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2020 has been a year like no other and for many of us it is one we will want to put behind us.

The year has beenfull of highs and lows with incredible scientific breakthroughs and human connection being reimagined.

We've taken a look back at some of the most iconic moments of the year:

Clap for Carers

(PA)

The Clap for Carers event ran every Thursday night at 8pm for 10 weeks and saw the nation stand on their doorsteps celebrating our incredible frontline workers.

Across the country people made as much noise as they could clapping, banging pots and pans and ringing bells in ashow of appreciation to the nation's heroes.

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Free School Meals

(Michael Regan/PA)

With thousands of people on furlough and school holidays looming, low income families across the nation felt the pinch of their purse strings more than ever this year.

Families that usually rely on free school meals to help feed their children were supported through a campaign by Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

The 23-year-olds campaign ensured free meals would be provided to disadvantaged children helping to improve the lives of thousands during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queen's "We'll meet again" speech

(Victoria Jones/PA)

To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day The Queen praised the nation's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

As she remembered Britains Second World War sacrifices and the joyous celebrations that followed the end of fighting in Europe, the head of state paid tribute to the positive qualities of todays generation.

The tireless efforts of NHS staff, care and key workers, and communities helping the vulnerable, reflected a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire, said the Queen.

And she highlighted the message of VE (Victory in Europe) Day that resonates with the countrys plight today Never give up, never despair.

After the broadcast, the nation was invited to open doors and windows and takepart in sing-a-long of Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynns wartime anthem Well Meet Again, during the BBCs VE Day 75 show.

The nation's favourite PE teacher

(Conor McDonell/PA)

As the nation was gripped by the coronavirus pandemic and children were off school during the first lockdown, one man came to every parent's rescue - Joe Wicks.

PE with Joe Wicks ran throughout lockdown with weekday fitness sessions for little ones (and adults too) at 9am.

A record-breaking number of 955,185 households tuned in toP.E with Joeon the 24th March setting a new record for 'Mostviewersfor a fitness workout live stream on YouTube'.

The remarkable Captain Tom Moore

(Joe Giddens/ PA)

Former British Army Officer, Captain Tom Moore walked 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine before his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS.

CaptainTom received donations reaching more than a staggering 32 million, including an 'undisclosed' sum from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

On July 17 Captain Sir Tom Moore was knighted by The Queen in her first official engagement in person since the first lockdown.

Protesters throwing a statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour

After the killing of George Floyd in America on May 25protests erupted across the globe under the Black Lives Matter movement.

This iconic wave of protests and demonstrations seen worldwide captivated people from all walks of life frustrated by the treatment of black people.

In the UK there were BLM protests in every major city and town with calls for action sparkinga wave of change that can still be felt today.

The statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader, can be seen about to fall into the water in the foreground with hordes of protesters stood across Peros Bridge in the background. The bridge is named after enslaved African Pero Jones, who was brought to Bristol aged 12 to work as a servant and died in the city after 32 years of service.

Capturing the juxtaposition of these two worlds colliding in the 21st century makes forone of the most groundbreaking images of 2020.

First person to be vaccinated against Covid-19

Margaret Keenan, 90, who became the first person to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine.

This landmark moment at University Hospital, Coventry marks the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in British history.

Formally leaving the European Union

(Yui Mok - PA)

This image, taken on January 31 2020, shows the Union flagbeing loweredfrom its pole outside the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and removed to mark the UK formally leaving the European Union, after 47 years of membership.

The brexit transition period will end on December 31 sparking enormous change for theUKfrom January 1 2021.

Goats taking over Llandudno

(Pete Byrne - PA)

The quieter streets in Llandudno because of lockdown meant the Welsh mountain goats were roaming freely around the town.

The mischievous goats took over the town and entertained residents to no end during the first lockdown.

The Dominic Cummings debacle

(Jonathan Brady - PA)

This moment captured national attention and wound the government up in a huge controversy.

Who could forget when Prime Minister Boris Johnson's chief political adviser Dominic Cummings drove from his home to Barnard Castle during the first lockdown whilst having the coronavirus.

This scandal rocked the news agenda for days and filled the nation with outrage.

What is the most iconic moment of 2020 for you? Let us know in the comments.

See more here:
The most iconic moments of 2020: Clap for carers, vaccine and Black Lives Matter - South Wales Argus

The past year has been both unfathomable and unforgettable.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic irrevocably altered life in Pennsylvania and around the globe. As the virus emerged in the spring, life changed in ways no one could have foreseen or even conceived a year ago.

Schools, businesses, sports and entertainment venues shut down. Doctors and nurses scrambled to treat patients suffering from an illness they were only beginning to understand. Shoppers endured shortages of staples such as disinfectants and toilet paper. Many had to work at home and simultaneously help their children navigate the concept of going to school virtually.

