It can be hard knowing where to find positive news in the world, but even amid the climate crisis and political turmoil, there's still lots to stay hopeful about. In recent months we've seen more sustainable transport options, coral reefs bouncing back and successful breeding programmes of endangered animals, such as the recent plan to protect Wales' petlands and save curlew populations. From heart-warming to inspirational, here are the latest good news stories from across the world.
More ‘bee bus stops’ are cropping up across the UK, with plans to extend across Europe, Canada and Australia. They’re already popular in the Netherlands – Utrecht has over 300 – but the UK plans to build up to a thousand. Special-designed bus shelter roofs are covered in plants and native wildflowers for bees and other pollinators to thrive, which are vital to our environment. Leicester, Derby and Southampton already have them in place with future instalments planned for whenever a bus stop needs replacing.
Germany's Tegel Airport, once Berlin’s primary airport, will be redeveloped into an environmentally friendly hub. After closing in 2020, works are now underway with the first residential area set complete by 2027 and the entire project by the end of the 2030s. Cyclists will be prioritised along with plans for electric buses and trams, and each building will not only include vertical gardens and solar panels but will be made affordable to lower income brackets. A 200-hectare nature reserve is part of the plan too.
Now read on to discover more abandoned places given a new lease of life
July saw three wild bison released from wildlife parks to a commercial pine forest near Canterbury, Kent. It’s the first time wild bison have roamed in Britain for thousands of years and their natural behaviour will transform the dense space into a natural woodland. They'll be joined by other animals like Exmoor ponies and Longhorn cattle, who graze on bark to clear the forest so reptiles and birds could thrive here too.
In September, eight cheetahs (five females and three males) moved from the Namibian capital of Windhoek to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India. It’s part of an experiment to re-introduce cheetahs to the country as Asiatic cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. The sprawling park was selected due to its abundant prey and grasslands, with plans for more cheetahs to be introduced over the coming years.
This tiny, slimy specimen was spotted off the Isles of Scilly in August. The rare Babkina anadoni was seen near Melledgan, an uninhabited rock island, for the first time. Despite its bright colours and unusual shapes, this multicoloured slug has only been spotted a handful of times before, off the west coast of Spain and further south in the Atlantic.
The large blue butterfly was declared extinct in the UK in 1979, but following a reintroduction experiment in 1983, butterfly numbers soared to new heights and 2022 has been the best summer for the species in 150 years of record-keeping. Targeted conservation work has turned arable fields and downland into flower-rich meadows perfect for pollinating. While it’s still an endangered species across Europe, there are now greater numbers in Somerset and Gloucestershire than anywhere else in the world.
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In August, osprey chicks, previously believed to be extinct in these parts, were born on the Belvoir Estate in Leicestershire, England. The triumphant occasion marked the first time ospreys were born in the UK for over 200 years. An eight-year breeding project on the estate built nesting platforms in secret locations and tagged ospreys to gain a better understanding of their habitats and obstacles.
This patch of ocean is part of Indonesia's Raja Ampat, which was added to the Bird's Head Seascape project in 2004. The four-million hectare protected area in the country's West Papua province is known for having the highest level of marine biodiversity on the planet, with around 75% of the world's coral species found here. Thanks to the project’s Marine Protected Areas and sustainable local fishing practices, poaching by external fishing operations is down by 90%, fish populations have rebounded, its beautiful corals are recovering and local peoples' food security has improved.
Thanks to conservation efforts, Nepal’s local tiger population has more than doubled since 2009, reaching 355 individuals. However, despite the statement made in July, tigers are still marked as 'endangered' on the IUCN Red List and occupy only a small fraction of their former territory. Still, the numbers are expected to grow over the coming years, with officials calling for similar plans in Southeast Asia.
Japan capital Tokyo may be renowned for its neon lights but in September it was announced that new homes and buildings (with some exceptions) must include solar panels from 2025. These new energy-saving standards are hoped to mark a turning point as part of the city’s pledge to halve greenhouse emissions by 2030.
A team of marine biologists at the Florida Aquarium in the US successfully reproduced elkhorn coral in a laboratory environment for the first time. This sparks hope of a brighter future for one of the Caribbean’s most important (and most threatened) coral species which has suffered a 97% population loss since the 1980s. The species is the 14th coral to be successfully spawned in the aquarium's Apollo Beach Lab and the fragile population could gain up to 100 healthy adults from this spawning alone.
French residents in low-income brackets and low emission zones are now eligible for new e-bikes worth up to £3,500 ($4,500). The French government made the announcement in August in a bid to persuade people to switch to greener alternatives. Meanwhile, drivers who purchase a new e-bike or pedal bike will receive a £350 ($450) rebate. Paris is particularly focused on this, with plans to also plant 170,000 trees in the French capital by 2026.
A team of scientists in Brazil and Spain have discovered that ants can be more effective at protecting crops from pests than conventional pesticides. The team found ants were particularly useful in shadier areas with pest numbers decreasing by almost double. They also worked well when different crop types were grown together. Pesticides are linked to poor health conditions and are detrimental to other wildlife, so in a world where maintaining low biodiversity and growing crops quickly is vital, ants could be the way to go.
