There Was Some Good Climate News in 2023. Really.

upstart writes:

The technologies, policies, and commitments providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy year:

It's been the hottest year on record, with January through November clocking in at 1.46 C (2.62 F) warmer on average than preindustrial temperatures. Meanwhile, emissions from fossil fuels hit a new high-36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, 1.1% more than in 2022.

Scientists are loudly warning that the world is running out of time to avoid dangerous warming levels. The picture is grim. But if you know where to look, there are a few bright spots shining through the darkness.

[...] EVs are on track to make up 15.5% of automotive sales this year, according to BNEF. Between battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, this new growth means there are almost 41 million passenger EVs on the road. China has the largest share of EVs in the world, making up nearly a quarter of the global fleet.

[...] While many signs are positive, it's not all rosy for electric vehicles. Growth in sales slowed between 2022 and 2023, and changing demand has some automakers slowing production for models like the Ford F-150 Lightning. Charging infrastructure isn't available or reliable enough in most markets, a problem that has become one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.

Cars are being sold at a record pace and road emissions are still going up, so EV sales need to accelerate to make a dent in transportation's climate impact. But EVs' progress so far seems to be an encouraging story of a new climate-friendly technology becoming a mainstream option. Let's hope it keeps going in 2024-all gas, no brakes.

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