Good News

Our top 5 good news stories of 2020

Because we could all use a little more cheer.

We can all agree that 2020 was a challenging year.


Good news feels hard to come by lately. And when you work in environmental news, it can seem even more rare.

Yet, the year was not without progress (yes, seriously!). Check out five good news stories from our newsroom that you may have missed below.

1. A Northeast US climate initiative has had a major side benefit—healthier children

Researchers estimate a climate effort in the Northeast U.S. helped the region reduce toxic air pollution and avoid hundreds of asthma and autism cases, preterm births, and low birth weights.

2. Roadmap points Europe toward safer, sustainable chemicals

EU Commission releases ambitious strategy for getting hormone-disrupting chemicals out of food, products, and packaging.

3. Solar power on the rise at US schools

Report finds an 81% increase in K-12 schools using solar power over the last 5 years.

4. Pittsburgh’s Black farmers work to grow a new future

A small group of new farmers have seeded a movement to change the local food industry.

5. Derrick Z. Jackson: A Rhode Island city gets serious about climate justice

In its climate action plan, Providence, Rhode Island, is giving frontline residents' health equal billing with carbon reduction. Other cities should pay attention.


Banner photo: Ebony Lunsford-Evans, owner of FarmerGirlEB in Pittsburgh, helps a customer. (Credit: Brian Cook)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sign at the headquarters building in Washington, DC.
Credit: marcnorman/ BigStock Photo ID: 21123533

Lee Zeldin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief, to headline Heartland Institute forum

Lee Zeldin, the EPA agency administrator, will address a Heartland Institute forum in April. The organization says speakers will challenge the climate crisis “narrative.”

Scales of justice depicting wealth balanced against earth globe.
Credit: newb1/BigStock Photo ID: 63597214

Earth's climate more unbalanced than ever, WMO warns

The world's oceans have broken heat records for nine straight years, glaciers are retreating and extreme weather is killing thousands. The only way to avoid the worst is to urgently ditch fossil fuels.
Snow cap, glacier, permafrost and iceberg location depicting geological pole and Antarctica parts
Credit: VectorMine/ BigStock Photo ID: 428591645

Scientists see converging evidence of Antarctic ice retreat

A sediment core spanning millions of years and new modeling studies point to significant ice retreat under temperatures similar to today.
Maple syrup being poured over pancakes

Climate change threatens maple syrup production in Highland County, Virginia

Maple syrup has long been the lifeblood of Virginia’s Highland County. This year, a brutal ice storm and recent warmth brought one of the worst syrup seasons in recent memory.
A view out of a car at a mountain road with snowy hillsides

Record heat melts California's snowpack early

Record temperatures are melting the Sierra Nevada snowpack two months ahead of schedule, putting California's summer water supply at serious risk.
A view from inside an ice cave

The growing allure — and danger — of glacier tourism

As climate change reshapes Iceland’s glaciers, the booming business of ice cave tourism is pushing deeper into unstable terrain.

A farm vehicle harvesting wheat

Higher yields and lower emissions can go hand in hand

A 60-year dataset reveals that the biggest driver of declining agricultural emissions is in fact more productivity on farms.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.