Good News

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UMass commits to climate leadership as states counter federal inaction

Facing federal rollbacks under President Trump, the University of Massachusetts system is expanding its climate tech and sustainability efforts across its five campuses.

Dennis Pillion reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

UMass President Marty Meehan announced a "whole-university" strategy to align with Massachusetts’ $1.4 billion climate tech development plan, emphasizing education, research, and economic partnerships.
Despite federal threats to diversity initiatives and energy policy reversals, UMass leaders plan to continue pushing clean energy, resilience projects, and climate justice initiatives at state and international levels.
UMass campuses are launching programs such as the Clean Energy and Environmental Legacy Transition at UMass Lowell, climate change curriculum at its medical school, and nature-based resiliency projects at UMass Boston, while planning major infrastructure upgrades funded by the state’s Bright Act.

Key quote:

"While forces seem determined to drag us backward, UMass and Team Massachusetts are going to continue to work together to move ourselves forward."

— Marty Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts

Why this matters:

The University of Massachusetts’s aggressive pivot toward climate action highlights a broader trend: As the federal government retreats from environmental leadership, states and institutions are stepping up. Climate tech and sustainability efforts at major research universities can have cascading effects — training a workforce ready for green industries, driving regional innovation, and laying the foundation for community resilience. Energy-efficient building upgrades, climate-focused medical education, and projects like Boston Harbor’s living sea walls also have direct implications for public health and environmental justice, especially as vulnerable populations face disproportionate risks from extreme weather and pollution. Without coordinated federal support, these local and state efforts may become the front line in the fight to slow climate change and protect ecosystems that sustain human life.

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insideclimatenews.org

Solar panels next to an open field on a cloudy day.

Solar panel recycling plant planned to boost Florida’s clean energy economy

As hurricane-damaged solar panels continue to flood Florida landfills, a startup aims to build one of the nation's largest solar recycling plants to recover valuable metals and ease supply chain pressures.

Alexander C. Kaufman reports for Canary Media.

In short:

OnePlanet Solar Recycling, based in Jacksonville, raised $7 million to develop a $90 million recycling facility in Green Cove Springs, Florida, aiming to open in 2027.
The company’s proprietary process uses artificial intelligence and sensors to separate and recover up to 97% of metals like copper and aluminum from broken solar panels.
A $14.5 million federal tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act supports the project, though uncertainties remain over future federal backing.

Key quote:

The funding “reflects our belief that solar module recycling is not only necessary — it is investable at scale, with durable tailwinds driven by regulation, economics, and resource security."

— Ashlynn Horras, partner at the climate-focused venture firm Khasma Capital

Why this matters:

Solar energy is booming across the U.S., but the industry faces a growing waste problem as damaged or outdated panels accumulate. Recycling offers a critical solution, keeping heavy metals and plastics out of landfills while feeding valuable materials back into the economy. Copper, silicon, and aluminum are essential not just for solar but for a range of clean energy technologies. With tariffs raising the cost of imported raw materials, domestic recycling could ease supply bottlenecks and lower the environmental toll of mining. Florida, hit hard by storms that shatter solar infrastructure, is a key testing ground for solutions like OnePlanet’s. As extreme weather intensifies and clean energy expands, developing efficient recycling systems could help stabilize the market and minimize environmental harm.

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www.canarymedia.com

States ramp up climate efforts as Trump administration faces legal hurdles

As President Trump moves to weaken environmental protections, states are expanding independent climate initiatives and winning key legal battles to defend their authority.

Matt Simon reports for Grist.

In short:

President Trump’s executive order seeks to block state-level climate laws, but constitutional protections and legal precedent make it difficult to enforce.
States like California, Washington, and Illinois are expanding clean energy programs and forming stronger coalitions to advance climate policy.
Courts have forced the Trump administration to release billions in frozen climate-related funds after multiple lawsuits from states and advocacy groups.

Key quote:

“This administration appears to be just banking on the fact that they don’t need to follow the law until and unless someone sues them.”

— Jillian Blanchard, vice president of climate change and environmental justice at Lawyers for Good Government

Why this matters:

State-led climate action has become a critical defense against federal inaction and rollback efforts. With transportation, housing, and energy sectors accounting for much of the nation’s carbon emissions, states hold real power to shape the future of America’s environmental health. Their ability to act independently matters not just for emissions reductions but for public health, as clean air and water protections hinge on effective local policies. Federal attacks on climate funding threaten these gains, risking higher rates of respiratory illnesses, extreme weather damage, and infrastructure instability. Meanwhile, grassroots support for cleaner energy and sustainable growth continues to strengthen, reflecting a broad recognition that environmental stewardship is tied to economic resilience, community well-being, and basic rights to a livable environment.

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grist.org

A woman looks at a handmade journal that includes pressed flowers and leaves.

Independent bookshops are helping people fight climate despair with the right stories

In the UK, three indie bookstores are blending climate action and storytelling to help readers find hope, connection, and purpose in the face of planetary crisis.

Lottie Limb reports for Euronews.

