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 initiative collects waste from hairdressers and puts it to good use
From improving the efficacy of perovskite solar cells to cleaning up oil spills, hair clippings from salons can definitely be put to better use than ending up in a landfill. The Green Salon Collective (GSC) in the UK is well aware of that, which is why it is collecting hair cuttings from salons Read More...
Rapid DNA tests return trafficked turtles to their original habitats
It’s illegal to trade South American Matamata turtles, but their distinctive knobby shell and ridged neck make them appealing to traffickers who can sell them for high prices in Europe, Asia, and the US. Fortunately, a new rapid DNA test is helping officials protect these little Read More...
Glasgow to plant 10 saplings for every resident in reforestation project
A global pandemic has opened our eyes to the value of engaging with nature and having local green spaces. On top of the environmental benefits of soaking up CO2 emissions, having ample tree cover in urban spaces is connected to lower rates of obesity, asthma, and diabetes as well as improved mental Read More...
US suspends oil drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
In a victory for environmentalists and the planet, the US Department of the Interior has announced plans to terminate Arctic refuge drilling rights. The nine canceled leases span more than 400,000 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The leases were bought up by two oil companies and Read More...
This company turns discarded balloons into ethical vegan sneakers
The fashion industry is known to have wasteful and environmentally unfriendly practices, but new start-ups who enter the fashion world, as well as many established brands, are aiming to make up for the environmental missteps of the past by embracing ethics and sustainability through innovative Read More...
Volunteers in Myanmar build a library for orphans out of discarded plastic
Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River intercepts an estimated 119 tons of plastic waste per day, making it one of the most polluted waterways in the world. It is not uncommon to see plastic waste littered on the country’s roadsides and clogging up sewage drains. The excess of plastic litter inspired Read More...
This futuristic bus shelter is designed to improve air quality in cities
Air pollution is one of the most pressing public health challenges facing urban areas today, so designing infrastructure that tackles this problem is key to ensuring a sustainable future for our cities. We’ve previously seen such innovations in the form of air-purifying advertising banners, and Read More...
Networks of recycled waste heat to help keep UK homes warm
The heating of homes in the UK accounts for almost a third of the country’s total carbon emissions. This means that finding greener ways to heat homes is key to achieving the government’s goal of bringing emissions down to net-zero by 2050. In an effort to reach that ambitious target, UK Read More...
These ultra-low-cost batteries use CO2 to store renewable energy
While the price for lithium-ion batteries has dropped significantly in recent years, the technology is still a tad too expensive to be the best solution for the long-term storage of renewable energy, most of which is weather-dependent. As such, innovators are looking beyond lithium-based batteries Read More...
Monarch conservation coalition launches huge milkweed planting initiative
Although monarch butterfly populations showed signs of recovery in recent years, these orange beauties are still highly threatened. The species’ numbers have fallen 99 percent since the 1980s, but a new collaboration between conservation groups, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Read More...