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.
The Bison Bridge - World's longest human-made wildlife crossing
Chad Pregracke is an impassioned conservationist who spends his time on barges, cleaning up refuse from the Mississippi River. While on the river, he watches cars drive across a 55-year-old concrete bridge that is meant to be demolished and replaced—but when he sees the aging bridge, he imagines Read More...
Eco-labels will soon show the sustainability of Europeans food products
Living a more sustainable life is a valiant and worthwhile goal, however, following through with it is a daily challenge. As consumers, the information we need to make the most sustainable choice is often not readily available, and reading through the labels and small print is exhausting and takes Read More...
Study of 90 cities links green space access with increased happiness
More and more cities are making tree-planting and green space allocation a key part of their urban planning strategy. Not only do green spaces mitigate the heat island effect, but they also work to purify the air and improve the health of residents. The correlation between nature and happiness has Read More...
LEGO’s new prototype bricks are made from discarded plastic bottles
From cutting plastic from packaging to using plant-based materials, famous toymaker LEGO has been hard at work in recent years to make its beloved toy bricks more sustainable. With that same goal in mind, the company has recently created its first prototype building blocks using recycled PET Read More...
Colombia declared home of the most butterfly species in the world
A new study released by the Natural History Museum in London has just dubbed Colombia the world’s official butterfly paradise. The country of Colombia is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, including approximately 20 percent of the world’s butterfly species. An Read More...
Startup cuts the ribbon on the world’s first lab-grown meat factory
Lab-grown alternatives to meat (aka cultured meat) that look and taste like the real thing have become mainstream in recent years, with people increasingly turning to these substitutes to green up their diets. A new startup in Israel wants to make cultured meat even more popular among consumers by Read More...
New ThredUp survey shows used clothing market is here to stay
According to a new report from ThredUp, millennials and Gen-Z consumers are demanding more sustainable products and would rather dig for gems in vintage shops than purchase from giant retail chains, which are increasingly criticized for generating colossal amounts of material waste and failing to Read More...
UK Bill strengthens protections for animals
The UK is gearing up to pass major animal rights legislation, called the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which addresses a wide range of animal welfare issues. According to UK environment minister Zac Goldsmith, who sponsored the bill, it is scheduled for passage into law later this Read More...
Climate justice: Legal experts draft historic definition of “ecocide”
In a historic moment for climate justice, a panel of 12 lawyers from different countries has unveiled a new legal definition of “ecocide,” intended to be adopted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute world leaders and corporate chiefs for the worst acts of environmental Read More...
All pension funds in Maine must now divest from fossil fuels
We recently wrote about New York state’s move to divest from fossil fuels in their pension fund. Now, the state of Maine is adopting legislation to match that commitment and take it one step further. Signed into law by Governor Janet Mills, the state’s new legislation bans any state Read More...