🌍Good Planet News Weekly, 3 October

Date: Friday, October 3, 2025

No news is good news — besides this good news round-up bringing you a dose of positivity and hope.

Buen Vivir reminds us that ecological wellbeing and human wellbeing are inseparable.


Theme: Buen Vivir & Regeneration: Community Stewardship in Action

Photo by Cup of Couple on Pexels.com
  1. Great Barrier Reef Cleanup 2025 (Australia)
    Communities along Queensland’s coastline are participating in beach & reef cleanups, removing marine debris and collecting data to inform future pollution reduction.
    Read more →

Buen Vivir connection: Reciprocity with ecosystems, local stewardship, holistic wellbeing.
Why it matters: Marine debris degrades coral, harms wildlife, and inhibits reef recovery. Local clean-ups not only reduce degradation but empower communities with knowledge and agency over their seascapes.

 

  1. Schmidt Sciences Launches Antarctic Drone Fleet
    Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is funding a fleet of autonomous surface drones to map ocean CO₂ and improve understanding of the Southern Ocean’s carbon cycle.
    Read more →

Buen Vivir connection: Knowledge as reciprocity, global commons care, scientific guardianship.
Why it matters: The Southern Ocean plays a huge role in absorbing COâ‚‚. Better data helps us understand climate feedbacks, improve climate models, and protect key carbon sinks.

 

  1. Urban Climate Science Strengthening in Australia
    New research points out critical gaps in Australia’s urban climate modelling and observational systems and calls for local capacity building.
    Read more →

Buen Vivir connection: Local capacity, context-sensitive knowledge, community resilience.
Why it matters: Most Australians live in cities. Without accurate urban climate models and monitoring, adaptation plans may fail. Strengthening this capacity helps societal resilience to heat, storms, and other extremes.

 

  1. Bio-tar to Bio-carbon: Turning Waste into Carbon Solutions
    Scientists have found ways to transform bio-tar (a waste product) into a bio-carbon material that can help capture emissions and degrade pollutants.
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Buen Vivir connection: Transforming waste into regenerative resource, ecological reciprocity, innovation for good.
Why it matters: Many waste streams are overlooked. Turning bio-tar into a functional carbon-capturing material could reduce emissions, detoxify environments, and close material loops.

 

  1. Coral & Mangrove Restoration Led by Pacific Communities
    In parts of the Pacific, local community science projects are growing corals and restoring mangroves, combining local ecological knowledge with regenerative practices.
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Buen Vivir connection: Community-led restoration, plural ecological knowledge, cultural ties to sea.
Why it matters: Coastal communities rely on healthy reefs & mangroves for food, storm protection, and identity. When they lead restoration, outcomes tend to be more durable, locally adapted, and ethically grounded.

 

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