44 Positive Environmental Success Stories — December 2024
The media has an important role to play in combatting climate doom. Therefore, this monthly news round up of positive environmental and climate change news, is designed to spark joy and show that progress is being made. We pick two positive headlines a day, ranging from renewable energy and preservation to eco-innovation, and arrange the articles according to their publication date. We also include some dates related to nature and wildlife for your calendar.
Environmental and Animal Awareness Days In The Next Month
International Cheetah Day (4th December) is the day to help raise awareness of cheetah conservation that goes on.
World Wildlife Conservation Day (5th December) is an annual reminder about the importance of safeguarding our planet's biodiversity.
International Mountain Day (11th December) showcases that mountains are home to 15% of the world's population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
Positive News Round up — Monday, 2nd December
A customer survey by Tesco has revealed that more than a quarter of British households intend to include plant-based mains in their festive feasts this year. (Plant Based News)
The majority of UK universities have committed to exclude fossil fuel companies from their investment portfolios, according to campaigners. (The Guardian)
Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 3rd December
Mega-utility Duke Energy is about to knock down a coal plant that has run west of Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1957. The company will soon build its largest grid battery on that spot as part of an unprecedented energy-storage construction spree. (Canary Media)
Origami packaging technology offers sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. (Techxplore)
Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 4th December
There are plans for a new football stadium made from timber for Forest Green Rovers. The developer asserts that the stadium has been thoughtfully designed with consideration for climate change in mind and incorporates energy efficiency measures that combine resilience against extreme weather conditions, such as flooding or heat waves. (ITV News)
Sails are making a triumphant comeback as cargo shipping looks to slash its huge carbon footprint with the power of wind. (Fortune)
Positive News Round up — Thursday, 5th December
According to new data, one-quarter of all car registrations in the UK in November were electric or hybrid. (Edie)
Scientists have used open-source models to create heat pump rollout scenarios for the year 2030. Further investments of around 54 GW to 57 GW of solar PV capacity would allow the installation of 10 million heat pumps by the end of the decade. (PV Magazine)
Positive News Round up — Friday, 6th December
A woman from Trinidad and Tobago has created a startup that is turning the island's rum distilleries' waste into a new, low-emission fuel for cars. (Good News Network)
The oldest-known wild bird in the world has laid an egg at approximately 74 years of age, her first in four years, according to US wildlife officials. (The Guardian)
Positive News Round up — Monday, 9th December
The batteries of electric vehicles could last about a third longer than researchers have usually thought. (Techxplore)
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (United Kingdom) has announced plans to significantly increase the region's renewable electricity generation, green hydrogen production, and heat networks by 2030. (Edie)
Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 10th December
The UK government is planning to make online sellers of electronic goods pay towards waste management costs, expanding compliance rules that already apply to retailers selling goods in stores. (Edie)
A new report says that a sponge made of cotton and squid bone could help solve the problem of microplastic pollution in water around the world. (The Guardian)
Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 11th December
A study conducted in the United States found that switching to heat pumps and electric appliances could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 400 million metric tons annually. The shift may also save $60 billion in energy costs and prevent 3,400 premature deaths and 220,000 asthma attacks per year. (Daily Climate)
These 3 simple actions can save you money and help make the most of your rooftop solar. (The Conversation)
Positive News Round up — Thursday, 12th December
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, France deployed 3.5 GW of solar this year, up from 2.3 GW during the same period, last year. (PV Magazine)
New York has invited people to compete to make heat pumps for big buildings. The $10 million competition aims to encourage innovations in heat pump technology capable of replacing the packaged terminal air conditioners found in statewide dwellings. (Canary Media)
Positive News Round up — Friday, 13th December
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has devised strategies to significantly enhance the region's renewable electricity generation, green hydrogen production, and heat networks by 2030. (Edie)
This year, batteries got 20% cheaper, a continuation of the steady cost declines that have helped battery adoption take off lately. (Canary Media)
Positive News Round up — Monday, 16th December
The adoption of rooftop solar in the United States is expanding beyond the wealthier households, with a growing number of middle- and low-income families seeking its benefits. (Daily Climate)
A fresh study suggests that consuming more plant-based protein may lower the risk of heart disease and promote overall heart health. (Plant Based News)
Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 17th December
Under government plans unveiled on Tuesday, Japan wants renewables to be its top power source by 2040. (Techxplore)
Here are some of the environmental progresses we made this year that may have gone under your radar. (Daily Climate)
Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 18th December
The Environmental Protection Agency announced that California will be able to prohibit the sale of new gas- and diesel-powered cars and light trucks starting in 2035. (Tech Crunch)
The latest round of Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund has awarded funding to two gas company projects focusing on the decommissioning of parts of the network. (Edie)
Positive News Round up — Thursday, 19th December
Here are 7 good things humanity did to combat climate change in 2024. (Phys)
Joe Biden has announced tougher targets for the US carbon dioxide emissions in the next decade. (The Guardian)
Positive News Round up — Friday, 20th December
Easy installation and significant savings on electricity bills are offered by balcony solar panels in Spain. (Daily Climate)
The Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) has signed the initial three contracts for green hydrogen production projects in the United Kingdom, thereby initiating the nation's low-carbon hydrogen economy. (Edie)
Positive News Round up — Monday, 23rd December
Nine of the best climate change stories from 2024 from Climate Change News. (Climate Change News)
Here are the top 25 good news articles about what went right in 2024. (Positive News)
Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 24th December
A coal-fired power plant in South Texas will be transformed into a solar and battery facility with federal funding of $1.4 billion, thereby reducing pollution and improving local employment. (Daily Climate)
Here are Nine of the top climate change articles, ranked by Climate Home News. (Climate Home News)
Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 25th December
To improve people's mood, Canada is running a limited trial encouraging participants to pay attention to the natural amid the human-made. Before and after the study, people will fill out questionnaires to see how much they feel anxious, stressed, happy, fulfilled, and connected to nature. The researchers will observe if nature has made them feel better overall. (The Guardian)
Transport for London (TfL) is introducing new uniforms in vibrant colors and with a focus on sustainability, featuring recycled materials and vegan leather options for employees who require them. (Plant Based News)
Positive News Round up — Thursday, 26th December
In a move that walking enthusiasts have hailed as a “fantastic step” for people to enjoy nature, the government plans to repeal a cut-off date for registering historic paths. (ITV News)
An audit of burial grounds around the UK found that churchyards are important places for rare wildlife, such as dormice, bats, and beetles. (The Guardian)
Positive News Round up — Friday, 27th December
There will be a Chelsea flower show garden to celebrate endangered British rainforests. (The Guardian)
Canary Media has showcased charts that explore where electric vehicles, clean energy, and batteries currently stand regarding the global clean energy transition, and where it is headed. (Canary Media)
Positive News Round up — Monday, 30th December
A network of AI monitors detected 77 wildfires in California in 2024, before a 911 call was made. (Good News Network)
A unique fog catcher design is sustaining dry forests with water without emissions or even infrastructure in the Canary Islands, in Barcelona, and in Chile. (Good News Network)
Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 31st December
Ten million trees will be planted in the US to replace the ones destroyed by hurricanes. (The Guardian)
Here are Canary Media’s top 10 clean energy stories in 2024. (Canary Media)
