Positive News

Over the first two months of 2024, a combination of nuclear, solar, wind, and hydropower powered a record 60% of the grid across the European continent. And the good news doesn't stop there: Europe's annual use of fossil fuels fell by 12%, accompanied by a 15% drop in energy produced by coal-fired plants. 🌬️☀️⚡️ | Source: Good News Network

More than 2,000 women, all over the age of 64, challenged Switzerland's failure to act decisively on addressing climate change and its impact on their health and well-being before Europe's highest human rights court. This victory is set to have far-reaching implications and influence court judgments worldwide. 🌍👩‍⚖️ | Source: Reuters

The European Commission has given the green light to Greece's €1 billion investment in two major renewable energy initiatives. These investments align with EU decarbonization goals and are expected to increase Greece's renewable energy production by 8% compared to 2020 levels. ☀️ | Source: EuroNews

Brazil and France announced a partnership to protect the Amazon rainforest. The countries have pledged to invest $1.1 billion to end deforestation in the Brazilian and Guyanese Amazon by 2030. 🌳 | Source: Reuters

Dubbed the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA), a new ecoregion with hundreds of unknown species has been identified, stretching from northern Mozambique to Mount Mulanje in Malawi. After decades of surveys and exploration, scientists are advocating for the protection of this unique "island archipelago," home to 127 plants endemic to the region, as well as previously undiscovered animals like the Mabu bush viper. 🐍 | Source: Forbes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just unveiled $20B for environmental intiatives in low-income areas. The funding aims to bolster green energy and affordable housing projects, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change. 🏡 | Source: Mongabay

Skywalker gibbons have been confirmed in Myanmar for the first time! Using acoustic monitoring and DNA analysis, scientists have identified 44 groups of this charismatic, white-eyebrowed primate — making it the largest known population of the endangered species on the planet. 🐒 | Source: Mongabay

World-class training is enhancing the protection of cetaceans along the Kenyan coast, as the International Fund for Animal Welfare partners with Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation and the Kenya Wildlife Service and to lead a three-day training course for Kenyan rangers and fishermen on whale disentanglement and dolphin stranding response. 🐳🐬⛑️ | Source: IFAW

3 million shipwrecks have become helpful habitats for underwater life worldwide. When a vessel sinks, tiny microbes settle on the wreck, forming a carpet of cells called a biofilm that help make the surface more hospitable for the floating larvae of organisms like sponges and corals to settle and mature. These secondary settlers sometimes appear within minutes of a ship sinking, using it for shelter, resting places during migrations, and more. 🦠🪸| Source: Good Good Good

Huge new no-fishing zones give Antarctic marine predators and their prey a break! Following last month's expansion of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) marine protected area, the SGSSI government further established new no-fishing zones covering 166,000 sq. km and prohibited krill fishing in an additional 17,000 sq. km! This decision continues to safeguards millions of seals, tens of millions of breeding birds, and the largest penguin colony on Earth. 🐧 🦭🧊 | Source: Mongabay