2026's positive environmental breakthroughs and eco-innovations
12 November 2026 - Ocean protection, restrictions on persistent chemicals, and a shift in electricity generation offer concrete reasons for hope in 2026. Here is what changed, what the evidence shows, and what still needs to happen. (more)

US: Indigenous group turns vacant lots into gardens
12 November 2026 - Sweetgrass that smells like vanilla. Corn that hasn't grown in this soil for centuries. A bird bath made from clam shells. All of it now sits on a lot that used to be empty -- one of the three that an Indigenous-led nonprofit has transformed in the middle of Philadelphia. (more)

Sweden moves to ban PFAS in consumer products from 2028
11 November 2026 - Sweden has announced plans to prohibit PFAS in consumer products from 1 January 2028, becoming one of the latest European countries to introduce national restrictions ahead of wider European Union legislation. The Swedish government says the ban is intended to reduce human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic chemicals widely used for their water, grease and stain-resistant properties. (more)

UN COP31: Energy transition takes center stage as countries map path beyond fossil fuels
11 November 2026 - The global energy transition took center stage on the second day of COP31 (the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as countries explored how to move away from fossil fuels, accelerate clean energy, and overcome financial and infrastructure barriers standing in the way. (more)

Countries that have banned animal testing -- and what's next
10 November 2026 - The ethical debate surrounding animal testing has intensified in recent decades, leading to significant policy changes across the globe. As consumers become increasingly conscious of the ethical implications behind the products they purchase, governments worldwide have responded by implementing restrictions or outright bans on animal testing for cosmetics and other consumer products. This shift represents not just a victory for animal rights advocates but also reflects broader societal changes in how we view animal welfare and scientific progress. (more)

US: Deb Haaland makes history as first Native American woman elected Governor of New Mexico
10 November 2026 - Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, made history as the first Native American woman elected governor of New Mexico, building on a career dedicated to Indigenous rights, tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, and greater Native American representation in government. (more)

US study: The butterfly effect: a brighter way to make paint?
9 November 2026 - The science behind butterflies' vibrant colors could inspire a new generation of safer, more durable paints and glitters. Researchers at Northeastern University (NU), headquartered in Boston, US, are taking a cue from nature in their search for coatings without harmful chemical-based pigments. (more)

World Science Day for Peace and Development, November 10th
9 November 2026 - Celebrated every 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the important role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives. The 2026 theme is: Common ground through science diplomacy. (more)

India: Happy Diwali 2026, the Festival of Lights
8 November 2026 - Every year, Diwali brings a sparkle into homes and hearts. Streets glow with lights, families come together, sweets are shared, and laughter fills the air. Known as the Festival of Lights, it is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and among Indian communities worldwide. (more)

UK: People around the world help buy royal estate for wildlife conservation
8 November 2026 - The curlew, mountain bumblebee, lapwing, and other wading birds are just some of the animals calling a one-of-a-kind noble estate home. Now, people worldwide have come together to donate millions to buy this critical piece of biodiverse land, which a British noble family has held for 800 years. (more)

Brazil expands protected area for ''One of the richest and most sensitive biomes on the planet''
7 November 2026 - Brazilian environmental authorities have increased the size of a key national park by more than 25% of its original size. The expansion will protect ''one of the richest and most sensitive biomes on the planet'' in the form of the Pantanal, the world's largest flooded grasslands. (more)

US: How a ''living breakwater'' in Hawai'i aims to create coral habitat and protect coastline
7 November 2026 - A new project off the Hawaiian island of O'ahu tests an unusual method of shielding coastal communities and infrastructure from destructive waves: an artificial reef intended to act as a set of speed bumps. The hybrid reef system in Kalaeloa Harbor will transplant living coral onto 60 engineered, concrete reef-mimicking structures. The project aims to reduce wave energy, strengthen shorelines and improve coastal resilience. (more)

Turkey's solar boom shines ahead of a UN climate summit
6 November 2026 - Row after row of solar panels stretches across a vast landscape in the central Turkish province of Konya, turning sunlight into electricity -- and helping Turkey, the host of the upcoming Uniterd Nations climate summit, spotlight its efforts to expand renewable energy. (more)

