the new cars sold worldwide were clean, electric vehicles. 

Plus, MethaneSAT, a methane-detecting satellite developed by Environmental Defense Fund and partners, was successfully launched and deployed in March. It’s circling the globe, helping to detect methane leaks that are fueling global warming.

Drones finding orphan wells

Leaky, abandoned oil and gas wells can pollute our air and water. In western Pennsylvania alone, there are an estimated 300,000 to 700,000 of these wells, spewing oil, gas, and other toxic chemicals into the air and water. 

A group of researchers have started using drones to track down these leaking wells. After identifying the leaky wells, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection can come in and clean up. 

With the drone upgrade, they were able to identify 260 possible well sites in just two weeks. 

Comedy wildlife photography winners

Who couldn’t use a good laugh these days?  

Thanks to the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards, all of us can now get some much-needed yuks. Since 2015, the awards have highlighted funny animal photos – everything from smooching owls to an awkwardly smiling frog.   

This year’s winner, a photo of a squirrel stuck in a tree, along with a host of other snaps featuring animals caught in mad-cap poses, were announced in mid-December.

EV batteries could last 40% longer

A new study published in Nature Energy suggests electric vehicle batteries might last longer than previously thought. Standard tests of clean car batteries fully discharge and then recharge them. But scientists at Stanford University looked at batteries under more realistic, stop-and-go conditions. 

Their findings mean clean car batteries might last up to 40% longer that originally predicted, making electric cars even more cost-effective. (As is, clean, electric cars are cheaper to own and operate than gas-powered cars in 48 out of 50 U.S. states.) 

Bonus cute animal pic

And just for good measure, here's one more of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife award winners: