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.
Artificial intelligence and nanotechnology may help solve world hunger
According to the United Nations, about 840 million people will experience hunger by 2030. This growing global challenge to feed people will only be exacerbated by climate change, increasing populations, and degrading soil quality. Some researchers, however, claim that artificial intelligence and Read More...
Why you should leave those lawn clippings right where they are
Many eco-conscious homeowners are opting to replace their lawns with native plants and drought-resistant landscaping, but if you’re not ready to give up your lawn or you own a grassy space for sports or other utility purposes, mulching can help make this space as green as possible (literally and Read More...
These US cities are banning fireworks to prevent wildfire
As a historic drought grips the Western United States, many cities are taking extra precautions to prevent wildfires, including banning Fourth of July firework displays. Large personal fireworks are already banned in California, Oregon, and other states, but this year, cities are instituting even Read More...
Beeflow wants to save the bees and make them stronger
We cannot continue to feed our world without pollinators, namely bees, which is why Argentina-based startup Beeflow is working to not only save the bees, but even make them more productive. Like many other bee cultivators, Beeflow rents out their colonies to farmers to better pollinate the Read More...
How to make flood risk research more equitable
Climate change is exacerbating flood risks in many parts of the world, but unfortunately, research about the impacts of this climate-related flooding is not evenly conducted around the world. Research on flood-vulnerable communities, and subsequent mitigation funding, tends to center on more Read More...
Kazakhstan will become home to the world’s largest green hydrogen plant
Kazakhstan is the ninth biggest — and 18th least densely populated — country on the planet, with just seven people per sq mile. Plus, about a third of the country consists of endless plains of the steppe. All of this means that there’s plenty of land to install renewable energy infrastructure Read More...
These little piggies are going all the way home… to the wild
Twelve pygmy hogs (Porcu salvania), the smallest species of pig, were released into the wild in northeast India last week as a part of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Program that aims to save these rare pigs from near extinction. When they reach adulthood, these tiny pigs stand at ten inches tall Read More...
Yorkshire Dales rewilding initiative lets nature reclaim the land
Another expansive rewilding initiative was launched last week in England. The restoration process is focused on the gorgeous but barren landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. While the Yorkshire Dales is celebrated for its bleak beauty, the fact of the matter is that the land’s striking appearance is Read More...
Rosario, Argentina: A case study in the benefits of urban farming
In an effort to address the financial collapse of 2001, the municipal government of Rosario, Argentina came up with an ingenious plan to get the city’s residents back to work. Officials partnered with 700 farming families to dedicate unused land in the city for farming. This not only created Read More...
This free tool estimates a small company’s carbon footprint in 60 seconds
For a small business that lacks a sustainability department, calculating the company’s environmental footprint can be a daunting process. In a bid to offer a solution, a new website aims to help small office-based businesses and retail stores calculate their carbon footprint quickly and Read More...