The billionaire founder of outdoor fashion brand Patagonia will donate all company profits to fight climate causes. Yvon Chouinad, who started the company in 1973, stated in a public letter that any profit not reinvested in running the business would be donated to an environmental trust and non-profit, with the website statement boldly reading "Earth is now our only shareholder".
Over August, Germany ran a highly successful unlimited train ticket which covered subways, trams and buses, and only cost £7.80 ($8.80). It didn't just promote budget-friendly travel, but came as a relief amid energy and fuel price increases and benefited the environment too. An air quality study showed a "substantial fall in the air quality index of more than 6%", according to the University of Potsdam's Center for Economic Policy Analysis. In November, Germany also introduced the digital and unlimited "Deutschlandticket", where travellers can hop on the country's trains, buses and trams. The ticket will cost 49 Euro per month, which would come up to around £1.40 per day! A similar scheme is running in Spain until the end of 2023. Governments are hoping that these schemes will help cut CO2 emissions.
Rio de Janeiro is working with local favelas to build Hortas Cariocas, which, when complete, will be the biggest urban garden in the world. Its main aim is to make organic produce more accessible and affordable, with up to 100,000 families expected to benefit from the project each month. The green corridor will be as large as 15 football fields and 50% of the produce will be donated to people in need with the other half sold by gardeners at affordable prices to the community. Roughly 500 garden beds have been built so far.
Chiapas is one of Mexico’s most biodiverse states yet has lost 55% of its forests for farmland and livestock pasture. Lower crop yields is a growing theme in the Central American Dry Corridor, but a new initiative seeks to turn things around. A team of conservationists, farmers and cattle ranchers are working to incorporate 2.5 million hectares of land into sustainable management schemes. The team's focus on soil health – away from pesticides – will see it restore and reforest 1.5 million hectares, while allowing locals to maintain jobs in rural areas.
Travellers across Germany and the UK can take advantage of VOI and FlixBus' discounted travel in efforts to promote sustainable transport. FlixBus' eco-friendly coaches and VOI's flexible e-scooters reduce carbon footprint, with FlixBus passengers saving 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2021. VOI and FlixBus also operate regular, low-cost journeys across Europe.
Take a look at ecosystems that have bounced back from the brink
In August, a baby Masai giraffe was born at Ohio’s Columbus Zoo, in the US. This significant birth marks the future of the endangered species, whose population is in decline in Tanzania and Kenya due to illegal hunting and habitat destruction. Columbus Zoo operates a giraffe breeding programme to improve the Masai giraffe population, so it’s hoped more good news will be on the way in time.
South Africa has banned Shell from offshore oil and gas exploration along the Wild Coast region in the Eastern Cape. The ruling came after concerns about the seismic waves’ effects on this ecologically sensitive area. Extremely loud shockwaves could potentially affect marine species and their routines, causing unnaturally changed behaviours.
These fantastic travel photos will make you feel better about the world
A stranded Minke whale was safely released back into the waters from a small Scottish village in August. The 10-foot-long (3m) whale was first seen on a beach in Levenwick in the early hours of the morning before marine specialists were called. A rescue operation made up of NatureScot, wildlife specialists and helpers managed to slide the young whale back into the water using a tarpaulin. Whale sightings aren't uncommon in Scotland, with killer and humpback whales spotted in the waters in recent months.
Move over, solar panels. Ubiquitous Energy has invented a new way to harvest renewable energy in buildings. Its UE Power invention is a thin coating that turns windows into transparent solar panels which could provide around 30% of a building's electricity needs. The US company’s ambitious plans involve potentially turning any surface into a ‘photovoltaic panel’ (renewable energy generators). The invention uses materials naked to the human eye – unlike standard solar panels which are darker in appearance – and UE plans to open its first factories producing floor-to-ceiling solar windows in 2024.
In September, two female aquanauts made history as the first Maldivians to venture deep into the ocean to undertake an important research project. As part of a larger team, their mission, which began on 4 September and will last for 35 days, includes analysing the ocean from its top surface layer to 3,280 feet (1,000m) below. They’ll undertake ocean health checks, collect information on deep-sea life and determine government policies to protect the ocean. There’s currently very little known about what lies beneath 98 feet (30m), so watch this space.
Bees are vital to the environment but populations are down in the UK. However, a locally funded conservation project in the South Downs showed that, given the right support, the insects can still survive and thrive. Bee Lines planted a network of 'wildflower corridors' across the South Downs national park with preliminary findings suggesting a 72% increase in pollinator species. More were planted at Lewes Cemetery and a recent survey found there are now 55 species of wildflower there.
Lucas the African penguin is one lucky chap. The San Diego Zoo resident was diagnosed with ‘bumblefoot’ – a common bacterial infection in birds and rodents – which causes inflammation in the footpad and can be fatal. After suffering with weakened leg muscles and sores, his new cushioned, orthopaedic shoes finally allow him to fully integrate in the African penguin colony in the Californian city zoo, and he’s even scored himself a new girlfriend.
