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.
New Belgium Brewing Co. hopes you hate the taste of their new ale
New Belgium Brewing Co. is making strong statements about climate change that other businesses may find hard to swallow—perhaps just as hard to swallow as their new, limited-edition beer, Torched Earth Ale. New Belgium brewed Torched Earth Ale from drought-resistant grains, dandelion weeds, and Read More...
Meet LEB: An aquatic scarecrow protecting birds from diving into fishing nets
Fishing is a problematic industry, not just for marine life, but for many different species. All over the world, when fishermen and women cast their nets into the water, they run the risk of catching animals they don’t intend to entangle, such as dolphins or birds. “Bycatch” is the term Read More...
This company uses logging waste to 3D print furniture
Every year, billions of trees are cut down to supply a growing demand for wood products. Most of the logging, however, is unsustainable and negatively impacts biodiversity, land rights, and livelihoods. This process also compromises forests' potential to tackle climate change. We’ve previously Read More...
Solar panels and California's water canals: A match made in heaven
About 4,000 miles of canals transport water to some 35 million people and 5.7 million acres of farmland across California. As the state enters another year of severe drought, researchers from the University of California have come up with a proposition to cover these canals with solar panels to Read More...
World’s largest jewelry maker will soon sell only lab-grown diamonds
There are few other things in the world that symbolize luxury like diamonds, but these status symbols often come at a price that goes beyond their monetary value. In recent years, for instance, concerns about the environmental impact and human rights abuse associated with the mining industry have Read More...
Solar Mountain installation could power Burning Man with clean energy
Burning Man is an annual music and arts event that attracts a lot of creative, expressive, and entrepreneurial individuals. However, because of its expansive desert setting, visitors tend to use a lot of motorized fossil-fuel vehicles to navigate their way around, while several displays require the Read More...
These Florida waterways are taking developers to court
If nature could speak, would it defend its rights from damaging human activity? Last November, Orange County, Florida passed a measure called the “rights of nature” that allows for entities such as waterways to bring people to court should someone infringe on their rights. Two weeks ago, a Read More...
2020 Coal consumption was lowest in US since 1965
2020 marked an important milestone in our transition away from coal as a means of producing electricity. In the US, coal power plants experienced the country’s lowest annual coal consumption since 1965, and the fossil fuel is expected to reach levels last seen in the 19th century in coming years, Read More...
Automated beehive monitors bee health to prevent colony collapse
Here at The Optimist Daily, we're major advocates for solutions aimed at tackling the collapse of the global bee population. Today, we bring you a solution that may offer a snapshot of what beekeeping of the future will look like, tapping into AI and machine learning to keep the pollinators Read More...
Plantlife launches No Mow May campaign to support pollinators in the UK
Conservation charity Plantlife is urging gardeners in the UK to “do nothing for nature” this month as part of their No Mow May campaign. This campaign is designed to let wildflowers grow unrestrained in people’s yards, to provide more food for pollinators. Plantlife has even approached Read More...