Although it’s been a rocky start to 2025, we’re wrapping up January with some positive news! Read on to see our editors’ favourites for this month – from Thailand banning plastic waste imports to El Salvador seeing a record low number of homicides in 2024.
DR Congo to establish the world’s largest tropical forest reserve
The Democratic Republic of the Congo wants to protect 108,000 square kilometres of rainforest by connecting three existing national parks to form a 2,800-km-long ‘green corridor’. The Congo Basin is the second largest tropical forest area in the world after the Amazon and absorbs around 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 every year.
Mismanaged plastic waste in Thailand has fueled pollution and health risks, with much of it burned rather than recycled. A new ban on plastic waste imports aims to curb the crisis.
Indonesia launches nationwide free meal programme to fight malnutrition
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has launched a multibillion-dollar initiative providing free meals to children and pregnant women. On its first day, the initiative served 570,000 people, with plans to expand to 82.9 million citizens by 2029 – nearly a third of Indonesia’s population.
Ecuador’s coastal ecosystems have rights, court rules
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court has affirmed the inherent rights of coastal marine ecosystems – granting them legal protection under the nation’s constitution. These rights include the “integral respect for their existence” and the preservation of their life cycles, structure, functions, and evolutionary processes.
Leader of the Social Democrats Kristrún Frostadóttir, 36, also becomes the country’s youngest prime minister. It’s the first time Iceland has a government where all party leaders are women, as well as the first time the country has both a female president – Halla Tómasdóttir – and a female prime minister.
Blood test for endometriosis in sight after promising trial results
An Australian medtech firm is on track to release the world’s first blood test for endometriosis within the first half of the year. Recent peer-reviewed trial results showed the test’s diagnosis rate, correctly identifying severe cases with 99.7% accuracy – even amongst patients with similar symptoms but without the disease.
US sees 60% drop in cervical cancer deaths among young women
A sharp decline in cervical cancer deaths has been observed among young women in the United States, coinciding with the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine in 2006. A new study provides the first evidence of this impact on mortality rates among the first cohort eligible for vaccination.
Solar power overtakes coal in the EU for the first time
Solar power has generated more electricity than coal for the first time across the EU. Although this result exceeds expectations, experts warn that keeping this momentum will mean a continued effort and investment across the board.
Record number of electric cars were sold in UK during 2024
The number of new cars sold in the UK rose by 2.6% in 2024 to 1.95m, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders lobby group. Of those, 19.6% were electric, up from 16.5% a year earlier.
Spanish airlines test eco-friendly biofuel from used cooking oil
A growing number of airplanes in the country are now powered by bio-kerosine derived from used cooking oil. Scientists have shown that biofuel-powered aircraft have a smaller carbon footprint compared to those using traditional jet fuel.
An AI-powered camera system exclusively identified a Southern California wildfire in a remote area, enabling firefighters to contain it before it spread. Programmes like ALERTCalifornia are using advanced technology to improve early detection and protect communities.
As Google grapples with anti-trust legislation, Germany’s Ecosia – which uses advertising profits from its 20 million users to plant trees – and France’s privacy-focused Qwant are teaming up to create their own search index and give users alternative options to US tech giants. The index could be used to prioritise more sustainable choices in travel and shopping.
The campaign protecting social media from the influence of billionaires
The Free Our Feeds initiative aims to protect Bluesky’s underlying tech – the AT Protocol – and use it to develop an open social media ecosystem that can’t be controlled or managed by a single person or company. The goal is to create a public-interest foundation that would fund new interoperable social networks supported by independent infrastructure.
Milpamérica: a social network rejecting Musk’s algorithm
Over 74 land defenders from different First Nations have launched an online platform they describe as free from “racism and neoliberal discourse.” The purpose of this space is to share stories from across Mesoamerican lands and their diasporas.
El Salvador sees record low number of homicides in 2024
In 2024, the Central American nation saw only 114 homicides – a huge drop in comparison to 2015, where the 6,656 homicides that year made it one of the world’s deadliest countries.
