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)

Flags of various nations fly on building

As U.S. and E.U. retreat on climate, China takes the leadership role

As U.N. talks get underway, China is emerging as a key leader in international climate efforts. It is empowering the global energy transition, and along with India and Brazil, is becoming the driving force in climate diplomacy and filling a vacuum left by the world’s rich nations. 
A home on stilts on the edge of an encroaching ocean

Are we all living in Florida now? The rise of 'don't say climate' politics

With the return of Trump-era climate denial and Democrats avoiding the term altogether, the U.S. is quietly adapting to a warming planet without naming the cause.

A black man walking on a solar panel installed on a roof

What does the just energy transition mean for Africa?

With around 600 million Africans still without electricity, leaders and communities are weighing how to expand affordable power while avoiding deeper dependence on fossil fuels.

An illustration of a healthy earth on the left and a warming earth on the right

Governments and billionaires retreat ahead of COP30 climate talks

With the U.S. under Trump reversing clean-energy efforts and Brazil allowing new oil exploration, the sense of urgency around a warming planet has given way to weary resignation.

Blue cranes placing coal onto large piles

Rise in Chinese off-grid coal plants in Indonesia belies pledge to end fossil fuel support

A surge in the supply of Chinese-backed coal-fired power plants built to supply electricity to Indonesia’s fast-growing nickel mining and processing sector is undermining Beijing’s efforts to dial back support for fossil fuels, a study has found.

Statsminister Jonas Gahr: Speaker at COP30
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/statsministerenskontor/ Creative Commons Foto: Martin Lerberg Fossum https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

COP30: 'Climate conference of truth' in Brazil?

At COP30, the international community again will try to agree on targets to limit catastrophic global temperature rise. But many barriers remain before steep greenhouse gas cuts are realized.
A rocky island in the middle of the ocean viewed from above

The ocean has been hoarding heat. Now it is building up a massive 'burp'

Even if humans cut emissions enough to reduce global temperatures, new research shows the Southern Ocean could kick warming back into gear.
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.

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