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 man in a plaid shirt sitting at a desk in front of a laptop and monitor

Experts fired by Trump resurrect mothballed climate website

Fired US federal workers have revived a defunct climate website — pushing back as the Trump administration escalates cuts to publicly funded science and research.

A view of Mount Hood covered in snow in Oregon

Northwest potentially in for ‘one of the strongest El Niños we’ve had,’ climatologists say

Warming temperatures at the equator could paradoxically bring the Northwest a wet fall and high winter snowpack, according to climatologists.

A cobra coiled on the ground with its mouth open

As the world warms, the risk of snakebites is rising

Climate change is increasing human-snake encounters, even as many countries remain ill-equipped to treat victims.

A view of the entrance to the United Nations building with rows of world flags lined along a green lawn

UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on environmental costs

The United Nations called on major artificial intelligence companies to publicly disclose the full environmental cost of their data centers and use renewable power.

A man wearing a brown coat with his cell phone in his hands
Credit: A. C./Unsplash+

I cold-called President Trump. Here’s what he told me about an oil tycoon and major donor

I was hoping the president would give me some color about his relationship with billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand. I walked away with a clearer picture of what matters in Washington right now.
Two people standing and talking next to data servers in a data center

Imperial County approved a massive data center. Then it changed its mind

A million-square-foot data center became a lighting rod in this rural California county. Residents and local leaders are fighting back.

An Asian woman being interviewed by a journalist

This is the wrong time for major media to shut down environmental coverage

While media outlets cut environmental reporters, the impact of these losses on news coverage is real.
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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