2018 Climate & Environment Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2018 Climate & Environment Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 02 Jan Woburn Safari Park Fire: A devastating fire at Woburn Safari Park resulted in the death of 13 Patas monkeys, highlighting the vulnerability of wildlife in captive environments.
- 07 Jan Record-Breaking Heat in Sydney: Sydney, Australia experienced its hottest day in 80 years, with the suburb of Penrith reaching an extreme temperature of 47.3°C, highlighting significant climate variations.
- 16 Jan European Parliament Moves to Ban Electric Pulse Fishing: The European Parliament approved an appeal to ban electric pulse fishery, a fishing method considered cruel by some environmental and animal welfare advocates.
- 06 Feb Ozone Layer Recovery Concerns: Scientists publishing in Atmospheric Chemical and Physics warned that the ozone layer, which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, is only recovering in less populated areas, raising significant environmental concerns.
- 20 Feb Mount Sinabung Massive Eruption: Indonesia's Mount Sinabung experienced a catastrophic eruption that completely destroyed the volcano's peak, with ash plumes reaching over 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) high. The surrounding landscape was extensively covered in volcanic ash, posing significant environmental and potential human risks.
- 05 Mar New Zealand Experiences Hottest Summer on Record: The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) reported that the previous summer was the hottest in New Zealand's history, with an average temperature of 18.8 degrees Celsius (65.8 degrees Fahrenheit), indicating potential climate change impacts.
- 10 Mar Chile Expands Marine Conservation: On March 10, 2018, Chile announced the expansion of its marine conservation areas, aiming to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable fishing practices. This initiative was part of broader environmental efforts. source: bbc.com
- 04 Apr Balikpapan Oil Spillage Emergency: Balikpapan, a city in Borneo, Indonesia, declared a state of emergency due to a severe oil spillage fire off its coast. The incident resulted in four fishermen fatalities and the release of toxic fumes. The oil slick covered approximately seven miles, causing significant environmental damage and threatening marine fauna, including protected species.
- 09 Apr International Maritime Organization Addresses Emissions: The International Maritime Organisation began meetings in London to develop strategies for reducing emissions in the shipping sector, which was previously unregulated. Building on the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the IMO aimed to establish comprehensive guidelines for controlling ship emissions.
- 11 Apr New Zealand Bans Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a significant environmental policy by banning new offshore oil and gas exploration, while allowing existing permits to remain unaffected.
- 17 May Kilauea Volcano Eruption in Hawaii: The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted dramatically, sending a massive plume of smoke and ash soaring to an impressive height of 30,000 feet (9.1 km), signaling a significant geological event with potential environmental and safety implications.
- 30 May Japanese Scientific Whaling Report: The Institute of Cetacean Research, linked to Japan's Ministry of Fisheries, reports killing 333 Antarctic minke whales during a scientific survey, with 122 pregnant and 114 immature whales, sparking international environmental controversy.
- 03 Jun Environmental Tragedy: Whale Death from Plastic Pollution: A dead whale was discovered in Songkhla province, Thailand, with 17 pounds (80 pieces) of plastic in its stomach, highlighting the severe environmental impact of plastic waste on marine life.
- 07 Jun IKEA Commits to Sustainability: IKEA announces a bold environmental initiative to phase out single-use plastic products by 2020 and transition towards more sustainable product design.
- 25 Jun California Cities Sue Oil Companies Over Climate Change: Two California cities initiated legal proceedings against oil companies regarding their contributions to climate change, highlighting growing environmental accountability efforts.
- 03 Jul Seattle Bans Plastic Straws: Seattle became the first major U.S. metropolitan area to prohibit plastic straws in bars and restaurants, marking a significant environmental policy initiative.
- 12 Jul Ireland announces fossil fuel divestment plan: On July 12, 2018, Ireland's government announced a plan to divest from fossil fuels, marking a significant step in its climate policy. This decision aimed to align investment strategies with environmental sustainability goals. source: theguardian.com
- 13 Jul Deadly Chemical Plant Explosion in China: A catastrophic explosion at a chemical plant in Sichuan, China, resulted in 19 fatalities and 12 injuries, highlighting the potential risks in industrial manufacturing environments.
- 16 Jul Japan Heatwave Tragedy: A severe heatwave in Japan results in at least 14 fatalities, underscoring the increasing risks of extreme weather events potentially linked to climate change.
- 21 Jul Japan Heatwave Fatalities: Japan experiences a severe heatwave, with the death toll rising to 30, underscoring the increasing risks of extreme temperatures due to climate change.
- 26 Jul Disney's Plastic Straw Ban: Disney announced plans to eliminate plastic straws from all its theme parks by mid-2019, demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability.
- 03 Aug Chile bans single-use plastic bags: Chile implemented a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so, aiming to reduce environmental pollution. source: bbc.com
- 08 Oct UN Climate Change Report: On October 8, 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. The report emphasized the need for rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, highlighting the severe consequences of surpassing this threshold. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Oct Pipeline Explosion Near Prince George, Canada: An Enbridge pipeline explosion near Prince George, British Columbia, forced local communities to evacuate, raising concerns about pipeline safety and environmental risks.
- 01 Nov Palau Bans Coral-Damaging Sunscreen: Palau became the first country to ban sunscreen and its chemical compounds that contribute to coral reef bleaching, setting a pioneering environmental protection precedent.
- 22 Nov Alarming global carbon dioxide levels: Global carbon dioxide levels reached alarming highs, prompting calls for urgent action to combat climate change. Scientists warned that without significant reductions, the impacts of climate change would worsen dramatically. source: nasa.gov
- 27 Nov Weak El Niño Predicted by Meteorological Organizations: The Australian Bureau of Meteorology and World Meteorological Organization forecast the formation of a weak El Niño weather pattern within the next three months, which could impact global climate conditions.
- 02 Dec COP24 climate conference and Brussels climate march: On December 2, 2018, the COP24 climate conference commenced in Katowice, Poland, focusing on global climate action. Concurrently, a climate march took place in Brussels, with thousands advocating for stronger environmental policies. source: bbc.com
- 11 Dec Arctic experiencing unprecedented warmth: In December 2018, the Arctic region experienced record-breaking temperatures, with some areas recording temperatures up to 20°C above average, raising concerns about the accelerating effects of climate change. source: nytimes.com
- 15 Dec UN Climate Change Conference establishes Paris Agreement rulebook: On 15 December 2018, the UN Climate Change Conference concluded with the establishment of a rulebook for the Paris Agreement, providing guidelines for its implementation and enforcement. source: unfccc.int
What happened in 2018?
Discover what the world looked like in 2018: