2024 had its moments. Many of which may have left you feeling the same emotion I did – utter despair for the future. And 2025 brings many more uncertainties, with climate sceptics at the helm, ongoing wars, natural disasters, and many other issues fighting for priority in people’s minds.
But it’s not all miserable. The negatives often overshadow the positives, especially in climate news. But that makes it all the more important to celebrate the small victories and stay motivated. There are still people fighting for the planet, and from these wonderful scientists, politicians, and ordinary people, came many headlines of hope.
There are some great initiatives in this list, so hopefully other countries take inspiration from their neighbours and see not only what’s possible, but in a lot of cases, just plain common sense.
Energy
- The Ratcliffe-on-soar coal powered station shut down. This was the final operating station in the UK, making us the first G7 country to completely stop using coal. Coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel and requires millions of years to form, so dropping it completely from our energy resource is brilliant.
- Wind and solar power overtook fossil fuels as the EU’s primary energy source. 30% of energy across the EU is now sourced from wind and solar, and we’re really chipping away at the dependency on coal and gas. This may be the only good thing to come from Russia’s war on Ukraine – the wake-up call for countries to push for energy independence, and fast.
Scotland is at the forefront of green energy (unsurprising with all that water and strong wind!), with enough wind and hydropower to count for 113% of their needs. - Biden has fast-tracked clean energy projects ahead of Trump taking over, making them secure under contract so these funds can’t be diverted elsewhere. This equates to approximately $96 billion towards projects in renewables, EVs, batteries, and more.
Conservation
- First successful IVF brings hope for northern white rhinos. With just two female northern white rhinos left in the world, this is a potentially species-saving breakthrough, especially as a lack of making babies makes them technically already extinct. The lab-grown rhino embryo was successfully implanted in a southern white rhino – a closely related species, so there’s a spark of hope for their northern cousins.
- World’s largest coral colony found unharmed by global warming near the Solomon Islands. It’s 300 years old, visible from space, and ‘in excellent health’. It’s so reassuring to know that not all corals in our oceans have been bleached!
- Greece became the first country to ban bottom trawling in marine-protected areas, which sounds nuts to me – how are bottom trawlers allowed in marine-protected areas in the first place? But I guess a win’s a win. Trawling is a seriously destructive fishing technique where heavy nets are dragged along the seabed. The introduction of this ban also included the announcement of two new ‘marine national parks’, which means that a third of all Greek-run waters will be off-limits to bottom trawlers.
Waste
- Czechia made textile recycling mandatory with a household collection that sorts fabrics from general waste. 180,000 tonnes of textiles are sent to landfill in the Czech Republic every year, or an estimated 7 million tonnes across Europe.
Additionally, France has also made organic waste recycling compulsory, with their ‘composte obligatoire‘ scheme, which takes household food waste to make biogas. - France banned ads for fast fashion and proposed an environmental surcharge for low cost items, the proceeds of which will subsidise sustainable clothing producers. Many unique, chic French brands have been forced to declare bankruptcy over the past few years of economic turmoil, and lately France (like the UK) has been inundated with mass-produced, poor-quality clothing from the likes of Shein and Temu.
- Spain announced a plan to ban domestic flights that would otherwise take less than 2.5 hours on a train (following France’s lead from 2023). Much of Europe is serviced by high-speed trains (they’re fabulous, totally recommend), so get the image of the UK’s rickety old breakdown machines out of your head. They’re far more comfortable, less stressful, and you get to see more of the world while cutting the carbon down.
Legal
- The EU Nature Restoration Law was passed, meaning that continent-wide ecosystem regeneration targets are now legally binding. Member states of the EU now have to set targets they can adhere to by the end of 2026, which aim to improve 20% of habitats by 2030, and all endangered habitats by 2050. Importantly though, is there is now a law which can be used in court cases in defence of climate activists.
- Po Delta lawsuit was successful. Although the Rosebank oil field legal battles are still ongoing, there was at least one significant win against fossil fuel companies in 2024. Climate groups took the Italian government to court over the ‘Teodorico’ gas drilling project, and won. The Po Delta wetlands in Italy is a rich, biodiverse habitat, home to thousands of species, and designated UNESCO Heritage site – but it’s sinking. Drilling is exacerbating this, endangering marine life, and therefore breaking EU law. So Po Valley Operations have had their licence revoked, and drilling has stopped in the area.
- Swiss government found guilty of violating human rights with inadequate climate policies. A group representing older women in Switzerland took their government to court, on the basis that climate change affects the vulnerable more than other groups, and that their country had not taken sufficient steps to prevent this. This case also paves the way for holding those in power accountable in future climate cases.
Other good news
- Scientists developed healthier, more environmentally-friendly chocolate by replacing the required sweetness from sugar with previously wasted cocoa pulp. That’s a win if I’ve ever heard one! I volunteer if they need a tester…
- Copenhagen launched a sustainable tourism initiative. The Danish city ran a trial project encouraging tourists to be more considerate and eco-conscious when visiting, by offering incentives with local organisations. From free kayak rental to lunch, this project offered a totally different type of tourism that immersed visitors in the real Copenhagen. To access these incentives, participants would pick litter, take bikes instead of cars, help out in community gardens, or even just take part in Danish pastimes like morning swims.. Not to everyone’s taste, but a really interesting idea, and one that yielded positive results.
- And finally, my fave: dogs spread wildflowers around Sussex. Go look at the pictures of these heroes and you’re assured a smile.
This is by no means a full list of the successes and wonderful stories of the past year, so please share others below. There are people across every sector creating solutions for problems, from the niche to the global. From soil batteries to new types of chicken feed, these small actions create ripples, and keep hope and belief in the good of humanity alive.
Ecoetry 