When talking about the global climate and environmental crisis, there is reason for concern, but if the feeling of hopelessness becomes almost all-encompassing, apathy often creeps into our thoughts and actions. Last year, three environmental educators prepared an excellent article* on how to combat eco-anxiety and the need to maintain hope, or “stubborn optimism,” as formulated by Christiana Figueres.

The media has a major role to play in the fight against climate catastrophe. Our task is to provide truthful and accurate reports, not to attempt to downplay the seriousness of the situation or diminish the green reality. However, our task is also to show that there is hope!

In 2022, in an effort to combat eco-anxiety (both our readers' and our own), we continued to track all the positive environmental stories of the year.

This article will be regularly updated with the latest good news. It could be something small and local, something silly that made us smile, or something huge and potentially world-changing.

If you have come across a great, positive story that we have not described here, please reach out to us on social media – Instagram or Twitter, to share stories and experiences.

Positive environmental stories up to November 2022

Using satellites, the UN will search for methane sources from space

The environmental watchdog organization operating within the UN will create a publicly accessible database of methane leaks detected by space satellites. The new program will encourage companies and governments to curb emissions of the potent greenhouse gas. 119 countries have pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade.

Study results show: eggs can be used to filter microplastics and salt from water

An egg may prove to be a reliable ally in the fight against plastic pollution, scientists at Princeton University have discovered. It has been found that egg whites can remove salt and microplastics from seawater with 98% and 99% efficiency respectively. The question is – how to put this into practice...

Indian farmers fight climate change and desertification

Climate change is exacerbating the reduction of arable land, and Indian farmers are fighting against land desertification using natural methods. “The land here used to be hard as a brick,” says 37-year-old farmer Ramesh. “Now it is like a sponge, rich in nutrients, and full of life.”

COP27 allocates USD 15 million for the protection of Egyptian coral reefs – will it help?

Sharm El-Sheikh's coral reefs have long attracted tourists. They are among the most biologically diverse reefs in the world; they are home to more than a thousand different fish species and approximately 350 coral species.

The US agency USAID has announced a grant of 15 million US dollars (14.9 million euros) to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to save these reefs.

EU agrees on stricter rules for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

An agreement has been reached in the European Union on binding emission reduction targets in specific sectors, such as road transport, agriculture, buildings, and waste management. These stricter targets provide for even greater reductions in planned emissions than previously expected, which each country has committed to achieving in the coming years.

Outdoor living rooms and renewable energy: how San Francisco is fighting climate change

San Francisco is addressing the problem of air pollution and traffic congestion through several initiatives.

“San Francisco residents care,” explains the city's mayor, London Breed. “You just have to look at whether you can implement it, whether it is actually feasible and achievable.”

COP27: A new UN early warning system could be useful

The UN will invest 3.1 billion euros to create early warning systems for climate disasters that will be accessible and understandable to every person on Earth.

This initiative could potentially prevent mass casualties and devastation in developing countries. In countries with limited early warning coverage, mortality from natural disasters is eight times higher than in countries with high coverage.
* https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/08/09/exploiting-people-s-eco-anxiety-is-dangerous-it-s-up-to-climate-communicators-to-fix-thing