You gotta admit, 2014 was a heady, bustling, and very crucial year for science and technology. Here’s a look back on the important and noteworthy stories that defined 2014, from green building to health, food to climate change.
And oh, a Happy, Blessed, and Exciting New Year to us all!
CLIMATE
1. People’s Climate March in New York
September 21 this year, the largest environmental protest, dubbed People’s Climate March, took place.
Passionate about the climate: protesters at the People’s Climate March last September 21. (Image from Grist.org)
Rallyists from all walks of life took to the streets of New York, numbering nearly 400,000, including celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Sting, Susan Sarandon, and Prince Albert II of Monaco to name a few. Meanwhile, other countries from all over the world joined in with their respective protest marches. The People’s Climate March deliberately coincided with the UN Climate Week, and was meant to urge world leaders to create more concrete policies and take decisive action regarding global warming.
2. The Definitive Word on Climate Change, According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Putting an end, once and for all, to the debate of whether climate change is real or simply an exaggerated threat, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) released its definitive report entitled: WHAT WE KNOW: THE REALITY, RISKS, AND RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
In a 14-page document the panel of scientists from the AAAS laid down the hard truth. About the reality of man-made climate change, how our abusive and misuse are pushing the planet past its thresholds for self-repair and balance, and how, if we don’t act now—the possibility of irreversible damage from temperature extremes, floods, droughts, ecosystem collapse, sea level rises and melting permafrost, etc.—will cost our lives.
3. The 2050 Imperative: A Commitment to End Emissions from the Built Environment by 2050
August this year, the International Union of Architects unanimously pledged to phase out carbon dioxide emissions caused by the built environment by 2050. The declaration, called the 2050 Imperative, was participated by 15 architecture associations all over the world, including the World Green Building Council and the Architects Regional Council Asia. Starting now, the challenge for architects and engineers is to plan, design, and erect greener and cleaner buildings and cities. Admittedly, the built environment is responsible for a significant amount of carbon footprint.
4. Lima Climate Change Conference
Now in its 20th year, the United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Lima, Peru went on a rocky start this December—from the event venue’s unnecessarily high carbon footprint to the usual disagreement among nations as to the policies on reducing carbon emissions. In the end, the Lima Conference was a mixed success, depending on whom you ask. A compromise was eventually reached, and the participating countries signed a deal that would pave the way to next year’s climate change negotiations to be held in Paris, France.
HEALTH
5. Antibiotic Resistance Is Now a Global Concern
In light of the recent Ebola epidemic, a more pressing and even more dangerous reality is upon us: antibiotics resistance.
The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious health concern worldwide. (Image from Ahchealthenews.com)
Despite their efficacy in curing certain types of illnesses, antibiotics can pose harm when they’re either overused or if the prescribed course of treatment is not completed. Also, there’s the issue of doctors overprescribing them even when not necessary. Add to that, the antibiotic pollutants that end up as waste in the environment. These conditions help propagate a new breed of bacteria that are antibiotic-resistant, and so when a new serious infection occurs, people no longer respond to antibiotics. The results can be very fatal.
6. The Ice Bucket Challenge
The uncomfortable shock of a bucket of ice water thrown on one’s self became viral online last July, with the humble aim of gathering donations for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research. The willing participant either donated money to the charity, or else agree to the ice bucket challenge.
Bill Gates succumbs to the Ice Bucket Challenge (Image from Huffingtonpost.com)
The challenge was largely a success, with the ALS Association receiving more than $100 million in just one month, although there were criticisms about the heavy emphasis on the stunt instead of the donation, as well as the true destination of the donated money.
FOOD
7. Irish Teenage Girls Discover an All-Natural Way for Increasing Crop Yield
Three Irish teenagers have proposed a possible solution to combating the global food crisis with the help of a simple bacteria. When they paired barley and oats (the staple food in many countries all over the world especially African nations) with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia—the crops had faster germination and better yield by as much as 74{e3829ec1db02d54faaf9fa2de0d48db26af01d7a7944a63c3b26976124791cab}. The teenagers’ discovery was awarded the top prize in the Google Science Fair 2014.
8. Agricultural Efficiency Could Feed an Extra Three Billion People
A study by scientists at the University of Minnesota concluded that the existing cropland of the world is enough to feed at least three billion more people.
Yet, about a third of all food produced in the world ends up being wasted, either during transport, left unsold in supermarkets, or through the willful habits of wastage people from industrialized countries. Overuse of fertilizers and monocropping (planting just a single crop all year round) compromises soil integrity. Also, much of our croplands are being devoted to feeding livestock instead of people. If all these agriculture inefficiencies are properly addressed, no global food crisis should ever happen.
ARCHITECTURE and GREEN BUILDING
9. World Architecture Festival Honors the World Building of the Year
The colorful and friendly spaces of the Chapel / A21 Studio in Hoh Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Image from Archdaily.com)
This year’s World Architecture Festival kicked off in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands, recognizing the very best and most compelling design in today’s architecture. The festival culminated in the awarding of the World Building of the Year, which went to the mixed-use communal center The Chapel / A21studio in Hoh Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
10. One World Trade Center Finally Opens
The One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, finally opened in New York City this November.
The One World Trade Center towers over everything else in the city of New York (Image from Inhabitat.com)
Designed by David Childs and Daniel Libeskind, the One WTC, also known as Freedom Tower, is a testament to the American solidarity after the 9/11 attacks.
11. USGBC Receives Champion of the Earth Award from UN
After more than 1 billion GSM of LEED-certified space worldwide, the United Nations finally took note of the efforts of the US Green Building Council. Last November, the UN awarded its prestigious environmental award, the Champions of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision, normally bestowed on an individual. The UN made an exception here for USGBC’s “outstanding contribution to sustainable building through its LEED green building rating system. »
