2020 was a hard year all over the world, but amid all the bad news it's important to remember there were still some good stories to celebrate. Here are a few good news stories that came from 2020:
- Studies revealed that since 1993 up to 48 species of birds and mammals have been saved from extinction due to conservation efforts
- Uganda reported a gorilla baby boom. Mountain gorillas in the country have been breeding in “unprecedented” numbers, according to conservationists at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. They announced in September that seven infants had been born there in 2020 – more than double the number for all of 2019.
- Between 1989 and 2020 the elephant population in Kenya has doubled, and 2020 saw an ‘elephant baby boom’. Record numbers of births were recorded last year, with one park reporting 205 new elephant calves in 2020 alone!
- Denmark brought an end to new oil and gas exploration in the Danish North Sea as part of a plan to phase out fossil fuel by 2050
- China has committed to achieving zero emissions by 2060
- Polio has been eradicated in Africa, thanks to the vaccine.
- The vaccine against Covid-19 became the fastest developed vaccine in history.
- The first beaver dam in 400 years was built in Somerset in 2020 by Beavers who had been reintroduced to Britain after having been extinct there since the 16th century!
- Kamala Harris became the first women, and woman of colour, to be elected Vice President of the USA.
We are all hopeful for lots more good news stories in 2021!