Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
This innovative dome battery uses carbon dioxide to store green energy
As the world works to adopt renewables as its main source of power, we need to develop reliable and cheap ways to store and release green electricity on demand. As counterintuitive as it sounds, carbon dioxide may just be a promising candidate in helping us achieve that. At least that’s the idea Read More...
This book made of recycled plastic features letters to future generations
At this point, we can all agree that our take-make-use-dispose model of consumption has been nothing but harmful for the planet and that it’s about time we part ways with one of the biggest contributors to this problem — single-use plastics. A creative agency in Vietnam, called Ki Saigon, Read More...
Canada to dedicate over C$25 million to conserve wetlands
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Canada has announced more than C$25 million in funding to conserve, restore, and enhance wetlands and grasslands in the Prairie provinces. This initiative could conserve up to 30,000 hectares of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas, on top of Read More...
Orkney islands’ tidal turbine officially connects to UK power grid
The Orkney islands are famous for the innovative use of green hydrogen, but green hydrogen can’t exist without partnering with renewable energy sources and when you’re a chain of small islands, most of that renewable energy comes from the sea. Now, the islands officially have another source of Read More...
Wasara's compostable tableware set is so pretty you won't want to toss it
Replacing single-use plastic or styrofoam take-out containers with biodegradable, organic, and compostable alternatives isn’t a new solution, however, tableware design company Wasara has effectively elevated the concept. Normally, disposable tableware sticks to the basics: plates, bowls, and Read More...
EU launches climate resiliency checklist for new infrastructure projects
In addition to reducing emissions in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, we must also ensure that we are protecting communities by building infrastructure that can withstand the results of climate change we are already experiencing. To address this issue, the EU has created guidelines Read More...
Indiana to test roads that charge your EV while you drive
Imagine being able to charge your electric vehicle while you drive. Magment, a German company, is working in collaboration with the Indiana state government and Purdue University to make this a reality. Together, they will test out new streets that have been developed to automatically charge the Read More...
This start-up has pedestrians generating clean energy in Sierra Leone
If you are reading this article, then chances are that you are in a country with abundant access to electricity. For most people living in Sierra Leone, the opposite is true. In fact, the West African country has one of the lowest access rates for electricity across the globe. Just six percent of Read More...
This Washington state county is the first in US to ban fossil fuel infrastructure
Whatcom county’s city council has approved a landmark environmental measure banning all new fossil fuel infrastructure including refineries and coal-fired power plants. The climate action policy was unanimously approved by the council and also requires existing fossil fuel companies to offset any Read More...
THE OPTIMIST VIEW: Invoking the Pause 一 Funding environmental changemakers
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead We’re all familiar with major names in philanthropic giving like MacArthur, Rockefeller or Ford, but there are hundreds of lesser known Read More...