In 2025, most of our environmental news has been negative and discouraging. As our society continues to venture into fossil fuel use and ecosystem degradation, we are forced to face with the daily consequences of species extinctions, community destruction, and increased extreme weather events.
According to the Center for Climate Change Communication, 64% of Americans say they are "somewhat worried" about global warming.
To make matters worse, there is still skepticism of climate changes' existence. 1% of the global population still does not believe in the existence of climate change or global warming.
These numbers are alarming. By sharing communities that are making a difference, hopefully some hope on this topic will rise.
1. "Dream Maps" in India
There are 1.3 billion people in India all trying to adapt to the warmer climate. Their traditional farming practices such as tilling rice and millet are growing more and more harmful to their environment as pressures from a growing climate overtake their communities' needs. Odisha, one of India's poorest states, is most vulnerable to climate change. However, a group of women are hoping to make a sustainable change.
Source: Euro News
By mapping out the resources they need and what areas are dwindling, this group of women hope to make it easier for local government officials to access the areas that need restoring or funding. These "Dream Maps" have given more women the confidence in community-outreach programs and protecting the rights of their land. If the Odisha project was modeled in other communities in India, more women could voice how their homes are being destroyed and ignored.
2. Emission-Free Legos
The worldwide toy phenomenon, Lego, just opened a factory in Vietnam run completely on renewable energy. It's the first factory in Vietnam to ever be completely fossil fuel free.
“We just want to make sure that the planet that the children inherit when they grow up needs to be a planet that is still there. That is functional,” Lego CEO Niels Christiansen told The Associated Press.
The groups' oil-based plastic bricks are now declining as Lego spends more than 1.2 million dollars upgrading their future towards clean energy. The factory will use 12,400 solar panels and an energy storage system.
Lego's quest is to make their products greenhouse gas free by 2050.
According to Associated Press," Lego also has planted 50,000 trees – twice the number it cut to clear land for the factory. It's also the first Lego factory to replace single-use plastic bags with paper bags for packaging."
3. Mazhar Botanic Garden
Located in Cairo, Egypt, the Mazhar Botanic Garden, includes an array of plants, trees, flowers, and fruits all in honor of the famous Egyptian actor, Ahmed Mazhar - who passed away in 2002. His son, Shehab Mazhar, now decorates the garden with shading trees and rare plant species such as palm trees, bamboo, orchids, cactus, perennials, indoor and aquatic plants, ferns and bulbs.
The garden serves as a scientific plant lab, a tourist attraction, and a protector of endangered species. One tree alone absorbs tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduces the area's high pollution rate. The Mazhar Botanic Garden serves as a reminder of the beauty of the plants we need to preserve and protect.
4. New Sport Alert: Tile-Whipping
Across the Netherlands, citizens are participating in a nationwide contest to see who can replace the paving slabs in their gardens with greenery and plants. They hope to "replace grey with green" and to put less of a strain on the Netherlands growing extreme weather challenges. More plants and soil added reduces stormwater runoff and brings back rich plant life that the concrete exempts.
The winner of the event receives a golden shovel and there are other titles such as "whipper of the month" and the "golden whipper". By making combating climate change fun, the Netherlands has encouraged other communities around the world to participate and come up with more creative small ways to be sustainable.
5. Anti-Whaler Activism
Captain Paul Watson, an oceanic activist since 1969, founded the Sea Shepard Conservancy Society, an action group focused on marine conservation activism.
According to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation," A renowned speaker, accomplished author, master mariner, and lifelong environmentalist, Captain Watson has been awarded many honors for his dedication to the oceans and to the planet. Among many commendations for his work, he received the Genesis Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998, was named as one of the Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century by Time Magazine in 2000 and was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in 2002."
His achievements are an inspiration to youth and future environmental leaders. With his novels, movies, and achievements, we can teach this generation and the next how to preserve our environment both on land and on water.
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