The EU plans to introduce the world’s first carbon dioxide emissions tariff on imported and high-polluting goods to encourage sustainability at home and abroad.

A San Antonio architectural firm has just released plans for a binational park on the US-Mexico border, to be built along the Rio Grande river.

Meanwhile, Rwandan researchers have spotted an ultra-rare bat species with a particularly memorable face, and a team of US-UK scientists found a sweet solution to plastic.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Pigs express their complex feelings through grunts

The good news: A study published earlier this month in the journal Scientific Reports demonstrates how pigs vocalize their thoughts and feelings through the various noises they make. By using artificial intelligence, an international team of researchers developed a translator to interpret the grunts and oinks made by pigs. The algorithm was applied to over 7,000 noises made by 411 different animals from a variety of commercial and artificial settings.

The impact: This study represents a potentially significant step forward for animal welfare. The researchers’ translation algorithm could be turned into an app that would allow farmers direct insight into the welfare of their charges. Some might argue that this type of technology is not required to assess wellbeing based on contextual factors. (For example, it found that play and intimacy prompted positive emotions, while fights and physical pain caused negative ones.) But it still represents a unique study that further reveals the complexities of farm animals’ inner and outer lives.

Did you know? Pigs are sensitive, social, and intelligent animals who make nests for sleeping and huddle together to keep warm. Despite popular opinion, they are quite clean and have designated sleeping, wallowing, and toilet areas. In addition to cooling their skin, rolling in mud helps to clean off parasites. Pigs also dream, sing, and have excellent memories. (They are able to find their way home over long distances and if they find food in one location will remember to check there again in the future.)

How you can help: Learn more about pigs and the issues they face from Compassion in World Farming here. While there are some charities, farms, and shelters that cater specifically to pigs—such as the UK’s Pigs in the Wood or Pigs’ Peace in the US—there is likely a local or regional group rescuing a variety of farm animals near you. Also in the UK, there is the Dean Farm Trust and FRIEND Animal Sanctuary, while US sanctuaries include Animal Place, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and countless others. (Learn more about Dan McKernan, the founder of Michigan’s Barn Sanctuary here.)

The EU is set to introduce the world’s first CO2 tariff

The good news: The EU plans to introduce the world’s first carbon emissions tariff on high-impact imported goods by 2026. The importation tax will affect imports such as steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, and electricity—all potentially high-impact industries that must shift towards sustainability in order to mitigate climate change.

The impact: While the details are yet to be finalized, the tariff will hopefully encourage stronger environmental rules and more sustainable practices overall. The three-year transition phase will begin in 2023, and the details will likely be discussed and approved by the end of the year. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire says that a “sizeable majority” supported the decision.

Did you know? The EU hopes to cut its collective emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels by the end of the decade, which will require further investments in green energy, technology, and sustainable infrastructure. But an import tax would help to create a “level playing field” to prevent the undercutting of EU companies by those operating elsewhere. Le Maire explains: “We’re making the effort to reduce carbon emissions in industry. […] We don’t want these efforts to be of no avail because we import products which contain more carbon.”

How you can help: Learn more about the potential impact of carbon tax from the Center For Climate and Energy Solutions here. Several websites offer a free personal carbon footprint calculator, such as Carbon Footprint, to give you some idea of what your own impact is. Avoiding carbon-intensive transportation, eating more plants (and less meat), and shopping ethically, locally, and minimally, all help to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

The US-Mexico border is getting a binational park

The good news: Overland Partners, a San Antonio-based architecture firm, just released its plans for a US-Mexico binational border park. The park will be built along the Rio Grande river (known south of the border as the Río Bravo del Norte), stretching across 6.3 miles of land along both sides of the water, as reported by Dezeen. It will also connect the cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, just four miles away. (The transborder region is popularly known as “the Two Laredos.”)

The impact: The new project was conceived as a way to restore the area’s ecosystem, celebrate the joint culture of the Two Laredos, and to help revitalize the economy. While the two cities practically operate as one day-to-day—including an essential flow of workers in both directions—US authorities closed the border between March 2020 and November 2021 due to COVID-19, meaning that both cities’ economies took a significant hit.

Did you know? The Rio Grande is at the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the three most biodiverse places in the entire world. Covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern US, the desert is home to over 130 varieties of mammal, 110 freshwater fish, and well over 3,000 plant species, to name just a few of its inhabitants. Its also home to five million people, many of whom are directly reliant on the 172,000 square mile Rio Grande basin. (It provides freshwater to at least 16 million people from both sides of the border.)

The new project will combine ecological conservation with new infrastructure in order to best serve all of the inhabitants of the Two Laredos and the Rio Grande Basin. It will also specifically embrace the idea of two cities living as a single community. It notably runs contrary to the aura of nationalism surrounding the Trump administration which led to the controversial, harmful, and widely derided border wall. 

How you can help: Learn more about conservation in the Rio Grande from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) here and here, or read on to hear more about the catastrophic impact of the border wall on humans, wildlife, and biodiversity here and here. Support the Trust For Public Land and learn about its ongoing projects in the area here. 

Ultra-rare bat species spotted in Rwanda

The good news: Researchers just caught a Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hillorum) in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda. This is the first time that the nocturnal mammal has been seen since 1981. The region, located in southwest Rwanda, is extremely biodiverse and contains the largest remaining piece of woodland in the country. It’s what’s known as an old-growth “cloud forest,” meaning its characterized by canopy-level vapor clouds.

The impact: Now that researchers have confirmed the survival of this rare bat species, they can track its movements using non-invasive acoustic monitoring. It’s likely that the bats are concentrated in a core area. The researchers believe that focusing conservation efforts in the Nyungwe Forest National Park means that the remaining population could be protected.

Did you know? Rhinolophus bats are thought to be critically endangered, but because of their elusiveness, the scientific community knows surprisingly little about the species’ behaviors, habitats, and conservation status. They have a unique appearance, with prominent folds called “nose leaves” occupying the majority of their faces.

“When we caught it, we all just looked at it and said, ‘You look ridiculous. Look how big your nose leaf is,’” said Jon Flanders, the director of endangered species interventions at Bat Conservation International, as per Mongabay. “We feared the species may have already gone extinct.”

How you can help: Learn more about Nyungwe Forest National Park and its work here, and learn more about Rhinolophus bats from Bat Conservation International here. You can also donate to support the NGO’s valuable work directly.) You can also volunteer at or donate to the Bat Conservation Trust, the only UK charity that is solely dedicated to protecting bats. 

Sugar alcohols can be used to make sustainable plastic

The good news: A study produced by a UK-US research team and published in the scientific journal ACS reveals how to improve petrochemical-free sustainable plastics. Whereas many plastic alternatives can be brittle, with limited application, using sugar alcohols can give sustainable alternatives “properties comparable to commercial plastics.”

The impact: The team created two compounds from the sugar alcohol: isoidide and isomannide, which can then be used to create polymers, the basis of many man-made materials. While the two compounds have similar compositions, they can each be used to create a variety of useful and sustainable plastics. For example, the isoidide-based polymer is both stretchy and strong, while the isomannide-based variety behaves like rubber. Between them, they could be used in products ranging from milk cartons to fishing lines and tires to sneaker soles.

Did you know? The science behind this study could also be used to create polymers with completely different properties and characteristics, and potentially can be used in the creation of sustainable materials with “unprecedented mechanical properties.” Traditional plastic is a huge problem. (In fact, in the last Good Climate News we covered the new “Paris Agreement of plastic pollution.”) Around eight million pieces of plastic pollution enter the ocean daily, and in a single week each of us could be eating up to five grams of microplastics via food, water, and even air.

How you can help: Read on and learn about more scientific solutions to plastic pollution here. You can also cut back on your own plastic waste as much as possible by recycling, reusing, and shopping sustainably. (Litter-picking is always a good idea, too.) Learn more about how to Zero Waste your kitchen here, and read about how California’s Mango Materials is producing a sustainable plastic alternative by capturing and using methane here.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

Meanwhile, Australia’s mighty humpback whales are officially no longer on the nation’s endangered species list. And Yellowstone, one of the most famous national parks in the world, just turned 150.

In the UK, a new survey indicates that urban-dwelling hedgehogs are increasing in numbers, thanks to concerted conservation efforts and the prickly mammal’s enduring popularity. Finally, repurposing wind turbine waste could be the next big trend in sustainable construction.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Leaders work to address the blight of plastic pollution 

The good news: World leaders met in Nairobi, Kenya, last week at the UN Environment Assembly and agreed to begin work on a legally binding treaty to tackle plastics once and for all. Representatives from 173 different nations have agreed on the resolution, which will cover the “full lifecycle” of plastics, including production, design, and disposal. It has been compared by many to the Paris Climate Agreement, due to both its importance and public frustration on inaction so far. The resolution will also mark the first time that low-paid waste pickers are officially recognized by such legislation, a significant and meaningful development.

The impact: As plastic production continues to increase, and as recycling measures fall short, pollution has become one of the most important environmental issues of the moment. The new treaty is urgently needed, and as with fossil fuels and the climate crisis, humanity must adjust its excessive and unsustainable dependence on plastic. The agreement will be negotiated over the next two years, but United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) director Inger Andersen has warned that participants must keep working on the problem of plastic pollution in the meantime.

Did you know? Around 8 million pieces of plastic pollution reach the ocean per day. It’s in wildlife, the earth, the air, our food, and even in us. But around the world, people are finding ways to prevent plastic waste from becoming pollution. Some companies are turning trash into hard-wearing building blocks, while others are using recycled ocean waste to make litter pickers, both synchronous and effective solutions. Some scientists have even found a way to turn plastic into vanilla flavoring by breaking it down with enzymes.

