Green turtles came back from the brink, The Maldives made medical history, and global EV sales surged, plus more good news

This week’s good news roundup

Green turtles came back from the brink

A decades-long mission to save green turtles from extinction hit a major milestone this week as the species came off the ‘endangered’ list.

In an update to its itinerary of threatened creatures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the green turtle from ‘endangered’ to ‘least concern’.

It’s a huge win for conservationists who have been working with fisheries to cut turtle bycatch by deploying turtle-safe nets, and with coastal communities to protect and restore vital nesting beaches.

The reclassification offers hope at a time when more species are being added to the IUCN’s red list. According to the latest update, released this week, 61% of bird species are now in decline.

“This is a major win for turtle conservation and proof that coordinated action can reverse populations at risk of extinction,” said Christine Madden of the WWF, which has led efforts to save the species.

Image: Brocken Inaglory

Speaking of ocean conservation …

The Spanish government has given the go-ahead to six new marine protected areas, offering a lifeline to vulnerable species and sensitive habitats.

In a move welcomed by ecologists, the ministry of environment approved five marine protected areas and one area of special importance for birds.

They include the seamounts of the Mallorca Channel, the banks of the Alboran Sea and the Central Catalan Coast. Together, they cover 17,000sq km, an area roughly the size of Kuwait.

“It is very satisfying to see that areas of great biological value have finally been protected,” said Michael Sealey, senior policy advisor at the campaign group Oceana in Europe. “With this expansion, the marine area protected in Spain now covers 22.45%, approaching the 25% committed to by prime minister Pedro Sánchez for the end of 2025.”

The new areas must now be approved by the European Commission, after which Spain will have six years to implement management plans to protect them.

Image: Quentin Caron

The Maldives made medical history

The Maldives has become the first country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, the World Health Organization announced this week.

Mother-to-child transmission of such diseases affects millions worldwide. In south-east Asia alone, estimates suggest that more than 8,000 infants were born with congenital syphilis in 2024, while about 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women required treatment to prevent transmission to their babies.

The Maldives has led the way in tackling the issue, said the WHO. It credited the country’s advanced antenatal care, universal testing and full vaccine coverage for the public health milestone.

“Maldives has shown that with strong political will and sustained investment in maternal and child health, elimination of mother-to-child transmission of these deadly diseases, and the suffering they bring, is possible,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general.

“This historic milestone provides hope and inspiration for countries everywhere working towards the same goal.”

Image: Jonathan Borba

Singing ‘effective’ treatment for postnatal depression

Singing can be more effective than existing treatments at relieving the symptoms of postnatal depression, a first-of-its-kind study has found.

The research, conducted by King’s College London, recruited 199 mothers experiencing postnatal depression. Sixty six were signposted to mother and baby activity groups that didn’t involve singing, while 133 were sent to Breathe Melodies for Mums singing groups in south London.

Mothers in the latter had on average 15 extra days of full health, according to the study, which was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

One mum who took part in group singing is Finda. “When I close my eyes and sing the lovely, lovely songs, I feel so happy,” she said. “Singing has improved my mood and my confidence. [Singing to my children], helped me interact, it made me feel like I was a brilliant mum.”

Yvonne Farquharson, founder of Breathe Arts Health Research, which runs the groups, said: “We hope this research provides a compelling case to commissioners and funders across the UK to invest in this clinically and cost-effective programme, which is now proven to change lives.”

Image: Richard Eaton

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Quitting smoking ‘slows cognitive decline’

Packing up smoking in middle age, or even later, can slow age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study by University College London.

Researchers looked at data from 9,436 people aged 40 or over in 12 countries, comparing cognitive test results among those who quit with those who continued.

They found that cognitive scores for the former declined by much less than those who kept smoking in the six years after they quit. For verbal fluency, the rate of decline roughly halved, while for memory it slowed by 20%.

Because slower cognitive decline is related to reduced dementia risk, their findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting quitting smoking might be a preventative strategy for the disease. However, more research is needed to confirm this.

“We already know that quitting smoking, even later in life, is often followed by improvements in physical health and well-being. It seems that, for our cognitive health too, it is never too late to quit,” said Lead author Dr Mikaela Bloomberg.

Image: Artem Beliaikin

And more people are quitting the ciggies …

There has been a 27% decline in the number of people smoking since 2010, according to fresh data from the World Health Organization.

While smoking remains the largest cause of preventative death in many countries – with one in five people globally using tobacco – it is fast going out of fashion.

“Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up, tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general.

However, he warned of the rise of other nicotine products, including vapes, that can cause similar harms.

“In response to this strong progress, the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people,” he said. “Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies.”

Image: Matheus Ferrero

EV sales surged, smashing records

The global race to decarbonise the roads stepped up a gear in September, which smashed records for the number of electric vehicles (EVs) sold.

Some 2.1m EVs were purchased globally last month – the highest monthly total on record – according to research firm Rho Motion.

The record figure was driven by strong demand in China and Europe, where support incentives spurred huge demand in Italy, Spain and the UK. Germany has also approved an incentive package, aimed at helping low-income families invest in an EV. It will come into effect next year.

In the US, a federal tax credit scheme for EVs was axed by the Trump administration at the end of September, artificially bolstering nationwide EV sales for the month as buyers scrambled to beat the deadline.

Image: Michael Fousert

An English wind farm became a marine habitat

An artificial reef designed to support marine life and protect turbines from storm surges has been created at an offshore wind farm in England.

In a pioneering pilot, some 75,000 ‘reef cubes’ – ranging in size from 15cm to 35cm – were installed around a turbine at Rampion offshore wind farm, operated by RWE.

While it’s common practice to place rocks around turbines to protect them from sea surges, the ballast dropped at Rampion wind farm was designed to support fish populations and shellfish colonisation.

The hollow cubes are made from waste aggregate from clay mines, and replicate habitats favoured by anemones, oysters and mussels.

Thomas Michel, COO of RWE, said that the trial was “important step forward in testing solutions that can both safeguard our assets and contribute to the marine environment”. He added: “We look forward to monitoring the outcomes and sharing the learnings.”

Image: RWE

A ‘silent triumph’ of nature was brought into focus

The ghostly shot of a rare hyena visiting the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia has won best image in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.

The annual competition, run by London’s Natural History Museum, announced its winners this week, with South African photographer Wim van den Heever claiming the top prize.

“This picture is a multi-layered story of loss, resilience and the natural world’s silent triumph, making it an unforgettable piece of wildlife and conservation photography,” said Akanksha Sood Singh, jury member for the competition.

See more winning shots here.

*Image: Wim van den Heever *Main image: Richard Eaton

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