The restrictions on many normally routine aspects of daily life fueled tensions and conflicts between elected officials and ordinary citizens alike. But many came together to support family members, neighbors and strangers coping with the worst pandemic in a century.

While the pandemic defined the year in Pennsylvania, protests for social justice in the wake of George Floyds death emerged from cities to small towns. People of all backgrounds came together to call for racial justice and equality.

Pennsylvania became a key battleground in the presidential election, with President Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigning across the commonwealth. The Keystone State remained in the spotlight after Biden won in Pennsylvania, as Trump and his supporters filed a series of unsuccessful legal challenges in hopes of changing the result.

PennLives photographers captured the striking, celebratory and surreal images of a year like no other. Some photos from the beginning of the year, before the pandemics emergence, may evoke fond memories and hopes of better times to come.

2020 started off like any other year with revelers ringing in the new year on Second Street in Harrisburg. However, it soon took a drastic turn.

Balloons fall as children and their parents celebrate New Years Eve at City Hall prior to the celebration on Second Street in Harrisburg. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Participants take part in the 23rd annual Penguin Plunge by taking a dip into the Susquehanna River at City Island in Harrisburg, January 1, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The square dance competition on day 3 of the 2020 Pa. Farm Show seen from inside a light fixture above the arena floor on Jan. 06, 2020.

Mike Schumaci vacuums a taxidermy black bear while setting up his booth at the 2020 Great American Outdoor Show at the Farm Show Complex on Jan. 31, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction at Gobblers Knob on Groundhog Day on Feb. 02, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Pallbearers escort the casket of former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed at the end of his funeral mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick on Feb. 3, 2020. The controversial Reed served as mayor from 1982 until 2010, during which time he advocated for numerous development projects. Since leaving office, he faced 200 criminal charges related to a proposed Wild West museum. Reed ultimately pleaded guilty to 20 counts of theft by receiving stolen property in 2017, resulting in probation.

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf gets a kiss from his wife Frances following his 2020-21 budget address on Feb. 4, 2020 in the House of Representatives as Second Lady Gisele Fetterman, right, looks on. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Dr. Christopher Andrews of Waynesboro dons a light-up cape during Penn States Thon on Feb. 22, 2020, held at the Bryce Jordan Center. The annual fundraiser totaled $11,696,942.38. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Pa. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine demonstrates the proper way to shield a cough as sign language interpreter Ashley Shenk signs during an update on COVID-19 on March 6, 2020. Gov. Tom Wolf and Levine outlined steps Pennsylvanians could take to keep themselves healthy. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Paul Robertson stocks shelves at the Fine Wine and Good Spirits Premium Collection store on Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township on March 17, 2020. The PLCB closed state liquor stores at 9 p.m. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The Lebanon Farmers Market sells inexpensive toilet paper, paper towels and other supplies to help the local community during the coronavirus outbreak. Manager Joya Morrissey lines up more toilet paper on March 19, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Relatives and friends of Anthony L. Brown, 29, also known as Juice Man, gather to light candles and remember Brown, two days after someone kicked in his bedroom door and fatally shot him. The homicide remains unsolved. March 19, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

With churches unable to conduct in-person services, Chuck Personeus of West Pennsboro sings along to the music during a service conducted by the Newville Assembly of God Church held at the Cumberland Drive-In on March 22, 2020. The service was broadcast through the drive-ins radiofrequency. Over 300 cars were in attendance and the service was live-streamed as well. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

House Minority Whip Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, leaves the House floor wearing gloves and a mask after the morning session on March 24, 2020. The House session would be the first in state history where members were able to vote remotely due to the coronavirus outbreak. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Service 1st Restoration worker, Nick Hamilton, sprays disinfectant throughout the Centric Bank corporate headquarters to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Service 1st works with a number of local corporations by going to their buildings after hours and spraying the buildings. March 25, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Highspire Mayor Brenda Hoerner marries Kristina Souders and Brian Handley in the kitchen of her home. The couple had applied for a marriage license prior to the coronavirus pandemic and decided to go ahead with the ceremony and make it very small to go along with social distancing practices. March 28, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Rev. James Jackson, of the Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church in Harrisburg, holds Palm Sunday Service via Facebook Live. Rev. Jackson reacts when a parishioner pulls out a can of Lysol and playfully tells him to stay back. April 05, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

CBS 21 Weatherman Steve Knight does his weather forecast from his living room due to the coronavirus pandemic. April 06, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Each morning, neighbors on North 2nd Street in Harrisburg gather to recite the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mark Bennington. April 14, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Janiliz Arcelay, left stands with other customers outside the Hazleton Food Super Market on Wyoming Street on April 15, 2020. Only five people are allowed in at a time due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city of Hazleton was one of the big hot spots in Pennsylvania due to a break out in meat processing plants. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

