Good News: Issue 15
What went right for conservation and the climate this week
Paris is banning cars from 500 additional city streets
Paris is expanding its car-free zones, following a recent referendum in which residents voted to eliminate vehicles from 500 more city streets. This initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, aims to prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and green spaces by removing car lanes and parking spots, converting the streets into welcoming community areas. The city has already transformed 300 streets since 2020 as part of its climate plan.
Despite low voter turnout in the referendum, and some opposition form business owners and residents, the city's leadership remains committed to the project, which aligns with a European trend toward more sustainable urban living. As Paris continues to evolve, its experiment in reducing car dependence is being closely watched by urban planners worldwide as a potential model for addressing challenges such as congestion, pollution, and climate change in major cities.
Ontario court declares that removing Toronto bike lanes is unconstitutional
While Paris is making its streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians, Ontario’s provincial government wants to destroy Toronto’s bike lanes. But good news came this week. An Ontario court declared the province’s plan to remove three major Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional, siding with Cycle Toronto and local advocates who argued that eliminating these protected lanes would put cyclists at greater risk. The court found that removing the bike lanes on Yonge Street, Bloor Street, and University Avenue would not only endanger public safety but also fail to alleviate traffic congestion.
Despite the ruling, the Ontario government plans to appeal, arguing that restoring traffic lanes fulfills its electoral mandate. Premier Doug Ford and his supporters believe the decision to remove or retain bike lanes should rest with elected officials, not the courts. Cycling advocates and local leaders maintain the decision represents a victory for public safety, democracy, and sustainable urban planning, noting that roads with protected bike lanes have seen no cycling fatalities this year, in contrast to other streets.
The International Court of Justice has ruled that countries are legally required to protect the climate
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared that countries have a legal duty to protect the climate, grounding its ruling in the Paris Agreement, the UN Charter, and human rights law. Crucially, this decision establishes that developed nations could be legally required to pay reparations to countries most affected by climate change, giving vulnerable communities a stronger basis to seek compensation and likely opening the door to a surge of climate lawsuits against states and polluters that fail to act.
Experts estimate that fulfilling these obligations could cost developed nations $2–4 trillion annually by 2030, with payments supporting renewable energy, adaptation, and compensation for climate-related loss and damage in vulnerable countries. As COP30 approaches in 2025, governments and corporations face mounting legal and financial pressures to strengthen climate commitments and address climate risks, potentially reshaping global climate policy.
Saudi Arabia launches the first all-female sea ranger corps
Saudi Arabia has launched the Middle East's first all-female sea ranger corps at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, coinciding with World Ranger Day. This initiative marks a significant step toward gender inclusion in conservation, with women now making up 34% of the Reserve's 246-strong ranger force—just shy of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 workplace target. After intensive training, the first seven female sea rangers have begun patrolling the Reserve’s 3,856 km² marine section, protecting key ecosystems along the Red Sea coast and gaining the skills to operate alongside their male counterparts.
The Reserve’s rangers, both men and women, play a vital role in safeguarding natural and cultural resources, conducting ecological monitoring, supporting wildlife reintroductions, and ensuring environmental compliance. Their efforts contribute to the Saudi Green Initiative and the Kingdom's larger conservation goals, including the ambition to protect 30% of its land and sea by 2030. This groundbreaking program not only empowers women in a traditionally male-dominated field but also strengthens conservation efforts for critical marine habitats and species within Saudi Arabia.
Several states expanding clean energy projects despite Trump
Across the U.S., states are doubling down on clean energy deployment and utility accountability—despite the Trump administration de-funding clean energy projects. In California, roughly two‑thirds of electricity came from clean sources in 2023, and utilities added 7,000 MW—enough to power over 5.2 million homes—just last year. Massachusetts revamped its SMART solar incentives to boost access in lower‑income and underserved communities, while New York and Ohio approved solar projects totaling 260 MW and 140 MW respectively, set to power tens of thousands of homes and cut significant emissions
At the same time, multiple states are targeting utilities’ practices and expanding support for vulnerable households. North Carolina’s governor vetoed a bill that would have rolled back emission reduction targets, and Oregon passed legislation doubling funding for energy assistance for low‑income residents. Eleven East Coast states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ramped up emissions reduction mandates, tripling cuts and incentivizing clean energy. These efforts aim not just to stabilize bills in the short term, but to build more resilient, equitable clean‑energy infrastructure for the long haul.