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 Black women holding her newborn infant in a hospital room

Intense heat puts births in jeopardy, United Nations tells Fiji talks

Extreme heat is increasingly linked to problems such as premature births or underweight babies, the UN climate chief warned on Monday as Fiji hosted talks ahead of a major summit.

A polar bear lounging on a field of ice

Video: How does climate change affect biodiversity?

Polar bears disappear as sea ice melts, forests face drought, and bees are finding less food. Climate change is causing biodiversity to fall and disrupting ecosystems worldwide.
Road through Joshua Tree national park with desert environment on each side

Podcast: Is this the coolest year for the rest of our lives?

In this episode of The Great Simplification, climate scientist Zeke Hausfather breaks down the numbers and metrics within climate science, and translates what they will actually feel like for humanity.

A view of a university stadium from the end zone

Extreme heat left this student athlete on life support. He won't be the last

Researchers have known for decades how to prevent and treat heat illness, but a patchwork of policies has left players like Matthew Mayich at risk.
Closeup of a wooden gavel

Alito’s absence could give oil companies a tougher path in Supreme Court term opener

Oil and gas companies want the justices to save them from lawsuits over their alleged role in accelerating damage from global warming.
Aerial view of the River Banns and a cityscape

Where is Europe’s greenest city? Eight finalists announced for 2028 and three are in Spain

The finalists were judged in seven areas, including climate change resilience, waste management and how quickly they are cutting emissions.
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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