Days away from the beginning of a new year, and I'm full of mixed-up feelings. This week in between the end of something and the start of something, always feels a bit discombobulated. What day is it? Are we supposed to be somewhere? Do we need to go grocery shopping?
At times the days appear to be useless. This is when I finally have to admit that whatever goals I made for the year that I haven't accomplished are not going to happen. And because I'm a goal-oriented person, that can be tough, although it's when I remember the words of an editor I worked for years ago who would say, 'well, goals are supposed to be hard, if you accomplish all of them right away they shouldn't have been goals.' I'm pretty sure she said this while setting impossible-to-reach goals so that she wouldn't have to give out performance bonuses, but I still always set some goals that I know I will likely not achieve in the year ahead. And then sometimes I surprise myself.
These days when I look at my daughter, time feels like it's moving too fast, and also, at certain moments in this week off from school like it's not moving fast enough. It's been brutally cold here, and I haven't been as successful as usual in coaxing her outside. We've baked attempting to perfect a lemon poppy seed cake recipe, stayed up late watching too many movies, and left the house a mess often. Still, I'm soaking it all in. Watching her laugh over an egg cracked on the floor or at a movie she's never seen before, or giggle over secrets told to the dog, I’m reminded that useless days add up to a whole lot. The egg eventually gets cracked into a bowl. I'm gaining new insights into her personality. We're making a thousand memories.
A necessary reminder as we head into 2023, that while at times it can feel like we're making no progress when it comes to mitigating climate change, a lot was, in fact, accomplished in 2022. Here in no particular order, are 22 things to inspire and make you hopeful as we head into the new year.
Innovative producers and researchers are turning to wood, cork, mushrooms and other materials in an effort to reduce the use of plastics in our waterways.
Oregon joined a growing list of states (California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington) that will end the sale of fully gas-powered vehicles.
In October, renewable power entirely covered Greece's electricity demand for a few hours.
Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise, celebrated his 190th birthday.
France banned domestic flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of fewer than 2.5 hours.
Renewable energy, including wind, solar and hydropower generated more power than coal in the U.S. in 2022.
Solar energy increased by almost 50%, enough to power the equivalent of 12.4 million homes in the European Union in 2022.
According to a new International Energy Agency report, renewable energy is could become the largest source of global electricity generation by 2025.
The Emerald Green Hummingbird, a critically endangered species, was spotted for the first time since 2010.
Britain's biggest domestic bank announced it would no longer support direct financing to develop new oil and gas fields.
In an attempt to address fast fashion's waste problem, a slate of brands launched lines of biodegradable clothing.
Thanks to global conservation efforts, the humpback whale population has rebounded to the point that the whale is no longer on the endangered species list.
The U.S. passed the biggest climate bill in the country's history, putting it on track to reduce U.S. emissions by 40% from 2005 levels by 2030.
3M announced it will stop using forever chemicals by the end of 2025.
The state of Maine is 75% carbon neutral, in large part thanks to its forests.
U.S. school buses are going electric.
So are mail trucks.
Doctors in several Canadian provinces can now prescribe time in national parks.
The final COP27 agreement included plans to establish a loss and damage fund to help developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
A new European Union rule may help expose greenwashing.
A growing list of United Kingdom universities are banning fossil fuel companies from recruiting students through their career services.
A number of new apps are trying to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
~ Warm wishes for the year ahead,
Bridget
P.S. Here are a few things that I've been up to:
Published: For The Day, I wrote a series of profiles on people working to make their homes more sustainable. I hope they will inspire you to take your own actions.
Working: On a piece on the challenges of land access for beginning oyster farmers for Civil Eats.
Reading: I recently finished Dani Shapiro's Signal Fires and can never get enough of her writing. I can't wait to pick up my pre-order of my dear friend Aliza Sokolow's book, This is What I Eat when it's released next week. And am also hoping to read We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
"Watching her laugh over an egg cracked on the floor or at a movie she's never seen before, or giggle over secrets told to the dog, I’m reminded that useless days add up to a whole lot." Such a beautiful sentence my friend. Also I can't wait to read Signal Fires - will let you know when I'm done so we can discuss!