More than 1,000 gather for the Reopen PA rally outside the Pa State Capitol. The event started on social media, but it grew quickly, drawing in thousands of people. The rally was held to call on Gov. Tom Wolf to allow businesses to reopen and people to go back to work, but organizers say it was also an exercise in civil liberties, and that they have the right to gather, despite stay-at-home orders. April 20, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Armed protesters rally at the Pa. Capitol against Gov. Tom Wolfs coronavirus shutdown on April 20, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Crews work at the scene of a train derailment on the western approach to the Rockville Bridge at Marysville, Pa., Apr. 23, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Portrait of Rachel Heinbaugh, Critical Care, at UPMC Community Osteopathic for National Nurses Week. April 29, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Donna Welch, closes the casket during the funeral for her husband, 56-year-old Gerald Welch,a Harrisburg school board member who was killed by COVID-19. The funeral was held at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church with only a few people in attendance. May 2, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

East Pennsboro barber Brad Shepler cuts customer Richard Zerbes hair after opening his shop May 11, 2020 in defience of Gov. Wolfs stay-at-home order. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Members of ReOpen PA, a group of about 85,000 concerned citizens, and affiliated groups throughout Pennsylvania, protest on the Pa. State Capitol steps in Harrisburg. May 15, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

CASA in Action joined the National Day of Mourning and conducted a funeral protest of the Trump administrations and Republican officials failure to protect working and immigrant families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protestors drove from Broad Street Market to the GOP Headquarters on State Street. Protestors add a photo of a loved one that passed away from COVID-19. May 20, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Huge crowds flock to Lincoln Speedway for the return of racing despite the governors orders on limited crowds at events on May 25, 2020. Most of the crowd were unmasked. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Three girls attend a vigil for Tyrone Gibson, 14, at the spot where he was shot and killed the previous afternoon in Harrisburg, Pa., May 27, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Harrisburg Black Lives Matter Demonstration at the Capitol to protest the murder of George Floyd. May 30, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Harrisburg Black Lives Matter Demonstration at the Capitol to protest the murder of George Floyd. May 30, 2020. The rally turned violent as protesters clashed with police resulting in the shooting of pepper spray by authorities into the crowd. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Protestors yell at a police vehicle parked on Walnut Street in Harrisburg during the Black Lives Matter Demonstration at the Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd while in custody of police in Minneapolis. The rally turned violent as protesters clashed with police resulting in the shooting of pepper spray by authorities into the crowd. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

A man is treated after being hit by spray at the Harrisburg Black Lives Matter Demonstration at the Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd. May 30, 2020. The rally turned violent as protesters clashed with police resulting in the shooting of pepper spray by authorities into the crowd. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

A demonstration is held at the state Capitol by The Movement-Harrisburgs Protest to Protect all People, to protest racism and oppression and the death of George Floyd. June 1, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Harrisburg police Commissioner Thomas Carter takes a knee as he apologizes to the crowd for treatment by police at Saturdays demonstration. A demonstration is held at the state Capitol by The Movement-Harrisburgs Protest to Protect all People, to protest racism and oppression and the death of George Floyd. June 1, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Greg Olejniczak poses for a photo. East Pennsboro High School gives graduating students a sendoff, including a walk on stage, in the school gym. June 2, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Funeral service for 14 year-old Tyrone Gibson who was shot and killed days before in Harrisburg. June 4, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Mike Mangano speaks as elected officials and community members gather at a protest in support of Taste of Sicily, a Palmyra-based restaurant thats been allowing customers to have sit-down meals in violation of Gov. Tom Wolfs reopening plan. June 5, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Hannah McOmber, of Gettysburg, prays on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol at a Ministers prayer gathering in Harrisburg, Pa., June 6, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

A little girl and her doll don masks for the Susquehanna Twp. High School graduation on June 9, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

A protester stands in front of the United States Federal Building during a Black Lives Matter rally and march in Harrisburg. June 17, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

The Spring Carlisle auto show and flea market opens up despite Gov. Tom Wolfs COVID-19 protocols on crowds. June 17, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Nursing home workers and advocates light over 3,400 tea lights on the steps of the state capitol in Harrisburg to represent the women and men who have died of COVID-19 in PA nursing homes. The event was part of a National Nursing Home Day of Action. June 18, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Gary Willis of Steelton gets coffee from Susan Owen of the East Shore Diner as businesses reopen in Dauphin County on June 19, 2020. The Xs on the stools are for social distancing. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Riders enjoy the Carousel as Knoebels Amusement Park opens for the 2020 season on July 1, 2020. Visitors to the park were asked to wear masks at all times. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Trent Somes of Hanover (wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt) is confronted in the Gettysburg cemetery by militia members on July 4, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Travelers make their way through the security checkpoint as airline travel is on the increase at Harrisburg International Airport on July 22, 2020. Air travel had been down dramatically across the country as the public stayed home due to COVID-19. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Tommy Mealy, Athletic Director and assistant coach for Bishop McDevitt, cleans footballs during the start of summer workouts on July 15, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

