A Dose of Climate Optimism
June 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. Here is last month’s dose of climate optimism!
Is Donald Trump actually doing the climate a favour?
No one is going to accuse Donald Trump of actually caring about climate change. But something interesting has happened in the 142 days (yes, that’s all it’s been) since Trump took office. In an increasing number of electoral contests that have occurred around the world since January 20, there has been a palpable anti-Trump backlash. This will have significant – and positive – consequences with respect to climate change progress.
Bank Unveils Green Loans Plan to Unlock Trillions for Climate Finance
A major bank is unlocking trillions through a new green loans initiative, empowering both governments and businesses to invest in climate solutions. Financial institutions are finally seeing sustainability as not only necessary—but profitable.
“This could be an engine for green growth, and produce the trillions needed for climate finance in the future,” he told the Guardian. “It could be a transformation.”
US senators call on EPA to study reuse, refill
A pair of U.S. senators active in recycling policy introduced their latest bill this week, this time focused on reuse.
The REUSE Act would direct the U.S. EPA to conduct a feasibility study on reuse and refill systems in different sectors. This may include in-food service, food and beverage products, consumer cleaning products, personal care products, education institutions, and transportation and shipping of wholesale and retail goods.
New York Legislature Boosts Public Oversight for Green Energy Projects
New York is strengthening community engagement in green energy rollouts, ensuring public voices are centered in climate solutions. It’s a win for people-powered progress and more equitable transformation.
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Clean Energy Has Fans in Trump’s America, Complicating Budget Talks
Despite political divides, clean energy is winning support across red states—proof that solar panels and wind turbines are becoming mainstream, practical, and too good to ignore. Momentum builds where you least expect it.
Canada: Five New Projects Approved Through Green Transition Fund
The Green Transition Fund just greenlit five bold initiatives accelerating our move to net zero—from clean tech to community infrastructure. The Green Transition Fund aims to propel the development of environmentally sustainable business practices and clean technologies in the province and position Newfoundland and Labrador as a leader in the global green transition. This fund supports the greening of commercial operations, research and development, manufacturing and extractive resource development, and other areas that help transition to a greener economy.
Investment in Green Hydrogen
California:
A $1.85 billion investment in California will soon deliver the largest green hydrogen facility in the U.S.—a game-changer for clean energy storage and industrial decarbonization. Big steps, big hope.
Brazil:
Brazil is making history with the world’s biggest green hydrogen plant, paving the way for a global clean energy transition. Climate leadership can be bold, beautiful, and born in the Global South.
Words of Hope
“Optimism is a practice. And sometimes, it means getting really obsessive about the future we actually want to create.”
— Anne Therese Gennari, on Hey Change Podcast
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From the perspective of a Canadian, good Newfoundland & Labrador!
On another note, Donald Trump indirectly helping climate initiatives? He would hate that. But if the sentement is there, to, essentially, adopt clean energy because he doesnt believe in it, then I think we need to do more as a population to encourage it. Ride the momentum. Protect the seedlings that are taking root so they can grow.