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.
Microwave boilers could help cut heating emissions
Heating is responsible for 14 percent of the UK’s carbon footprint, posing a major hurdle in the country’s journey to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. As the country plans to phase out the use of gas boilers in homes by 2030, more sustainable heating technologies — such as green hydrogen — Read More...
Researchers map out where ocean conservation would be most impactful
Marine conservation is critical for ocean health and the continued survival of marine species, but when it comes to protecting our oceans, some regions pack a bigger conservation punch than others. A new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara has mapped out which areas of the ocean, Read More...
Indonesian man revives once-arid land after 24 years of effort
When Indonesian eco-warrior Sadiman exchanged the goats he reared for tree saplings to reforest the barren hills surrounding his village, most people in his community doubted his decision. Now, however, they’re more than grateful to him. After 24 years of determination, Sadiman has managed to Read More...
Gomi introduces wireless chargers made from plastic waste
UK-based sustainable studio Gomi first put themselves on our sustainable design radar when they partnered with Lime to release a Bluetooth speaker powered by old e-bike batteries Now, Gomi is back at it again with the addition of their newest product: wireless chargers made from recycled Read More...
Plants could soon communicate with farmers to improve food security
We recently wrote about how researchers at MIT were teaching spinach plants to send emails. Now, scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore are developing technology that allows for further communication between plants and humans. When plants interact with their environment, Read More...
This Russian fashion brand creates pieces entirely out of recycled plastic
“Ethical” and “sustainable” are fashion trends that we at The Optimist Daily hope never go out of style. We’re uplifted that many popular brands such as Adidas and Levi’s are rethinking how they manufacture their products so that they are more eco-friendly. Russian fashion house Read More...
This startup is paying farmers to turn locust swarms into animal feed
In recent years, climate change has created ideal breeding conditions for locusts, swarms of which have been devouring crops and other vegetation in East Africa and the Horn. Kenya, in particular, has been battling some of its worst locust plagues in decades, with farmers losing huge amounts of Read More...
Using this debit card helps fund reforestation projects around the world
You might be familiar with the Google-alternative, eco-friendly search engine Ecosia, which uses 80 percent of its ad-generated revenue to plant millions of trees around the world. If you have been using the search engine to help fight climate change, you'll probably be excited to hear about Read More...
North Atlantic right whale sees most productive calving season since 2013
The North Atlantic right whale is highly endangered, but this year’s calving season offers a more optimistic outlook for the future of the species. According to environmentalists, this has been the most successful breeding season for the whale since 2013 with 18 new calves recorded off the East Read More...
Virginia becomes fourth state to ban cosmetic animal testing
California became the first state to ban cosmetic animal testing in 2018, followed by Nevada and Illinois in 2019. Now, Virginia will follow suit thanks to the efforts of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and other dedicated animal rights advocates. Starting on the first of January 2022, animal Read More...