An Assemble for Freedom rally is held on the steps of the Pennsylvania state Capitol, July 22, 2020. The rally is to call out the Governor (Tom Wolf) and to demand to be set free from any and all restrictions and to return freedom of choice to We the People, according to rally organizers. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

A Black Lives Matter mural is being painted on the side of the Harrisburg Improv Theatre on North 3rd Street. The BLM Muralists was created in direct response to current and past events that plague our nation. They are a collective of individuals who will use their various talents, as a unit, to get the message out to the public at large. Their goal is simple, to bring awareness to the city via BLM murals, banners and possible future, free, public events. Mike Fitzgerald(left) and Gary Dutson prepare to draw the letters on the wall. July 29, 2020.

Central Dauphin High School graduating senior Claira DeGrandchamp poses for photos with Assistant Principal Ms. Kristin Herb during belated graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic, at Landis Field in Harrisburg, Pa., July 30, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

First-year students wait in lines to get their check-in paperwork inside the Bryce Jordan Center as Penn State students register for classes and get ready for the start of the fall 2020 semester on August 20, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The family of Jonathan Tims gathers in Hbg. to rally for more information/justice in his case. The family members are frustrated after he was killed and the crime remains unsolved 2 months later. August 29, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

A Candlelight vigil was held for Kaylee Lyons and Sydney Parmelee, who police say were killed by teh same man in Cumberland County this summer. August 22, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Eighth-grade students in their classroom on the first day of school at Holy Name of Jesus School in Lower Paxton Township, August 24, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Pa. House Republicans announce they will attempt to bring an end to the governors COVID-19 disaster declaration at a news conference in the Rotunda of the Ryan Office Building at the Capitol Complex. September 2, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Principal Dave Echelmeier helps students find their classrooms as students arrive at South Mountain Elementary School for the first day of the 2020-21 school year in the Northern York County School District, September 8, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

A march in honor of 16-year-old Kyan King who was fatally shot after he was seen running away, naked, from the man charged in his killing, Orlando P. Duarte. King had been at the suspects home earlier that day, where police say he wrote a note saying, If youre reading this, Im dead, The march went from 18th and Forster streets to the Capitol. September 06, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Donald Trump Jr. speaks at a Sportsmen for Trump event at the Blue Ridge Sportsman Club on September 16, 2020. Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

President Donald Trump holds a rally at Harrisburg International Airport in Lower Swatara Twp. on September 26, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Vice President Mike Pence kisses his wife, Karen before a Presidential Debate Watch Party in Lititz, PA. September 29, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Supporters gather for a Presidential Debate Watch Party where Vice President Mike Pence would make an appearance in Lititz, PA. September 29, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Penn State heads takes the field in an empty Beaver Stadium for their season opener against Ohio State on Oct. 31, 2020. This game would normally be the stadium-wide Whiteout where all fans dress in white but the Big ten conference ruled there would be no fans allowed, except for players families, at the games. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Voters at Ridgeway Community Church, in the seventh ward of Susquehanna Township, line up to cast their ballot in the Pennsylvania general election, November 3, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Election volunteers conduct pre-canvassing of mail-in and absentee ballots at the Dauphin County Administration Building in Harrisburg. The volunteers inspect the envelopes and separate the privacy envelope from the ballot envelope to prepare ballots for scanning. November 3, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Mitchel Bauer of Harrisburg stands draped in an American flag during a Rally to Count Every Vote on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg. November 04, 2020 Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com

Pennsylvania State Police investigate a crash scene where they say a woman died when her vehicle went off the roadway and landed on its roof in Stony Creek, next to the Stoney Creek Restaurant and Lounge in Dauphin Borough, November 4, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Supporters of President Donald Trump hold a rally to Stop the Steal and to count every legal vote of the election at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, November 5, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Dailey Monroe, of Harrisburg, waves a Biden for President 2020 flag in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg after the U.S. presidential election was called for Biden, Nov. 7, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Kashden Dunlap, of Enola, visits with Santa Claus with safety protocols in place, at Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township, November 11, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Nathaniel Williams II collects a swab sample from Casey Stouffer of Steelton at the COVID-19 mobile testing unit. Hamilton Health Center offers free COVID-19 testing at a mobile location set up in Steelton, November 13, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Susquehanna Dance Academy students perform a number from the Nut Cracker in Harrisburgs Reverse Holiday Parade, where parade participants stand in one place on City Island and families driving by in their cars, Nov. 21, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

