44 Positive Environmental Success Stories — June 2026

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

Plastic Free July – (Wednesday 1st to Friday 31st July 2026) Every year, Plastic Free July is a month-long initiative that promotes the decision to forgo single-use plastic packaging and goods.

Big Butterfly Count – (Friday 17th July to Sunday 9th August 2026) The Butterfly Conservation uses the Big Butterfly Count, a UK-wide citizen science survey, to evaluate the state of the environment. To participate, simply tally the number and kind of butterflies (and day-flying moths) you spot over the course of fifteen minutes.

International Tiger Day – (Wednesday 29th July 2026) With the WWF leading the charge, International Tiger Day offers an opportunity to promote tiger conservation efforts globally and bring attention to the predicament of these remarkable big cats.

Positive News Round up — Monday, 1st June

Between January and April, Turkey installed 1.97 GW of solar power. By the end of the year, renewable energy is expected to surpass hydropower as the nation's primary source of electricity, according to Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. (PV Magazine)

Rare ground-nesting birds that arrive on the UK's shores every spring are being protected with netted fences and seasonal wardens. (The Guardian)

Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 2nd June

The UK government set a goal to cut emissions across the board by 87% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. (ESG Today)

Following a world-first ban on the importation of vehicles powered by fossil fuels, Ethiopia is embracing electric vehicles. (DW News).

Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 3rd June

In 2025, 24,000 pink flamingos were observed in the well-known lagoon, which is 6,000 more than in 2024. (Euro News)

As the Bank of England releases its shortlist, animals like bumblebees, dolphins, and puffins may appear on future UK banknotes. (The Guardian).

Positive News Round up — Thursday, 4th June

A $20 million wildlife bridge in Siskiyou County is not yet complete, but three mule deer have already scuttled across it, a victory for the California Department of Transportation. (The Guardian)

An ocean the size of the United Kingdom—more than 77,000 square miles—is being protected in Papua New Guinea. (Good News Network)

Positive News Round up — Friday, 5th June

Amazon has surpassed 50,000 electric vans across its global network. (Edie)

Researchers recently discovered that cold-water sea cucumber tissue can endure, recover, and even move on its own for years in natural seawater. (Mongabay)

Positive News Round up — Monday, 8th June

Today, more dense forests than twenty years ago are reversing the global loss of mangroves. (Good News Network)

A recent study conducted in Nepal has confirmed the presence of a rare Chinese pangolin in a small community forest that is revered by the locals. (Mongabay)

Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 9th June

In preparation for the 2028 Olympics, Dutch ocean cleanup crews are cleaning up LA's rivers. (Good News Network)

Off the coast of Shanghai, the first wind-powered underwater datacenter in history has begun operations as China continues to develop solutions for the energy problems brought on by the nation's explosion in artificial intelligence. (The Guardian)

Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 10th June

A new plan to eradicate tuberculosis in England by 2038 includes a "gamechanging" vaccination program for cattle starting in 2030. At the same time, badger vaccination is being reduced, with the final badger culls are anticipated to stop by 2029. (The Guardian)

Last Tuesday, Monterey Park voted 86 percent to 14 percent to outlaw data centers in the city for good. It is the first city in the US to implement a ballot initiative. (Optimist Daily)

Positive News Round up — Thursday, 11th June

By 2030, France wants to preserve 250,000 more hectares of forest, including 180,000 hectares in French Guiana. (Euro News)

As of early 2026, there are now two locations for rhino reintroduction in Uganda: Kidepo Valley National Park and Ajai Wildlife Reserve. (Happy Eco News)

Positive News Round up — Friday, 12th June

The results are in from the Butterfly Conservation’s poll in the UK showcasing which the nation's favourite is. (The Guardian)

According to a new analysis by Carbon Brief, solar power has surpassed gas power as the third-largest source of electricity in Asia. (Carbon Brief)

Positive News Round up — Monday, 15th June

Bees can differentiate between people's faces, according to new research. (Optimist Daily)

Philadelphia contributed an impressive $14.7 million, energy savings totalling $1.4 billion, 11,000 new jobs and more. The 10-year economic impact report, which was published last month, outlines the outcomes of the first ten years of the Philadelphia Energy Campaign. (Optimist Daily)

Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 16th June

By 2035, nearly all UK companies anticipate electrifying their operations, according to a poll. (Edie)

African farmers are able to reach international markets and reduce losses by using solar cold storage. (AP News)

Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 17th June

With the UK government preparing to introduce regulatory changes that would allow consumers to self-install, high street retailers are prepared to stock plug-in solar. (PV Magazine)

A study found that honeybees mix a unique "baby food" to provide a balanced diet for their larvae, and that adult bees can control their feeding to prevent consuming too much of a particular nutrient. (The Guardian)

Positive News Round up — Thursday, 18th June

Europe succeeded in removing 602 river barriers last year, reconnecting 2,324 miles (3,740 kilometers) of rivers. (Optimist Daily)

According to a major organizational report, despite sharp worldwide declines since 1970, wildlife populations within UNESCO World Heritage sites for biodiversity have remained stable. (Happy Eco News)

Positive News Round up — Friday, 19th June

Thanks to the help from volunteers, a 172-pound loggerhead turtle with four fishing hooks in his body has been given a second chance. (Good Good Good)

Energy-efficient heating and cooling is now possible with heat pumps, and window-mounted models are further lowering their cost. (Good Good Good)

Positive News Round up — Monday, 22nd June

Beavers were brought to the desert to save a dying river six years ago, and here are their results. (UpWorthy)

Before one was captured on a trail camera, experts believed that mountain bongos, a critically endangered species, had disappeared. (Good News Network)

Positive News Round up — Tuesday, 23rd June

Scientists are learning more about hedgehogs' hearing and environmental responses thanks to conservation technology. (Happy Eco News)

According to government data, private sector businesses have committed more than £100 billion in investment into the green economy so far this parliament, which Ed Miliband has hailed as a boost to UK jobs and growth. (The Guardian)

Positive News Round up — Wednesday, 24th June

About 64,000 square miles (166,000 square kilometers) of coral reefs that can withstand and recover from climate change have been found by researchers; this number is three times greater than earlier estimates. (Optimist Daily)

On opposing sides of the Mediterranean, distinct sperm whale "dialects" were found. (The Guardian)

Positive News Round up — Thursday, 25th June

Two beavers were returned into a forest in northern England five years ago and have helped transform the natural habitat. (Upworthy)

The largest renewable project in the United States goes online, and it has more power than the Hoover Dam. (Good News Network)

Positive News Round up — Friday, 26th June

Italy now boasts more woodland than agricultural land for the first time since the Middle Ages. (Good News Network).

The French government has declared the establishment of a new 370,000-acre nature reserve in French Guiana as part of a new wildlands protection law. (Good News Network)

Positive News Round up — Monday, 29th June

In a bid to reduce harm to people and moose, Finland have created ‘moose crossings’ which help reduce collisions in a dangerous area to zero. (Upworthy)

Over 750,000 acres of Wisconsin land, home to more than 400 threatened and endangered species, have been protected since 1989 by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. (Good Good Good)

Positive News Round up — Monday, 29th June

A bold move in Iowa City to make free buses has seen cars in the city drove 1.8 million fewer miles, and bus ridership jumped within the first year. (Yale Climate Connections)

To reduce emissions, the Delhi government is planning to ban petrol rickshaws and scooters. Their aims are by 2030, 30% of city’s fleet will be electric. (The Guardian)