The Solar Eclipse and Environmental Holidays: The Latest Environment News Trends
A look at the environmental news from PR Newswire in March and April that you might have missed.
By Rhyam Williams | Published May 8, 2024
As the Northern Hemisphere transitions into warmer, longer days, things are also warming up in the world of environment news this spring. PR Newswire distributed over 1,700 environmental-focused press releases in March and April alone.
Environmental news as a whole is trending with more people than ever deeply invested in conversations around climate change. With 63% of Americans expecting climate impacts to worsen in their lifetime, the environmental news sphere is continuously evolving with reports on meteorological events, climate catastrophes, conservation efforts and sustainable solutions alike.
PR Newswire is keeping up with the latest happenings in the environment industry. Significant environmental events and trends emerging from this latest crop of spring releases include the 2024 solar eclipse, an uptick in tree-planting initiatives and Earth Day and other environment-focused holidays.
Let’s take a closer look at the environmental news trends identified in March and April.
Popular Environment Releases
In March and April, readers on prnewswire.com viewed and interacted with these environment releases the most!
- Google, Microsoft, and Nucor united in a strategic partnership to expedite the adoption of advanced clean electricity technologies. This collaboration is poised to catalyze a transformation in renewable energy by harnessing the combined influence of these major industry players to advance toward a more sustainable future.
- In the San Francisco Bay Area, a brand-new Climate Studies and Public Engagement Center has been established, dedicated to fostering research into the influence of aerosols on clouds and climate change.
- Acclaimed as the longest-range electric car, the 2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring now boasts additional technologies that raise the bar for efficiency and performance in electric vehicles.
- Carbonova Corp. successfully raised $6 million to support its mission of producing sustainable materials from greenhouse gas emissions, signaling a significant stride towards mitigating climate challenges.
- IMC unveiled the design of its 50 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks during the grand opening of its sustainable facility. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s transition to a zero-emissions fleet.
Environment News Trends
Here’s a look at a few of the trends we noticed among environment press releases in March and April, with a few examples of each.
2024 Solar Eclipse
The solar eclipse that graced our skies on April 8 captured the attention of scientists, environmental enthusiasts and everyday North Americans alike. Communities in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico gathered to witness the awe-inspiring celestial event, with millions journeying to the path of totality. During this single day, many environmental researchers collected data to determine what kinds of effects can be observed during a total solar eclipse.
Solar eclipses provide a unique opportunity for researchers to observe what happens to our atmosphere and various ecosystems during a sudden and drastic drop in solar radiation. Past solar eclipses have been found to significantly reduce ozone levels and cool the Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists have also observed many animals display nighttime behaviors during an eclipse. As researchers record and synthesize their latest findings, it will be fascinating to see what kind of data will be made available following the latest total solar eclipse.
Here are a few of the 100+ releases that crossed the wire during March and April that demonstrate some of the buzz around the solar eclipse.
- National Air and Space Museum Prepares Activities and Educational Resources for April's Solar Eclipse
- Total Solar Eclipse Visible From Montréal: The First in Nearly 100 Years!
- Excarta Launches Solar Eclipse Tracker, Forecasting Best Locations and Viewing Conditions for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
- Solar Eclipse Update - Prepare for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
- NASA, Agencies to Brief Plans for April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Tree-Planting Projects
With Arbor Day celebrated on April 26 this year, spring releases featured an abundance of tree-planting content throughout March and April. During this time, nearly 60 releases were issued by PR Newswire about tree-planting or reforestation. Both locally and across the world, communities are engaging in tree-planting projects to benefit from environmental advantages, such as carbon sequestration, increased biodiversity and reduced air pollution, but also social and economic advantages like community engagement and improved quality of life. Investing in sustainable green spaces today is a beneficial step towards creating a better world for future generations to inherit.
Below is a selection of recent releases about tree-planting initiatives.
- Honda Plants 85,000 Trees to Capture Carbon and Enhance Biodiversity Near its Ohio Operations
- Carbon Reforestation Restores Family-owned Forestland
- McCain Foods Plants 18,000 Trees in Wisconsin, Fulfilling 2022 Promise to Plover Community
- Browne Forest Project Hits 200,000 Tree Planting Milestone
- Duke Energy Florida's tree care practices prevent outages, earn 18th consecutive year of national recognition
Earth Day and other Environmental Holidays
Springtime brings with it a certain appreciation for the natural world with several environmentally focused holidays like Global Recycling Day on March 18 and World Water Day on March 22. The United States’ most well-known environmental holiday is Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22. Some organizations even declare all of April as “Earth Month.” PR Newswire distributed over 180 Earth Day-related releases between March and April.
Many of these releases detailed environmentally friendly activities for consumers to take part in across their neighborhoods as well as calls to action for larger government entities. These announcements were not just about commemorating a single day but rather advocating for sustained environmental stewardship. From Arbor Day's tree-planting initiatives to World Recycling Day's spotlight on waste reduction, each occasion served as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between human activities and the health of our planet.
This collection of eco-conscious holiday releases demonstrates the importance of celebrating climate wins while striving towards a greener, more sustainable future.
- Tru Earth Launches New Earth Month Campaign to Help Strip the Planet of Single-Use Plastics
- EARTHDAY.ORG Proudly Unveils 'How to Do Earth Day 2024' Toolkit
- We Recycle Solar and Renewables.org Forge Partnership to Amplify Global Energy Access for Earth Day 2024
- LG Unveils Bergen County's First Corporate Certified Pollinator Garden at its Life's Good Earth Day Community Fair
- Global Recycling Foundation announces Recycling Heroes & Young Green Ambassadors awards of Global Recycling Day 2024
- LifeStraw Honors World Water Day with Release of Annual Impact Report and Launch of New Products Benefiting Humanitarian Relief
- On World Water Day, the Government of Canada announces funding for new community projects to protect fresh water
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the current environmental trends, it’s evident that the global community is increasingly prioritizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. People are engaged with the environment and want to see it flourish, despite the significant challenges posed by climate change.
Holidays like Endangered Species Day and World Oceans Day are coming up in May and June respectively, so perhaps there will be more of an emphasis on protecting and promoting biodiversity and ocean conservation in the coming months. Another developing story is the ongoing campaign to have G20 Leaders commit to sustainability and make significant financial contributions to the World Bank to address urgent climate change challenges that impact the world at large.
PR Newswire will continue to monitor emerging trends and developing stories in the environmental sector to keep our audience well-read and up-to-date.
About the Author
Rhyam Williams is a Customer Content Specialist at PR Newswire with a passion for tracking trends and travel. Outside of work, Rhyam can be found eating spicy food, planning the next big trip, playing video games, and being the human equivalent of an indoor cat.