Sustainable Successes! Positive Climate News

As global warming becomes more prevalent and climate policy is rolled back, it is easy to become lost in the negative news surrounding the climate. However, there is a lot of climate news that is very positive that is being obscured by the negative stories.

Nationwide

Across the United States, there are several cities taking large strides toward making a positive difference. On 34th Avenue in Queens, New York City, the community noticed a severe lack of green space. For the past five years since COVID, a 1.3 mile stretch of the street has been closed to cars during the day to create what they call “Paseo Park”. Neighbors volunteered to organize putting the barricades up in the morning and taking them down at night. NYC Council member Shekar Krishnan says that the space has become a “lifeline” for the community bringing people together.

Paseo Park on 34th Ave, Queens, NYC. Photo Credit: SunnySidePost

In Vermont, the Vermont Green Football Club was established in May 2022 with a set mission to make positive change. They believe that environmental justice can be woven into their game to create a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world (vermontgreenfc.com/about-us/). Players wear jerseys made of recycled fabric, spectators who biked to the game were rewarded with raffle tickets, and the food trucks offered vegan eats. 

Vermont Green FC during a game. Photo Credit: VTDigger

California Specific

In Merced County, Project Nexus stemmed from a 2021 research project by UC Merced alumni Brandi McKuin. Her study found that covering canals with solar panels reduced evaporation while generating power. The UC Merced study estimated that covering all 4,000 miles of California's exposed canals with solar panels like these could supply enough electricity and conserve enough water to supply 2 million homes each year. Near UC Merced, Turlock Irrigation District (TID) accepted state funding in February 2022 to kickstart the building of solar panels over water canals. Construction has been completed at the 20-foot-wide canal project location, with the first solar panels now fully mounted over TID’s canals as of March 2025. Their overall goals of Project Nexus are to assess the feasibility of installing solar panels over canals in this smaller project so that they can potentially implement it on a larger scale. 

Digital workup on what the solar panels may look like. Photo Credit: UC Merced

In Sacramento, energy officials gave the green light on the country’s largest solar and battery project to date. California Energy Commission voted unanimously to approve a permit for Intersect Power’s Darden Energy Project in the southwestern Central Valley. The project includes solar panels that can generate 1,150 megawatts, roughly enough to power 862,500 homes, as well as a giant battery that can keep those homes powered for four hours plus a substation to connect to the grid. The project is currently in the “Compliance/Pre-Construction” phase, with no specific end date mentioned.

Visual representation of the solar panels. Photo Credit: PV Magazine

Orange County Specific

In our own backyard, the Randall Preserve, formerly known as Banning Ranch, was purchased for the public in late 2022 by conservation groups. The land was previously a privately owned oilfield. It is home to many pools containing endangered fairy shrimp and other species. In addition to being home to many special status wildlife, including the Western burrowing owl, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, northern harrier, white-tailed kite, and more, the preserve helps California meet goals defined in the 30x30 Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy as well as the State Wildlife Action Plan. Within Orange County, the conservation efforts of the reserve align with the goals of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, the Santa Ana River Conservancy, and other plans such as the Orange Coast River Park Vision Plan and the Beaches and Parks Orange Coast River Park Proposal.

Photo of the Randall Preserve. Photo Credit: Trust for Public Land

Disneyland has also taken amazing strides toward a greener tomorrow. They have a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food systems by 30% by 2030. Moreover, all parade floats are electrically powered and they have converted 10% of their 400-vehicle fleet to electric.

Sustain Southern California Award that Disneyland received last year. Photo Credit: Disneyland

As the global population grows, production increases, and technology expands, there is no shortage of negative climate news. However, it is important to remember that it is not all bad! Try not to get lost in the gloom and doom and instead see how you can make your own strides toward sustainable living. First, and I may be biased but, you can become a volunteer with OC Habitats and learn environmental stewardship while also taking part in amazing restorations. You can also educate yourself on proper recycling for your city, water management techniques, or lowering your overall consumption. Lastly, you can stay up-to-date on your city’s environmental initiatives and see what you can do to help. Keep an eye out for public comment periods and voice your opinion when you can. It is important to stay informed on news surrounding climate and climate policy, however it is ok and often necessary to take a break. Be kind to yourself!