Small wins for the environment

A few reasons for hope:

Melina Evangelidi, 15, February 2026

Nowadays, negative headlines regarding the climate situation prevail all around the news. Global warming leads to extreme weather conditions such as wildfires, floods, and heatwaves. Greenhouse gas levels are now about 50% higher than pre-industrial levels, glaciers and ice sheets are melting rapidly, sea levels are rising, and ecosystems from the Amazon to the Arctic face collapse. Oceans are warming, and slow action on clean energy or more fossil fuel use is stopping real progress.

Yet, amid these challenges there are still many reasons to keep fighting for our planet. Small environmental wins show that progress is still happening.

Wildlife comeback: The giant panda

The giant panda has officially come off the endangered list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, as of September 2025. The panda used to be on the Red List of Threatened Species under the "Endangered" column. But, years of conservation efforts allowed the panda population to grow, and the iconic Asian bears are now considered "Vulnerable" instead. This did not happen overnight since it took years of effort, belief, consistent protection, and refusal to give up.

However, the fact that giant pandas are no longer listed as Endangered does not mean the work is done. Pandas are still vulnerable, and many of the threats that pushed them toward extinction remain. Habitat loss, human activity, and past policy decisions continue to affect their survival.

Today, there are only 1,864 giant pandas left in the wild, most of them living in their native China. Protecting and expanding their habitats, as well as addressing the policies that once put them at risk, remains essential if panda populations are to continue growing.

Giant pandas are no longer in danger. PHOTO: WWF, Edwin Giesbers

Cleaner rivers: River Seine clean up

After years of sustained cleanup efforts, authorities announced that parts of the Seine are finally safe for public swimming again, ending a century-long ban. In 2024, after years of cleanup efforts accelerated ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, authorities confirmed that the River Seine had reached water quality levels safe enough to allow public swimming starting in summer 2025.

Large infrastructure projects helped prevent sewage from overflowing into the river during heavy rainfall, while stronger environmental regulations reduced harmful pollutants. As a result, biodiversity has slowly returned, and the river is being reclaimed as a shared public space rather than a lost cause.

This achievement is about more than swimming. Access to clean water is a matter of climate and environmental justice. Urban rivers often flow through densely populated areas, and pollution affects communities unevenly. Cleaning the Seine restores a basic right: the right to a healthy environment, even in the heart of a major city.

The story of the Seine proves that damaged ecosystems are not beyond repair. With consistent action and political commitment, rivers once written off can become symbols of recovery and reminders that environmental protection does work.

Following a century-long ban due to pollution, Parisians and tourists can now swim in designated areas of the River Seine. A major cleanup operation was completed to remove industrial waste, sewage overflow, and dangerous bacteria that had been contaminating its waters since 1923. PHOTO: Earth.org

Renewable energy progress: Clean energy is growing

For a long time, renewable energy was seen as something for the future. Today, it is already part of everyday life. Solar and wind energy are growing faster than any other energy sources worldwide.

In recent years, many countries have increased their use of renewable energy. Solar power has expanded rapidly because it is now cheaper and easier to install. Wind energy has also grown, especially in Europe. Denmark is one of the world’s renewable energy leaders, generating around 88% of its electricity from renewable sources. Countries such as Germany rely heavily on both solar and wind power while Djibouti has rapidly expanded renewable energy, now generating around 67% of its electricity from renewables.

This progress matters for climate justice. Clean energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps protect communities from pollution caused by fossil fuels. It can also create new jobs and lower energy costs, especially for people who have been most affected by climate change.

Fossil fuels are still widely used, but the growth of renewable energy shows that change is possible. Every step toward clean energy is a step toward a healthier and more fair future.

Sources:

• Here’s the bad climate news you missed this year

• 16 biggest Environmental problems of 2026

• Giant panda officially off the Endangered list

• Historic Cleanup Ends Century-Long Swimming Ban in River Seine

• Paris cleaned up the Seine. The guardian

• Renewable energy. Our world data

• What is renewable energy? United Nations