9 Actually Good Things Humans Did For The Planet In 2015

Climate change presents a complex challenge, but it's one we can all approach with a healthy dose of optimism. The environmental movement reached some seriously impressive milestones in 2015—here are a few I was especially grateful to see as mbg's green editor.

In an effort to cut down on waste, manufacturers continued to design upcycled goods from used material this year. This yoga mat constructed out of recycled wetsuits and these Adidas sneakers made with ocean plastic are just a few examples of trendy, practical second-life products that any wellness junkie could use.

Thanks in large part to donations like Bill Gates' recent multi-billion dollar fund, alternative energy sources are becoming less expensive and more widely available. In a shift away from coal, the U.S. now sources about 13% of its energy from renewable resources. At one point this summer, Denmark wind farms collected enough power to fuel the entire country and then some.

Earlier this month, 195 government leaders from across the world met in Paris to draft a comprehensive plan to combat human-caused climate change. The resulting Paris Agreement calls on every country to do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and holding global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. The accord is the first of its kind, and President Obama said it "represents the best chance we have to save the one planet that we’ve got."

To learn more about how you can cut down on your plastic use, read about this woman's awesome plastic-free journey.

Shoppers can now check in on their favorite brands with resources like Good On You, a site that compiles information on the transparency, labor conditions, and business models of popular retailers.

Likely fueled in part by the impassioned campaigns of celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio and Dan Barber, 2015 proved a promising year for sustainable restaurant reform: Chipotle nixed its genetically modified foods, Taco Bell opted to serve cage-free eggs in its breakfast options, and Kraft, Nestlé, Panera and Subway promised to get rid of their artificial ingredients. Sweetgreen introduced a salad made out of food scraps and Starbucks announced that it has more LEED certified locations than any other global retailer. All these changes speak to an underlying dining shift towards natural, healthy fare served in sustainable spaces.

In a movement largely spearheaded by health-conscious millennials, more people than ever before are shopping for local, organic food.

Tiny homes are less resource-intensive to build and less energy-exhaustive to maintain than traditional houses, plus they often give their owners more freedom and mobility. These days there are plenty of design options for people looking to take a walk on the minimalist side, and you can find everything from tiny wooded retreats to wind-powered pods.

Hopping on alternative transportation is a great way to cut down on one's carbon footprint, for cars are one of the most egregious contributors to air pollution. Many European cities are encouraging residents to add some green to their daily routines by making streets more bike-friendly. Earlier this year, Paris held its first carless day—a city-wide event that reduced smog-producing chemicals by 40 percent—and Oslo announced that it will completely ban cars from its city center by 2019. Milan is currently in the midst of a three-day car ban of its own, and Dublin and Madrid aren't far behind.