Weekly Earth Wins 11/9
Your weekly dose of news on systemic solutions to our systemic climate crisis.
🌸 Indigenous Justice
Canada made history with a $300M grant distributed across 21 Indigenous governments and organizations. The funding will support stewardship of 380,000 square kilometers of land and water—one of the world’s largest Indigenous-led conservation projects. This represents a massive shift toward recognizing Indigenous peoples as the most effective guardians of natural ecosystems.
The hope: When Indigenous communities control their ancestral lands, biodiversity thrives. Studies consistently show Indigenous-managed territories have better conservation outcomes than government-run parks.
⚡ Energy Elections
Virginia’s newly elected Governor has doubled down on the state’s Clean Economy Act, which mandates 100% renewable energy for major utilities in the coming decades. In the years since its passing, the policy has faced growing backlash from both parties. Governor Spanberger’s verbal commitment to the Act is critical given the states position in the data center boom.
The hope: In order to comply, Dominion Energy just proposed their largest request for a solar project.
🛢️ Halts to Drilling
The Interior Department removed Atlantic coast federal waters from President Trump’s offshore drilling plan following primarily Republican opposition in a rare moment of bipartisan environmental protection driven by coastal communities.
The hope: Even under a pro-drilling administration, local opposition can win. Republican governors and Congress members blocked their own party’s plan because of their constituents.
🌳 Deforestation Drops
For the third consecutive decade, global deforestation rates are declining. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports that forest loss is finally slowing worldwide, with some regions showing net gains in forest cover.
The hope: Reforestation efforts, changing agricultural practices, and international pressure are working.