How you can help: Cutting back on your own plastic waste by purchasing recycled or reusable products can make a huge difference. But plastic is everywhere, from clothing to makeup, and transitioning to zero waste and low-impact products where possible will help minimize your overall footprint. While litter picking may feel like a drop (of plastic) in the ocean, it’s easy to do whether you’ve got five minutes or an afternoon. Organizations like the National Trust and Surfers Against Sewage regularly organize beach cleans, but you can easily organize your own with some friends, trash bags, and thick work gloves. (Be safe.)

Australian humpbacks are no longer endangered

The good news: Australia just removed humpback whales from its endangered species list approximately 60 years after whaling came to an end. Today, the population is estimated to be around 40,000 individuals, up from just 1,500 at the height of the industry. The decision is a welcome success for Australia, where the ecosystem is rapidly reaching a breaking point. (Just last month, the koala was officially declared endangered due to falling numbers.)

The impact: Whales are incredibly important for entire ecosystems, the oceans, and the world itself. They are a keystone species, which means they play an irreplaceable role in their natural environment and prop up countless other species by the very existence. (The health of whales can even be used as a barometer for overall marine health.)

Did you know? Along with other marine animals, like sharks, whales help to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere throughout their lives. So humpbacks, which are one of the huge “great whale” species, sequester an average of 33 tons of CO2 during their lengthy lifespans. They can grow to more than 50 feet in length and weigh in excess of 40 tons, while males create and sing songs that can be heard up to 20 miles away. Whale songs, in general, are widely thought to be one of the most sophisticated forms of all animal communication.

How you can help: The best way for people to help whales is to help reduce their environmental footprint, as global issues like climate change and plastic pollution mean that humpbacks and other marine animals will face growing obstacles in the coming years. Cutting back on seafood will also help reduce your impact on these deep-sea giants, as will being ocean conscious during all trips and travels. Support whale conservation through organizations such as the WDC, the WWF, the Ocean Alliance, and ORCA.

Yellowstone National Park celebrates 150 years

The good news: The US’s iconic Yellowstone National Park turns 150 years old this year, and its inhabitants are thriving. Established as a park in 1882, Yellowstone is located primarily in Wyoming but also reaches into Idaho and Montana. It’s home to nearly 300 bird species, 16 fish, six reptile, five amphibian, and 67 mammal, including bison—a previously endangered, herbivorous ungulate that has inhabited the region since prehistoric times.

The impact: Yellowstone has been home to some of the most notable conservation and rewilding successes, from bison to grey wolves. (At least 95 of the latter currently live in the park itself, with around 528 in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.) As noted by National Park Service director Chuck Sams, Yellowstone’s sesquicentennial is also an opportunity to celebrate the birth of the entire national parks system, both in the US and around the world.

Did you know? While Yellowstone’s many successes are worth celebrating, it’s also important to note that Indigenous peoples have lived on and cared for the region for thousands of years until they were pushed out of the park entirely. There are 27 current Tribes with historic connections to the land now contained within Yellowstone. Many experts, advocates, and activists suggest that returning national parks, conservation areas, and other stolen areas to Native stewardship would represent a combination of environmental and land justice.

How you can help: You can learn more about the rewilding of wolves in Yellowstone here, and check out the NPS’s guide to supporting the network here. Volunteering at, donating to, and sharing your love of national parks all help to make a difference. If visiting Yellowstone, remember to treat the flora, fauna, and trails with care and respect. (You could be walking on tracks through the ecosystem that have existed for thousands of years of human history.)

The UK’s beloved urban hedgehog population is back

The good news: While smaller in size than humpbacks or bison, hedgehogs are a popular visitor in UK gardens. The new State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report describes a stable urban population that shows signs of recovery, thanks in part to everyday conservation efforts like hedgehog highways to link gardens, hedgehog homes, and feeding stations.

The impact: Hedgehogs are currently listed on the UK’s red list for mammals as vulnerable to extinction, and their overall population has decreased by a third since the year 2000. According to the new report, rural populations are continuing to fall. This is primarily due to Britain’s shocking habitat destruction and lack of biodiversity, which is affecting hedgehogs’ homes and food. Fortunately, urban efforts to save the animal offer a glimmer of hope.

Did you know? Hedgehogs have been present in the UK for at least half a million years, and the nocturnal critters were voted the nation’s favorite mammal back in 2016. They are nocturnal, which makes accurate population estimates tricky. They’re also called hedgehogs for a reason, thanks to their predilection for undergrowth nests and the pig-like grunting noises they make when foraging.

How you can help: The national “Hedgehog Street” conservation initiative (established over a decade ago by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species) has helped to popularize hedgehog awareness. Many of the same rules for encouraging bugs, pollinators, and other essential wildlife applies to hedgehogs, namely to make your garden as diverse and untidy as possible! The charity has a whole page here dedicated to helping hedgehogs, or you can donate to support their work.

Engineers are upcycling wind turbines into bridges

The good news: There are now two bridges in the world made out of disused wind turbine blades. One was built last year over the Szprotawa River in Poland, and opened at the start of 2022, while another has just been installed in County Cork, Ireland. Reusing the blades as bridges is a promising idea as it keeps the existing materials out of landfills and reduces the impact of new construction projects.

The impact: Wind is an important way of generating renewable energy, but people are still figuring out what to do with the enormous blades once they reach their end of life. (The US is currently removing around 8000 old blades per year, and Europe is taking down nearly 4000.) While other components can be recycled, the blades themselves are made with fiberglass, and the vast majority go to landfills.

Fiberglass is useful due to its strength and durability, but it is not currently recyclable and, when broken up or damaged, its particles can be harmful to human health. However, innovative solutions like the above that repurpose the blades into new materials (or up-and-coming technologies that promise easier recycling) could change this.

Did you know? Wind power is one of the most sustainable and efficient ways to generate renewable energy, and it has become one of the most popular sources of power in the US. In addition to energy generation, the industry also helps to create jobs and supports economic growth in the surrounding areas. Wind power is likely to increase in popularity in the coming years, along with hydro and solar power, both similarly clean sources of energy.

How you can help: Keep up to date with the companies and organizations working on reusing wind turbine blades, such as Re-Wind and ANMET, and advocate for recycling and reuse wherever you can in your life. A circular economy is by far the most sustainable, and as the world changes in response to global warming and other environmental factors, we will have to focus on repairing and valuing what we already have. Building materials, and even wind turbine blades, are no exception.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

Meanwhile, in England, Brighton city council just made it a legal requirement for all new buildings to protect essential pollinators by providing shelter for bees.

Charges against Greenpeace activists for their anti-bottom trawling direct action (which took place not too far from the Brighton coastline) have finally been dropped, thanks to the judge.

Notorious for its complex roads and congestion, Paris is investing millions of Euros in order to make the entire city cyclable by 2026, and Huanggang, China, is getting a vertical forest.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Brighton City Council makes ‘bee bricks’ compulsory

The good news: Brighton and Hove Council’s new policy dictates that all new buildings above five meters must include bee bricks, which contain small holes that provide shelter to nesting and hibernating solitary bees. Properties must also have bird nesting boxes suitable for swifts, who are urban avians, and return to the same nest spot between May and August to breed before returning to Africa to escape the UK’s colder months.

The impact: The council hopes to incorporate eco-friendly designs into all new buildings, ensuring homes and habitats for valuable wildlife. While bees typically conjure mental images of hives with queens and honey, the solitary variety make up nearly 250 of the UK’s 270 bee species, meaning they provide almost incalculable ecosystem services nationwide. Cornwall and Devon, also on the south coast of England, have adopted similar policies on bee bricks.

Did you know? Some experts have suggested that bee bricks may increase the risk of mites or disease for pollinators. And admittedly, more meaningful and far-ranging action—from rewilding and sustainable agriculture to a ban on harmful pesticides—is undoubtedly needed to save bees and support biodiversity. But it appears the potential benefits of these new homes outweigh the risk, and the program is certainly a step in the right direction.

How to help: Solitary bees are the perfect candidates for building your own bug hotels and habitats at home. Sussex Wildlife Trust suggests drilling different sized holes into an old fencepost for cavity-nesting bees, making sure they face in various directions.

Other bees nest at ground level, and poking a few holes in a crumbly or sandy bank will encourage pollinating visitors. If you do live on the south coast, the trust also has some wildflower suggestions here, which will help encourage and support your local bees.

Puma conservation would help nearly 500 other animals thrive

The good news: A new study, published in the scientific journal Mammal Review, shows the true extent of pumas’ influence throughout their various, wide-ranging habitats. The authors describe how pumas are “important brokers of energy and nutrients throughout ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere,” and conclude that protecting and restoring the species will aid biodiversity and environmental health throughout the Americas. This means that puma conservation is even more important than previously thought.

The impact: Pumas are a predatory keystone species that help feed 281 other species via the carrion of the 203 species they hunt for food. Their presence also influences the behavior of 40 species, such as elk, who will avoid risky areas associated with pumas and other predators.

Finally, seven different species (four mammals and three plants) benefit from various other ecosystem services pumas provide, such as disease limitation, through their pursuit of certain pests as prey and regulation of environmental health as a whole.

Did you know? The puma (also known as a mountain lion, cougar, or panther), can be found throughout the Americas, from Canada to Patagonia. They have the largest terrestrial range of any native mammal on the continent, meaning their impact is absolutely enormous. While their current conservation status is “least concern,” numbers are decreasing.

North American male pumas are around four feet long and 135 pounds, but rarely seen by humans. Much like sharks and insects, public opinion of mountain lions is not great. But despite the odd hair-raising, hiking-related urban legend, you are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a puma, and the animals are typically fearful of humans.

How you can help: Habitat loss and overhunting are the most pressing threats to puma populations. Roads and other human encroachments on the natural world break up and isolate existing groups, also contributing to falling numbers and failing health.

Let your local and state representatives know about the importance of wildlife highways, improved hunting restrictions, and habitat protection, or support pumas directly through organizations like the Mountain Lion Foundation.

