June's positive climate news

Campaigners have overturned Shropshire Council’s planning permission for a large chicken farm near Shrewsbury after a high court ruling found environmental impacts were not fully considered. Dr Alison Caffyn, who led the legal challenge, highlighted risks to the River Severn from manure and digestate runoff, which can pollute water and harm wildlife. The proposed farm would have housed 200,000 chickens, adding to already high poultry numbers in Shropshire. The ruling, hailed by River Action as a victory for UK river protection, compels councils to consider broader environmental effects when approving industrial-scale farming.

Ireland’s state-owned ESB has announced the closure of Moneypoint power station, the country’s last coal-fired power plant. Built in the 1980s, Moneypoint began transitioning from fossil fuels in 2017, starting with a wind farm and later installing Ireland’s first synchronous compensator to support renewable energy. A multi-billion-euro plan aims to transform the site into a major renewable energy hub. From 2025 to 2029, Moneypoint may still operate on oil during energy shortages. Officials hailed the move as a key step in Ireland’s clean energy transition, acknowledging the plant’s decades-long contribution to national energy security and future sustainability.

A new study shows that solar panels in Colorado’s semi-arid grasslands can reduce water stress and boost plant growth during droughts. By providing shade and redirecting rainwater, panels create more favourable soil conditions, especially under their east sides. Researchers found that even solar arrays not designed with ecology in mind still improved vegetation growth in dry years. With improved design and placement, solar infrastructure could support not just clean energy but also grazing and pollinator habitats. As climate change intensifies droughts, solar panels may offer dual benefits: reducing emissions and helping ecosystems adapt to harsher conditions.

Nearly five million square kilometres of ocean in the South Pacific will receive the highest level of marine protection under a new plan by the French Polynesian government. The initiative, announced at the UN Ocean Conference, establishes the world’s largest Marine Protected Area, restricting destructive activities like deep-sea mining and bottom trawling. Over 1.1 million square kilometres will be fully or highly protected, allowing only traditional fishing, ecotourism and scientific research. French Polynesia pledges to expand this by 500,000 square kilometres by World Ocean Day 2026. The plan honours ancestral stewardship, supports biodiversity, and strengthens ecological sovereignty while engaging local communities and international partners.