A Bit Of Environmental Inspiration For 2026

Doomscrolling is all too easy these days, so how about we take a moment to celebrate some of the wins for our planet this year?

From the big to the small, here are some positive things Mother Nature brought us in 2025:

Ozone Hole Over Antarctic Is Shrinking, In Rare Environmental Success Story

Perhaps one of the biggest indicators of success from the world’s efforts to take care of our climate, the notorious ozone hole over the Antarctic is shrinking.

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The World Meteorological Organization released its Ozone Bulletin earlier this year, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, the agreement that first recognized ozone depletion as a global threat.

The ozone hole has improved significantly in recent years, part of a long-term trend of recovery thanks to the phasing out of the destructive chemicals known as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) following the Montreal Protocol of 1987.

First Time Ever: Renewables Overtake Coal In Global Power Generation

For the first time on record, renewable energy sources like wind and solar produced more electricity than coal in the first half of 2025, marking a major milestone in the global transition toward cleaner power.

The global demand for energy increased by 2.6% between January and June, and 83% of that increase was provided by solar energy alone, which climbed an astonishing 31% in just six months.

Meanwhile, coal-generated power decreased by 0.6% over those six months, proving that it’s all about those baby steps that add up to eventually reach a larger goal.

In Texas, solar farms were projected to overtake coal plants for power generation during a calendar year in 2025, according to a report from Reuters.

How This Animal Helped Save Yellowstone's Aspen Trees

In a clear sign of the interconnectedness of the world around us, aspen trees in Yellowstone National Park are making a clear comeback, with 43% of surveyed stands now containing a new generation of overstory aspen trees, something that hasn’t been seen since the 1940s.

And the surprising reason for the recovery? The return of wolves and other predators to the forests of Yellowstone.

Large carnivores such as wolves, bears and cougars reduced elk browsing of young aspen shoots, eventually allowing for more growth from the young trees.

Chicago River Is Clean Enough To Welcome Swimmers Again

After nearly 100 years (98, to be exact), organized swimming returned to the once-heavily-polluted Chicago River in September of this year.

The river was once considered one of America’s most polluted waterways, but decades of sanitation efforts have truly paid off.

In the 1970s, the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency set strict limits on pollution entering waterways across the country, marking a major milestone in efforts to clean the river.

Local advocacy groups are still working to clean the river today, and the water quality is routinely monitored, especially in preparation for the swim, which raised funds for ALS and youth swimming lessons.

These Cows Could Be Dairy Industry's Climate Game-Changer

In the world of climate science, the fact that the emission of methane from cow burps is a significant contributor to global climate change is a favorite trivia tidbit for any kid (and many adults).

But through DNA analysis and in vitro fertilization (IVF), a team of scientists has found that they can reduce the amount of methane produced in each new generation of cows by 2%.

And while that may sound small, the project, known as “Cool Cows,” can result in a 40% drop in emissions over 20 years.

This is huge news for efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases because methane has a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, so even small reductions can have a fast and measurable impact on global temperatures.

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.