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)

A firefighter walking through a forest setting prescribed burn fires

Wildfire mitigation in New Mexico down 53% since Trump took office

A new analysis by a wildland firefighter advocacy group finds that wildfire mitigation in New Mexico, including prescribed burns and forest thinning, has plunged by more than half since Donald Trump took office, raising alarms amid an already severe backlog in forest management and a predicted dry winter.

A close up of a coin on a table

Disasters like Hurricane Melissa put pressure on immigrants

After Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, Canada’s Caribbean communities are mobilizing to send money and supplies back home — a reminder that those least responsible for climate change often shoulder its heaviest costs.

A silhouette of a person casting a vote into a box

It was a very good election for the climate

In the first election of Donald Trump's second term, voters make clear that they're unhappy with his energy policies — and they still care about climate action.

A 3D illustration of a bar chart with orange and blue bars

Planet in peril: 30 years of climate talks in six charts

As leaders gather for the U.N. climate summit in Brazil this month - three decades after the world's first annual climate conference - the data charting progress in the fight against global warming tells a sobering story.
A burned ear of corn in a burned corn field

Karen community fighting corn and coal for clean air in northern Thailand

Northern Thailand’s annual haze crisis is fueled by maize field burning tied to the animal feed industry, compounded by looming coal projects. In Omkoi, Karen villagers have banned maize and rotated crops to cut smoke, only to face a proposed lignite mine that threatens to undo hard-won gains.

An aerial View of Belem do Para, Brazil - scene of COP30
Credit: Gustavo Frazao/BigStock Photo ID: 107205569

High stakes and hopes as leaders gather ahead of COP30

Ahead of the UN climate conference in Brazil, international leaders including Germany's Merz and Brazil's Lula are meeting to discuss climate action. Experts say they should reaffirm their ambition to curb emissions.
illustration of blue, red, and gray hands raised below a blue checkbox with red checkmark

Democrats show early signs of winning energy messaging war

Democrats won gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, where candidates made affordability concerns and skyrocketing electricity bills central to their campaigns.
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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