Bangladesh hits near-universal access to electricity in just 30 years
In 1991, less than 15% of Bangladesh’s population had access to electricity. Thirty years later, this figure has boomed to nearly universal coverage, with more than 100 million people gaining access during this period.
Research shows tuberculosis rates drop when those in poverty are given cash
A growing body of evidence suggests that economic programmes which give money to poorer families can have major health benefits. A recent study argues that this approach can work when it comes to the world’s deadliest infectious disease: tuberculosis.
A new treatment offers the potential to target a broader range of cancers while cutting down on unpleasant side effects compared to conventional radiotherapy. What’s more: it takes less than a second to deliver.
Belgium becomes first EU country to ban sale of disposable vapes
Belgium has become the EU first country to ban the sale of disposable vapes in an effort to stop young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and to protect the environment. The sale of disposable electronic cigarettes is banned in Belgium on health and environmental grounds from 1st January.
UK’s first legal drug consumption room ready to open
The Thistle will be open 365 days a year from 9am to 9pm and allow some of the most vulnerable addicts in the city to take their own drugs in a clean and safe environment under the supervision of health professionals.
Belfast venues start phasing out single-use plastic cups
Leading community venues across Belfast – like the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, and The MAC – will be using reusable cups over the coming months as part of a year-long pilot scheme. Additional venues are expected to join the next phase of this citywide reusable cup initiative.
Danish city offers cash incentives for coffee cup recycling – and it’s working
In January 2023, Aarhus introduced a three-year pilot programme aimed at reducing disposable coffee cup waste. The scheme lets residents deposit used cups in machines, earning a small reward in return. The approach targets single-use beverage cups, which typically have a lifespan of just 15 minutes before being discarded.
Labour backs plans for £15m fund to distribute surplus food from farms
Grants starting from £20,000 will be handed to the not-for-profit food redistribution sector in England to repackage farm food and deliver it to homeless shelters, food banks and charities. They can also use the funds to buy equipment to collect and process bulky food items, technology to help farms and charities work together and IT training for staff.
US cities expand municipal ID programmes to help immigrants
Without official identification, many undocumented and unhoused residents struggle to access essential services, from health care to banking. Municipal ID programmes in cities like New York and Greensboro are bridging this gap.
Los Angeles turns planned jail site into housing for homeless residents
Instead of building a new jail, Los Angeles repurposed a vacant lot into The Hilda L. Solis Care First Village, a shipping container housing complex providing both temporary and permanent shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Some prisons cut reoffending rates with mental health-focused approach
While prisons in many countries struggle with overcrowding and high recidivism, some European countries are reducing reoffending. Approaches in the Netherlands and Sweden focus on addressing root causes of crime, maintaining family connections, and preparing inmates for successful reentry.
Former enemies unite to find Colombia’s disappeared
Decades of conflict involving leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug cartels, and government forces resulted in over 450,000 deaths and 124,000 disappearances across Latin America. Now, in Colombia, former adversaries – including ex-rebels, officials, forensic experts, and religious leaders – are working together to search for the disappeared.
Once a deforestation hotspot, Brazilian town becomes a model of sustainable growth
Paragominas, once infamous for illegal logging and land grabs, has reduced deforestation by 80% through a community-led environmental pact. By banning slash-and-burn farming and promoting sustainable practices, the town has become a leader in Amazon conservation.
‘Solar Mamas’ bring electricity, empowerment to Zanzibar’s villages
The Solar Mamas programme trains women with little formal education to become solar technicians, providing electricity to underserved villages in Zanzibar. By promoting clean energy and breaking down patriarchal norms, the initiative empowers women with skills, income, and leadership roles.
How a walk in the woods is helping men break the stigma of mental health
What started as a small gathering of nine men in a Yorkshire room has blossomed into a nationwide movement focused on suicide prevention. Now, Andy’s Man Club is discovering that nature – specifically forests and wooded area – can offer a safe and peaceful space for men to open up and talk about their feelings.