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.
UK makes history as the first country to recognize animals as sentient beings
This past Wednesday, the UK announced an immense victory for animal welfare advocates and the creatures they support. Animals will be formally recognized as sentient beings under UK law for the first time in history. These legislative reforms, some of which have been many years in the making, Read More...
Leonardo Da Vinci could help future generations tackle climate change
Regarded as one of the greatest minds to have ever lived, there are more than a few things that we can learn from Leonardo Da Vinci. In fact, some of his theories may play a crucial role in tackling some of today’s most pressing global challenges such as climate change. According to a new study Read More...
This startup is investigating the legitimacy of carbon credit programs
Carbon credits can be an effective way to transition large companies to a carbon-neutral future, but when it comes to creating these credits, accountability is critical to ensure they are actually removing the amount of carbon they claim to be from the atmosphere. One organization working to Read More...
8 incredible ways to use wood you probably didn’t know about
From furniture to building parts, wood is so ubiquitous that we often take it for granted. However, this commonplace material has been used for millennia and plays a crucial role in our journey to achieve a circular economy. In fact, this versatile material can now be found in a variety of everyday Read More...
Florida animal sanctuary opens its doors to former circus elephants
The use of wild animals, like elephants, in circus performances is banned in many parts of the US, but the question of what to do with these animals once they are no longer in use still remains. The White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida is a 135-acre sanctuary intended to give Read More...
These floating, 3D printed office pods take remote work to the next level
As it looks like remote work is here to stay for many companies around the world, it’s likely that employees will seek to diversify the places they work from in order to prevent fatigue and blurring the work-life balance. Working in a vertical park may sound like an enticing solution, how about Read More...
Over 100 endangered turtle hatchlings released after rescue from the cold
In early February, a nest of 113 endangered loggerhead turtle eggs was discovered on a beach in northern New South Wales, Australia, and reported to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Because the eggs were laid late in the season, the conservationists feared that the turtles wouldn't be able Read More...
Researchers want to reintroduce jaguars to the American Southwest
The successful reintroduction of native bison and wolves in the US has been so environmentally beneficial that researchers are looking into other once-plentiful species that could be used to restore ecological balance. The latest effort is one to reintroduce the jaguar to the Read More...
Cob on Wood is a refuge center that empowers the unsheltered in Oakland
A charming refuge for the unsheltered in Oakland has taken form under a highway overpass in West Oakland thanks to a coalition of organizations and members of both the housed and unhoused community. The structures are made of “cob,” a mixture of organic materials including sand, subsoil, water, Read More...
‘Park Habitat’ in San Jose will bring the office and nature together
The benefits of being surrounded by nature have been proven by a large body of research. With that said, wouldn’t it make sense to integrate as much nature as possible into our office spaces, where — at least in non-pandemic times — many of us spend much of our time? Well, a new sustainable Read More...