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)

Palm trees in front of tall buildings blowing in hurricane gales

The emerging danger of post-hurricane heat waves

With global warming making people increasingly dependent on air conditioning, power failures from hurricanes followed by heat waves are creating increasingly hazardous risks to health.
The Great Salt Lake on a blue sky day

The Great Salt Lake is dying and fixing it could cost billions

Two factors are driving the decline of the Great Salt Lake: water use and less precipitation due to climate change. Saving the lake may require 260 billion gallons of water.

A tropical location with palm trees and the sunset in the background
Credit: Hans/Unsplash+

Tropics take the brunt as hotter oceans drive large-scale humid heat waves: Study

As climate change intensifies, people around the world are learning firsthand how dangerous high temperatures can be, and prolonged heat becomes even more dangerous, and deadly, when paired with high humidity.

The facade of the White House on a sunny day

How the Trump administration’s climate math doesn’t add up

There's an old argument that protecting the environment hurts the economy. It's wrong for a lot of reasons.
power plant towers with smoke emitting from the top

Trump EPA proposes loosening restrictions on toxic coal ash disposal

Federal regulators have proposed a rule that would loosen restrictions on the storage of toxic waste that is created by burning coal to produce electricity, a move that critics say favors industry interests over public health.

Red and white tanker with "LNG" printed on the side.

Stung by Iran war, countries are turning against U.S. fossil fuels

As economies in Asia and Europe reel from the energy disruption, leaders make plans to permanently replace imported oil and gas with homegrown energy.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sign at the headquarters building in Washington, DC.
Credit: marcnorman/BigStock Photo ID: 21123533

EPA sets ‘no surprises’ science policy, reassigns researchers

Staff expressed frustration with how the transfers are being handled and perceive them as yet another measure to traumatize the workforce.
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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