A WORLD of GOOD

A year's worth of heartwarming, world-shaking, awe-inspiring and straight-up happy-making reasons to smile.

- Team RD

A Win for Wild Oceans

For decades, the high seas—waters beyond any one country’s control—were the ocean’s lawless frontier. That changed last year, when the Global Ocean Treaty crossed the ratification finish line. With around 70 countries on board, well above the required 60, the agreement is now set to become international law in 2026. The treaty gives governments the legal tools to protect marine life in international waters, where only about one per cent is currently safeguarded. Environmental groups say this could unlock the largest network of ocean sanctuaries the world has ever seen. Heavyweights like Iceland, Brazil and Japan signed on, while others are still catching up. Conservationists have called it a once-in-a-generation breakthrough—proof that global cooperation is still possible when the stakes are high and the planet is watching.

Sikkim's Green Revolution

High in the Himalayas, the tiny state of Sikkim decided to do something bold. Instead of chasing quick harvests with chemical fertilizers, it chose a slower path: going 100 per cent organic. The journey began in 2003, with training, model villages and support for farmer groups to get certified together. For many, the shift hasn’t been perfect—young people still drift from farming, food still comes in from outside—but the land is breathing easier. Bees are returning, mountain soil is richer and local vegetables are once again a matter of pride at the dinner table.

Coal Company Heeds Rural Women on Air Pollution

In a rare alignment between corporate action and community voices, a participatory study led by grassroots women identified 26 air pollution hotspots in Jharkhand’s coal-rich Bokaro and Dhanbad districts—prompting Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) to take corrective steps.