UK government drops ‘absurd’ charges against activists

The good news: The Marine Management Organization (MMO), a non-departmental UK government body, has finally dropped its charges against several members of Greenpeace. Activists had taken action to prevent the highly destructive fishing practices that are (for some reason) still allowed within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), such as bottom trawling.

Greenpeace members “installed” the “natural rock protection” in 2020 and 2021 by dropping large, naturally occurring granite boulders overboard in the MPAs, causing minimal disruption to the ecosystem but preventing bottom trawlers from passing through.

The impact: While the MMO was still technically entitled to pursue prosecution, the judge suggested that the organization review whether that would be in the public interest, which it did, and then soon chose to drop the charges. It’s worth noting that the MMO’s primary responsibility is ensuring all marine activities are carried out sustainably, and the judge suggested that the “absurd” case was a waste of resources that would be better used protecting said MPAs rather than targeting those picking up the government’s slack.

Between the draconian and nearly-successful Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC), general Tory party vitriol against protestors, and perpetually violent policing of peaceful demonstrations, this is a much-needed win for UK environmentalism, for the oceans, and of course, for those involved.

Did you know? Many of Greenpeace’s notable recent victories were wrought by lobbying campaigns, but the organization has a history of direct action dating back to its late 1960s roots. Some stand-out actions from the last few years include activists’ occupation of a BP oil rig and their gatecrashing of a bankers’ banquet, both in 2019.

While the legal system does not typically favor environmental activism (see everything from the Hunt Saboteurs Association to Insulate Britain), even actions that end in arrests help to bring attention to important issues. Greenpeace’s natural rock installation was already a victory, but the fact that individuals were recognized for their work rather than reprimanded is a rare win for common sense.

How you can help: The PCSC Bill was defeated in the House of Lords following impassioned, repeated protests over the most controversial amendments, which only confirms the power of demonstrating and civil disobedience to force political change. (No wonder the Home Office wants to make it almost impossible.)

Attending protests and organizing locally are just some of the ways to ensure much-needed work (like Greenpeace’s boulder installation) gets completed. You can donate to support legal aid and prisoner support groups such as Green & Black Cross, Beyond Legal Aid, your local ABC group, or Bristol Defendant Solidarity, the latter of which is currently fundraising for those arrested at the city’s numerous successful #KilltheBill demos.

Paris could be completely bike-friendly by 2026

The good news: Paris, France, is updating its existing Plan Velo program to make the entire city cyclable by 2026. The mayor, Anne Hidalgo, plans to add more than 80 miles of bike paths thanks to a €250 million ($290 million) government investment. Plan Velo: Act 2 will also add bike workshops to each district and encourage cycling tourism, while schools will teach children how to ride bikes safely at a young age. 

The impact: Paris is not the only European city investing in cycling (we covered Milan in the previous Good Climate News), but transforming the entire, notoriously busy French metropolis is notably ambitious. Parisians have always cycled, but the pandemic saw people relying even more heavily on the sustainable, two-wheeled form of transportation. Around 30 miles of temporary bike lanes were recently made permanent due to this increase in traffic.

Did you know? Bike designs haven’t changed that much in well over a century. Materials, bells, whistles, and carbon-fiber technology come and go with each new season, but the basic technology of today is not all that far removed from the “safety bicycles” of the late 1800s. It’s exciting to think that society is slowly returning to the dominant form of pre-car transportation, the never-bettered efficiency (and sustainability) of pedal power.

How you can help: Paris is setting an example that large cities around the world could emulate in the coming years. Write to your mayor, MP, or representative to request more policies and programs ensuring cycling is as safe, accessible, and environmentally-friendly as possible. (In terms of sustainability, read on to learn more about built-to-fail bikes, recycling vs. landfill, and the horrors of bicycle-shaped-objects.)

Organizations such as Sustrans in the UK are working hard to ensure cycling is inclusive and accessible, while charities like World Bicycle Relief help to actually provide people with the bikes they need.

This Chinese city is getting a vertical forest

The good news: An impressive new structure is bringing greenery to Huaggang, a city in Central China’s Hubei Province. The newly opened Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest Complex consists of five towers, two of which are residential. Designed by the celebrated Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architetti, the towers incorporate plant and tree life to create a vibrant green skyscraper towering over the rest of the area’s buildings.

The impact: The façades of  Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest towers feature an irregular pattern of open and closed balconies, which is designed to provide trees and shrubs with plenty of space to grow and flourish. (There are 404 trees, 4620 shrubs, and 2408 square meters of grass, flowers, and climbing plants.) Overall, the green building will absorb 22 tons of CO2 and produce 11 tons of oxygen per year.

Did you know? Stefano Boeri Architetti has already rolled out similar projects in Milan, Italy; Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Paris, France; Tirana, Albania; and Lausanne, Switzerland. Each project incorporates local plant life for maximum impact.

In Huanggang, the space between the buildings also provides much-needed public, urban green spaces for city-dwellers. Research and first-hand-accounts increasingly highlight the importance of nature for mental and physical health, particularly in large towns like Huanggang, which is the second most populous city within its prefecture. Urban greening also helps to clean the air and promote wildlife, in addition to supporting human wellbeing.

How you can help: Learn more about sustainable architecture here. As with everyday purchases, the most sustainable choice is always to repair, reuse, and recycle what you already have, and buildings are no exception. There are many ways to try and make your own home more sustainable, some of which can be accomplished on a budget and even in rented properties. Certain energy efficiency improvements can even be requested by UK tenants.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

Meanwhile, scientists just discovered a pristine coral reef just off the coast of Tahiti, giving many people hope that the ocean’s unexplored depths contain more still-healthy ecosystems.

In Milan, new bike paths will link a huge 80 percent of the city safely, and the state of Montana has finally moved to shut down wolf hunting for the season.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Central Park is getting its own climate change lab

The good news: New York City’s Central Park, one of the most iconic public gardens in the world, is getting a research facility to tackle issues like climate change and deteriorating urban forests. The Central Park Climate Lab will use decades of Central Park Conservancy data about wildlife, plant, and soil health in order to study the human-caused deterioration of urban green spaces and woodland.

The impact: The climate lab could give scientists a unique opportunity to study years of existing data on-site in Central Park. They will also be able to observe changes as they happen in real-time, looking at the park as the living, breathing network of life that it is.

Speaking to Scientific American, Karen Seto, a professor of geography and urbanization at Yale who will be directing the program, said: “What we want to do is study Central Park as an ecosystem, as a coupled human-natural system, and we’re looking at it top-down and bottom-up — from soils to satellites.”

Did you know? Central Park is 2.5 miles long and half a mile wide, and home to more plant and animal species than Yellowstone National Park. (As covered in this previous Good Climate News.) The coronavirus pandemic has shown the importance of access to public parks and woodland like never before, and access to urban green spaces (from the expanse of Central Park to Bristol’s cozy “Pocket Park”) is high on the agenda for cities around the world.

How you can help: Support your local park! Many urban green spaces are mostly maintained by local volunteers, even those “funded” by local government. Much like rewilding and other changes you can make at home, introducing native wildflowers and insect hotels to your local green spaces helps to support the ecosystem.

Litter picking and minor repairs can be easily carried out by grassroots groups, and you can also write to your local MP or representative to let them know what your neighborhood needs. Central Park Conservancy has its own volunteer section, while the National Parks Service operates a Volunteer-In-Parks program. 

Nature’s DJs: Sparrows change their tune to spice things up

The good news: A new study, published by the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has found that song sparrows’ singing is more complex than previously thought. The melodious animals regularly switch between known songs in order to promote variety. 

The impact: Overall, the study indicates that song sparrows are unexpectedly talented when it comes to their musical repertoire. If a sparrow can choose a song based on what he sang 30 minutes ago, that means that the birds have a sharper memory than canaries, the previous record holders, and makes human language less unique than once thought.

Study author William Searcy writes: “Such dependencies are characteristic of more complex levels of syntax than previously attributed to non-human animals.”

Did you know? Male sparrows sing in order to defend their home territory and attract mates, and it’s likely that introducing as much variation as possible helps to make an individual stand out. While song sparrows can be found throughout the U.S. and Canada, they are most widespread throughout North America. They have loud, distinctive trills, and begin singing when they are four months old. There are over 30 recognized subspecies of song sparrow.

How you can help: Song sparrows need very little human help to get by. If you want to encourage birds into your garden (and promote a healthy ecosystem in general), planting plenty of native wildflowers, plants, and shrubs, and promoting insect life through bug hotels will ensure a bustling wildlife area. Song sparrows are ground nesters, but birdhouses could encourage other avian visitors to pop by.

Pristine coral reef discovered near Tahiti

The good news: Underwater explorers supported by The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have discovered a pristine coral reef near Tahiti, the biggest island in French Polynesia. At two miles long, it is one of the largest systems ever found at a depth of 100 feet.

The impact: Because the reef is located in the ocean’s “twilight zone,” an underwater area that we know little about, it’s likely that there are more reef systems safely distanced from coral bleaching and the other negative effects of climate change that the shallower waters experience.

In a statement, Dr. Laetitia Hedouin, France’s National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) said: “The discovery of this reef in such a pristine condition is good news and can inspire future conservation. We think that deeper reefs may be better protected from global warming.”

Did you know? Coral reefs are absolutely essential for biodiversity and support an estimated 25 percent of all marine species. Tahiti’s pristine reef is also not the first coral to be found in deep water. 

The high seas make up 66 percent of the world’s oceans. They contain nearly 90 percent of all marine biomass, produce 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe, and capture 1.5 billion tons of CO2 per year. Despite this, they are afforded relatively little legal protection. But discoveries such as this new reef offer hope that the flora and fauna of the deep are managing to weather climate change better than those closer to the surface.

How you can help: There are lots of very general changes and adjustments we can make in day-to-day life to help support the world’s coral reefs. Recycling as much as possible and cutting back on waste helps protect the ocean, as does conserving energy, reducing emissions, and eating less meat and seafood.

