A Dose of Climate Optimism
Feb 28, 2025
Although (real and grounded) climate optimism is so much more than just positive news, learning about things that are going right in this world can help you foster hope and seek inspiration of your own. Therefore, we will share some highlights from the week and shed light on climate optimism from around the world.
Here is this week’s dose of climate optimism!
Deal on new EU rules to reduce textile and food waste
A vision of hope for climate solutions
On Tuesday night, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU. The new rules would cover food waste from retail, restaurants, food services, and households, and products such as clothing and accessories, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, curtains, hats. At Parliament’s initiative, EU countries may also set up EPR schemes for the producers of mattresses.
Earth saw record-high greening in 2020: What's at the root?
As pandemic lockdowns forced humans into isolation, Earth's vegetation was thriving. The year 2020 was the greenest in modern satellite records from 2001 to 2020, according to a recent study published in Remote Sensing of Environment.
But was the pandemic cause for this rebounce? The study says not so much.
The team found that 2020's record-high greening was instead primarily associated with temperate and colder regions, fueled by rising CO2 levels, climate warming and reforestation efforts.
A climate tipping point warning system was awarded millions in funding
An ambitious attempt to develop an early warning system for climate tipping points will combine fleets of drones, cosmic ray detection and the patterns of plankton blooms with artificial intelligence and the most detailed computer models to date.
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Bill banning developments in state parks advances in the Senate
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously advanced legislation on Tuesday that would prevent the construction of hotels, golf courses, and pickleball courts in state parks.
Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell filed SB 58 in response to the widely criticized plans unveiled last summer to build such amenities in at least nine parks, prompting protests across the state and a bipartisan backlash.
Dunkin Donuts will stop charging extra for non-dairy milk
Starting next month, Dunkin' will no longer charge its customers extra for ordering their drinks with plant-based milk or dairy alternatives.
The coffee company told USA TODAY that starting March 5, plant-based milk will be among the standard options for beverages. Oh how long I’ve been waiting for this!
More Than 50,000 Pounds of Trash Removed from the Arctic in 2023
Over 50,000 pounds of trash have been removed from the Arctic in 2023 after a multilateral effort flooded critical northern ecosystems with volunteers.
Nearly 2,000 volunteers were enlisted across the treaty nations of the Arctic Council, an inter-governmental panel on peaceful and sustainable use and protection of the Arctic zone formed by the nations that pierce its frozen borders, and the indigenous peoples that call it home.
Coming Next Week:
Next week I’m kicking off a super exciting challenge called IMAGINE THE UNIMAGINABLE! It’s a call for all of us to invite space for an even better world to unfold.
I already have some amazing books and goodies in the gift raffle and I can’t wait to share the details with you. If you are a brand, author, or visionary with something to gift, please ping me - I’d love to include you!
Words of Hope
“We cannot find the best path forward by assuming we already know the way.”
— Maggie Jackson, Author of Uncertain
More Climate Optimism:
☀️ Activate your journey of empowered and resilient climate leadership with The Climate Optimist Course
☀️ Check out The Climate Optimist Handbook for a guide to inner resilience and hope.
☀️ I'm currently open for booking throughout 2025 - visit my website to learn more about my workshop and speaking offerings.
☀️ Looking for a more hands-on experience? I now offer one-on-one coaching for a selected few. Schedule a call to see if this might benefit you!
