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.
Why seaweed is the future of meatless burgers and renewable energy
Amanda Stiles and Beth Zotter, founders of the startup Trophic, are on a mission to develop the most sustainable supply chain for alternative protein in the world! Their key ingredient? Seaweed. Seaweed has been a staple in Asian diets for centuries because of its high quantities of protein and Read More...
Renewables surpassed fossil fuels in Europe for the first time in 2020
If you would have told us back in 2015 that Europeans would get more of their electricity from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels in five years' time, we wouldn’t have believed you. Sure, we are optimistic, but such growth in the renewable energy sector seemed unprecedented at that point Read More...
How the kulhad, a relic of India’s past, can help eliminate single-use plastic
Traditional clay teacups called kulhads will be making an impactful comeback in 7,000 railway stations across India. Kulhads are 100 percent environment-friendly, unpainted, and unglazed. The clay’s natural, earthy fragrance is said to enhance the flavor of the tea, while evoking memories of Read More...
Shrub species thought extinct for almost 100 years rediscovered in Japan
While out to study the growth of plants in an evergreen forest on the Japanese island of Amami-Oshima, a team of researchers has come across a colony of an unfamiliar plant species. Not long after — after taking a sample to the lab — the researchers realized that what they had recently Read More...
The public now has a direct say on climate matters in Washington state
Oftentimes it feels like regular citizens have little to no say in national or state-level politics. That’s why we’re excited to share news out of Washington state where a new assembly is being formed that will allow 80 randomly-selected members of the public to have a direct say on climate Read More...
Student science project convinces school district to switch to electric buses
Miami-Dade County Public Schools will convert all their diesel school buses to all-electric models by the end of 2021. This change has great environmental and public health benefits, but it wouldn't have happened without the help of Holly Thorpe, a local middle school student. Thorpe created a Read More...
A look into Piñatex, the alt-leather made from pineapple leaves
While working in the Philippines during the 1990s, Spanish leathergoods expert Dr. Carmen Hijosa grew horrified at the environmental impact of leather production. The problem for her was that she didn’t approve of petroleum-based alternatives either. In search of a better alternative, Hijosa Read More...
Sweden to build reindeer bridges so the animals can safely cross highways
Sweden’s reindeer typically rely on lichens for food, which are buried beneath the snow. But in recent years, the animals have been increasingly struggling to feed themselves as a result of global warming. This is because warmer temperatures mean more rain instead of snow. When the air freezes, a Read More...
Executive order shuts down construction of Keystone XL pipeline
In a major win for Native American tribes and environmental activists, an executive order was signed last week to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit and shut down the construction of the pipeline immediately. This may be the final chapter in what has become a notorious political game of Read More...
This eco-friendly Grow it Yourself Helmet is made from mycelium and hay
As designers are looking for ways to sever their ties with plastic, mycelium has been receiving increasing attention lately as a viable eco-friendly alternative. In fact, experts have been experimenting with the fungus-derived material for everything from construction materials and fashion to Read More...