If you live near or are visiting areas with coral reefs, choosing an environmentally-friendly sunscreen is really important, as is avoiding touching or disturbing the systems in any way. (One final fact: did you know corals are alive? A single piece is made up of thousands of tiny animals.) Legal protection is essential for all environmental conservation, and organizations such as Oceana and the Ocean Conservancy are fighting for improvements.

Milan’s new bike paths will safely link 80% of the city

The good news: The Italian city of Milan has committed to building over 450 miles (750 kilometers) of bike paths by 2035. The Cambio Network will link existing routes with “super-cycle corridors” to connect the city center itself with the wider metropolitan area. The initiative is part of Milan’s overall goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The impact: According to Dezeen, this will place 86 percent of the city’s population and 80 percent of all services (including hospitals, schools, and businesses) less than one kilometer from a bike route, effectively making cycling the most convenient form of transportation. The Cambio Network will include 24 cycle highways and the city hopes that 20 percent of all local locomotion will be achieved using bicycles.

Did you know? Despite being over two centuries old, the humble bicycle could well be the transportation of the future. It’s relatively affordable (much more so than cars, anyway), sustainable (definitely more so than cars), and good for our mental and physical health (yep, once again, much more so than cars).

The last few years have seen an absolutely enormous cycling boom, and electric bikes with modern designs are making bikes more accessible than ever before. Anyway, paved roads weren’t really built for cars, they were built for bicycles. Isn’t it time we took them back?

How you can help: If you’re able to, cycling is a fantastic way to get around sustainably right now. There are a huge number of local and regional charities and organizations throughout the UK, the U.S., and around the world, dedicated to helping people get out on bicycles—whatever that looks like to you. Cycling UK, People For Bikes, World Bicycle Relief, and Gearing Up are just a few. You can also write to your local MP or representative about building bike lanes, pedestrianization, and other ways to make cycling safe and inclusive.

Montana finally moves to shut down wolf hunting

The good news: Last month, Montana’s wildlife commissioners voted unanimously to bar the hunting and trapping of wolves in the southwestern region of the state. This follows criticism from environmentalists, scientists, and animal advocates over the record number of wolves killed just outside of Yellowstone National Park, where they are protected. (Governor Greg Gianforte himself shot a radio-collared wolf and violated hunting regulations.)

The impact: The pause gives the region’s wolf population some much-needed respite from persecution, but the solution is far from perfect. The commissioners rejected calls to reintroduce a strict limit to the number of animals that can be culled. Republican lawmakers previously lifted these longstanding restrictions in order to drive down the population, even though the ecologically important animals were only restored to the Rocky Mountains in 1995. Notably, hunting will only be paused once the current quota has been met.

Did you know? According to Mission Wolf, a Colorado-based educational wolf sanctuary, there were at least 250,000 wolves (though possibly as many as two million) living on the continent prior to European colonization and mass extermination.

Even after decades of conservation efforts, the U.S. has less than 18,000 grey wolves, the majority of which live in Alaska. Predators such as wolves remain controversial and unpopular, but they provide invaluable ecosystem services by keeping deer and elk populations in check, which in turn benefits other wildlife and plants.

How you can help: With animals like wolves, education is key. Learn more about wolves from organizations such as the California Wolf Center, and spread the word about their beauty, importance, and vulnerability. You can also support charities such as the International Wolf Center, the Wolf Conservation Center, Yellowstone Forever, the American Wolf Foundation, and the American Hunt Saboteurs Association, which uses direct action to target hunting.     
Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

In Australia, the rare mahogany glider may have found a new island home, and in Norway, the previously dammed Tromsa River is now open for fish to migrate up and downstream.

Meanwhile, a study by University of Bristol researchers has found that small gardens are just as important to pollinators as large ones; welcome news for gardeners everywhere.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

This tortoise is the world’s oldest living land animal

The good news: Jonathan the tortoise will turn 190 later this year, two years older than the previous tortoise record-holder, Tu’i Malila.

While several marine creatures have even lengthier lifespans, including Greenland sharks at 300-500 years and the potentially immortal jellyfish, tortoises are typically the longest-lived land animals. (Adwaita, a male giant tortoise who lived in Kolkata, India, was thought to be more than 255-years-old with an astounding approximate birthdate of 1750.)

The impact: Due to his admirable longevity, some of the details about Jonathan’s story are open to interpretation. He arrived at the remote island of St. Helena from Seychelles in 1882 fully mature, meaning that he was at least 50-years-old at the time. However, it is fairly likely that Jonathan is even older than his estimated age of 190.

Either way, the now-ancient reptile has been present for nearly two centuries of world history, from Abraham Lincoln’s presidency to the moon landing. Jonathan is a local icon in St. Helena, and even appears on the reverse side of the island’s five-pence piece. Today, he resides at Plantation House, the official residence of the governor, and spends his days eating, sleeping, and mating with his two close companions, Fred and Emma.

Did you know: Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise, a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise, which can grow up to four feet in length and weigh up to 250 kilograms. (That’s around the same as an adult male grizzly bear.)

While not endangered, giant tortoises are classified as vulnerable, and conservation work is currently underway to increase and support the global population. Hunting, poaching, and the international pet trade have reduced their numbers significantly during Jonathan’s lifetime.

How you can help: Unfortunately, an increasing number of people adopted giant tortoises as pets from breeders and importers during the pandemic. (Many of the top Google results for the species online relate to cost of purchase and similar queries.)

One of the best ways to combat the problematic wildlife trade is to become an advocate, raising awareness of the problems facing species such as giant tortoises. You can also support organizations such as the Galapagos Conservancy, the WWF, and Island Conservation. United for Wildlife is working to stamp out the illegal wildlife trade for good.

A small city is leading the way on electrified ride sharing

The good news: The rural city of Huron, California, has successfully introduced an electrified rideshare system to help its citizens get around for free. Despite its small permanent population, Huron attracts thousands of seasonal laborers and migrant workers during harvest seasons.

The central California city has historically been a transportation desert, but Mayor Rey León’s Green Raiteros project provides a free, electrified ride-sharing service to residents. Its costs are covered by various grants from climate programs, some of which the state requires major industrial polluters to fund. (Take note, other states.)

The impact: According to the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), a public-interest partnership promoting equity and community in the face of climate change, Huron has a long history of informal ridesharing often found in predominantly Latinx communities. (The word “raitero” itself is a Spanglish term based on “raite,” slang for “ride.”)

By offering free, community-led, and low-impact transportation, the mayor has managed not only to support his geographically-isolated community but also to show the rest of the U.S. how best to move forward with EVs.

Did you know: Due to the success of Green Raiteros, there are already 30 electric car charging stations in Huron, comparable to pretty much anywhere else in the U.S. despite its modest population of around 7,000 people.

This serves as a notable example of why improving both access to transport and overall electrification must focus on equity and community rather than private ownership. In stark contrast, very few other cities are actively attempting to integrate electric vehicles into underserved and low-income areas, which will undoubtedly result in problems down the line when fossil fuel-powered vehicles are phased out entirely.

How you can help: Find out if community ridesharing is available where you live. Ridesharing helps to increase people’s access to transportation and cuts neighborhood carbon emissions at the same time. Check out SUMC’s upcoming webinar calendar about mobility justice here, and learn more about the potential of electric cars to revolutionize transport (and their shortcomings) here.

Rare gliding possums have a new home

The good news: According to a report by the Guardian, the rare mahogany glider (a type of possum and a close relative of the adorable sugar glider) could be present on Hinchinbrook Island, one of Australia’s largest island national parks. The pristine wildlife preserve is located less than 10 kilometers from the mainland, where around 80 percent of the creatures’ habitat has already been lost. The small remainder is badly fragmented due to human activity.

The impact: If present on the island, Hinchinbrook’s mahogany gliders would have been undisturbed for a few thousand years at this point. But even if the island is only home to the sugar gliders that have been spotted so far, it would still be an ideal location for rewilding the rare gliding possum. According to the most recent estimates, there are less than 2,000 left worldwide, but the most recent population data comes from before 2011’s Cyclone Yasi swept through the mahogany gliders’ home and wiped out essential habitat.

Did you know: The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland says that the mahogany glider, named due to its richly colored belly and reliance on swamp mahogany trees, can glide up to 30 meters using thin membranes that run between its limbs and body. (Think Spider-Man circa 1962.) Because mahogany gliders feed on pollen and nectar, they are important pollinators within their ecosystems for various flora like banksia and eucalyptus.

How you can help: The Australian government has a recovery plan for the mahogany glider, and charities such as FAME and WWF Australia are carrying out important conservation work. Overall, habitat destruction is the main threat to the remaining gliders, and urgent work to maintain and connect the species’ ecosystem will make the most significant difference in the coming years. If you live in Queensland, Australia, learn more about making nest boxes here. 

A river in Norway is open to fish for the first time in a century

The good news: Fåvang, Norway, just removed a seven-meter high dam in order to free up the Tromsa River for fish migration. The dam has blocked the waterway for 100 years but has remained unused for the last 50. A variety of the region’s native fish are expected to flourish in the newly opened river, and the move represents a broader movement across Europe to tear down disused dams and blockages that threaten fish populations.

The impact: As on land, links between various separate marine ecosystems are extremely important for wildlife to thrive. Fish such as salmon and trout are known to migrate, with the former traveling thousands of miles in order to feed and reproduce. Migratory freshwater fish populations fell by an astounding 90 percent between 1970 and 2016, and opening up rivers such as the Tromsa to free-flowing water could significantly boost biodiversity.

Did you know: Norway is the beautiful home to countless flora and fauna, and the country’s rivers are no exception. As the WWF notes: “Rivers underpin entire landscapes, and contribute to economic growth, food security and human well-being. Free-flowing rivers are uniquely important, providing healthy floodplains, recreation, thriving freshwater habitats, abundant fish stocks, among others.”

