It’s easy to be overwhelmed by climate news. Floods, wildfires, hurricanes, all happening more and more often and on epic scales. Every headline reminds us the stakes are high and the consequences of inaction are dire. The time to act is now.

But the good news? People are taking action. Every day victories are won, great and small. Momentum is building. The solutions are taking shape.

Those stories matter too. They carry an important truth – we have the tools and ability to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change. We just need the courage to act.

This year Earth Day turns 51. In honor of that, we bring you Project 51, a collection of 51 bits of inspiration and good news on the climate front. Each one is a reason to stay engaged. Each is also a reminder: if we keep making progress and piling up the good news, sooner or later those scales are going to tip in our favor. These little victories light the way.

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• Iowa City is projected to meet or exceed its goal of reducing GHG emissions by 45% by 2030. The reduction of about 681,000 tons of emissions annually takes a big step toward achieving net zero by 2050.
• By hitting net zero by 2050, the U.S. could add $1 trillion to the American economy.
• More than 4,000 tons of material were composted in 2020 through Iowa City’s curbside organics program, a 24% increase over the year before.
• Iowa City planted a total of 400 trees in 2020, more than doubling the previous year’s record. The Root for Trees program aims to help residents plant 500 more.
• In 2020, nearly 1.5 wind turbines were constructed in Iowa every day, bringing the total number of turbines in the state to nearly 5,900. Nearly 60% of electricity in Iowa is now generated by wind, more than any other state in the nation.
• The Iowa City School District surpassed its emissions reduction goals in 2020, putting it on track to reduce emissions 62% by 2024.
• From 2017 to 2020, electric vehicles have charged at Iowa City’s public charging stations 7,305 times, resulting in more than 55,762 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions savings.
• Rapid advances in battery technology suggest all new cars in the U.S. could be electric by 2035, resulting in consumer cost savings of over $2.7 trillion compared to continued use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles.
• Amtrak recently announced plans to extend a line to Iowa City, which according to a DOT study could replace 1.4 million vehicle trips, 324,700 bus rides and 40,900 plane trips a year with more fuel-efficient travel by train.
• Iowa's largest solar project, featuring 318,000 bifacial solar panels capable of producing 127.5 megawatts of energy began operating just 50 miles south of Iowa City in March, nearly doubling the state's installed solar capacity.

• Michael Regan, sworn into office in 2021 and the first Black man to lead the EPA, talks about what motivates him to work toward a cleaner environment.
• “The Business logic of sustainability” TED Talk with Ray Anderson proves that sustainability is possible even in an industry traditionally known to be a polluter, carpet manufacturing.
• The world’s largest electric vehicle is a giant dump truck that needs no recharging and has saved 50,000 tons of diesel fuel per year since 2017.
• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, one of the fastest growing professions is wind turbine maintenance, a green job with spectacular views.
• An Iowa City home is one of only two LEED platinum residences in the state. It features an energy-efficient design paired with solar panels that result in an energy bill of less than $9 per month, eight to nine months out of the year.
• “illUmiNations: Protecting our Planet” video presents an emotional take on the facts of climate change, but emphasizes that there is still plenty we can do.
• This stimulus package includes $100 million to address harmful air quality and environmental health risks in minority and low-income communities. Money will be directed toward environmental justice grants and also distributed to state, local and tribal agencies for addressing pollution.
• A new study finds electric car batteries need far less raw material than fossil-fuel cars.
• Experts say it is possible for the U.S. to reach 100% clean energy by 2035. 

