Every day the Good Good Good team collects the best good news in the world and shares it with our community. Here are the highlights for this week!
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The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —
The United Nations passed the first declaration on sea level rise to protect island nations’ sovereignty
Since the start of his second term, President Trump has set global climate cooperation back by yanking the United States from the Paris climate agreement, attacking a global agreement on a carbon tax for cargo ships, and threatening countries with tariffs if they get too vocal about climate.
This week brought a notable exception. World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday approved a unanimous resolution on how to handle sea level rise, and the U.S. did not block it from moving forward.
The passage of the accord represents a rare win for multilateralism, made all the more notable by the fact that the agreement includes references to climate change and climate aid for developing countries.
Why is this good news? For many low-lying countries, the implications of this agreement could be profound. Some island nations face almost total inundation over the next century as rising temperatures melt the world’s ice sheets and glaciers, and under the agreement, those states will continue to exist as political actors even if their landmass disappears.
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A baby rhino and baby zebra bonded after they lost their mothers to the same fate: ‘They've been inseparable ever since’
EV sales in Turkey have skyrocketed over the last three years
Since 2022, the share of electric models among new car sales has increased from 1 in 100 to 1 in 5.
In 2023, the Turkish government introduced tax relief for electric cars, making registration significantly lower compared to petrol and diesel cars.
This coincided with the launch of Turkey’s first domestic electric car manufacturer, Togg, which has since become the market leader. Imports of cheaper electric car models also made the market more cost-competitive.
Planning is now underway for two new wildlife crossings for mountain lions in Joshua Tree, California
Earlier this year, a healthy 18-month-old male mountain lion was struck and killed on a California state road in the Mojave Desert. Shortly after, the Mojave Desert Land Trust was awarded the funding it needed to plan and build two crossings to protect the animals.
While the construction phase is still years away, wildlife researchers have officially begun surveying the area to collect information on all the species in the area to guide the planning of the two new crossings.
The planning and data collection process alone takes years, but it will ensure the best possible protection for wildlife in the area.
Why is this good news? The best time to consider and protect wildlife impacted by a roadway was when it was first built; the next best time is now. It’s never too late to fix poor human planning to better protect and care for our animal neighbors in the future.
Wildlife researchers attempted to trap mice with peanut butter and burnt coconut. They discovered a new species instead
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Deaths from drowning have declined significantly among children globally
In 1980, almost 30 in every 100,000 children under five years old died from drowning. By 2023, that rate had fallen significantly to 7.4 in every 100,000 children under five.
Death rates among older children also declined, from 21 in every 100,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14, to 4 in every 100,000.
The vast majority of all deaths from drowning happen in low- and middle-income countries, where the risk is heightened due to everyday exposure to ponds, rivers, and lakes for bathing and washing clothes, or water collection wells. Thankfully, we have safety solutions to continue to improve and prevent more deaths in the future.
Broadway fans raised over $1.4M to support those affected by HIV and AIDS
On September 27, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returned for its 40th year, raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of the nation’s leading nonprofits supporting people affected by HIV and AIDS.
As a Nor’easter raged outside, Broadway fans flocked to the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan to bid on auction items from over 18 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including “Oh, Mary!,” “Hadestown,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Lost Boys,” and many more.
The packed event ultimately brought in $1,487,927 to help those with HIV and AIDS receive lifesaving medications, health care, meals, and emergency financial assistance.
Even better: The Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction had humble origins in 1987, when the original cast of “A Chorus Line” set up two tables by their stage door to fundraise for Broadway Cares. Since 1987, the 40 editions of the event have raised more than $22 million for people affected by HIV and AIDS.
This national park is home to the quietest spot in the continental US: ‘Listen to a concert by the natural world’
Electric vehicles are now nine times cheaper to drive than petrol or diesel cars in the UK
As a result of the latest surge in fossil fuel prices, a new analysis found it is up to nine times cheaper to drive an electric vehicle than a petrol or diesel car in the United Kingdom.
The United States’ war in Iran, a recent attack on a Russian oil refinery, and other factors have led to dramatic increases in the price of both diesel and petrol. It now costs an estimated 21 pence per mile to drive a diesel car, and 20.1 pence per mile for petrol.