The Steelton-Highspire football team celebrates winning the 2020 PIAA, Class 1A state championship at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa., with a parade in Steelton, Pa, Nov. 27, 2020. Freshman Quarterback Alex Erby holds the championship trophy while other players sport their gold medals. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Funeral services are held at Paxtang Cemetery for Reginald A. Guy Jr., a civic leader, activist and attorney in Harrisburg. December 7, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Stephanie Tighe, a community health worker with UPMC Pinnacle Mission Effectiveness, delivers a new pair of glasses to Mark at the homeless encampment near the PennDot building in Harrisburg on Dec. 2, 2020. He was headed to his brothers house. Tighe had taken Mark for an eye exam earlier and was finally able to connect after searching for several weeks. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Ben Ried shovels snow in front of the Mechanicsburg Volunteer Fire Station 2 on York Street during a blizzard on Dec. 16, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

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2020 in Pa.: The year in photos - pennlive.com - PennLive

At GreenBiz, weve been reporting on the world of sustainable business for over two decades, but this year has been unlike any other. From an unprecedented pandemic to a global economic downturn to the intensifying impacts of climate change, we cant say well miss 2020. But there were many valuable lessons learned over the past 12 months.

Some of those can be found in the top GreenBiz stories of the year, as measured by reader traffic. While COVID-19 cut through almost all of our coverage just like it cut through our everyday lives this year other hopeful stories shined through. GreenBiz readers got excited about climate change solutions that ranged from the new, from the emerging potential of hydrogen as an energy source to changes in plastics manufacturing, to the ancient, such as planting trees. Readers also sought glimmers of hope in this year; you were drawn to stories about COVID-19s positive impact on air pollution and what the sustainability field can do to be more actively anti-racist and pro-diversity.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 most widely read stories and reports from the past 12 months, brought to you by our analysts, editors and other members of the GreenBiz community.

And as we look forward to next year, do you have any notes on our coverage things you want to see more or less of in the upcoming year? Feel free to shoot us an email at [emailprotected]; we greatly appreciate any and all feedback.

The hottest trend of the year was the electrification of transportation, which is on the precipice of a major upswing: Less than 1 percent of fleet vehicles were electric at the beginning of the year, but that number is expected to grow to 12 percent by 2030.

We named eight of the biggest players in the space so sustainability professionals know what and who to watch out for. From relative giants such as Tesla to newcomers like startup Rivian and Chanje, we stand by this list.

READ THE FULL STORY: 8 electric truck and van companies to watch in 2020.

Over 45 states were under stay-at-home orders at one point in the spring due to the COVID-19 crisis. A resulting drop in regional traffic, along with reduced industrial and commercial activity, led to a significant drop in air-polluting emissions.

These emissions reductions are obviously short-term, unintended consequences of the pandemic. But they show that just as human activities have caused our changing climate and the impacts were experiencing today, human activities can also slow and reverse the phenomenon.

READ THE FULL STORY: The stunning impact of COVID-19 social distancing on air pollution & To make offices safe during COVID-19, buildings need a breath of fresh air & How coronavirus will affect 4 key environmental issues

Some of the biggest contributors to the plastic crisis are the cosmetics and fashion industries.

In the $500 billion-per-year cosmetics space, small-scale packaging leads to large-scale single-use plastic waste. But solutions exist, and we wrote about them. At beauty and hygiene products company Lush, for example, working to implement zero-waste when possible has led to innovation across the board

In fashion, similarly, going the extra mile takes an innovative approach. A new technology of this sort, chemical garment-to-garment recycling, was one of your favorite stories of the year.

Investors such as H&M are already forging ahead.

READ THE FULL STORY: How cosmetics retailer Lush is making purposeful profit through circular processes & Fashion's latest trend? Why H&M, other big brands are investing in garment recycling

Our story with an inside look into Eastman Chemicals factory was a hit earlier this year. Eastman is one of the largest U.S. chemical companies, and it has faced criticism in the past few years along with other chemical companies as plastics have grown as an issue in the publics consciousnesses.

But it claims to have a response to these concerns. That includes two new technologies. Carbon renewal technology, or CRT, breaks down waste plastic feedstocks to the molecular level before using them as building blocks to produce a wide range of materials and packaging. Polyester renewal technology, or PRT, involves taking waste polyesters from landfills and other waste streams and transforming them back into a raw material that the company claims is indistinguishable from polyester produced from fossil-fuel feedstocks.

In addition, other stories on plastic production piqued readers interest. A story about Tupperwares new sustainable production processes, for example, was one of our most-read articles.

Any and all new solutions to the plastics crisis will be welcome in 2021, given that this year has seen record new plastic production thanks to the pandemic.

READ THE FULL STORY: Inside Eastmans moonshot goal for endlessly circular plastics & Tupperware inches toward circular processes, one plastic container at a time

Readers devoured GreenBiz stories on the emerging technologies powering electric aviation and the companies behind them. Though the technology isnt quite there yet, the certification process is long and the process is expensive, the electric aviation industry is still taking off.

