ZWS THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR THE PLANET

ZWS THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR THE PLANET THIS WEEK'S GOOD CLIMATE NEWS A California city became the first in the US to permanently ban data centers Residents in Monterey Park, California, became the first in the US to vote on a permanent ban on datacenters in the midterm elections, and passed with 86.3% in favor of the ban. Source: the Guardian Photo credit: Steven Kung ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS Beavers stopped a London tube station from flooding A family of five beavers was resettled in a nearby park and they dammed up its creek, creating a pond that holds water and stops it from spilling into the city. They also created a wetland that better absorbs heavy rainfall. Source: NPR ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS For the first time, solar provided more electricity in the US than coal In May 2026, solar supplied a record 12.8% of U.S. electricity, while coal fell to 12.2%. Solar provides more than twice the share of electricity it did five years ago. Source: Grist ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS New York voted to pause large data centers for the next year The law would require new data center rules on utilities, energy efficiency goals, community benefits and labor standards. Source: News10 ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS France adds 387,955 acres of protected forest France created seven new biological reserves and expanded two existing ones, most of which are in French Guiana. France aims to protect an additional 250,000 hectares of forest by 2030. Source: Euronews ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS Global mangrove forests are rebounding After decades of loss driven by deforestation and coastal development, mangroves are expanding in many regions and are now growing overall. Source: the Guardian ZWS GOOD CLIMATE NEWS Rare, endangered bee gets habitat protection across 6 states The Fish and Wildlife Service announced that roughly 1.5 million acres of land across five states have been designated as critical habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee. Source: the Hill