How you can help: Learn more about Europe’s ongoing dam removal here, and organize your own dam removal here. Learn more about river habitats and get involved locally with the Freshwater Habitats Trust (U.S.) or the Freshwater Society (UK). There are many grassroots and locally organized river cleans taking place all the time, so find one near you and help out!

Small urban gardens help pollinators, too

The good news: Researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, just revealed that small gardens are just as important as big ones when it comes to conserving wildlife and pollinators within cities. The study comes as good news for urban gardeners, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, which prompted countless people to get outside and explore their green thumbs.

The impact: Published in the journal British Ecological Society, the research indicates that while the style of garden and plants used makes a significant difference, the combination of various gardens makes urban areas a rich source of nectar for pollinators and other insects.

Did you know: Bees aren’t the only important pollinators, and your garden could also be home to butterflies and moths, birds, beetles, bats, and countless other critters. Overall, pollinators facilitate the growth of plants and trees and fulfill a huge and irreplaceable range of ecosystem services. Beetles, for example, are thought to be earth’s very first pollinators, while bats pollinate, disperse seeds, support reforestation, and even indicate biodiversity.

How you can help: The study also made some key gardening recommendations for making green spaces extra-friendly to pollinators. Shrubs, climbers, and trees provide two-thirds of all nectar, and thanks to their three-dimensional structure, they’re an extremely space-efficient source of food for bees and other insects.

Rewilding part (or all) of your green space will help not only pollinators but all local wildlife. Even if you don’t have access to a private green space, you can plant native wildflowers and other important flora out in your community, and many people choose unused lots and other wasted public (and private) spaces as an opportunity to encourage and support local wildlife.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

One of Australia’s most endangered marsupials is even more at-risk than previously thought, but conservation work is already underway to protect the remaining population. Meanwhile, The Nature Conservancy has announced its largest-yet nature preserve in California, 100 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Additionally, in the British city of Bristol, council-supported schemes are collecting, reusing, and redistributing e-waste, while technology known as “tidal kites” could help generate the renewable energy of the future while “flying” beneath the waves.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Whales, orcas, walruses, and dolphins all visited the UK in 2021

The good news: The UK’s Wildlife Trusts just released its Living Seas Team’s highs and lows of the last year, with inevitable human-caused disruption offset by a wide variety of “fantastic” megafauna sightings, particularly in the southwest of England. Much of the positive news and notable wildlife comes as a result of years of conservation efforts on the part of the Wildlife Trusts, other environmental organizations, and countless individuals.

The impact: The marine review noted more than 75 recorded sightings of humpback whales since 2019, indicating that the species is finally recovering after commercial whaling was banned in 1986. Two orcas that typically reside just off the Scottish Hebrides were also spotted in Cornwall and Dover, their most southerly sighting in more than 50 years. White-beaked dolphins and bottlenose dolphins also visited the UK, while the Isle of Man saw its first pair of puffins in around three decades.

Did you know? Wally also featured in the review, an Arctic walrus who showed up in British waters and made several notable appearances, to the delight of spectators. While walruses are occasionally seen around the UK, there have been just 27 sightings in the last 130 years.

Wally, like the rest of his species, is an enormous, flipper-footed marine mammal with two distinctive tusks. Wally was most recently spotted in Iceland, no doubt making the journey home, and some conservationists have hypothesized that his travels were prompted by changing ocean temperatures and melting ice. 

How you can help: Read the complete marine review here, and support The Wildlife Trusts here. Learn more about British whales and dolphins from the WDC and donate to help fund their important work. You can also support the Marine Megafauna Foundation here, and check out a complete map of Wally’s Atlantic-crossing journey here.

Conservationists are protecting Australia’s endangered bettongs

The good news: According to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), urgent work is underway to protect the endangered northern bettong, a small marsupial and an irreplaceable ecosystem engineer in its habitat of Queensland. The animals, which are also known as potoroos, can grow to a little over 30 centimeters.

The impact: The New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service and the federal government have provided grants to create a predator-free area for northern bettongs in the Mount Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary. The 950-hectare refuge will be the first of its kind in northern Australia. Conservationists hope it will support the return of the endangered animals, whose numbers have fallen dramatically in the years following European colonization.

The AWC recently discovered that Mount Carbine Tableland’s bettong population is even smaller than previously thought (less than 50 individuals), and is at a high risk of imminent extinction. Immediate intervention is required to save the species.

Did you know? Bettongs have a taste for the finer things in life, namely truffles, which make up the vast majority of the small animals’ diet. According to the AWC, northern bettongs carry their front paws curled close to their chests and move with a “low, distinctive springy hop,” perhaps contributing to their comparison to kangaroos. Because they help to spread seeds and fungal spores, the presence of bettongs is particularly important following environmental destruction such as wildfires, which are increasing in severity due to climate change.

How you can help: Support the work of the AWC here, and learn more about the northern bettong from the WWF here. Inappropriate wildlife management, fire regimes, deforestation, and climate change are all threats to these endangered marsupials. Read about how Indigenous fire practices could transform forest management here, and learn more about the undeniable link between climate change and increasing extreme weather events here.  

The Nature Conservancy announced a 72,000-acre wildlife corridor

The good news: The Nature Conservancy is turning a $50 million philanthropic gift into a 72,000-acre (five times the size of Manhattan) wildlife corridor, its largest in California. The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve will be located in the Tehachapi Mountains and should help protect a myriad of endangered and protected species, from mountain lions to salamanders.

The impact: By securing a huge swathe of California from north to south, the corridor will enable the state’s various species to travel and migrate, particularly in the face of changing temperatures and environmental destruction. Overall, this latest addition helps to connect a network of wide-open spaces from Canada all the way to Mexico.

Did you know? California is home to in excess of 28 sensitive species, including condors, lizards, eagles, moths, badgers, salamanders, and mountain lions, in addition to a variety of plants and flowers. California mountain lions are currently “specially protected,” and were previously featured in this column when the state built a much-needed bridge across Highway 101.

How you can help: Donate to support the Nature Conservancy here, and learn more about what the organization does here. Learn about the wide variety of Californian wildlife from the government here, and the Californian mountain lion here and here. You can still donate to the Mountain Lion Foundation here and adopt a mountain lion here.

Bristol is reusing and redistributing e-waste

The good news: The UK’s city of Bristol is working hard to cut back on waste, including the growing problem of electronic “e-waste,” for which the UK has the second-highest generation per capita in the world after Norway.

There is a permanent Reuse shop located at Avonmouth recycling center, while the Electric Avenue pop-up shop (run in collaboration by Hubbub, Ecosurety, and the Bristol Waste Company) specifically countered Black Friday consumer culture by organizing a concerted electronics collections drive in the last week of November 2021.

The impact: According to the Bristol Waste Company, approximately 40 million unused gadgets sit in UK homes, while 1.9 million households remain “digitally disconnected” due to lack of access to electronic devices. By collecting, repairing, and redistributing e-waste, workers keep unused phones, computers, and other technology out of the trash—and regift them to those with a need.

Did you know? Manufacturers produce more than 50 million tonnes of e-waste per year, and the vast majority of this—83 percent—is improperly discarded. Furthermore, in 2020 alone, the mobile phone industry sold around 1.4 billion smartphones. This cannot continue. Changes such as reduced production, improved longevity, the right to repair, and effective reuse, redistribution, and recycling, can all help to keep e-waste out of landfills.

How you can help: If you live in Bristol, check out Electric Avenue’s map of repair cafes and centers throughout the city. The organization also provides tips on self-repair, care, and recycling. Wherever you live, there are likely a variety of repair shops and freelancers that can help you extend the life of your devices, as well as countless online guides (thanks, Instructables). As ever, consuming less and shopping consciously also make a huge difference.

‘Tidal kites’ could be a new way of generating energy

The good news: High-tech, underwater machines known as “tidal kites” and “sea dragons” could be the future of renewable energy generation. As reported by the BBC, a pair of kites, produced by the Swedish company Minesto, currently occupy the waters surrounding the North Atlantic ocean’s Faroe Islands. The kites are approximately five meters across the wingspan and tethered to the seabed using durable, 40-meter cables.

The impact: These two machines have now been producing energy for SEV, an electricity company for the self-governed Scandinavian islands, on an experimental basis for the last 12 months. Electricity is generated by the kites and passed through tethering cables along the seabed to a nearby control station. Each kite is capable of powering 50 to 70 homes.

Did you know? Tidal energy is both sustainable and efficient thanks to its reliability and predictability. However, turbines and similar technology can negatively impact marine life either directly (due to rotating parts) or indirectly through noise pollution and sediment processes. According to Minesto, its kites are unique in that they have a minimal environmental impact.

How you can help: As always, switching to a sustainable energy supplier is one of the single best ways to show demand for renewables and reduce demand for fossil fuels. The U.S. government has a brief guide to buying clean electricity here, while the Renewable Energy Hub has a guide for UK residents here. Learn more about tidal power here, and more about Minesto’s underwater kites here.  

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

In just a few months, the UK is set to welcome the first wild British bison in nearly 12,000 years, and conservationists have spotted the extremely elusive Andean wildcat just outside of Santiago, the capital of Chile and home to around eight million people.

Meanwhile, dead space within solar parks could be used to encourage and support bumblebee populations, and even Hyde Park could get some new wildlife in the form of peregrine falcons and beavers. Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Tropical forest regrowth could happen in just two decades

The good news: A study recently published in the journal Science reports that tropical forests can bounce back from “low-intensity land use,” which in this instance would mean that the majority of the woodland is left unmanaged.

If they are left alone by humans, they can regain approximately 78 percent of their old-growth status in just 20 years. Even tropical forest land that was previously used for agriculture is able to create a new ecosystem known as a “secondary” forest, which is composed of residual nutrients, soil, and even tree stumps.