Thats because flights under 500 miles are within the range of an electric motor. Roughly 45 percent of all global flights meet this standard presenting a massive opportunity.

READ THE FULL STORY: 6 electric aviation companies to watch & 7 urban air mobility companies to watch

If this year has shown us anything, its that the health of our planet and the health of humans are inextricably linked.

Research suggests that outbreaks of animal-borne and other infectious diseases such as Ebola, SARS, bird flu and COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, are on the rise. Meanwhile, humans have continued destructive practices such as deforestation and agricultural expansion. Case in point: The world has lost 60 percent of all wildlife in the last 50 years while the number of new infectious diseases has quadrupled in the last 60 years.

These stories hit home with readers this year, and well continue to cover stories in this vein, because we expect to see more events like this in the future.

READ THE FULL STORY: Biodiversity, pandemics and the circle of life & Destroying habitats has opened a Pandora's box for new diseases to emerge

Hydrogen is still an emerging source of renewable energy. But its a massive opportunity: Its the most abundant element in the universe, and capturing hydrogen is simple, in theory.

Old coal plants could be easily transformed into new hydrogen plants to produce GHG-free energy, according to some industry insiders, while providing good jobs for hard-hit communities.

READ THE FULL STORY: You say old coal plant, I say new green hydrogen facility

We all want an agricultural system that can enough food for the growing global population sustainably. But certain agricultural practices that aim to increase crop yields such as clear-cuttingrelease greenhouse gases that had been trapped in the soils into the atmosphere. The practices ofregenerative agriculture promise to do the opposite: thesefarming and grazing practicesrebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity, resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.Our stories on the topic struck a chord with you this year.

In 2020, food companies delved even deeper into how agricultural practices can sequester carbon in the land rather than release it. Two of the worlds largest food companies, General Mills and Danone North America, have set specific targets and worked to extend their support to farmers in their supply chains that are picking up these practices this year.

These new programs have already been implemented for oats and wheat farmers who want to participate across a range of experience, ages and farm sizes.

READ THE FULL STORY: General Mills, Danone dig deeper into regenerative agriculture with incentives, funding

Our inside look at two exciting tree-planting initiatives resonated with you this year.One is a hot new tree-planting startup whose investors include an Uber founder and whose buyers include Microsoft and Shopify resonated with you this year.

The startup, Pachama, has a unique value proposition: it offers a verified marketplace for carbon credits. Thats crucial for companies who want to buy credits after committing to going carbon neutral and even carbon-negative. Pachama both sells carbon credits by working with land managers who are using carbon-sequestering practices, and verifies the quantity of carbon they're storing via a unique combination of satellite images, LiDAR and machine learning.

Still, "if the planet continues waking up to the reality of climate change and the urgency of action, we believe that carbon markets will continue to expand," Diego Saez-Gil, the founder of Pachama, said.

Meanwhile, SilviaTerra, another cleantech startup, has been able to create a "basemap" ofevery acre of forest in North America, down to the species and size of every single tree. To do this, SilviaTerra used machine learning to build the map, based on satellite and sensor data from sources such as NASA.It lays critical groundwork for landowners to participate in markets for carbon storage and other ecosystem benefits.

Companies like these will be crucial to watch in the next year, as carbon credit markets continue to grow.

READ THE FULL STORY: Why Silicon Valley is taking a big interest in trees

This summer, the U.S. experienced a long-overdue racial reckoning. Following the death of unarmed Black man George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, white America received a reality check about the racism and discrimination happening in this country.

The worlds of clean energy, corporate sustainability and cleantech were not spared. Some key themes that emerged among the GreenBiz readership this year included solidarity and environmental justice, the movement that advocates that low-income and marginalized communities and populations should not be disproportionately exposed to adverse environmental impacts.

READ THE FULL STORY: How racism manifests in clean energy & How sustainability professionals can uplift the Black community

See more here:
The top 2020 trends in sustainability, according to GreenBiz readers - GreenBiz

The killing of George Floyd by a white police officer was the catalyst for widespread anti-racist protests in the US this summer. Though Floyds death took place thousands of miles away, the cry for racial justice was felt deeply in the UK. Britons stood up against racism, declaring support in their thousands for the Black Lives Matter movement via a succession of passionate protests.

More than 260 towns and cities held protests in June and July from Monmouth in south Wales to Shetland in Scotland. British historians described them as the largest anti-racism rallies since the slavery era and at the heart of many of these protests was a new generation of young black Britons.

Although the protests were inspired by the movement in the US, the protesters anger was rooted in the British experience. They carried handmade placards with the names of Mark Duggan, Sean Rigg, Sheku Bayoh and others killed by British police. They chanted for the Windrush generation and the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, and decried the high Covid-19 death rate among members of the BAME community.

