This week’s good climate news

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

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An electric car being charged

Big increase in EV spending

A new Environmental Resource Management report finds worldwide spending by automakers and battery manufacturers will increase by at least 20%, more than $626 billion, by 2030. 

This continues a trend in rapid growth in EV spending, which is only going to be heightened in the U.S. by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Advanced Clean Cars II program in California.

Three cars parked at electric vehicle charging stations

And big increase in EV buying

The electric vehicles hits just keep on coming. Analysis by the International Energy Agency says 2022 will be a record year for electric vehicle sales. There was a 75% increase in EV sales from the first quarter of last year compared with the first quarter of this year. 

This increase in EV sales looks strong as the IEA expects to hit its 2030 projections in its net-zero emissions by 2050 scenario. 

A row of electric vehicle charging stations

Plus big increase in EV charging

The march to a nationwide electric vehicle charging network continues as all 50 U.S. states, as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico, have access to federal funds to build fast EV charging stations. The bipartisan infrastructure bill provided $5 billion for these new chargers that will cover an estimated 75,000 miles of highways.

The White House's goal is to build 500,000 chargers in the next five years, and this new wave of funding will make a significant dent in that projection.

Trees with autumnal leaves in a park

New PA parks (PArks?) coming soon

Pennsylvania announced a $45 million investment to create three new state parks. One will extend an existing nature preserve, another will be in Philadelphia’s suburbs and the third will be established along the Susquehanna River. All three will bring more green space to residents across the state.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. 

A brown bear and her three cubs

Wildlife numbers on the rise in Europe

Europe’s wildlife is making a major comeback. Brown bear numbers rose 44%, white-tail eagles have seen a 445% increase and wolf populations increased by 1,800% — all thanks to human conservation efforts.

And speaking of brown bears, the annual Fat Bear Week competition, where the public can vote on their favorite chubby lads and lasses in the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, starts Oct. 5.

Let’s take action on climate together