US study: Nature already invented biodegradable plastic. Scientists want to reverse engineer it
6 November 2026 - Some bees line their nests with soft petals. Some line them with hardened tree sap. Some line them with a thin, flexible film composed of silk and polyester. And this latter group -- known as cellophane bees -- may hold the key to sustainable, biodegradable plastic, according to a new study. (more)

Peggy Flanagan makes history as first Native woman elected to U.S. Senate
5 November 2026 - An Anishinaabe Kwe -- an Ojibwe woman -- made history Tuesday, becoming the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate. A surge of votes late Tuesday from Minneapolis -- a center for the state's urban Indigenous community -- pushed Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan to a solid 54 percent of the vote. Flanagan, White Earth Nation, was one of three Indigenous women in the general election with the potential to make history on Election Day as the first Indigenous women to serve in the upper chamber of Congress. (more)

US study: Scientists discover surprising heart benefits of eating avocado and mango every day
5 November 2026 - Eating an avocado and a cup of mango every day may provide surprising benefits for heart health, according to a new study involving adults with prediabetes. After just eight weeks, participants experienced significant improvements in blood vessel function and diastolic blood pressure, particularly among men. These benefits occurred without weight gain or changes in calorie intake, suggesting that the nutrient-rich combination could support cardiovascular health through a simple dietary adjustment. (more)

UK: Cream of the crop: one brand's quiet quest to reinvent the dairy industry
4 November 2026 - For Somerset-based brand Yeo Valley Organic, the solution to making farms more resilient is right under our feet: healthy soil, and the regenerative and organic principles that help create it. But what exactly is regenerative agriculture? (more)

US Study: Scientists identify two overlooked skills that predict reading success
4 November 2026 - A massive new study reveals that intelligence plays a surprisingly limited role in children's reading success, while visual processing showed no meaningful connection at all. Instead, the strongest predictors are sound recognition, vocabulary, and background knowledge, offering new clues about how to help struggling readers. (more)

US: 2026 North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year built farm from ground up
3 November 2026 - Darius McKoy, the 2026 North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year, didn't have a tractor when he started farming four years ago in Sampson County, North Carolina. ''I started out with a rake, a hoe and a shovel,'' the 43-year-old Air Force veteran said of turning a former sheep farm into a fruit and vegetable farm. McKoy also mentors other beginning and veteran farmers, offers farm tours to 4-H students, and teaches sustainable farming practices to university interns. (more)

UK: London's Oxford Street busy with shoppers as road becomes pedestrian only
3 November 2026 - Cars, buses, taxis, and bicycles can no longer travel along much of Oxford Street, with almost a kilometer of the road now pedestrianized. The famous London shopping street has been made traffic free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. Nabeel Khan, chief executive of the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) says more trees, street furniture and dining areas will be introduced Oxford Street over the coming months and two new public squares are planned by spring 2027. (more)

The women who won't let go: Female-led resistance to development harms across Asia
2 November 2026 - During a recent ''people's tribunal'' in Bangkok, women from across Asia spoke about their experiences as leaders of movements seeking justice for communities affected by World Bank-funded development projects. The women are from communities affected by a variety of projects across the continent, including dams and land redistribution programs. (more)

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development launches scratch cooking, locally grown food for schools
2 November 2026 - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) Farm to Family Program has launched a Scratch Cooking Pilot that provides grants of up to $100,000 to help Michigan schools serve students more meals made from locally sourced foods. (more)

US: Seminole Tribe to Host American Indigenous Arts Celebration Nov. 6-7
1 November 2026 - The Seminole Tribe of Florida's Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum will host its American Indigenous Arts Celebration Nov. 6-7, featuring Native artists, fashion designers, powwow and hoop dance performances, cultural demonstrations and traditional foods. (more)

Netherlands pledges $500 million to help conserve tropical forests
1 November 2026 - The Dutch government has said it will contribute up to $500 million over the next decade to an international fund to help protect tropical forests. The money will help establish the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a new public-private wealth fund that aims to reward countries for preserving tropical forests. (more)