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)

Two workers looking at wind turbines

South Texas data center to use untapped windfarm energy

A new data center in Texas will draw power directly from a nearby wind farm’s surplus energy, using otherwise wasted electricity to fuel Bitcoin and artificial intelligence operations.

A man holding his daughter during a climate protest

Rise in persecution of climate defenders in Europe slammed by UN expert

Climate activists worldwide are facing increased persecution and criminalization by governments, with some of the most severe measures coming from Europe, according to a United Nations human rights expert.

A rustic boat sitting on a beach beside the ocean

Madagascar’s political and environmental crisis: Could restoring coral reefs help?

In southwest Madagascar, a community-led project is sinking limestone “starter” reefs to restore fish without restricting fishing. The experiment aims to bolster food security and track health gains as climate change and overfishing strain some of the planet’s most biodiverse reefs.

A lightbulb sitting on top of U.S. bills

Why Democrats aren't talking about climate change much anymore

As Democrats reflect on the 2024 election, talking about the "planetary emergency" is out, and "cheap energy" is in.
A variety of meat arranged on a wooden surface

Your meat’s carbon ‘hoofprint’ depends on where you live, study finds

A new analysis of more than 3,000 U.S. cities shows that the climate impact of eating beef, pork and chicken varies widely depending on where the meat is produced and consumed.

Satellite view of hurricane

FEMA payments lag for N.C. counties that spent big on Helene cleanup

A year after Hurricane Helene, North Carolina communities that exhausted their budgets on storm cleanup and recovery are still waiting for FEMA reimbursement.
Data center sited in rural bucolic setting
Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Moffett on Unsplash

Can crowdsourcing help solve the data-center power crunch?

Data centers want to connect to the grid faster. Voltus says virtual power plants can help them do so — and cut costs for everyday utility customers.
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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