Good Planet News 2025 Wrap-Up

It’s easy to get caught up in the world that was in 2025. This year has been fraught with catastrophe, war, climate disaster, and conflict. It’s even more important now to reflect on the positive developments for our planet and our communities in the past 12 months. This 2025 wrap-up doesn’t bring you individual news stories, but several round-ups of good planet news stories for 2025.

1) Conservation Wins: WWF Highlights Global Progress

What happened: A year-end review from WWF highlights major conservation successes in forests, seas, and freshwater ecosystems. It also showcases achievements in species protection. The review demonstrates collective gains from restoration and stewardship.

Why it’s hopeful: Stories like restored habitats and species thriving offer hope that long-term conservation efforts do pay off when communities and scientists work together.

Read the full story: World Wildlife Fund

2) Positive Environmental Stories from Around the World

What happened: A curated roundup of uplifting environmental developments. This includes renewable tech innovations and remarkable biodiversity news. This proves that positive change is happening globally.

Why it’s hopeful: Seeing diverse and creative solutions and wins across sectors is encouraging. It reinforces that progress isn’t one-dimensional. People everywhere are contributing to it.

Read the full story: euronews

3) Time’s Good News of the Year

What happened: The Antarctic hole is shrinking. Green turtles have reversed their extinct status. These are some of the positive science and climate stories highlighted by Time magazine from 2025. These stories spotlight breakthroughs and nature recovery updates. They also showcase innovation that provides reasons for optimism.

Why it’s hopeful: The power of the narrative. Coverage from a major global outlet helps bring positive momentum to the mainstream narrative. This balances distressing climate coverage with tangible progress.

Read the full story: TIME

4) Science & Tech Advances for the Planet

What happened: The Week outlined key environmental and climate science breakthroughs in 2025. These included advances in carbon tracking, green materials, energy tech, and ecosystem monitoring.

Why it’s hopeful: Technical innovation supports renewable energy and ecosystem resilience. It fuels long-term solutions beyond policy alone.

Read the full story: The Week

5) Historic Clean Energy Milestone: Renewables Outpace Coal

What happened: For the first time in history, renewable energy (mainly solar and wind) produced more electricity globally than coal in 2025. This event marked a symbolic and systemic shift in the global power mix.

Why it’s a big climate story: It’s a measurable global shift in how we power the world. This change is driven by technology, markets, and massive deployment of clean energy. It signals that in the energy system where most carbon comes from, cleaner sources are now leading.
Read the full story: Reuters

Hope, Connection & Climate Progress

From biodiversity rebounds to world-wide clean energy milestones, 2025 was a year of interdependence, regeneration, and shared purpose:

Nature heals when nurtured: Conservation milestones and biodiversity gains remind us that ecosystems can rebound when humans partner with nature.

Clean technology becomes common ground: Breakthroughs and energy shifts aren’t just technical; they represent communities moving toward shared prosperity and ecological stewardship.

Hope is collective: These stories highlight that meaningful climate progress is not isolated. It emerges from scientists, activists, local organisers, engineers, and everyday people working together.

Good Planet News Weekly, 6 November

Edition: 6 November 2025
Theme: Respecting our Oceans, Restoring Balance, Regenerating Connection

Each of these stories embodies Buen Vivir: the understanding that socio-eco wellbeing arises when we live in harmony with all life. From Antarctic waters to the Amazong, people are re-imagining progress not as extraction, but as regeneration.

UK Retailer Ends Krill Sales for Antarctic Conservation

Holland & Barrett, a major UK health retailer, has stopped selling krill-based supplements to protect the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The move supports marine biodiversity by reducing harvest pressure on krill — the foundation of the Antarctic food web.
Source: Sea Shepherd Global – Positive Waves October 2025

Buen Vivir connection: Recognising the rights of ocean life to flourish, not merely to serve human markets.

Why it matters: Small consumer-market shifts can ripple outward to protect critical species and foster corporate accountability grounded in ecological ethics.

2. Wild Animals Officially Recognised as Critical Enablers of Climate Solutions

In a landmark move last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognised wild animals as essential allies for nature-based climate solutions. Thriving populations — from whales and fish that store carbon in the ocean to elephants and birds that regenerate forests — stabilise the planet’s systems.

This resolution sparks a significant turning point in international law, reframing wildlife not just passive victims of climate change, but as active participants, through seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem balance.

Source: Oceanographic Magazine

Buen Vivir connection: Affirms the interdependence of all life, recognising animals as holders of rights and co-creators of planetary balance.

Why it matters: Protecting animals becomes a pathway to restoring carbon cycles, regenerating ecosystems, and renewing our relationship with Earth.

3. Community-Led Ocean Protection Through “Soft Law”

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

Researchers at the University of Exeter show that voluntary, community-based agreements can outperform rigid regulations in protecting marine ecosystems. By respecting local autonomy and cultural context, communities sustain conservation more naturally.

Source: Oceanographic Magazine

Buen Vivir connection: Harmony through collaboration, not domination.

Why it matters: Empowering coastal communities affirms that ecological wisdom lies not only in science, but in the lived experience of those most connected to the sea.

