Good News for the Environment

Sustainable stories of progress for the planet

An old man rows in a small boat atop blue waters

89-year-old sets off on charity rowing challenge, raises thousands to save ancient rainforest

Robin Hanbury-Tenison has not let age stop him from protecting and preserving the natural world.

Two photos side-by-side. On the left, Billie Eilish takes a selfie in a black hoodie that reads "Billie" in yellow font. On the right is an enormous pile of unsold t-shirts in black, white, and yellow fabrics

Billie Eilish pushes music labels to 'upcycle' 400,000 unsold T-shirts into new merch

The sustainability-minded artist spearheaded the initiative at Universal Music Group.

A city building with plants on top. A hand reaching into soil to plant.

Green roofs can reduce microplastics in rainfall by 97.5%, new study finds

Green roofs are a growing trend in urban cities, and researchers in Shanghai are making a strong case for why we need them.

A unique hut structure is made of timber planks and bamboo baskets, with a portrait of an elephant in the center

Amid deforestation, elephants are running out of food. This architect built them a bamboo dining barn 'to restore balance'

Boonserm Premthada is passionate about human-animal architecture and has also built structures with elephant dung bricks.

A frog floating and looking to the camera with its head above water

Conservationists restore endangered frog population in Patagonia: 'Most threatened animals on the planet'

Researcher Federico Kacoliris, who mobilized the conservation movement around the species, recently received a Whitley Award, known as the "Green Oscars."

A group of 3D-printed clay columns sit in a modern living room

Art pieces double as carbon-free air conditioning, inspired by ancient civilizations

The 3D-printed structures were inspired by ancient Egyptians and Persians, and they’ll keep homes cool in more ways than one.

Two photos side by side. On the left is a cardboard box decorated to look like an orca whale. On the right is Clearwater Beach in Florida

Fifth graders invent trash-cleaning robot for science fair. Now, it's rolling out to beaches

Inspired to help reduce trash pollution, these Florida elementary schoolers created a waste-collecting companion.

A man runs along the beach during sunset

6 tips for staying safe in extreme heat if you're getting active outdoors

When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2025, it can pose risks for just about anyone who spends time outside, whether they’re runners, people who walk or cycle to work, outdoor workers or kids playing sports.

Jane Goodall stands in a lush forest of green trees, reaching out to touch the leaves.

When USAID cuts hit Jane Goodall's reforestation efforts, this search engine stepped in to save the day (and the trees)

The tree-planting search engine has dedicated funds and support to maintain the Jane Goodall Institute’s presence in Tanzania.

Two mules stand next to a banner that reads "Welcome Back Yosemite Mules," hand-drawn by children

Yosemite National Park puts mules to work in the busy season: 'If you've used the bathrooms, thank a mule'

Yosemite National Park’s “mounted patrol” has long used mules to help navigate the backcountry. This year is no different.

A hand drops a plastic bottle into a circular recycling station

Norway offered residents a chance to win a $1,000 prize for recycling; now 97% of all plastic bottles are returned

A new study found that people are more eager to recycle when offered a chance to win a large sum prize, instead of a guaranteed 10 cents. And in Norway, this approach is a reality.

A photo of a woman and a man at a rally -- the man holds up a sign saying 'Redistribute wealth now'

A majority of people around the world support paying a carbon tax

Even in the U.S., where the policy was least popular, half of those surveyed said they'd support a climate tax that redistributes wealth.