From wildfires to locust attacks, from air pollution to floods & tsunamis, we have seen and endured enough damage. There were many negative and devastating environmental events that took place in 2021. However, now is the time to end 2021 on a positive note and recall the positive stories that give us a little ray of hope in this world where things are plagued for the entire populace just for the benefit of a handful people. 

China, which hosts a couple thousands of Giant Pandas, reported early this year that the giant panda is no longer categorised 'endangered'. They are now just classified as 'vulnerable' thanks to conservation efforts. Due to the fact that panda reproduce infrequently, it is a challenge for their population to recover from such a low point. But sincere conservation efforts have really brought a commendable change in the population of the animal.

A couple hundred years ago, rich diversity and amazing wildlife prompted Charles Darwin to pen down his book 'On the Origin of Species' and bring forward the theory of evolution. This November Ecuador's president, Guillermo Lasso, has announced that the marine-protected area around the Galapagos island would be expanded by 60,000 sq km. Home to giant tortoises, sea lion among other species, environmentalists hope that expanding the marine-protected area would conserve the rich biodiversity of the island from climate change and illegal fishing.

As per Aljazeera, "according to a recent study by the US National Center for Atmospheric Research ( NCAR ): Because of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, a global deal to regulate nearly 100 man-made chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, 443 million Americans will likely be spared from skin cancer through the end of this century". 1

The hole in the ozone layer is enormous - about the size of North America - but it is recovering at a rate of 1 to 3 percent every 3 years, as per a report by the UN.

In the first week of this October month, the UNHRC ( United Nations Human Rights Council ) in Geneva passed a resolution recognising access to clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal right. In doing so, this creates much hope that there will be a greater shift in protecting the planet in thee future.

References:- 

1. Arsenault, Chris. “Five Good-News Environmental Stories from 2021.” Environment News | Al Jazeera, 28 Dec. 2021, www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/28/five-good-news-environmental-stories-from-2021.

2. Coelho, Sofia. “Good News! 7 Positive Environmental Stories from October 2021.” One Tree Planted, 1 Nov. 2021, onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/good-news-october-2021.