The impact: While most mainstream adopters of reforestation favor the planting of new trees (particularly those looking for a quick way to “offset” their other, high-carbon activities), the study indicates that simply allowing natural regeneration is much better for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and nutrient recovery. Lead study author Lourens Poorter writes “Secondary forests should be embraced as a low-cost, natural solution for ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.”

Did you know? According to the FAO, around 10 million hectares of deforestation (nearly the size of Iceland) takes place every single year, with a huge 95 percent of this taking place in tropical forests. These areas are incredibly important ecosystems that support two-thirds of global biodiversity despite covering just 10 percent of the planet’s surface.

Everyday products including palm oil, coffee, soy, and beef are all linked to deforestation, which increased significantly in 2020. Halting this destruction, and expanding reforestation efforts, will be central to climate mitigation and the preservation of future biodiversity.

How you can help: You can support reforestation efforts by volunteering with or donating to organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, Tree Sisters, the Tree Council, and the Rewilding Network (via Rewilding Britain). Or, alternatively, make like backyard adventurer Beau Miles and carry out your own one-person reforestation project in your area. Just make sure you plant appropriate species in suitable spots and let nature take its own course.

Wild British bison are coming back in 2022

The good news: Britain’s first bison rangers are preparing for the introduction of four wild European bison to Kent, a county in the southeast of England. This follows the successful recovery of the keystone species in Europe. The two new rangers recently trained to work closely with the gigantic herbivores in the Netherlands, including by tracking movements and reading behavior. The bison will likely breed and the site is licensed for up to 10 individuals.

The impact: The million-pound Wilder Blean project is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust and will “promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes” in a former commercial pine forest. Bison are ecosystem engineers, which means that they transform their environment purely by exhibiting instinctive behaviors such as feeding, trampling, and bathing.

The UK has now lost nearly half of all its biodiversity (including keystone species such as the British bison), contributing to further, ongoing loss and making it one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Reintroducing bison, along with other ongoing rewilding projects, could help improve ecosystem health shift the balance.

Did you know? While the European bison is not endemic to Britain, it is the closest surviving relative to the globally extinct Bison schoetensacki. This makes the soon-to-be-introduced animals perfect surrogates for the long-gone native population which died out during the Pleistocene epoch, sharing a time period with Homo erectus, or “upright man.”

Bull bison can reach up to 1000 kilograms (that’s about the same weight as The Rock, times nine). Their love of chewing tree bark helps support grasslands and all the flora and fauna it contains, from butterflies and other pollinators to lizards and mammals.

How you can help: You can donate to support Kent Wildlife Trust in general or Wilder Blean specifically, and get involved directly here. Learn more about rewilding the European bison here, and the reintroduction of bison in the EU and U.S. here and here. Initial human intervention giving way to nature-led regeneration can be one of the most impactful, cost-effective, and holistic approaches to healing the planet. Learn more about that here.

Most endangered feline in the Americas spotted

The good news: Conservationist Bernardo Segura has captured footage of the Andean wildcat, arguably the most endangered feline in the Americas, just outside the city of Santiago, Chile. The elusive animal is just a little larger than a typical domestic house cat, with large, round paws, wide-set eyes, and a raccoon-like striped tail.

It appears on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) “Red List,” which estimates a world population of fewer than 1,400 adults. (For context, there are around 1,800 giant pandas left in the wild.)

The impact: Andean cats were previously thought to exclusively occupy remote areas far from humans, but this sighting shows a population living just outside of the Chilean capital. In fact, in a video published by the Guardian, Segura acknowledges that he can actually see the cats’ rocky habitat from his apartment window down below.

With an already small and still shrinking population, any sighting of the Andean wildcat is considered a conservation victory, but discovering a new habitat so close to a populated area is particularly significant. Segura, who volunteers with the Andean Cat Alliance (AGA), has identified at least three mature adults passing through the territory, as well as a separate group in Valparaíso, a coastal city just over 100 kilometers to the north-west of Santiago.

Did you know? According to Wildcat Conservation, the Andean cat is found almost exclusively at high altitudes throughout its namesake, the Andes mountain range, which also runs through Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. However, recent observations also include habitats at a much lower elevation, such as the Patagonian Steppe—the largest desert in Argentina—and scrub habitats.

Like countless other animals impacted by a changing environment, it is likely that the Andean cat has been forced to adjust its hunting grounds in response to ecosystem destruction. In this case, damage to the Andean cat’s habitat is primarily caused by the fur industry, mining, and other forms of resource extraction.

How you can help: Support the AGA here and learn more about the coalition’s work, which includes research, conservation, community participation, and wild area management. Community engagement forms the core of the AGA’s ongoing efforts, and the Andean cat is considered sacred by Indigenous peoples such as the Quechua and Aymara. Learn more about the elusive feline and its unique traits from the Wildlife Conservation Network here.

Thousands of solar parks could boost bumblebee numbers

The good news: Researchers at Lancaster University say that transforming solar parks into meadows could help boost the UK’s nesting bumblebee populations. According to the Independent, there are currently 14,000 hectares (around 54 square miles) of ground-mounted solar parks in the UK, some of which are already being used to encourage pollinators like bees. Transforming the rest could help the environment, help local farmers, and even make the fields that contain solar panels more attractive to passers-by.

The impact: The researchers say that planting wildflowers around the panels would boost bumblebee numbers more than half a mile away (around 1 kilometer), including for the surrounding farming communities reliant on pollinators. It would also help to counter criticisms of solar parks that highlight their appearance and use of rural land by pairing essential renewable energy generation with biodiversity-boosting rewilding efforts.

Did you know? Around 70 percent of the UK’s landmass is devoted to agriculture, much of which employs monoculture and pesticides at the further cost of biodiversity. But solar fields are not the first unlikely refuge for wildlife. Hedgerows, motorway sidings, and other partially forgotten, hiding-in-plain-sight areas are home to a surprising number of plants and creatures. If Britain is to meet its net-zero targets, an additional 90,000 hectares of solar parks are needed, providing ample opportunity for rewilding efforts and pollinator support.

“Bees, wasps, beetles, and other pollinators are essential to a functioning ecosystem. Without them, we risk the collapse of the entire natural world,” says James Byrne, Landscapes Recovery Programme Manager for The Wildlife Trusts. 

How you can help: Learn more about pollinators here and find different ways to help your local bees here, from bee hotels and wildflower beds to lobbying and advocacy. Supporting rewilding efforts, both at large and within your own backyard, also saves pollinator lives. Meanwhile, switching to a sustainable energy supplier and advocating for renewables makes a big difference to the general perception of solar panels, wind power, and hydropower.

Ambitious rewilding plans could see beavers and peregrine falcons in London’s Hyde Park

The good news: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan just made £600,000 available for rewilding efforts in the iconic Hyde Park. The funding will go towards the creation of additional green spaces, making existing park land “wilder,” and reintroducing lost species such as beavers and peregrine falcons along with swifts, stag beetles, and water voles. People will also be encouraged to plant green rooftops as part of urban greening efforts across the city.

The impact: Hyde Park is just one of London’s green spaces currently deemed unsuitable for the conservation and enhancement of British wildlife. By improving the park’s relationship with its own inhabitants, Khan hopes to boost biodiversity, absorb pollution, and ensure that all Londoners can access some kind of green space within 10 minutes walk of their home.

Following the pandemic, many people’s isolation from the natural world has been particularly notable, and an increasing body of research indicates that spending time in green spaces is good for mental and physical health. Worryingly, wealthy and white people also have more ready access to parks than people of color and working class households.

Did you know? Hyde Park was first established nearly 500 years ago by Henry VIII, and while it’s inarguably beautiful (and home to countless birds, bats, and foxes), it is also a long way from wilderness. Cultivated lawns, greenhouses, concrete paths, monuments, and an artificial lake bely the park’s Royal history, and make it less friendly to diverse flora and fauna. 

The reintroduction of beavers, in particular, would have a spectacular effect on the local environment. As shown by previous, successful rewilding projects, the presence of these dam-building ecosystem engineers could prevent London’s chronic flooding, clean the water, and create new wetlands—depleted but invaluable areas for carbon sequestration.

How you can help: As ever, you can support the many different rewilding charities, organizations, and projects that are working to make global ecosystems as healthy as possible. These include Rewilding Britain, Rewilding Europe, Trees For Life, the various Wildlife Trusts, the Wildlife Society, Rewilding Earth, and many, many more. Check out Rewilding Britain’s top tips for rewilding your own garden here.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

Despite falling biodiversity rates and continued environmental destruction, some parts of the world are actually showing signs of recovery (or at least the potential for future recovery), providing more than enough reason for cautious optimism as we move into 2022.

It’s also been a year of extensive rewilding efforts, wildlife conservation, urban greening, tree planting, and activism. Here are some of the other good climate news stories from 2021.

ICYMI: Good climate news of 2021

Rehabilitated sea turtles went home

In our first-ever good climate news feature, a turtle rehabilitation project rescued, supported, and re-released 30 Hawksbill, Green, and Loggerhead turtles on World Sea Turtle Day 2021. Also, biologists spotted an ultra-rare long-snouted seahorse (a Priority Species and “Feature of Conservation Importance”) off the UK coast, and researchers turned plastic waste into vanilla flavoring using genetically engineered microbes. Sustainable and delicious.

Restored antelope and carbon-eating graffiti

The last two years have seen Kazakhstan’s extremely rare saiga antelope population double in numbers thanks to extensive conservation efforts nationwide. Meanwhile, two British cities used striking murals to absorb carbon from the air, and Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego rejected the salmon farming industry in order to preserve its beautiful and biodiverse waters.

Pandas are no longer endangered!