The National Trust saw record numbers of breeding redshanks at Orford Ness, a significant nature reserve by the Suffolk coast. Rangers and volunteers recorded 51 pairs of redshanks between April and July, marking the highest numbers of breeding pairs since records began in 2005. While the rare wading birds are amber-listed over conservation concerns, careful landscape management has created suitable habitats for the birds to nest in at the reserve, particularly at Kings Marsh and Airfield Marsh.
Three bottlenose dolphins have finally been released into waters off the Bali coast after years of captivity and rehabilitation. Johnny, Rocky and Rambo had spent years as part of a travelling circus before being confined to a tiny pool in a resort hotel. In 2019 they were rescued and regained their health and strength at the Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Centre in Bali. The centre provided a more natural environment and the trio were finally reintroduced to the ocean in September 2022. They will be monitored via GPS tracking for a year.
A major report by ZSL, BirdLife International and the European Bird Census Council announced promising population numbers across 50 wildlife species. The bounce-back notably included grey wolves, brown bears and white-tailed eagles and is thanks to legal protection, habitat restoration, reintroductions and overall human tolerance. There are now 17,000 grey wolves roaming continental Europe, 12,500 pairs of white-tailed eagles and a 44% increase of brown bears over the past 40 years, with growing calls to reintroduce grey wolves to Britain.
Curlews occupy a prized status in Wales and have long been regarded as a harbinger of spring. So it will come as good news that populations will soon gain more protection under a new plan to protect the vital peatland ecosystems they inhabit. Not only do these boggy, marshy landscapes support the wading birds – they're also home to a biodiverse range of flora and fauna and they play a crucial role in sucking carbon out of the atmosphere. The new plan aims to triple the size of the protected area from 600 to 1,800 acres in an attempt to stop biodiversity loss and keep the ecosystem alive.
Five acres of ground at South Kensington’s Natural History Museum will be transformed into hi-tech gardens filled with sensors to monitor insects and wildlife. The living gallery, set to include frogs, insects and microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye, will eventually open to the public by the end of 2023. Researchers will observe how wildlife reacts to climate changes and can be better protected across the UK, with sensors measuring temperature, humidity and sound conditions. The museum will also create a Data Ecosystem platform to gain a deeper understanding of the UK’s urban biodiversity.
Spanish researchers have discovered that wax worms can break down polyethylene, the most widely used plastic in the world. Their research found that exposing the plastic to the worm's saliva causes it to degrade as much in one hour as several years' worth of standard exposure. Polyethylene is a particularly hard-wearing material and responsible for vast amounts of pollution, as it can remain intact for decades. Not all superheroes wear capes...
Rare flowers are blooming in Chile’s Atacama Desert, the sunniest and driest place on Earth. Over 200 species of plants flower here every three to five years, attracting insects and fauna, which has prompted the Chilean government to name the region as its 44th national park. Scientists are excited about this "flowery desert" showing the resiliency of certain flora and fauna, which helps with studies into climate change – and, with its similarities, even for potential life on the moon.
Taiwan is using empty metro stations to grow sustainable, clean and organic food in a very modern way. Nanjing-Fushing Station is a 40 square-metre ‘Metro Fresh’ hydroponic farm in Taipei, growing lettuce under LED lighting. Its sterile environment means there’s no need for the use of pesticides and herbicides and uses high-tech equipment to regulate conditions. These "smart farms" also offer better pay for the younger population, with career progression for those interested in the burgeoning technology sector.
Mosquitoes may be the deadliest animals on Earth, but now a new, genetically engineered species is helping to save lives rather than end them. A groundbreaking pilot programme by biotech company Oxitec has successfully suppressed 96% of dengue-spreading mosquitoes in urban areas in Brazil, by releasing modified male mozzies that can't bite and are incapable of producing healthy female offspring. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical illness which, though it lags far behind malaria for overall fatalities, accounts for around 40,000 deaths a year. While the programme can't wipe out these diseases, it could certainly reduce caseload for killer viruses like dengue, malaria and zika.
In November 2022, the largest dam removal project in US history was approved, intended to reverse damage to the habitat of Chinook salmon and endangered coho salmon. Four dams straddling the California/Oregon border, along the Klamath River, once blocked the salmon's natural path from the Pacific to their upstream spawning grounds, but the dams have now been decommissioned and will soon be removed. The dam removal is a huge victory for Indigenous tribes such as the Yurok, who have been campaigning against the dams for years. Joseph James, a spokesperson for the Yurok, proudly declared "the Klamath salmon are coming home".
To meet the admirable goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Welsh government (in partnership with the Welsh Woodland Trust) are handing out almost 300,000 free trees to Welsh households, encouraging them to plant the saplings in their gardens. There are 10 species of tree to choose from, including hazel and hawthorn, and saplings can be picked up from 50 collection hubs across the country. The scheme runs until March 2023, which gives the little trees plenty of time to take root before the next winter.