Although the climate crisis remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time, as we move deeper into 2026, there are some meaningful signs of progress that go unnoticed amid the headlines.
From scientific breakthroughs to policy action and community-driven innovation, these positive developments give us real reasons for hope and that solutions are emerging even in the face of immense challenges.
- Breakthroughs Beneath Our Feet: Carbon-Sucking Fungi: One of the more exciting stories comes from research on soil fungi that naturally absorb carbon dioxide. These organisms have the potential to enhance carbon sequestration on land, highlighting a biological pathway for climate mitigation that was largely overlooked until now.
- More Countries Taking On ‘Forever Chemicals’: France has taken decisive action against so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS), which persist in the environment and threaten health worldwide. As of January 1, 2026, a comprehensive ban on a broad class of these toxic compounds came into force, marking one of the most ambitious regulatory crackdowns yet.
- Community-Rooted Climate Innovation Wins Big: Around the world, grassroots innovation is delivering scalable climate benefits. For instance, Build up Nepal was recently awarded the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Climate Action category for its low-carbon, earthquake-resilient building materials that reduce emissions by up to 75% compared with conventional bricks.
- Clean Energy Deployment Keeps Rising: Multiple independent analyses and weekly good-news roundups highlight continued gains in decarbonizing energy systems across the globe. In several regions, renewables are overtaking fossil fuels in total generation share, illustrating that the clean energy transition continues to advance despite economic and political headwinds.
- Policy and Civil Society Momentum Endures: Experts from institutions like the Columbia Climate School point to the resilience of climate action networks, especially among students, researchers, and local initiatives, as a source of optimism. Their commitment to solutions, knowledge creation, and community engagement strengthens the broader climate movement, even when national policy signals are mixed.
As we mark ten years of the .earth domain, we are celebrating a global tribe of more than 40,000 organizations and individuals using the online world to raise awareness, share solutions, and push for accountability. We invite you to join the .earth domain anniversary promotion and become part of the global .earth tribe working toward a more resilient future.
To learn more about securing your .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. You can also hear directly from organizations and individuals making an impact in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