The world’s favorite black and white bears are finally making a comeback, and earlier this year Chinese officials reclassified pandas as “vulnerable” rather than endangered. The UK welcomed the first baby beaver to be born on Exmoor in over 400 years (named Marcus Rashford by the British public), and in the U.S. the 10 year struggle to halt the Keystone XL pipeline ended in victory—a huge win for the environment, community members, and grassroots organizing.

Scientists could make it rain in Dubai

Weather modification turned another corner when scientists backed by the UAE showed that drones could help drop the soaring temperatures experienced in Dubai. Meanwhile, renewable energy provided the bulk of Britain’s power in 2020 due to increasing adoption and a decrease in overall demand. After several years of rehabilitation, Maruja the former circus monkey returned to the forest alongside the orphaned baby monkeys she helped to nurture.

China’s roaming elephants finally headed for home

After a year and a half of wandering, a herd of elephants from Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve finally returned back home, Canada announced a $25 million fund to protect its invaluable wetlands, and new evidence shows that England’s New Forest is definitely home to a well-established pine marten population after over 100 years of functional extinction.

Blue whales came back to Spain

This year also saw blue whales returning to Spain’s Atlantic coast decades after being hunted to near extinction, while Mallorca’s marine protected area has benefited the region’s wildlife, humans, and economy. At the 2021 IUCN General Assembly, Indigenous organizations were finally able to fully participate for the first time in 73 years, a welcome but long-overdue development.

Plastic pollution solutions and a platypus renaissance

A Kenyan company has been turning plastic waste into hard-wearing bricks, creating opportunities for young folks and recycling more than 20 tonnes of plastic in the process. In Australia, the Royal National Park began working towards the reintroduction of platypus, while a report by the Indigenous Environmental Network highlighted how Indigenous resistance has prevented at least 25 percent of North American emissions.

Fat bear week and the magic of kelp

One of the best things about September is Fat Bear Week, and 2021’s winner managed to show up late and still eat his way to victory. Meanwhile, a tech startup launched an underwater vessel that uses kelp to absorb carbon, and manta rays showed scientists a solution to plastic filtration.

Millions of acres of public land are protected (again)

California’s Highway 101 could finally get a much-needed wildlife crossing to help the mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and more that call the area home. Australia has managed to increase its bandicoot population tenfold, and President Joe Biden restored essential protections for three U.S. natural monuments totaling millions of acres of public land.

Harvesting wind… In the ocean?

In order to reach its goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore energy by 2030, the Biden-Harris administration could build enormous wind farms on both coasts of the U.S. Community conservation groups in Mombasa, Kenya, are working to restore important mangrove trees, and four of the world’s most-threatened tuna species are finally (slowly) recovering.

Monarch butterflies are rebounding in California

Monarch butterflies are rebounding in coastal California, Conservationists released approximately 3,000 baby river turtles into a river in the Peruvian Amazon, and the U.S. government could officially label the grey wolf “endangered” again. (That’s a good thing!)

The Thames is alive!

This year saw the most comprehensive assessment of England’s River Thames in well over half a century, which concluded that the waterway is much healthier than it was in the 1960s. Today it’s home to eels, seahorses, seals, and three different species of shark. In the U.S., Apple finally launched a self-repair service (a huge win for sustainability), and California vineyards swapped toxic pesticides for owls.

Rescue dogs become conservationists

Washington’s Rogue Detection Teams exclusively rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to track wildlife, aiding scientific and conservation efforts around the world. New York City now has potential plans to green the notorious Cross Bronx Expressway, while the Welsh government promised to give every household in the country its own tree to plant.

Back in the U.S., New York City could see even more urban greening, this time through a renovation of the notorious Cross Bronx Expressway, while a London-based architect has designed an ingenious, self-sustaining “continent” with the potential to help clean up ocean waste. Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Rescue dogs are helping wildlife conservation

The good news: Washington-based Rogue Detection Teams (RDT) is rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to track rare wildlife. The organization’s human-canine partnerships support scientific research and conservation efforts around the world, with particular experience of working with sensitive and International Union for Conservation of Nature-listed species such as the pangolin, cheetah, orca, and spotted owl.

(The latter was even the inspiration for co-founder Jennifer Hartman and her very first detection dog, Max, a blue heeler cross.)

The impact: By combining dog rescue with noninvasive conservation work, RDT has a huge impact on animals’ lives, wildlife science, and the environment in general. The canine halves of the various teams are a ragtag collection of breeds united by their love of fetch and aptitude for tracking elusive and often endangered creatures. RDT’s successful and ongoing stories include the investigation of butterflies, martens, and the Sierra Nevada red fox.

Did you know: Dogs’ noses contain up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to humans’ six million, making their sense of smell around 40 times better than ours. As shown by RDT’s dog coworkers, they can pinpoint scents even in water or underground, and the organization emphasizes its absolute trust in their skills and abilities.

Human-canine bonding can be traced back at least 15,000 years, and RDT depends on the powerful relationships developed by the dogs and their handlers, who frequently live and travel together full-time. (I know, sign me up.)

How you can help: You can learn more about Rogue Detection Teams here and support its work by purchasing crates, food, beds, and more from the organization’s Amazon Wish List. There are a variety of other, similar groups also providing or facilitating detection dogs for conservation, including the University of Washington’s Conservation Canines, Conservation K9 Consultancy, Working Dogs For Conservation, and Conservation Dogs Collective.

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This grassroots network advocates for ad-free cities

The good news: The Adfree Cities network (a collective that grew out of Bristol’s Adblock) unites a variety of different groups behind a vision of “happier, healthier cities” that replace corporate advertising with community services, art, nature, and urban greening.

According to the organization, repurposing the resources and physical space used for advertising in this way could benefit everyone from humans to wildlife. (For context, the media company Clear Channel alone has around 4000 billboards in the UK, while the U.S. has a total of approximately 340 thousand—regularly observed by 71 percent of Americans.)

The impact: Digital billboards, in particular, are extremely bad for wildlife, bad for the environment, and bad for us, both directly and indirectly. They are expensive and typically purchased by the largest companies, which are often the least ethical. (Think McDonald’s.)

A single digital billboard also uses the same amount of electricity as 15 homes over a 24-hour period, and even solar-powered varieties still contribute to the growing problems of e-waste and light pollution—both of which drain biodiversity and human health.

Did you know? Some cities are already taking legislative action against particularly harmful advertisements for the good of residents. London banned junk food ads back in 2019, while Bristol restricts anything related to gambling, alcohol, and payday loans, as well as junk food.

Earlier this year, Liverpool became the first UK city to ban advertisements for airlines and fossil fuel-related industries such as combustion engine vehicles, and the city of Norwich has said it will only support “ethical advertising” moving forward. Internationally, cities such as São Paulo, Chennai, Grenoble, Tehran, Paris, and New York are all also working to ban, limit, or replace outdoor advertising to some extent.

How you can help: Learn more about Adfree Cities and support the network’s projects here, or get involved directly with a local anti-advertising group near you. Other organizations such as Brandalism, Badverts, and more are organizing and carrying out anti-billboard actions across the UK. Learn more about the negative effects of advertising here, here, and here, and learn more about the potential for urban rewilding in general here.

The Welsh government is giving all households a tree

The good news: Every Welsh household will have the option to plant a tree as part of the government’s climate change commitment. It follows a 2020 pledge to create a national forest by distributing new trees and better maintaining existing, irreplaceable old-growth woodland. People can plant their trees themselves or elect to have one planted on their behalf, enabling everyone in Wales to take part regardless of access to private land.

The impact: The scheme was announced during National Tree Week. Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters has said that he hopes it will engage people directly in the fight against global warming, as well as providing countless physical and mental health benefits across the country. Wales must plant 43,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030 and 180,000 hectares by 2050 if it is to successfully meet its climate crisis-related targets.

Did you know? Reforestation is essential moving forward. In addition to its huge, positive impact on human health and the climate, it will also help the UK to salvage its rapidly failing natural environment. Over the last 20 years alone, the UK has lost approximately 13 percent of its tree cover, and Britain is in the bottom 10 percent of world countries for biodiversity. The fallout of the industrial revolution is still felt nationwide, and the mining industry, in particular, had a significant negative impact on the beautiful valleys of south Wales.

How you can help: Tree planting is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to tackle climate change, and individuals can make a difference right now by supporting reforestation charities and initiatives through donations and volunteering or by taking action themselves.

You can also write to your local representative about the need for further reforestation, more green spaces, and the need to preserve existing forested areas. (While planting new trees is extremely worthwhile, it cannot offset the destruction of long-standing and ancient woodland, as with the loss of old-growth trees to the much-maligned HS2 development.)

One of New York’s worst freeways is going green

The good news: New York City’s six-lane Cross Bronx Expressway could be transformed over the coming years to reduce its negative impact on the local community. The Department of Transportation plans to assess the prospective $1 billion project which would see two miles of the busy road turned into tunnels, reducing traffic noise and pollution via air filtration and potentially introducing green spaces and walkways.

This follows years of campaigning and advocacy for a capping project by community organizations such as Loving the Bronx.

The impact: According to research by a group of Columbia University students, capping the Cross Bronx Expressway would save residents around $317 each in future healthcare costs and add approximately one and a half months to their lives. The expressway has a long-acknowledged legacy of environmental racism, from it’s original displacement of thousands of New Yorkers between 1948 and 1972 and its continuing contribution to health problems for the 220,000 people (the majority of whom are Black and Brown) who live nearby.

Many Bronx communities are literally divided by the huge expressway, which carries around 300 high-polluting diesel trucks per hour, and the area has some of the highest asthma rates in the entire country, which are in turn contributing to increased risk from COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions.

Did you know? The project will be funded from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill signed into law by President Joe Biden last month. It includes over $500 billion for upgrades to highways, roads, bridges, and the overall modernization of the nation’s city transit systems. This also follows the passing of the Reconnecting Communities Act, which specifically seeks to identify and redress any mitigating infrastructural barriers to mobility and health, particularly those related to environmental racism.