In a groundbreaking series in August, titled Young, British and Black, the Guardian interviewed 50 protesters, from Glasgow to Newcastle and Abergavenny to Falmouth, on what inspired them to organise the countrys biggest anti-racism rallies for centuries. As well as citing the painful experiences of growing up black in the UK, they said they were fighting for a radically more equal society.

We catch up with five protesters to find out what has happened since and where the movement for racial equality goes next.

A student and co-organiser of one of the first UK Black Lives Matter protests in May, Natasha has since helped found All Black Lives. It is a youth-led campaign, with a group who held Black Lives Matter protests every Sunday for 10 weeks in several major UK cities. All Black Lives was behind the march through Bristol in June when demonstrators toppled a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston.

Since the spring, weve managed to ride the momentum to form established teams in London, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham, says Natasha. They have been working to get their message across on social media, holding several panels throughout Black History Month, and producing informative videos. Theres even talk of venturing into politics, she says.

All Black Lives has a number of demands, which include the abolition of the Metropolitan polices gang violence matrix and changing the school curriculum to include more black history.

But its struggles go beyond the UK. Weve been doing a lot of protests with EndSARS [a movement against Nigerias special anti-robbery squad], says Natasha.

Over the past six months, Natasha says she has become more resilient. Ive learned so much, but Im always keen on learning more If you learn how the house is built, youre going to know how to dismantle it.

On the day the Young, British and Black series was first published, Benitha Iradukunda was shocked to find her face on the front page of the paper. My university saw it and mentioned it on their social media and my old high school teachers messaged me sending well wishes, she says.

Iradukunda was one of the organisers behind the Black Lives Matter rallies in Edinburgh. The group is now setting up a charity, the African Caribbean Society for Scotland, to support the black community in a range of issues, from health and education to economic empowerment. The organisation has held online Black History Month events, including a series of interviews and a DJ set.

Ive also started a podcast called Speak Your Truth, which features conversations with black people in the Scottish community, says Iradukunda. A lot of people think activism should be a really big in-your-face thing, but there are little things you can do, like have conversations.

She also feels that the Black Lives Matter movement has helped shift discussions about racism in the UK, which have tended to focus on the south of the country.

People down south are always shocked that black people live in Scotland. They dont realise how big the community is here, she says. Were 1% in Scotland, but were very present

After participating in protests in Northampton, Tr Ventour was invited to London to take part in a Black Lives Matter panel event. While he is excited by the broadening interest in black British history, he feels there is more to be done.

When we celebrate black people in Black History Month, its very much acceptable black people, like Walter Tull. So when we do black history are we acknowledging the diversity of black lives? I am not sure we are, he says. Ventour also wants the focus to include black LGBT history and is keen for the movement to have a conversation about intersectionality. When you look at blackness in the context of LGBT, specifically trans people, they are victims of not just police violence, but violence in general.

He admits he was surprised at the number of people who rose up and joined the Black Lives Matter protests. So many more people care than I thought, he says. The protests have shown there is still community in Britain, despite everything. In places like Northampton, I think thats really important.

Since the protests, many people have congratulated 17-year-old Lexia Richardson for speaking about her experience of growing up and going to school in a predominantly white area. I think a lot of people I work with didnt realise how much racism I had been through, she says.

Several black and Muslim people got in touch with Richardson to tell her they had gone through similar things.

She is currently working on a Black Lives Matter project for the school where she was previously a pupil and wants to ensure conversations on racism in the UK continue. At her sixth form college, she is happy to hear people discussing the protests and whether the movement is needed in the UK. But she is most proud of the impact she has had at home.

Getting my voice heard has helped my younger siblings, she says. They feel like its OK to follow in my pattern. My 11-year-old brother made a movie about BLM to show to his class. I thought: Wow, I could have never done that at that age.

Shekinah Swamba, who works part-time in Waitrose, has had customers ask if she was the one that organised Black Lives Matter protests in the area. A branch manager approached me and said well done. We sat down and had a chat. He wanted to know what he could do in our branch. I gave him some suggestions, such as mentoring, she says. John Lewis and Waitrose announced a mentorship scheme soon after; through it, Swamba is paired up with a woman in Liverpool.

Swamba has since helped set up the Local Equality Commission, which works to combat racial and economic inequality in rural communities. My role is a mentorship programmer, she says. I want to create an environment where people can be supported in various disciplines and have their voices heard on all matters of interest.

She has also met with her local MP and taken part in panel discussions. Up until June, I never felt confident to say that I moved schools because I received a lot of racism; I always dodged the question, she says. Now I feel more confident in myself and I have got a lot more self-belief.

Read more from the original source:
How Black Lives Matter has inspired a generation of new UK activists - The Guardian

During the northern summer, anti-Trump sentiment fused with anti-racist activism in the US, causing huge numbers of Americans to protest all around the country.

President Donald Trump has been voted out of office, but the issues at the heart of Black Lives Matter remain as critical as ever.

