Hope For The Planet

US judge allows last of five offshore wind projects halted by Trump to proceed Ruling clears Denmark’s Ørsted to resume construction on its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New York

Judges have given the go-ahead to all five offshore wind projects halted by Trump's stop work orders. This last project will power 600,000 homes once it is finished. #goodnews #cleanenergy

New study: food banks divert a whopping 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions a year Supporting your local food bank doesn’t just help your community — it helps the planet.

"By intercepting unspoiled food destined for the landfill, and redistributing food from local farms and wholesale produce markets, the 2023 report offered evidence that community-led solutions to addressing global hunger can also help protect the globe itself." #goodnews

Success! EU Microplastic Ban Regulation Drives Innovation in Biodegradable Alternatives | Happy Eco News EU microplastic ban regulations introduced through REACH in 2023 are transforming how industries use plastics. The comprehensive rules phase out microplastics from cosmetics, detergents, and agricultu...

Recent analysis shows that the EU ban on microplastics (which comes into full effect in 2035) has sped up development of environmentally-friendly alternatives in everything from cosmetics to detergent to medical supplies. #goodnews #microplastics

New record for wind-powered electricity in Britain The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has predicted Britain could hit another milestone in the months ahead by running the grid for a period entirely with zero carbon power, renewables and nuclea...

"A new wind record has been set for Britain, with enough electricity generated from turbines to power 22 million homes [...] Britain could hit another milestone in the months ahead by running the electricity grid for a period entirely with zero carbon power, renewables and nuclear." #goodnews

First-of-its-kind study definitively shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss A new study published online today, April 25, in the scientific journal Science provides the strongest evidence to date that not only is nature conservation successful, but that scaling conservation…

A huge meta analysis found that the vast majority of conservation work is successful in halting or even reversing biodiversity loss. “It would be too easy to lose any sense of optimism in the face of ongoing biodiversity declines, however, our results clearly show that there is room for hope."

Chart: Clean energy remains dominant in the US — despite Trump Trump spent much of 2025 boosting fossil fuels and blocking renewables, but 92% of new power additions through November were solar, wind, or batteries.

"In fact, for all of Trump’s paeans to ​'beautiful, clean coal' and to natural gas, it’s clean energy that has once again led the way this year. Through November, 92% of new power capacity added to the [US] grid in 2025 came in the form of solar, wind, or storage..." #goodnews #cleanenergy

Green sea turtle no longer Endangered These gentle, 400-pound giants are splashing back from the brink of extinction.

Green sea turtles have been an iconic endangered species since the 1980s. After decades of worldwide conservation work, they now meet the criteria for Least Concern. Just because the work is slow, doesn't mean it isn't worth doing #goodnews #conservation

Endangered Chick Appears in 'Christmas Miracle' Hatching to Parents Thought Infertile A breeding pair of endangered takahē birds in New Zealand were found to be rearing a chick, having previously been thought of as infertile.

"Described by park officials as a Christmas miracle, a breeding pair of endangered takahē birds in New Zealand were found to be rearing a chick, having previously been thought of as infertile.With around 500 of these flightless birds left in the country, every chick counts." #goodnews #conservation

California Leads Nation in Dairy Farm Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions | Happy Eco News California dairy farms have cut dairy farm greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually through methane digesters, improved waste management, and herd efficiency…

California has reduced the methane emissions of its dairy industry by 5 million metric tons through a strategy of methane collection, updates to waste management, and more efficient milk production with fewer cows. #goodnews

Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air.

The free bus program in Iowa City has removed CO2 emissions equivalent to 5,200 cars in its first year--as well as leading to less cluttered streets, an 18% ridership increase over pre-pandemic levels, and even a 13% increase in buses running on time #goodnews #publictransit

2040 Climate Target: Council agrees its position on 90% emissions reduction Today, the Council has reached an agreement on amending the European climate law (ECL), introducing a binding intermediate climate target for 2040 of a 90% reduction...

The EU recently set a new legally binding climate goalpost of 90% emissions reductions by 2040, in advance of their final target of 100% emissions reductions by 2050. #climatechange #goodnews

Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale Population Is Slowly Increasing, Scientists Say Unlike other baleens like the fin whale, humpback, and blue whale, the North Atlantic right whale has been slow to recover.

The North Atlantic right whale population saw no mortalities, four new mothers, and eleven calves this year--a sign of recovery for an endangered species previously decimated by whaling. Recent efforts have also made progress on reducing modern threats like boat collisions and entanglement #goodnews

'Cloud-milking' is keeping forests alive in areas devastated by drought The Canary Islands are using innovative “cloud-milking” nets to capture fog water and restore drought-stricken forests.

"Cloud milking" uses metal pins to collect droplets of water in foggy areas, which can be used to provide additional water to vulnerable forests that are experiencing drier conditions due to climate change. #goodnews

China's Ming Yang promises monster two-headed, low cost 50 MW floating wind turbine China's Ming Yang says new two-headed wind turbine platform could be a monster, with proposed capacity of 50 MW and surprisingly low costs.

"Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Ming Yang Smart Energy is reportedly planning to debut a 50-megawatt (MW), two-headed floating wind turbine that could upend the offshore wind industry because of its low costs." #renewableenergy #windenergy

Renewables overtake coal for first time on monthly basis in Australia's main grid Renewables overtook coal on a monthly basis for the first time in September, with one wind farm delivering average capacity factor of 67.9 pct.

