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)

A view of a European square with half-timbered houses and a status of a man on a horse

European, island states seek clear future for global roadmap to cut fossil fuels

Some European, small island and other nations argue the forthcoming roadmap should be part of UN climate talks, while Russia has resisted this idea.

A group of people on motorbikes outside a Jakarta train station

As the world heats up, cities work to cool down

Global warming trends mean more frequent, intense heat waves. Cities around the world are working to mitigate extreme heat and adapt urban life to climate change.
A farm field being watered

Idaho Surface Water Coalition says severely needed water supply ‘simply is not there’

The Idaho Surface Water Coalition is reducing water deliveries and usage due to a historically low snowpack, a depleted aquifer and drought.
A flooded street with building and a van submerged

What's driving up your expenses? Many Americans say climate change

Most Democrats and moderate Republicans agree that global warming is increasing the cost of living, a new survey shows.
A view of the exterior of the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, DC

Inside the campaign to discredit a key climate science report

An emerging field of research that can measure how much climate change has worsened individual disasters is under attack by friends of the fossil fuel industry.

Colorful electrical thunderstorm activity

Why the media keep quoting the same climate scientist

Daniel Swain has a knack for breaking down the complexities of climate and weather into precise but accessible ideas.
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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