2025 in review: 315 stories about solutions and progressSquirrel News Team | Posted on December 31, 2025 | Photo: Mathew Smith/Unsplash (CC0) With 2025 drawing to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of the most exciting developments taking place over the course of the year: from environmental protection measures to new policies reducing social inequality and much more. Photo: Getty Images/Unsplash+ January: World’s largest tropical forest reserve, Thailand bans plastic waste imports, “Solar Mamas” empower villages Photo: Daniel Seßler/Unsplash (CC0) February: Penalties for political lies, legal right for New Zealand mountain, fine dining restaurant staffed by homeless people Photo: Hosein Charbaghi/Unsplash (CC0) March: Historic protection for Indigenous groups, UK to plant new national forest, bridges for monkeys Photo: Unsplash (CC0) April: First global CO2 tax for ships, European countries test social prescribing, cuddle parties Photo: Hoàng Tuân/Unsplash (CC0) May: Sinking emissions in China, less litter across EU coastlines, “No Mow May” all year long Photo: Tom Donders/Unsplash (CC0) June: Ireland ends coal power, the world’s largest marine protected area, violent crime plummets in the US Photo: Mathew Smith/Unsplash (CC0) July: Landmark climate rulings, falling homicide rates, first malaria treatment for newborn babies Photo: JSB Co./Unsplash (CC0) August: New nature reserves, success against diseases, initiatives to improve the lives of children Photo: Getty Images/Unsplash+ September: WTO agreement to reduce overfishing, islanders take Swiss cement giant to court, Australia’s Great Koala National Park Photo: Andrea Leopardi/Unsplash (CC0) October: Basic income for artists, feelings of safety at a record high, Poland bans fur farming Photo: Aaron Coltman/Unsplash (CC0) November: Bank accounts for homeless people, first-ever treaty with Aboriginal peoples, graduating with $1000 Photo: NOAA / Unsplash (CC0) December: Historic win for sharks and rays, Paris’ urban cable car, New York’s Grandma Stands Please support us!Squirrel News is a non-profit organisation that relies on donations. Please support us now to help us continue our work and keep Squirrel News running!Donate now Read more India expands rural tap water access, US life expectancy hits record high, pancreatic tumours regress in mice Guinea worm to be second disease ever eradicated, Japan’s stomach cancer rates fall by 70%, India’s chess clubs Best of January: 25,000 tonnes of plastic removed, 10-minute mental health clinics, Ghana’s environment chiefs