China’s 2020 wind power additions more than doubled the previous record set in 2019. For further perspective, only 60 GW of wind power was added globally in 2019.
Actor: Nations
Morocco aims for 50% renewable energy by 2030
By 2030, Morocco wants to be at 50% renewable energy (for electricity needs), and it aims to reach 100% renewables by 2050.
Joe Biden halts Keystone XL pipeline construction
The 1,700-mile pipeline was planned to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Joe Biden moves to re-enter the U.S. into the Paris Agreement
Hours after being sworn in as the president of the United States, Joe Biden signed an executive order that will move the country to rejoin the Paris climate agreement — a strident reversal of America’s environmental policy over the past four years.
Joe Biden signs sweeping executive order fighting anti-LGBTQ discrimination
Biden’s order tells the heads of all executive agencies to ensure that they are interpreting bans on sex discrimination in U.S. federal law to also “prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Germany used more renewables than fossil fuels in 2020 for the first time ever
For the first time in history, a combination of wind, solar, and other renewables overtook Germany’s coal, oil, and gas, for use as the country’s fuel source during 2020.
4 major Asian nations cancel 80% of planned coal power projects
Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines have canceled nearly 45 gigawatts of proposed coal power projects, a figure equal to more than one-quarter of the total installed capacity of Germany.
Ivory Coast designates first-ever marine sanctuary
The 1,000 square mile area is the first of five that the Ivory Coast government has designated for protection.
50 countries pledge to conserve 30% of land and water
The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People is a coalition of more than 50 countries that was formed in 2011 to encourage internal action on the climate crisis prior to the Paris Agreement.
Saudi Arabia is building a zero-carbon city in a 100-mile straight line
The unconventional city will feature “zero cars, zero streets, and zero carbon emissions,” according to a statement by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.