Good News for the Environment

Sustainable stories of progress for the planet

A wooden pier extends into blue-green water beneath a sign reading "THE PORT OF NEWPORT PUBLIC FISHING PIER" with a crab illustration. A steel bridge spans the water to the left, with forested hills and residential buildings visible across the water.

Humpback whale entanglements are on the rise. Oregon is trying innovative 'rope-free crab traps' to help

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts new rules to enforce vessel monitoring system and to begin testing pop-up gear in state’s Dungeness crab fishery.

Sea turtle swimming underwater in deep blue ocean water, photographed from the side.

Researchers discover groundbreaking details about sea turtle migration patterns: 'Crucial to conservation'

The new research followed male sea turtles, which often do not get the same attention as female nesting turtles.

Humans used to kill lions in this African village. Now, they get health benefits in exchange for saving big cats

The nonprofit Lion Landscapes uses trail cameras to incentivize villagers to earn “points” for spotting and saving local wildlife.

An underwater shot of the ocean featuring a person swimming near the top of the water and corals spread across the frame

Late summer monsoon leads to 'signs of recovery' in Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef has again shown its remarkable ability to recover. But we can’t take this for granted.

A photo collage of an aerial view of a neighborhood, an aerial view of a solar farm, people celebrating in front of a car with a hydrogen engine, the driveway of of the Anythink Nature Library, and a collage of national park signs documented by the organization Save Our Signs

Good News This Week: August 15, 2026 - Otters, Libraries, & Signs

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

Two firefighters in yellow shirts stand on a dirt road watching a wildfire with heavy smoke billowing through a forested area with tall evergreen trees.

Just weeks before wildfires hit Spokane, the city practiced a mass evacuation. The drill paid off

Rather than asking residents to imagine what they would do during an emergency, community drills allow them to practice it.

A small dark-furred mammal, a pine marten, with pointed ears and a pale chest marking stands on a rocky surface, looking toward the camera with green foliage blurred in the background.

Trail cameras capture adorable sighting of first wild pine marten babies born in a century

The new kits are the offspring of a group of endangered pine martens who were released into the wild in 2024 and 2025.

A white banner hanging from trees along a residential street reads "SAY NO TO EAST WHITELAND DATA CENTER!" with a red prohibition symbol. A red pickup truck is parked on the road nearby.

Data center proposals keep coming to Pennsylvania. A 41,000-person Facebook group leads the fight against them

In response to souring public opinion on data centers, Pennsylvanians have flocked to grassroots Facebook groups.

Map of Colombia in shades of purple with a dark purple heart symbol positioned over the northwestern region.

GoFundMe launches hub of verified Colombia earthquake relief fundraisers

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia on Monday.

Aerial view of a large whale surfacing in ocean water, with a drone hovering over the humpback. NOAA NMFS 27548.

Researchers use drones with suction cups to tag whales, allowing them to study the species from the sky

The approach is being called a “revolutionary” non-invasive conservation method.

Two people in neon yellow safety vests and helmets stand next to an emergency vehicle with a black bicycle. License plate reads DMG-715. Hillside visible in background.

Stranded mountain biker saved by memorial honoring a heat stroke victim who died on the same trail

“We’re grateful that a space created in Jeff Higgins’ memory provided shade and comfort when it was needed,” officials said.

Tigers are territorial and must strike out to find their own territory when they leave their mothers at 18 months-two years of age, adult cats require large home ranges, making safe pathways between protected areas critical for their survival. Steve Winter/Big Cat Voices

With India's tiger population on the rise, wildlife crossings are next: 'Giving land back to the ecosystem'

India has already built more wildlife corridor structures than any other country in Asia, including the world’s 10 largest wildlife underpasses and overpasses.