In short:

Hold Fast, a floating bookstore in Leeds, curates books that connect readers with nature and personal action, offering everything from folklore to vegan cookbooks to inspire mindful living.
FOLDE in Dorset is designed around sustainability, even running on 100% renewable energy, and helps customers find books that suit their emotional and activist needs, whether that’s soothing nature writing or books that empower political action.
Edinburgh’s Lighthouse bookstore goes beyond the page by hosting events with grassroots organizers, supporting fossil-free publishing campaigns, and using books as a launchpad for collective activism.

Key quote:

“The way we see it, books are the starting points of action making and of change making.”

— Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, digital campaigns manager, Lighthouse Bookshop

Why this matters:

These British indie bookstores are rewriting what it means to be a sanctuary in the age of climate unraveling. They aren’t just places to thumb through a paperback and grab a quiet cup of tea — they’re building community, serving as an incubator for constructive action, and providing lifeboats for the eco-anxious, curated by booksellers who are part therapist, part activist, and part literary matchmaker.

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www.euronews.com

A river runs between hills covered with trees displaying fall foliage colors.

Maryland’s conservation streak shows how far a small state can go

Maryland just became the first U.S. state to meet the “30 by 30” conservation goal — six years early — and it's already aiming for 40% by 2040.

Cara Buckley reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Maryland has permanently protected nearly 1.9 million acres of land from development, including forests, farms, and coastal areas vital for wildlife, carbon storage, and clean water.
The state's success is credited to bipartisan cooperation, smart use of real estate tax funds, and coordination among government agencies, nonprofits, and military needs.
Despite reaching the milestone, a recent $100 million cut to conservation funds due to budget shortfalls may slow progress toward Maryland’s new 40 by 40 goal.

Key quote:

“Being able to sequester carbon and mitigate climate impacts makes us more resilient in the face of climate change.”

— Josh Kurtz, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Why this matters:

As federal goals falter, states like Maryland show what’s possible when conservation and economic growth work hand in hand. More than preserving pretty places, Maryland's land protections encompass carbon sinks, wildlife habitats, natural water filters, and buffers against the intensifying wrath of climate change. What’s even more unusual is how they got here — not with grandstanding or greenwashing, but with something increasingly rare: bipartisan cooperation.

Pollution is one of the top drivers of biodiversity loss. Why is no one talking about it at COP16?

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www.nytimes.com

blue and white solar panels on green grass.

Clean energy tech is outpacing politics and reshaping the global power landscape

Even as the Trump administration moves to expand fossil fuels and slash climate regulations, clean energy industries are accelerating beyond the reach of political backlash.

The Vox climate team sets out to analyze the clean energy transition in a special, multi-story project.

In short:

Despite aggressive rollbacks on climate policy by the Trump administration, clean energy technologies such as wind, solar, and electric vehicles are growing rapidly and proving cost-effective.
Globally, economies are increasingly investing in clean energy to boost growth while limiting emissions, with the U.S. once a leader but now at risk of falling behind.
Vox’s Escape Velocity project examines how and where climate progress is gaining momentum, and how new technologies might overcome political resistance entirely.

Why this matters:

The global shift toward clean energy marks one of the most consequential transitions of our time, affecting everything from job markets and economic growth to geopolitical power and public health. As fossil fuels face declining returns, renewables are proving cheaper, cleaner, and more resilient.

Yet politics, especially in the U.S., remains a major wildcard. The Trump administration’s efforts to revive coal, streamline oil drilling, and dismantle climate safeguards may slow federal progress, but the economics of clean energy are increasingly winning out. Utility-scale solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle adoption continue to expand because they’re more profitable — not just more sustainable. The story isn’t whether the clean energy revolution is happening — it is. The question is whether the U.S. will keep up.

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www.vox.com

One lawyer's groundbreaking work in shaping climate law

As governments stall and emissions climb, human rights lawyers like Monica Feria-Tinta are turning to the courts to force climate action — one tree, island, or river at a time.

Samira Shackle reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Feria-Tinta is pioneering legal strategies that argue climate inaction violates human rights, helping Indigenous and vulnerable communities take their cases to global courts.
Her work includes landmark victories like the Torres Strait case, where the United Nations ruled Australia failed to protect islanders from climate harm, and Ecuador’s Los Cedros forest, which won legal rights as a living entity.
While legal wins are often slow and hard-fought, they’re shifting the global legal landscape, transforming courts into battlegrounds where climate justice and biodiversity now have a voice.

Key quote:

“Whether it’s a single tree, or a whole community depending on a river, what is at stake is the future of humanity.”

— Monica Feria-Tinta

Why this matters:

As heat, floods, and displacement intensify, the courtroom has become a potent line of defense. Climate litigation can hold powerful players accountable, push policy change, and help protect the ecosystems our health depends on — even when other systems fail. These legal wins are slow, complex, and anything but guaranteed. But they’re a signal that the courtroom is becoming one of the last places where the planet still stands a fighting chance.

www.ehn.org