Electric vehicles, however, charged during off-peak times, cost around 2.3 pence per mile. Even when charged during peak pricing times, it still only costs around 7 pence per mile to drive an EV, three times cheaper than diesel or petrol.
Dolly Parton’s ‘Cup of Ambition’ coffee will go towards providing free books for children
In July, a month before she passed at age 80, country music legend Dolly Parton filmed three commercial spots for her new coffee line, Cup of Ambition.
The brand, which Parton said was “40 years in the making,” was made in partnership with Community Coffee, one of the largest family-owned coffee brands in the United States.
A percentage of proceeds from Cup of Ambition coffee sales will go towards supporting Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children every month, from birth to 5 years old.
Even better: In addition to its central mission, Parton’s Imagination Library, Community Coffee donates thousands of dollars every year to Louisiana public schools through Community Cash For Schools, with funds going towards new textbooks, computers, and playground equipment.
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This dog is trained to sniff out invasive ‘sea vomit’ and protect oyster reefs: ‘She has enough drive for 3 dogs’
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A new analysis found that global carbon emissions are set to fall in 2026
Fossil fuel emissions are on track to fall by around 0.5% in 2026 globally as a result of the Hormuz crisis, where the U.S.-Iran war has disrupted trade and caused spikes in oil and gas prices.
Additionally, for every new month the disruption continues, countries are growing more incentivized to switch to alternatives. While forecasts also point to a 1.2% rise in coal demand in 2026 — that rise will still be more than offset by oil and gas declines.
While the IEA forecast a rise in demand of 930,000 barrels of oil per day in January of this year, by September, that had fallen to a 2.5 million barrels per day drop in demand — a 2.4% reduction from 2025.
The producers of ‘Heated Rivalry’ just launched a real-life foundation inspired by the one in the book series
“Heated Rivalry” executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady just launched the Irina Foundation, which will “champion LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities through participation in sports and the arts.”
In Rachel Ried’s “Game Changers” book series universe, characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov start a charity by the same name, in honor of Ilya’s mother.
Kate Spade New York is the foundation’s inaugural donor with a founding contribution, and it already has support from men’s grooming brand Harry’s.
Why is this good news? While the arts world has always traditionally been very welcoming and accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, sports are a different story. Women’s sports, despite underinvestment, have historically been inclusive — though efforts to roll back that inclusivity have hit the mainstream in recent years.
This is important work to ensure people can have a safe space to do what they love, be who they are, and have a place to truly belong.
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A turtle with a bright blue shell was found in a Kentucky backyard. Rescuers are rushing to restore her natural color
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Solar power prices are now ‘offensively cheap’
The price to install solar panels has been declining for a while, disrupting traditional energy supply chains with near-infinite supply that’s driving low prices.
Twenty-six years ago, solar panels ran between $5 and $6 per watt of generation capacity — now, it’s 12 cents per watt, which one researcher called “offensively cheap” compared to alternatives.
The global leader in renewable energy, China has “installed too much green energy” that people can’t use it as fast as it’s produced. Even in the U.S. where efforts to revive the coal industry are underway, solar produced more electricity than coal in June.
More good news of the week —
Dolly Parton fans celebrated the first official “9 to 5” day by donating children’s books to little libraries in their communities. Parton’s Imagination Library, launched in 1995, has delivered more than 300 million free books to children around the globe.
After 20 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, a former inmate is helping others find freedom. To date, the Innocence Center has freed 43 people who were jailed for crimes they did not commit.
Nearly 100 U.S. cities now dispatch unarmed responders and mental health clinicians to 911 calls instead of armed officers. A Duke University case study found that one such program led to an increase in 911 call volume, suggesting growing public trust in the alternative response model.
A “lost” bird reappeared in West Africa’s forests after more than a decade. In June, a team of researchers working in Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park spotted a Ghana cuckooshrike, a bird that hadn’t been seen in 13 years.
A group of formerly incarcerated women sued to get air conditioning in every Texas prison — and won. The group spent years advocating for those trapped inside prison walls during Texas’ hot summers.