• These building prefab rehab kits in development will dramatically cut the carbon footprint of our built environment.
• 2021 will be a key year in the development of new, less wasteful systems as businesses grow the circular economy.
• The environmental justice movement is growing, and growing up, according to the Father of Environmental Justice Dr. Robert Bullard.
• Climate expert J. Marshall Shepherd sees cause for hope in recent climate actions, and calls for climate change to become a “kitchen table conversation.”
• The nonprofit Green 2.0 is helping environmental organizations hire, retain, and promote people of color, diversifying who is at the forefront of environmental decision-making.
• Sustainability scientist Kimberly Nicholas has documented the ways key individual actions to address climate change do add up.
• COVID-19 has taken a toll on the fossil-fuel economy. It's possible it could be the tipping point for lasting change.
• Turns out, gardening is good for the planet, and our psychological and physical wellbeing, too.
• A collection of good news climate stories shows there’s still hope for humanity to fix what we have broken in our environment
• Iowa City is adding electric buses to its public transportation fleet, which aligns with the Climate Action Plan’s goal to shift 55% of vehicle trips to more sustainable modes of transportation
• In June, in a landmark bipartisan effort, Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act, securing permanent financing for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and allocating $9.5 billion over the next five years for the National Park Service and other federal land-management agencies.
• Motivated by social change, Iowa Hydroscience & Engineering Professor Eric Tate refocused his career to help make Iowa more flood resilient.

• Demonstrating how storytelling can be a powerful tool in addressing climate change, climate justice advocate Mary Annaïse Heglar reminds us even if you don't feel hopeful, you don't have to feel helpless. “The thing about climate is that you can be overwhelmed by the complexity of the problem, or fall in love with the creativity of the solutions,” she writes.
• Wendell Berry envisions what we can achieve if we do the work of climate action well in his poem “A Vision.”
• Many natural features along Iowa City's Sycamore Greenspace trail were incorporated to provide key environmental benefits, and now is a great time to grab your bike or walking shoes to see some of the features along the trail yourself.
• We’re surrounded by many different lives full of wonder and worth, as Robert Hass reminds us in his poem “Iowa City: Early April.”
• “Problems are our work; we deal with them in order to survive or improve the world, and so to face them is better than turning away from them, from burying or denying them. To face them can be an act of hope, but only if you remember that they’re not all there is,” writes environmental journalist Rebecca Solnit in “On the Indirectness of Direct Action.”
• Scientist and environmental advocate Jane Goodall reminds us, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
• Artist JD Whitman’s “PLASTICITY: Our Changing Oceans” art installation increases awareness on plastic pollution while inspiring ocean advocacy and protection. Check out the exhibit's feature in The Gazette.
• “We must fight like there is something to fight for, like we are something worth fighting for, because we are,” says author and podcaster John Green reflecting on what’s at stake with climate action.

• Listen to the free “How To Save A Planet” podcast to explore what we need to do to solve the climate crisis and how we can get it done.
• Join the Global Earth Challenge™ and become a citizen scientist to be part of the climate solution.
• Cut down on waste at home with these clever tricks to revive food.
• Recycle glass. Glass is infinitely 100% recyclable, and in Iowa City, you’ll be able to recycle glass at more drop-off locations this year.
• Purchase with the planet in mind. Rainforest Alliance-certified products help to protect forests, fight climate change, and support human rights.
• Support pollinators. You can support monarch butterflies, a pollinator that is vital to a healthy environment, by planting milkweed in your yard.
• Eat delicious, plant-based food to reduce environmental impact. Incorporating more meatless meals into your lifestyle significantly cuts down on carbon emissions tied to food production
• Engage with Future Earth’s "Good News Tuesday" Instagram series for positive, inspiring news stories related to climate.
• Participate. The Iowa City Public Library is continuing to host virtual, environmental-themed events for the community’s benefit. Check out the library's events page. 
• Recycle batteries! Iowa City is expanding its battery recycling program for easier participation.
• Reduce the impacts of plastic pollution and amp up your recycling habits by also finding opportunities to reduce, reuse, remove, and refuse plastic products.
• Use this easy calculator to find out how much your daily commute is costing you, then commit to trying something different. Pick a day to walk, ride a bike, or take a bus to work. Then recalculate your costs to figure out your savings if you kept it up a couple days every week!

 

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