How you can help: Get involved with local community organizations to advocate for change where you live, from urban greening and grassroots projects to writing to government representatives and lobbying. You can learn more about the topic of environmental racism here, and specifically the impact of the Cross Bronx Expressway on the local community here. Read about the huge potential for urban greening to improve city life here.

This self-sustaining ‘continent’ recycles ocean plastic

The good news: An award-winning prototype for an ocean recycling unit imagines an entirely self-sustaining way of tackling marine plastic. Senior architectural designer Lenka Petráková first developed this idea as part of her master’s thesis after studying the growing problem of ocean pollution. Named “the 8th Continent” after the Great Pacific Garbage Patch’s unofficial nickname, Petráková has said that potential patrons such as Elon Musk and other entrepreneurial tech figures could help realize her unique and futuristic design.

The impact: Petráková’s 8th Continent is modeled on living organisms and contains five distinct sections housing living quarters, greenhouses, a water desalinization plant, and biodegradable waste collectors. The floating research station has the appearance of a lily and has been designed specifically to clean up its namesake.

Ocean plastic is a huge problem. At least 14 million tons of the stuff end up in the sea every single year. Plastic makes up 80 percent of all marine debris, bringing entanglement and death to countless aquatic sea creatures and plants.

Did you know? The 8th continent might be one of the most futuristic prototypes so far, but it isn’t the only technology developed to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Environmental engineering nonprofit the Ocean Cleanup has trialed several models for removing ocean plastic, and in October of this year, its newest and deceptively simple system (nicknamed “Jenny”) managed to pull 20,000 pounds of plastic from the water. (Ocean Cleanup aims to remove 90 percent of all floating ocean plastic by 2040.)

How you can help: Learn more about the 8th Continent and Petráková’s other architectural projects here, and donate to support the Ocean Cleanup’s work here.

Cutting back on plastics in your own life where possible and ensuring everything is recycled and processed properly helps to keep packaging and other waste from entering the global water system. Learn more about circularity here.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

The Thames is coming back to life

The good news: The River Thames, which flows through the south of England and was once a dead zone, now supports a surprisingly wide variety of living creatures. Eels, seahorses, seals, and three different varieties of shark—the Starry Smoothhound, Spurdog, and Tope—can all be found in the Thames, along with countless other animals.

The impact: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) recently completed the most comprehensive survey of the river in over 60 years and found that the Thames is undeniably healthier today than it was half a century ago—despite the continuing problem of waterway pollution. Increased oxygen levels and decreased phosphorus help to support the flora and fauna that call the river home today.

According to conservation charity the Mammal Society, approximately 900 harbor and 3,200 grey seals currently reside in the estuary, and both showing a steady “upward population trend.” There are also 92 different species of bird who live on the river and are showing growth, with the overall number of wading birds like lapwings and knots almost doubling.

Did you know? In the 1950s, the Thames was so devoid of life it was declared biologically dead, but progress in sewage and pollution management has had a demonstrable, positive impact on its overall health. However, some populations are still declining—particularly fish, of which there are around 115 different species—due to the continuing impact of human pollution and the growing danger of climate change.

How you can help: Volunteer with and donate to ZSL here, or support the Mammal Society here. You can learn more about the Greater Thames Shark Project here, and get involved with organizations such as Thames 21, the Clean Rivers Trust, and UK Rivers. (In England, the general public has access to just three percent of rivers. Get involved with Right to Roam.)   

Apple is launching a self-repair service

The good news: Tech behemoth Apple will now let you fix your own phone. After years of public pressure (and a $500 million settlement for its notorious planned obsolescence), customers will finally be able to access genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals in order to carry out their own repairs. Phase one of the repair program will focus specifically on the most commonly broken features such as the screen, battery, and camera.

The impact: The right to repair is important for a variety of reasons. Planned obsolescence, the intentional limitation of product lifespans, and an inability to carry out basic repairs cost individuals a significant amount of money. (Over the last decade, the price of a new iPhone has increased by 162 percent.) Upgrades also create huge quantities of avoidable waste.

Did you know? In 2020, approximately 1.4 billion smartphones were sold worldwide. Apple alone produced over 1.65 billion electronic devices, about a billion of which were iPhones. (For its 2021 fiscal year, the company reported nearly $100 billion dollars of net income.) While support is growing for the right to repair, it is notably tech giants like Apple (along with Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Tesla) who lobby against it.

Overall, manufacturers produce upwards of 50 million tonnes of e-waste every year, with 83 percent of this discarded improperly. Increasing global awareness of the need to consume less, repair more, and preserve rare earth minerals is finally reaching producers like Apple, and self-repair services are a small but important step towards total circularity. However, if companies and their huge profits are to be held accountable, we need legislative protection.

How you can help: If you just want something fixed, third-party operators are actually much more likely to take on in-depth repairs. Letting companies like Apple (and your government) know that the right to repair is important to you helps to keep the pressure up, which will hopefully lead to more comprehensive solutions and better legislative protection. Also seek out creative ways to pass on devices once you’re done with them, such as donating or selling them online. Check out Harvard University’s handy guide to minimizing e-waste here.

New York City’s green corridors are full of thriving wildlife

The good news: Did you know that New York City contains more plant and animal species than Yellowstone National Park? With a population of around 8.5 million, tens of thousands of miles of concrete, and over two million cars, New York City might not be the first place you associate with a thriving wildlife population.

But this world-famous concrete jungle also boasts nearly 20,000 acres of natural park space and is home to animals as diverse as butterflies, bees, raccoons, foxes, bats, chipmunks, deer, piping plovers, coyotes, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. This is thanks to years of conservation and urban greening efforts throughout the city.

The impact: Speaking to the New York Times recently, former parks commissioner and current president of Brooklyn Botanic Garden Adrian Benepe noted that the current level of biodiversity is like nothing he’s seen before in over half a century of service. “You are seeing miraculous occurrences of wildlife right in the middle of the city,” he said.

This welcome recognition of blooming biodiversity follows decades of park expansions, organized clean-up projects, rewilding efforts, restored wetlands, and pesticide bans. But larger parks and forestry budgets and improved legislative protection are still needed to move forward, particularly in response to climate change and a growing population.

Did you know? Urban rewilding is a unique, modern, and extremely effective solution to increasingly jam-packed and sprawling city spaces. Creating green areas wherever possible (including on the sides and tops of tall buildings, bus stops, and even unused flyovers) helps to boost biodiversity, climate mitigation, and the overall wellbeing of city inhabitants.

How you can help: Get involved with NYC-based groups like the Re-Wilding Initiative, or volunteer through the “It’s My Park Initiative” via the City Parks Foundation. The Nature Conservancy is currently running several urban conservation projects in the city, focused on everything from green roofs to coastal resilience. Learn more about NYC wildlife here, including a calendar and location guide for aspiring animal-spotters. Read about the inspiring Freshkills Park project—the largest public park built in the city for over a century—here.

California vineyards swap pesticides for owls

The good news: The Department of Wildlife at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, is working on a long-term study to assess the potential for owls to replace rodenticides as natural pest control for vineyards and winemakers. The research team has placed approximately 300 owl nest boxes throughout the Napa Valley and will document the impact of this on rodent control. “It’s not just a pest control service, like a transactional thing,” professor Matt Johnson told Bay Nature.

The impact: Typical rat and mouse poisons are slow-acting and cause extremely painful deaths. They are also extremely toxic for other animals, including humans, and can build up in rodents’ bodies before dying—thereby exposing rodent-eating predators and scavengers like mountain lions and owls themselves to secondary poisoning.

Reducing the use of pesticides, in general, is thought to be optimal for, environmental, wildlife, and human health. And compared to other parts of the U.S., California already has relatively strict restrictions on pesticide use.

Did you know? Many owls are apex predators, and much like other animals at the top of the food chain, supporting a healthy population means more sustainable biodiversity overall. The barn owl, in particular, has impeccable vision and hearing and is able to locate and catch mice moving underneath plant life or snow out in the wild. Adults’ wingspans can reach around four feet, but they typically weigh just one pound and fly in absolute silence.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently reversed a Trump administration decision to open up millions of acres of west coast forest to logging. This is a huge win for the ultra-rare northern spotted owl, whose wellbeing and population size is also good indicator of overall environmental health.

How you can help: Because of barn owls’ nesting habits, artificial habitats are extremely easy to construct and likely to encourage an increased local population. Learn more about the Humboldt vineyard research project here and here, and read about the use of owls as pest control here. The Barn Owl Trust lists some fascinating facts about North American varieties here, and you can learn more about the northern spotted owl here.

The UK’s largest-ever urban rewilding project gets the green light

The good news: New York City isn’t the only cultural hub promoting rewilding. Derby, a city in the east midlands of England, just approved what the council believes will be the “largest urban rewilding greenspace” in the country. The project is located in Allestree Park, the area’s biggest open space, and will be a collaboration between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Rewilding Britain, the University of Derby, and the city council.

The impact: The layout of the park is still undetermined but it will connect the Peak District with the Trent Valley via the Derwent valley corridor, creating a vast network of green spaces. Allestree will likely include the creation of new woodlands, grasslands, wetland, and scrubland, and potentially reintroduce key species like the water vole and harvest mouse.

Did you know? This rewilding project aims to both boost biodiversity and provide the surrounding community with the countless benefits of natural space. The project coordinators also hope that Derby’s example will inspire other cities to formulate similar plans, particularly at a time when national access to wild spaces and biodiversity levels are so incredibly low and the need for both is so high.

How you can help: Rewilding has huge potential to mitigate climate change, protect the already ravaged environment, and improve quality of life. Researching your local area and getting involved directly is the best way to help, as is undertaking rewilding efforts in and around your own home—from building bird and insect shelters to growing wildflowers. Support Rewilding Britain here, Rewilding Europe here, and Rewilding North America here.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.