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 Border Patrol vehicle next to a tall metal border wall

‘Every day it’s more barriers’: how the US is shutting out climate refugees

While the US is shutting the doors to most refugees, those already in the country fear for their future in a rapidly heating world.

An airplane on the tarmac

Scientists have made jet fuel from plastic waste

A new process converts hard-to-recycle styrofoam waste into valuable jet fuel at a cost competitive with petroleum-based fuels.
Two women in a kayak floating through a mangrove forest

Mangroves comeback is a rare climate success story

For decades, we've catalogued what we're losing to climate change. A sweeping new study offers something harder to find — evidence that one of the planet's most vital coastal ecosystems is actually winning.

An illustration of a car made out of green grass with a plug icon in the center

COP31 leaders unveil global targets, with spotlight on electrification

The two countries set to lead this year’s COP31 have unveiled three headline goals for November’s UN climate summit — on electrification, waste, and buildings.

Illustration depicting skyrocketing oil prices. Gasoline nozzle spewing coins against a rising graph

Democrats once vowed to stop oil and gas. Now they’re not so sure.

As the midterm elections approach, many leading Democrats are rethinking their approach to climate change.
SEPTEMBER 28 2015: Businessman and presidential candidate Donald Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower to unveil his comprehensive tax reform plan.
Credit: andykatz/BigStock Photo ID: 103507385

Trump attacks on renewables ‘toxic’ to permitting talks

A top Democrat said Wednesday he wanted to see more movement on renewable energy approvals. A White House official didn’t appear willing to budge.
A single hand poking up out of floodwaters

Inside the war to sideline stronger climate science before it’s used in court

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. Billions of dollars are at stake.
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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