In fact, the high turnout for both sides in the election demonstrates two things: the power of the movement and the need for it to continue.

But where does Black Lives Matter go from here?

If you cant name the three Black women Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi who coined the phrase Black Lives Matter in 2013, theres a good reason for that.

Seeking to avoid what they saw as the mistakes of the Civil Rights Movement, they stayed low-key and used social media to facilitate local activists taking responsibility.

The 2020 US election has decisively demonstrated the power of this strategy, because it took varied local organisations to activate important pockets of Black voters, Latino voters, and young voters.

During the summers large protests, hundreds of thousands of people registered to vote, including a surge in Black voter registration.

Activists learned their tactics from a long tradition. Decentralised organisation, often led by women, has always been integral to African Americans campaigns for rights. The Civil Rights Movement succeeded because of the work of women such as Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer, which culminated in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

But in 2013, a conservative-leaning Supreme Court ruled sections of the Voting Rights Act were unconstitutional. Nine states including seven in the south, where voting had been closely supervised by the federal Department of Justice were now able to limit the franchise.

In other words, those in power could resume discriminating against voters. So too could other states, now the threat of having such supervision imposed was removed. Voter suppression efforts, which were already a problem, have abounded since.

African American women were the backbone of the Democratic Partys 2020 electoral success.

Along with Kamala Harris successfully running for vice president, some 130 Black women ran for Congress with almost 100 on the Democratic side.

Democratic politician and activist, Stacey Abrams, also led a new organisation, Fair Fight. Together with other organisers, it made Georgia a swing state by registering roughly one million additional voters since 2016. Nearly two-thirds are voters of colour.

Read more: Before Kamala Harris, many Black women aimed for the White House

In Atlanta and cities elsewhere, such as Detroit and Milwaukee, Black voters registered and turned out.

Not all African American voters favoured Democratic candidates, of course, but the proportion was high enough to deliver key states to the party. Importantly, the proportion of Black women who voted for Trump was small and, in Georgia for example, it was under half that of Black men.

The Black Lives Matter movement is much more expansive in its aims than either defeating Trump or putting a Democratic president in the White House.

Joe Biden has heeded those aims, noting during the campaign and in his first speech as president-elect that one of the nations major challenges is systemic racism.

Surveys this year have also shown unprecedented sympathy for Black Lives Matter causes among white Americans. While support has fallen in the months since protests following George Floyds death in May, unexpected groups of white people have demonstrated a concerted commitment to protesting.

The record-breaking turnout for Trump, especially given the appalling failure to manage the COVID crisis, suggests the successes of Black Lives Matter have also generated a parallel backlash.

Trump certainly used the visibility of the protests to anchor his campaign around anti-Black Lives Matter rhetoric and sentiment. He tweeted LAW AND ORDER! many times, in his trademark all caps. When asked in the presidential debates about racism and racial inequality, he pivoted to this theme.

Read more: Republicans have used a 'law and order' message to win elections before. This is why Trump could do it again

Trump also railed against critical race theory and teaching history in schools that focused too heavily on racism.

Republicans joined Trump in attempting to frighten voters, by claiming Biden would heed the vision of Black Lives Matter activists to defund and abolish the police.

More than 70 million voters seem to have been persuaded or at least not dissuaded by Trump and Republicans racist dog-whistling.

Anti-racist organisers knew long before Biden was even picked as the Democratic candidate it wouldnt matter who won the White House, because true change comes only from grassroots activity.

The mission will be helped if the broad anti-racist coalition that seemed to emerge mid-year can be sustained, even without the galvanising presence of Trump in the White House.

In electoral terms, all eyes now move to Georgia, where it is likely that two run-off ballots will determine the balance of the federal Senate.

The boost to Abrams profile in the past week will be a boon for fundraising. Black Lives Matter organisers and Democrats will hope national attention also brings out reluctant voters and sustains the interest of first-time voters.

By the same token, Republicans will hope their own successful All Lives Matter rhetoric and tactics can provide sufficient ballast to win the two seats and retain control of the Senate.

In the medium-term, activists nationwide will continue to work to mitigate the varied forms of voter suppression, because these disproportionately affect voters of colour. The apparent closeness of the presidential election a mirage produced by Republican state legislatures decision not to count mail-in ballots until election day drew a great deal of attention to this widespread disenfranchisement.

Read more: Joe Biden wins the election, and now has to fight the one thing Americans agree on: the nation's deep division

The long-term targets of Black Lives Matter activists are harder to pinpoint. But they include police violence, incarceration levels, and the many other injustices that stem from systemic racism, whether in the United States or other countries, including Australia.

In all arenas, the dispersed nature of the organising and the key role played by African American women will remain absolutely vital.

See the original post here:
What now for Black Lives Matter? Whatever happens under Biden, the role of African American women will be vital - The Conversation AU