Things Are…Looking Pretty Positive, Actually.

A Brighter Start to the New Year

Well, folks, it’s 2026, and if you’re anything like me, you were maybe expecting… well, more of the same old worries as we headed into the new year. But honestly? Things are looking up. I’ve been reading through the news, and there’s a surprising amount of good stuff happening, which is really nice to see.

It’s easy to get bogged down in, you know, everything, but it’s important to remember the positive changes. For example, I was really pleased to read that the UK has rejoined the Erasmus program! That’s wonderful for students, and just seems like a good, connecting thing to do. And speaking of getting around, Spain has introduced a nationwide public transport ticket – that’s just sensible, isn't it? Makes travel easier for everyone.

There’s been a lot of talk about balancing protecting our planet with, well, keeping the economy going, and it’s good to see evidence that those two aren’t necessarily enemies. And it's fantastic news that the ozone layer over Antarctica is continuing to heal. That's been a worry for a long time, and it's great to see progress.

Across the Atlantic, New York City’s congestion charge seems to be working! Less traffic, fewer accidents, cleaner air – honestly, what’s not to like? And Brazil is putting a lot of money into protecting Indigenous lands and forests, which is vital.

There's so much happening! New York Fashion Week is banning fur, which feels like a long time coming. The Ebola outbreak in the Congo is over, which is a huge relief. And there’s been real progress made in the fight against cervical cancer. These things really matter, you know?

It’s not just big world events either. They’re even finding new, sustainable building materials that help coral reefs grow! And Ethiopia planted a staggering 30 billion trees in just five years. Thirty billion! That’s…a lot of trees.

Even smaller things are nice to see. Apparently, writing by hand is good for your brain – I’ll have to remember that. And they’re even experimenting with electric flights and making paper out of dead leaves! It just feels like people are trying to find solutions, which is encouraging.

And it’s not just about the planet, either. The Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit against same-sex marriage, which is just… good. Everyone deserves to be happy. Giraffe populations are returning to Angola, and Iberian Lynx numbers are at historic highs! It’s lovely to hear about wildlife making a comeback.

The UK government also announced plans to phase out animal testing, and they have some promising new medicines for things like trachoma and STIs. That’s fantastic news for global health.

Honestly, reading all this, it’s easy to feel a little more hopeful. It's not that everything is perfect, of course, but there’s a lot of good work happening, and that’s worth celebrating. A good start to the year, I think.