Positive Climate Stories in April
From holding polluters to account through groundbreaking science, to clean energy milestones and stronger laws against greenwashing, plenty of progress has been made across sectors and borders. Even the oceans are offering some surprisingly good news, as offshore wind farms reveal unexpected benefits for marine life. Here's your round-up of April’s most encouraging climate stories.
Scientific story of the month
1. A new scientific tool for climate accountability
Extreme heat caused by emissions from 111 coal, oil and gas companies cost the global economy US$28tn between 1991 and 2020. That might not sound like a positive climate story – but the fact that we now have a scientific estimate, and a framework for future estimates like it, could well be.
Extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, cause untold damage to people and communities around the world. Hurricane Helene, for instance, which struck Florida in September last year, caused 219 deaths and US$79.6bn of damage. Despite the growing urgency, holding polluters accountable for such destruction is challenging, especially in court.
Not only can it be difficult to attribute extreme weather events to climate change, it is perhaps even harder to link specific emissions to the damages those events cause.
This month, however, a new study by US researchers presents a framework that enables scientists to link specific climate damages to specific emitters. Using emissions data from the Carbon Majors database, the researchers apply their framework to the damages caused by extreme heat, revealing that emissions linked to Chevron, for instance, likely caused extreme heat damages of US$791bn to US$3.6tn between 1991 and 2020.
The paper is careful to point out that having a valid scientific method for attributing climate damages may not result in climate liability claims succeeding in court. Important questions also remain, such as how responsibility should be shared between fossil fuel producers, policymakers and consumers. However, the framework provides a valuable step forward. The damages it reveals aren’t good news – but this method could provide an important blueprint for future legal claims, offering a hopeful sign for climate justice.
(If you want to learn more, this article dives into this new scientific framework.)
2. Clean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024
A new report shows that more than 40% of global electricity was powered by clean energy in 2024. This milestone was largely due to the boom in solar power, which has doubled in the last three years. Solar farms have been the world’s fastest-growing source of energy for the last 20 consecutive years.
Overall, solar power remains a relatively small share of the global energy system. Last year, it made up almost 7% of the world’s electricity, while wind power accounted just over 8% and hydro power 14%. Yet, its rapid growth is promising.
Moreover, governments are increasingly investing in solar energy. The UK government has just announced that all new-build homes will be legally required to have solar panels on their roof by 2027. While this adds an estimated £3,000 to £4,000 to construction costs, it could save homeowners over £1,000 annually on their energy bills. This supports Labour’s pledge to build 1.5m homes by the end of the parliament, decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, and cut annual energy bills by £300.
The government has also pledged £180m to help schools and hospitals install solar panels on their roofs – an announcement strongly welcomed by schools and NHS estate managers facing high energy bills.
Together, these moves signal growing global momentum behind solar as one of the key drivers of the clean energy transition.
3. Greenwashing now faces major fines under new UK law
UK regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has been granted the power to fine companies for misleading consumers, which could result in a crackdown on corporate greenwashing, experts say.
Under this law (known as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) 2024) that came into effect earlier this month, companies can now be fined up to 10% of their global turnover for greenwashing – a dramatic increase from previous penalties, which rarely exceeded £1m.
In 2021, the CMA published guidance to support companies to avoid greenwashing, known as the Green Claims Code. It set out clear rules for businesses making environmental claims: they must: be truthful, accurate and clear; not omit important information; only make fair and meaningful comparisons; consider the full life cycle of the product; and be substantiated.
With the new powers, the CMA can impose fines directly, without going to court. This means that the CMA now has the authority to rule on the lawfulness of business’ conduct under the DMCC Act, which prohibit misleading green claims.
“At the time when the EU risks weakening corporate accountability through its simplification process, the UK is stepping up. Strengthening the CMA’s enforcement powers sends a clear message to businesses attempting to green their image without real action: reputational damage and financial penalties are coming if the claims can’t stand up to scrutiny,” says Olivia Moyle, our Legal Assistant.
This new law sends a strong signal that vague or exaggerated climate promises won’t go unchecked – and that UK companies must back up their sustainability claims with substance.
4. China pledges tougher climate targets
China, the world’s biggest polluter, has committed to producing a comprehensive reduction plan ahead of COP30 in November, covering – for the first time – all economic sectors and greenhouse gases.
China alone is responsible for about 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Xi’s decision to affirm strong plans in front of global leaders at a UN- and Brazil-led meeting signals that China will stay firm on its ambition – even as the US, the world’s second-largest emitter, backtracks.
Their announcement to address all greenhouse gases is crucial if we want to respect the Paris Agreement. Indeed, non-CO2 pollution accounts for about 17% of China’s emissions.
Xi was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency saying: “It is important for all countries to champion the rule of law, honour commitments, prioritise green and low-carbon development, and jointly respond to the climate crisis through multilateral governance.”
Out of the 195 Paris Agreement signatories, 19 have so far sent their new emissions plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the UN. The deadline is September, ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
As others backtrack, China’s pledge for climate ambition and multilateralism sends a strong signal ahead of COP30.
5. Offshore wind turbines may support ocean biodiversity
Offshore wind farms are helping to power a cleaner future – and they may also be supporting marine life in surprising ways. A new study found that turbines are becoming artificial reefs, attracting species from dab to lobster – and even haddock.
Offshore wind is growing fast in parts of the world, particularly in northern Europe and China. However, the industry has faced opposition, including concerns about its impact on ocean animals. But research increasingly shows that offshore turbines, like other hard structures in seafloors often devoid of anything but sand, can not only coexist with marine life, but may actually benefit certain species.
Oil rigs have long been known to attract barnacles, shellfish, and the fish that feed on them – building entire food webs. It turns out wind turbines can offer the same oasis effect – except they also cut carbon emissions that are heating our oceans and harming marine ecosystems.
In the North Sea, researchers spotted haddock – that typically prefers sandy sea bottom to hard structures – feeding near turbine foundations. The fish appeared to arrive for food and then leave, suggesting turbines may be boosting food availability. Lobsters have also been found eating and sheltering near turbines, using the protective rings of boulders at their bases to hide from predators.
The longer a turbine has been in the water, the more life it seems to support. There’s still much to learn, but studies like this are helping to show that offshore wind might do more than just reduce emissions.
What positive climate stories have lifted your spirits this month? Share it with us on X, Bluesky or LinkedIn and we’ll help to spread the word.