4. Brazil: Forest Protection and Local Prosperity Intertwined

At the Instituto Arapyaú, Renata Piazzon and partners are demonstrating that healthy forests and thriving local economies can coexist. Their projects link sustainable production, community wellbeing, and biodiversity.

Source: Mongabay – Brazil Can Protect Its Forests While Growing Its Economy

Buen Vivir connection: Mutual flourishing of people and ecosystems.

Why it matters: It shows how care for land and nature can generate enduring socio-eco wellbeing.

5. Boulder, Colorado: Urban Food Security Through Nature-Based Solutions

In Boulder, community members are collaborating with local Nature-Based Solutions teams to expand urban farms, restore pollinator corridors, and build climate resilience.
Source: City of Boulder

Buen Vivir connection: Food security re-roots the idea of nourishment in place, community, and reciprocity.

Why it matters: Demonstrates how cities can regenerate ecosystems while improving food access, transforming concrete into care.

🌍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

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.

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 CO₂. Better data helps us understand climate feedbacks, improve climate models, and protect key carbon sinks.

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.

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.
Read more →

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.

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.
Read more →

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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🌿 Good Planet News Weekly

Mangrove Restoration_Kenya_Mangroves (3) - Salesforce

Global South Edition

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

🌍 🌱

🌊 Marereni, Kenya: A Community-Led Mangrove Revival

What happened
In Marereni, Kilifi County, a collaborative effort between Seatrees, Community-Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC), and local communities has led to the restoration of over 640 hectares of mangrove forests. The project has engaged over 600 community members, predominantly women, in establishing and maintaining mangrove nurseries. Participants earn income from selling mangrove seedlings and engaging in restoration activities. The initiative has resulted in improved fish stocks and enhanced coastal resilience.
🔗 Read more →

Buen Vivir Principles:

Community-led & endogenous: Local communities are at the forefront of the restoration efforts, utilizing traditional knowledge and practices.
Holistic wellbeing: The project addresses ecological health, economic stability, and cultural values.
Reciprocity with nature: The restoration of mangroves enhances biodiversity and provides ecosystem services that benefit the community.

Why it matters
This project exemplifies how community-led initiatives can effectively restore ecosystems while providing sustainable livelihoods and enhancing resilience to climate change.

🌿 Lamu County, Kenya: Integrating Restoration with Community Development

What happened
The Lamu County Mangrove Restoration Initiative, led by Eden People+Planet, restored over 1,120 hectares of mangrove forests from 2020 to 2024. The project integrated mangrove restoration with inland forest protection and community development across multiple ecological zones. Innovative restoration techniques were developed, providing valuable foundations for future carbon-eligible mangrove projects in similar landscapes across the region.
🔗 Learn more →

Buen Vivir Principles

Holistic wellbeing: The project addressed ecological health, economic stability, and cultural values.
Alternative economies: The initiative promoted sustainable livelihoods through eco-friendly practices.
Plural/local context: Restoration techniques were tailored to the local ecological zones and community needs.

Why it matters
This initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating ecological restoration with community development, leading to sustainable and resilient ecosystems.

🌊 Gazi Bay, Kenya: Restoring Ecosystems and Livelihoods

What happened
The Aga Khan Foundation, in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, is restoring 226 hectares of degraded mangrove forests in Gazi Bay, Kwale County. The three-year project aims to rehabilitate vital ecosystems while fostering sustainable livelihoods. It aligns with AKF’s commitment to integrating environmental restoration with community development, ensuring long-term ecological health and economic stability.
🔗 Discover the project →

Buen Vivir Principles

Community-led & endogenous: Local communities are engaged in the restoration efforts, utilizing traditional knowledge and practices.
Holistic wellbeing: The project addresses ecological health, economic stability, and cultural values.
Reciprocity with nature: The restoration of mangroves enhances biodiversity and provides ecosystem services that benefit the community.

Why it matters
This project highlights the importance of integrating environmental restoration with community development to build resilience and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

🌊 Kolkata’s Heritage Revival: A Community-Led Transformation

What happened
Between November 2023 and September 2025, Kolkata, India has undergone a transformative heritage revival driven by a citizen-powered initiative named Kolkata Restorers. What started modestly with crowdfunding to light up the dome of Maniktala Market has grown into a vibrant movement revitalizing 94 historic buildings across the city. Through small donations—often Rs 500 to Rs 1,000—from individuals, families, and NRIs, residents have embraced preservation as a shared civic responsibility. Iconic landmarks like Raj Bhavan, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and New Market now glow at night as symbols of civic pride and historical continuity. The initiative fosters a “democracy of memory,” where even small contributions allow citizens to feel personally connected to Kolkata’s cultural narrative. By mirroring global heritage cities like Paris and Istanbul, this movement demonstrates how collective action can redefine urban pride and inspire hope. The Times of India

Buen Vivir Principles

Community-led & endogenous: Residents are at the forefront of the restoration efforts, utilizing traditional knowledge and practices.
Holistic wellbeing: The project addresses cultural preservation, community pride, and environmental sustainability.
Reciprocity with nature: The restoration of historic buildings enhances the city’s aesthetic value and fosters a deeper connection to the environment.

Why it matters
This initiative exemplifies how community-led efforts can effectively restore cultural heritage while promoting environmental sustainability and fostering a sense of collective identity.