butterfly

Our top 5 good news stories of 2021

It's not all doom and gloom.

As we reflect on the past year, let's remember the good — the people, communities, ideas, and science that are creating a more healthy and sustainable planet.


The environment can be a depressing beat. But here are the top five good news stories from our newsroom over the past year that remind us there is hope.

1. The pesticide ban movement gains momentum

pesticide ban

Cities and counties are increasingly banning toxic pesticides—and some are taking aim at fertilizers.

2. A Listen Into Landscape

good news podcast

A series of audio postcards spotlighting peace, place, and connection to landscape from the perspective of those working in nature.

3. How artificial intelligence can help save us from air pollution

artificial intelligence

Researchers find AI may outperform traditional models, which could give more advance warning of bad air days, and reduce harmful exposures and hospital visits.

4. From butterfly wings to shrimp claws: Mimicking nature on the nanoscale

green chemistry

Innovators look to biomimicry to address sustainability challenges.

5. Planting a million trees in the semi-arid desert to combat climate change

planting trees

Tucson's ambitious tree planting goal aims to improve the health of residents, wildlife, and the watershed.

Have a good news story tip? We want to hear about it, write us at feedback@ehn.org.

Banner photo: Metalmark Butterfly. (Credit: Andreas Kay/flickr)

embodied carbon building emissions
Photo by Tolu Olubode on Unsplash

Embodied carbon: An increasing focus of building emissions

In Massachusetts and elsewhere, advocates and policymakers are increasingly turning their attention to “embodied carbon” in building materials.
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
lake powell drought water climate
Photo by Zetong Li on Unsplash

At Lake Powell, record low water levels reveal an 'amazing silver lining'

When the reservoir dropped to its lowest level since it was filled, an expedition through once-submerged branches of Glen Canyon found both warning signs and beauty that had been underwater for more than half a century.

Climate activists disrupt Europe’s biggest private jet fair

Dozens of climate activists have disrupted Europe’s largest private jet trade fair by chaining themselves to aircraft to protest against the sector’s carbon emissions.

oil drilling california
Big Stock Photo

The steep cost of cleaning up California’s oil sites

A recent study estimates that the cost of onshore clean up could be triple the industry’s projected profits.

climate molly beeman snohomish county
Photo by Ethan Grey on Unsplash

‘The crisis is so vast’: Beeman’s climate ‘bucket’ is full

Just days after becoming Snohomish County’s energy and sustainability manager last July, Molly Beeman learned the county had landed a state grant to pay for a climate risk assessment tool, and that her office would coordinate a new committee to support that and other climate-related work. She was delighted.

vermont climate snow utilities energy
Photo by Daniel Norris on Unsplash

What good is a web post in a power outage? Vermont asks utilities to improve communication

As climate change brings more wet and heavy snow storms to the region, state regulators are asking Vermont’s electric utilities to do a better job communicating with customers who are experiencing power outages.

José Andrés unveils U.S. food and climate institute

Celebrity chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés is teaming up with George Washington University to launch a new research institute focused on the intersection of food production and climate change.

From our Newsroom
halliburton fracking

How the “Halliburton Loophole” lets fracking companies pollute water with no oversight

Fracking companies used 282 million pounds of hazardous chemicals that should have been regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act from 2014 to 2021.

President Joe Biden climate change

Op-ed: Biden’s Arctic drilling go-ahead illustrates the limits of democratic problem solving

President Biden continues to deploy conventional tactics against the highly unconventional threat of climate change.

oil and gas wells pollution

What happens if the largest owner of oil and gas wells in the US goes bankrupt?

Diversified Energy’s liabilities exceed its assets, according to a new report, sparking concerns about whether taxpayers will wind up paying to plug its 70,000 wells.

Paul Ehrlich

Paul Ehrlich: A journey through science and politics

In his new book, the famous scientist reflects on an unparalleled career on our fascinating, ever-changing planet.

oil and gas california environmental justice

Will California’s new oil and gas laws protect people from toxic pollution?

California will soon have the largest oil drilling setbacks in the U.S. Experts say other states can learn from this move.

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