"Renewables – a combination of solar PV, wind, hydro and biomass – overtook coal on a monthly basis for the first time in September, according to a leading energy analyst." #goodnews #renewableenergy

Western South Africa Sees Leopards Returning to Ancestral Habitat After 170 Years A shift in project focus to human-wildlife coexistence rather than just focusing on providing protection to reserves, has been key.

After work rebuilding habitat corridors and focusing on wildlife coexistence with local communities, a leopard was caught on camera trap in western South Africa for the first time in 170 years. This shows the species is beginning to recolonize their previous habitat. #conservation #goodnews

Renewables could increase developing countries' GDP by 10%, report finds Between 2017 and 2022, renewable investments in the 100 largest developing countries (excluding China) contributed a combined $1.2 trillion to GDP growth.

"Low-and middle-income countries could see their GDP grow by around 10% within 25 years if they transition to renewables quickly enough to double energy-sector productivity, a new report found." #renewableenergy

Nueva Esperanza Municipality Establishes Río Negro, a New Protected Area in the Northern Bolivian Amazon - Andes Amazon Fund The area encompasses over 517,156 acres (209,286 hectares) of tropical forests, seasonally flooded savannas, alluvial plains, the meandering Negro River, and ancient geological formations of the…

A new protected area has been established in the Bolivian Amazon, covering over 500,000 acres of tropical forest, savannas, and rivers. This new area hinges on community-led conservation and protection of environmental resources. #goodnews

Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling

"Renewables will grow faster than any major energy source in the next decade, according to the world’s energy watchdog, making the transition away from fossil fuels “inevitable”, despite a green backlash in the US and parts of Europe."

Massachusetts is turning retired cranberry bogs into natural wetlands. They’re on track to rewild 1,000 acres The Division of Ecological Restoration has an ambitious pledge in the works when it comes to the state’s many cranberry bogs.

The Massachusetts Department of Ecological Restoration is rewilding unused cranberry bogs into natural wetlands. So far 500 acres have been converted and the hope is to reach 1,000 in the next 10 years. Restored wetlands provide vital habitat and flood control. #goodnews #rewilding

Boston’s century-old steam heat system is getting a low-carbon… Boston and Cambridge’s decades-old district energy system is being retooled to shift away from gas and toward heat pumps and electric boilers.

Boston and Cambridge's ancient underground heating system is beginning a transition from a fossil-fuel powered boiler to a giant heat pump using the Charles River as a source of thermal energy. It should be complete by 2028. #goodnews #renewableenergy

Growing trees for shade has ‘enormous’ potential for cutting cocoa emissions - Carbon Brief Growing tall trees to provide shade for cocoa plantations in west Africa could sequester millions of tonnes of carbon, according to a new study.

A new study found that growing banana and palm trees to shade cocoa plantations in west Africa could sequester enough carbon to entirely offset their emissions. Growing cocoa is one of the highest carbon emissions crops and this method could reduce both emissions and deforestation. #goodnews

Five Native tribes are coming together to protect a California cultural landscape A coalition of five California desert tribes will co-manage the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument.

"Five California tribes have established an intertribal commission to co-manage Chuckwalla National Monument, marking a historic step toward tribal sovereignty over sacred desert lands." #goodnews

German Balcony Solar Boom: A Million Apartment Dwellers Fighting Climate Change | Happy Eco News German balcony solar systems have reached one million installations across Germany, democratizing renewable energy access for apartment renters and homeowners alike. These plug-and-play systems…

"Germany has quietly become home to over one million tiny solar power plants hanging from apartment balconies and mounted on terraces across the country. These plug-and-play solar systems, called “Balkonkraftwerke” in German, reached this milestone by late June 2025..." #goodnews #solarenergy

Critically endangered black rhino calf born in the wild in Kenya Wildlife researchers are celebrating the wild birth of a critically endangered eastern black rhino as a tiny subgroup in Kenya attempts to repopulate.

The small Chyulu black rhino population recently welcomed a new calf--bringing their total population to nine. This group of rhinos has unique genetics among their species and was thought to be extinct until 1990 after managing to hide from both poachers and conservationists. #goodnews #conservation

China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity

"China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months, analysis reveals, adding evidence to the hope that the world’s biggest polluter has managed to hit its target of peak CO2 emissions well ahead of schedule." #goodnews #climatechange

Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.

"The Australian government is floating a scheme that would share the benefits of solar power with everyone on the grid, offering totally free electricity to ratepayers in the middle of the day, when the sun is shining the strongest." #goodnews #solarenergy

Decade of slowing deforestation offers hope for forests Lush, green and brimming with trees and wildlife, forests are the Earth’s lungs and source of livelihoods for many communities.

Over the last decade, deforestation has slowed in every region on Earth. Around 250 million hectares of protected forest have been added since 1990 and 71% of the world's forests are under public ownership. #goodnews #hope

The rarest porpoises on Earth are hanging on The latest report shows that the estimated number of endangered vaquita porpoises has modestly increased

Back in 2017— when the last chance conservation effort to move vaquitas into protected sea pens failed—if you had told me there would still be vaquitas in 2025 I would not have believed it. They are still in terrible danger, but that they exist at all and are having babies is miraculous #hope

In numbers: Renewables have turned Spain into one of Europe's cheapest electricity markets Wind and solar met almost half of Spain’s electricity demand in the first half of 2025 (46%), up from 27% in the same period in 2019.

"Spain’s rapid deployment of wind and solar energy has slashed the influence of expensive gas and coal plants on electricity prices by 75% since 2019, according to new analysis by research group Ember. As a result, the country is now one of the cheapest electricity markets in Europe." #goodnews