Here’s an understatement: It’s been a strange year. While over 70% of Americans support efforts to protect the environment, a sizeable chunk of the population believes 2025 was a setback to address climate change and negative impacts to our planet. Nothing could be further from the truth.
While the media focuses on the Trump administration withdrawing from the Paris Accords, cutting funds from climate research, slashing billions from renewables, and steps to recreate the 1950’s like promoting coal and other fossil fuels over renewables, the attempt has largely been just noise, ignored by industry and states.
It has been a year of advancement and major milestones for the environment. Here are ten successes to feel positive about:
1. The Partisan Grip is Slipping. Sure, there’s a partisan divide with 80% of Democrats stating the environment as a top concern, contrasted with only 39% of Republicans, but the good news is that a majority of American voters don’t identify as either party. Latest statistics show that between 40 and 44 percent of voters identify as independents, not blindly following either party. (There’s a unique concept: Think for yourself. Form your own opinion.) With the partisan divide a stalemate, which means Republicans and Democrats are both minorities. Therein lies the 70% statistic.
2. Renewables Surpass Coal. 2025 saw renewable energy sources (wind, solar, hydro) surpass coal in the global generation of electricity.
3. England Quits Coal. The country that started the industrial revolution with coal, closed its last coal fired electrical generation plant in 2025. Wind (predominantly offshore) surged in Great Britain in the past three years.
4. China Achieves Flat Emissions. Carbon emissions in China have been slashed by massive growth in solar and wind projects and slowdowns in heavy industry. Whether the trend continues is uncertain but for now, it’s good news from the world’s largest emitter.
5. Ratification of the High Seas Treaty. In September, Morrocco became the 60th nation to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. It will now go into effect next month, promoting large scale protection of the world’s oceans from over-fishing, pollution, and loss of biodiversity critical to sustaining viable ocean fisheries. Currently only about 1% of these ocean areas are protected. The Agreement sets a goal of 30-35%. While the US signed the agreement in 2023, the Senate has yet to ratify it. But with the 60th nation’s ratification, it will go into effect with or without US ratification.
6. Battery Storage. Battery storage is the game changer for renewables. When the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, renewables needed to be bundled with “instant on” generation such as hydro or natural gas. In 2015, less than one gigawatt of storage existed in the US. In 2025, storage exceeded 40 gigawatts, ten years ahead of the goal. With tariffs increasing turbine costs by as much as 100%, US made battery production and falling renewable energy costs have set the stage for massive gains. For perspective, just one gigawatt of storage can power 876,000 households for an entire year.
7. States Take the Lead. With the federal government on the sidelines, states have stepped up. States have led the way to encourage renewables, resulting in lower electrical bills, and more resilient grids. And, these accomplishments have not just been in traditionally blue states. Even crimson-red states like Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, even Texas have seen huge growth in solar and wind and rejected efforts to marginalize renewable energy projects.
8. Lower Costs for Renewables. Solar and wind generation costs continue to decline even in the face of tariffs. And with the expected doubling of electrical rates in the next decade due to the rise of data centers and AI, the incentive to generate one’s own electricity and reduce reliance on an over-stretched grid, will make the costs even more attractive for homeowners, industry, and government.
9. Scientific Solutions to Plastic Pollution. Advancements in detection, collection and composting plastic were front and center in 2025. Magnetic microplastic capture (coils and additives that separate and capture microplastics from water), enzymatic recycling (enzymes that break down common plastics), and advancements in bioplastics (packaging that breaks down quickly), saw tremendous gains in new technologies in 2025.
10. Information and education. In the face of science denial, the nation saw a rise in education and information available to everyone. The digital age has brought a wholesale leap in resources at the tips of the world’s fingertips that boost awareness, scientific understanding, and counter misinformation about our planet nurturing pro-climate/pro-environment sentiment.
While, as a thriller author, I tend to the threats side of a story, I felt compelled to offer a positive end to 2025 and wish everyone a happy, healthy, successful, and positive 2026!