Climate change: action is happening all around the world

The 10:10 campaign group is letting us know that...

Your roundup of climate success stories Today might not be a day filled with much hope. But we know that action on climate change is happening all around the world. In fact, it’s unstoppable. Here are five stories to make you feel a little more optimistic.

Wind powered trains in the Netherlands and sun powered trams in Melbourne. As of 1st January this year, all electric trains in the Netherlands are 100% powered by wind. Dutch trains use the same amount of electricity as all the households of Amsterdam, so this is a serious carbon cut. And if you like that, trams in Melbourne, Australia, are not far behind - next year they will be 100% powered by the sun. Learn more

Electric buses are already starting to help Oxford Street's air pollution problem Oxford Street is one of the most polluted streets in London. But in the last year, pollution levels have dropped by a third. It’s mainly thanks to new electric buses and cutting the number of delivery trucks on the street. There’s still a long way to go but hopefully the rapid change is a sign of things to come. Learn more

China just opened the world's biggest solar park In 2016 China installed three football pitches worth of solar every hour. And they’re showing no signs of letting up - this week they opened a giant solar park in the western province of Qinghai. The 4 million solar panels can supply electricity for 200,000 households! Learn more

These council homes in Barnsley are taking UK solar to a whole new level 40 council houses in Oxspring, near Barnsley, are getting solar panels and electricity storage tech installed. The battery stores the electricity that the solar panels generate during the day, ready for people to use in the evenings. It’s a win win: it could cut residents' electricity bills in half and help smooth out peaks in the electricity grid. Learn more

Scotland was powered by wind for four days straight! Between 23rd and 26th December, Scotland’s wind turbines generated enough electricity to power the entire country. And off the back of that, the Scottish government has announced mega ambitious carbon cuts - their new plan is to reduce their emissions by 66% in just 15 years. Learn more

In 2017, we will continue to tell stories of hope. We’ll be showcasing the incredible breakthroughs and milestones, and shining a light on the hidden people plugging away at tackling climate change. Now more than ever we need this optimism to keep us motivated and hopeful.

It's Happening: stories of climate optimism — 10:10
.
.
.