Scientists in China developed solar panels that work underwater. Designed to capture the wavelengths of sunlight that can pass through seawater, the panels could eventually keep underwater equipment running for longer without relying just on batteries, they argue.
Comedian Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal” just helped get a mental health bill for pilots passed. The second season of the HBO series focused on airline safety, specifically communication between pilots and co-pilots, with Fielder spotlighting the issue in a series of rehearsed situations.
Oslo installed a statue in a “defiant tribute” to people living with incurable cancer. (May require login) The statue is dedicated to Cecilie Flatval, a mother of three young children who died in April 2023 at just 42 years old from incurable breast cancer.
Hungary announced it will start imposing a wealth tax starting in 2027. The tax will primarily target oligarchs who have amassed wealth over the past sixteen years thanks to their ties to former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government.
Philadelphia-area schools are installing solar energy systems to save on energy bills. It’s part of a state grant program that has awarded grants to 85 schools across the state, including 10 in Philadelphia, covering up to 75% of the solar project costs, or up to $900,000.
A new California law prohibits people from selling “ghost tickets” to concerts and sporting events. The bill’s author cited an incident in which he and his friend searched for tickets online that were expensive and posted before actual tickets went on sale.
Trail cameras caught 529 elephants using Tanzania’s first protected wildlife corridor. The nearly 9-mile corridor links Tanzania’s savanna to the Udzungwa Mountains, where up to 1,000 elephants climb steep rainforest slopes.
A major new report found that Alzheimer’s is starting to be considered a treatable and preventable condition. The World Alzheimer Report 2026 from Alzheimer’s Disease International says that despite years of slow progress, clinical trials are now on the brink of diagnostic and medical breakthroughs.
A Massachusetts school district debuted its electric bus fleet beneath a solar canopy. A 625-kilowatt DC solar canopy is now fully operating above the parking area where the buses will be stored, and the school estimates it will deliver about $2.33 million in savings over 25 years.
Kentucky is clearing $250 million in medical debt for thousands of residents. The first 46,000 Kentuckians will have up to $100 million in debt erased, and the governor said the debts erased in that first round range from $1 to $600,000.
The political media outlet The Bulwark raised over $400K for Haitians targeted by ICE. The political commentary outlet hosted a live show in Springfield, Ohio, which acted as a benefit event to support Haitian immigrants.
A small-town library is going viral for its ‘Bye Bye AI’ class to help people take AI off their phones. A North Chatham Free Library event offering to remove the AI features from your phone or laptop went viral on Facebook, getting over 200 comments and 8,000 likes.
After Utah brought in beavers to save a dying river, locals said they “helped save” the whole town. As a keystone species, beavers can shape entire ecosystems, and along the Price River, their dams created places for fish to persist, improved overall river health, and helped the landscape better handle drought.
Philadelphia’s first mobile methadone van expanded its addiction treatment. The goal is to stabilize people by offering a low-barrier form of treatment while addressing their other needs, including housing, food, and wound care, before transitioning them into long-term outpatient counseling and treatment programs.
Students across 11 African countries can now enroll in a new class on drone technology and its role in wildlife conservation. The Connected Conservation Foundation designed the 10-session course with the hope of inspiring the next generation of park rangers.
A veteran-run animal sanctuary in Mississippi is rescuing monkeys from the illegal pet trade. The Gulf Coast Primate Sanctuary rehabilitates spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, kinkajous, and more.
California became the latest state to allow renters and homeowners to install balcony solar panel systems. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Plug and Play Solar Act into law, which lets people set small panels on their patios or fences and plug them directly into wall outlets without having to navigate any utility permissions.
16 years ago, a city in India made rainwater harvesting mandatory for every resident — and they haven’t had a water shortage since. Residents of Visakhapatnam say they haven’t needed private water tankers, even as groundwater levels have declined elsewhere.
Endangered gray wolves are making a comeback in Colorado, after a baby boom this spring. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said six packs have been spotted in the state — a major milestone for its gray wolf reintroduction program.
A cash-for-photos program in Indonesia is encouraging poachers to take on new roles as wildlife photographers. The KehatiKu project aims to reduce poaching by paying individuals in nine participating villages in West Kalimantan province for animal photos and recordings.
