Climate Crises Dominated 2021. But These Innovations Offer Some Hope

After a rare pandemic-related dip in 2020, global carbon emissions bounced back with a vengeance. Climate disasters seemed relentless over the summer, from flooding in Western Europe and China to wildfires in Siberia and the American West. Read more: Why TIME Dedicated an Issue to the Global Climate FightEven so, it was also a year in which individuals, organizations and governments started to come together to respond to the climate emergency. Electric accelerationTraditional carmakers have long been seen as an obstacle in the fight against climate change, with internal combustion engines in trucks and automobiles responsible for almost 20% of U.S. carbon emissions. One of the key milestones from the meeting was an agreement between more than 40 countries to phase out coal power, one of the worst contributors to global climate change.