10 Positive Environmental Stories to Kick Off the New Year

It’s easy to let the world’s problems environmental problems get you down, particularly when it feels like there’s no hope. But don’t lose faith… there are actually AMAZING strides being taken by incredibly smart people all across the planet—people who care about preserving critical ecosystems and restoring the damage we’ve caused. Below, we’ve highlighted 10 positive environmental stories that are sure to put a spring in your step!

1 Wind and solar overtake fossil generation in the EU

Europe

According to Chris Rosslowe, senior data analyst at Ember, wind and solar sectors generated 30% of the EU’s electricity in the first six months of 2024, while fossil fuels only generated 27%. Rosslowe considered it as a historic shift in the EU’s green energy transition, indicating the potential for us to be freed from fossil fuel reliance in the future.

“Europe’s electricity transition has hit hyperdrive,” said Ember’s Europe lead Sarah Brown. “Clean power keeps smashing records after record.”

 

2 Trees suffocated by concrete are being ‘liberated’ by an army of community activists in Mexico City

Mexico

Community activist Arturo Hernández launched El Ejército de Árboles (The Tree Army) in May in response to growing complaints about vandalized trees in Mexico City. Its mission is to protect and improve the city’s urban forest, whether it’s chipping away at unauthorized concrete, confronting illegal cutting or planting trees in areas of need.

“We do not need permits to liberate the tree,” Hernández tells one of the officers with a grin. “It’s as if you asked me to have a permit to pick up trash from the street. I always tell people, if we can’t take care of the tree in front of our home, how can we expect to save a place like the Amazon [Rainforest]?” Hernández said.

Also, Mexico announces 20 new protected areas across 12 states and two coastal areas

Mexico’s government announced 20 new protected areas across 12 of their 31 states, plus two coastal areas—an area spanning roughly 5.7 million acres. The state of Oaxaca is where the government created the most new protected areas, numbering three. Other protected areas were created in the states of Quintana Roo, Veracruz, Campeche, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Chiapas, Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Chihuahua, Guerrero, and the State of Mexico.

 

3 Historic win for animals: South Korea bans sale and production of dog meat

South Korea

South Korea’s parliament has passed a landmark ban on the production and sale of dog meat.

Although only a small minority of people still consume dog meat in South Korea, the ancient practice has been the subject of sharp criticism from foreign media and animal rights advocates. In recent years, the country’s younger generations have joined calls to ban it. In 2022, more than half a million dogs were being raised for food across the country and 1,600 restaurants were selling dog meat. There were 1,156 farms breeding dogs for meat and 34 slaughterhouses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea passed the bill banning dog meat by a unanimous 208-0 vote.

 

4 African nations launch a $500 million initiative to restore biodiversity

African nations

At Climate Week NYC, eleven African nations launched the Miombo Restoration Alliance, a $500 million initiative led by the ICCF Group, Trafigura, and Conservation International, aiming to restore biodiversity, combat land degradation, and support sustainable livelihoods across Africa’s Miombo woodlands. The Alliance intends to broaden its scope by incorporating partners with regional expertise in technical fields, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, alongside world class capital partners to ensure the successful development and implementation of these restoration efforts.

 

5 Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest is plummeting despite a rise in fires

South America

The world’s largest rainforest is showing signs of promising restoration as deforestation continues to plummet despite a rise in fires.

In the Brazilian Amazon, deforestation has dropped to its lowest level since March 2018, marking a substantial environmental gain for the world. While these numbers are certainly promising, fire rates across the Amazon are increasing, underscoring the amount of work that is still needed.

 

Also… Colombian deforestation drops to its lowest level

In 2023, deforestation sharply declined in Colombia, falling to its lowest levels in years — a 36% decrease in overall forest loss.

A large portion of these decreases in forest cover were seen in the Amazon Rainforest, where much of the Colombian government is focusing on conservation efforts. These inspiring efforts show just how effective conservation and restoration can be.

As we continue to fight for our environment and restore what has been lost, we hope to see more of these big environmental wins around the world.

 

6 Biden signs off on major clean energy projects

United States of America

The Biden Administration signed off billions of dollars for clean energy projects, including approving major offshore wind projects. “A lot of it is going to parts of America who have felt left behind. And this is giving them opportunity,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told The Associated Press in October. Biden wants to establish a legacy for climate action that includes locking in a trajectory for reducing the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Of particular note, the Environmental Protection Agency made $20 billion from a federal “green bank” available this summer for clean energy projects such as residential heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations and community cooling centers. Also, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the nation’s 10th large offshore wind farm, the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, in September, reaching the halfway mark for Biden’s goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 – and on Oct. 1 the agency gave a key approval to an offshore wind farm project in New Jersey.

 

7 Tiger populations are steadily recovering in Thailand

Thailand

The latest wild tiger population estimate in Thailand, released by the Royal Thai Government, is between 179 and 223 individuals as of 2024. This is approximately a 21% increase from the previous estimate in 2022 highlighting Thailand’s leadership in tiger conservation within Southeast Asia.

The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is a subspecies of tiger that historically roamed across much of Southeast Asia. Its former range included Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and parts of southern China. However, due to habitat loss, poaching, and prey depletion, the Indochinese tiger’s range has drastically contracted, and the subspecies is now under threat of extinction.

Thailand is currently one of the most important strongholds for the Indo-chinese tiger. Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), a network of 17 continuous protected areas, is home to the largest remaining population of Indochinese tigers in the wild.