What Went Right: Plastic bag litter has fallen 80% on UK beaches

What Went Right is the weekly video podcast that brings you the top stories of progress from around the world. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week: Bristol takes aim at high-carbon advertising, plastic bag litter plunges on UK beaches, and Singapore tries a new way to get people reading. ⛽ Putting the brakes on fossil fuel ads Bristol has become the latest city to restrict advertising for fossil fuels and other high-carbon products, including flights, cruises and SUVs, on council-owned advertising space. Tom and Lucy look at why cities are taking action, whether advertising restrictions can really change behaviour and where similar policies are already being tried. 🛍️ Plastic bag litter falls by 80% Plastic carrier bags found on UK beaches have fallen dramatically since charges were introduced, offering a clear example of a policy whose impact can be tracked over time. But with plastic still making up most beach litter, how much further do we need to go – and could deposit return schemes be the next big shift? 📚 Why reading could be good for your health A new Cambridge review of the evidence links reading for pleasure with better brain health, cognition and wellbeing, as well as a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Meanwhile, Singapore is encouraging people to swap scrolling for 15 minutes of reading a day, prompting a wider conversation about books, attention spans, access to reading and why sometimes a comic or graphic novel is more than enough. Subscribe to Positive News wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at www.positive.news/letter #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews