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)

Panel of climate scientists onstage at COP25 Q & A
Photo credit: World Meteorological Organization, https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldmeteorologicalorganization/

What top climate scientists think of Trump’s treaty withdrawals

Though the abandonment of international agreements is “a damn shame,” they say science will prevail.
Coastal village in Greenland with multicolored homes and ice floes in the background

As Trump eyes Greenland, what could that mean for island’s mineral wealth and environment?

The Danish territory holds significant stores of oil, gas and minerals. But regulations and the extreme environment have kept the vast majority in the ground.
participants at the entrance to COP 30 pavilion
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/isostandards/ Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

The impact of US withdrawal from global climate pacts

The US has pledged to pull out of dozens of international organizations and treaties established to advance the protection of the planet. But it doesn't spell the end of environmental action.
flags on green grass field near brown concrete building during daytime

US exit of key UN climate treaty criticized as self-sabotage

The United States' decision to withdraw from the United Nations' key climate treaty is a "colossal own goal" that will harm the U.S. economy, jobs and living standards, United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell says.

A refinery with lots of smokestacks and industrial equipment

US oil companies will be slow to answer Trump’s call to tap into Venezuela, experts say

President Donald Trump is unlikely to see many U.S. oil companies jump in response to his call to tap into Venezuela, industry experts say.
Boat on the ocean highlighted against an orange, burning sun
Photo Credit: Photo by Samuel Arkwright on Unsplash

‘Profound impacts’: Record ocean heat is intensifying climate disasters, data shows

Oceans absorb 90% of global heating, making them a stark indicator of the relentless march of the climate crisis.

a large fire burning in a field next to a forest

Opinion: Climate misinformation threatens Canada’s national security

With Canada's wildfire season only months away, the time to combat climate misinformation is now, before the next crisis exposes the weaknesses in our systems.

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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