Pelecanus

Protections

Critical wetland in Angola gets formal Ramsar recognition

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/01/critical-wetland-in-angola-gets-formal-ramsar-recognition/



Drawdown

Solar met 61% of US electricity demand growth in 2025

https://electrek.co/2026/01/16/us-electricity-demand-surged-in-2025-solar-handled-61-percent/



Biodiversity

Federal Judge Protects Desert Tortoises From California Off-Road Vehicles

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/federal-judge-protects-desert-tortoises-from-california-off-road-vehicles-2026-01-26/email_view/

Bronx Zoo Debuts Endangered Pygmy Slow Loris Baby, First Primate Born in New World

https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25831/Bronx-Zoo-Debuts-Endangered-Pygmy-Slow-Loris-Baby-First-Primate-Born-in-New-World-of-Darkness-Exhibit.aspx

Desal
Norway: World’s first subsea desalination plant set to launch in 2026
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506884-worlds-first-subsea-desalination-facility-will-start-running-in-2026/

Biodiversity
Stingless bees from the Amazon granted legal rights in world first
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/29/stingless-bees-from-the-amazon-granted-legal-rights-in-world-first
Saudi Arabia to reintroduce lions after more than 100 years
https://neom.directory/neom-news/saudi-arabia-to-reintroduce-lions-after-more-than-100-years#google_vignette
Rare North Atlantic right whale see uptick in births
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/biology/rare-north-atlantic-right-whale-baby-boom-stuns-scientists/ar-AA1Uc7Ow
Endangered Lake Sturgeon released in 3 Ohio rivers
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/lake-sturgeon-released-in-cuyahoga-river-as-ohio-expands-recovery-effort
Incredibly Rare Mountain Gorilla Twins Have Just Been Born In The Wild
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86v3y45pyyo.amp
Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog reintroduced in Tahoe National Forest
https://www.theunion.com/news/sierra-nevada-yellow-legged-frog-reintroduced-in-tahoe-national-forest/article_36a35afe-488a-4c20-ab20-d6be033db5c0.html

Decoupling
Economic growth no longer linked to carbon emissions in most of the world, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/11/economic-growth-no-longer-linked-to-carbon-emissions-in-most-of-the-world-study-finds
Rewild
Flat-headed cats reappear in Thailand after 29-year absence
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/year-end-good-news-as-flat-headed-cats-reappear-in-thailand-after-29-year-absence/
Cleanup
Environmentalists claim a victory in efforts to clean up Long Island Sound
https://gothamist.com/news/environmentalist-claim-a-victory-in-efforts-to-clean-up-long-island-sound

Wow
EU strikes deal on climate target to cut emissions by 90% by 2040
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251208IPR32091/2040-climate-target-deal-on-a-90-emissions-reduction-in-eu-climate-law
Ecosia invites Nobel Committee to establish inaugural Climate and Planetary Health Prize
https://news.cision.com/communication-works/r/ecosia-invites-nobel-committee-to-establish-inaugural-climate-and-planetary-health-prize,c4279491

Rewild
Maryland Zoo Announces Birth of 8 Critically Endangered African Penguin Chicks
https://www.marylandzoo.org/news-and-updates/2025/12/maryland-zoo-announces-birth-of-african-penguin-chicks/
Reforestation and wild pig decline spark surge in miniature deer in Singapore
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/reforestation-and-wild-pig-decline-spark-surge-in-miniature-deer-in-singapore/
Jaguar spotted at watering hole in Arizona, 5th endangered cat seen in area over last 15 years
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jaguar-spotted-arizona-5th-endangered-cat-seen-last-15-years/

Tech
CRISPR wheat that makes its own fertilizer
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123115435.htm
Water conservation
5.5 Billion Gallons of Water Captured During Recent Storms, Enough to Serve Almost 68,000 L.A. Households Annually
https://mayor.lacity.gov/news/mayor-bass-announces-nearly-55-billion-gallons-water-captured-during-recent-storms-enough
Land Back
10,000 acres north of Lake Tahoe to be returned to California tribe in historic land deal
https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/california-washoe-tribe-loyalton-land-deal-21202731.php
Rewilding
Endangered bandicoots given new home free of feral predators in regional NSW
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/bandicoots-given-a-new-home-mallee-cliffs-national-park/105995106