Good News for the Environment

Sustainable stories of progress for the planet

Two images side-by-side. On the left, a woman and a man stand in Yosemite National Park holding a large burlap sack to collect trash. They also hold two trash picker sticks in their hands. On the right, the same two people sit in the Rush Creek Spa, wearing robes, with their feet in a small bath. They look at peace as they throw up some "peace" signs.

Pick up trash at Yosemite, and you can trade in your loot for a free spa treatment

The Yosemite Facelift combines environmental stewardship with a relaxing escape.

A side-by-side comparison image shows the difference between a colorblind view of fall leaves, compared to one that uses an EnChroma filter, highlighting vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves.

Colorblind visitors hoping to see autumn leaves can use new viewfinders in all of Virginia's state parks

Just in time for stunning fall vistas, Virginia’s 43 state parks are now home to special viewfinders for colorblind visitors.

An aerial view of Parr Hill Park in Joplin, Missouri

Local parks get record $254 million boost from Interior Department. Here's a full list of cities benefitting

A historic grant from the Department of the Interior will redevelop or create new parks in “park-deprived” areas across the country.

A subway train rolls into a station in Barcelona.

How Barcelona's subway system is powering EVs with regenerative braking

The ultra-fast EV charger outside the Bellvitge station is among four electrolineras — Spanish for “electric gas stations” — that went up in July whose powers are generated by the city's trains.

A group of elementary children wearing winter coats and backpacks stand on a street corner outside an elementary school waiting for crossing guards

Study shows London's 'emissions zone' helps more kids walk and bike to school

Four in 10 London children stopped driving and started walking to school a year after the city's clean air zone went into effect.

A scientist crouches down to tend to his garden

Scientists and farmers restore Aztec-era floating farms to save axolotls

Scientists from the Ecological Restoration Laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and farmers from the area are promoting a comprehensive restoration program to conserve this group of chinampas and all the living things that depend on it.

A digital illustration of mountains, sea, and grasslands with a sun and clouds in the sky

12 Ways to Celebrate National Public Lands Day

September 28 is National Public Lands Day! Here's a guide to celebrating and protecting America's beloved natural spaces.

It’s been a good year for bees — 6 new species discovered in Pennsylvania, following global trend

The discoveries follow new findings of luminescent bees in California and "dog-snouted" bees in Western Australia.

On the left is the indoor vertical farm of Plenty Richmond Farm in Virginia, on the right is the towering, vertical strawberry plants.

World's first vertical strawberry farm opens in Virginia

The towering berries cover over 400,000 square feet inside Plenty’s new vertical farm.

An aerial view of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

NFL teams up with FEMA, designating these stadiums as emergency shelters

A first-of-its-kind partnership officially links the NFL with FEMA to aid in disaster relief.

A close up of ground coffee in a portafilter

Using everyday waste, scientists invent 'coffee robots' to clean oil & microplastics from water

At least 6 million tons of coffee grounds are created annually — but scientists believe this waste could reduce water pollution.

Scientists uncover heat-tolerant corals in Great Barrier Reef, indicating a better future for reefs

In research published today, we discovered surprising new evidence of variable heat tolerance in corals. As the world’s oceans warm, these differences are important.