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.
Study: Plant-based diets are critical for protecting biodiversity
What is our most powerful tool for protecting biodiversity? A new report by the Chatham House, backed by the UN, indicates that widespread adoption of plant-based diets is one of the most crucial ways to protect endangered species. Plant-based diets are environmentally beneficial because they Read More...
France introduces “repairability index” to bring circularity to electronics
These days it’s all too common to have a drawer of discarded cell phones and other broken electronics in our homes, but if we want our economy to become truly circular, we will have to come up with innovative ways for these electronics to be repaired and reused when they get damaged. To achieve Read More...
Thought Leader Series: Agnes Kalibata on science and the future of farming
Agnes Kalibata is a Rwandan-born agricultural scientist and policymaker. She was recently appointed as UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ special envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, which calls for tangible action on how we produce food to address the limitations of our food system in Read More...
This ecologist spent 2 years studying a single hedge—it’s wild
10 years ago, UK ecologist Rob Walton decided to take on a rather strange challenge: make a list of every plant, animal, and fungus inside a hedge 40 meters from his house over the course of 12 months. Little did he know that his challenge would help influence fundamental policy to help the UK Read More...
These trash traps are made to remove plastic waste from Vietnam’s rivers
Recently we shared a story about the Ocean Cleanup’s new venture to stop the flow of plastic waste from rivers into the marine environment. Though they may not look as swanky as the Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptors, Vietnam’s recently installed trash traps follow the same line of thinking — Read More...
Natural antifreeze compounds produced by fish inspire road salt alternative
Salt is a primary tool used by cities to keep roads safe during snowy weather, but while the salt helps melt snow and improve traction, it also has detrimental effects on the environment and infrastructure. Road salt is often a combination of regular salt and additives like magnesium chloride and Read More...
This project is turning PPE waste scraps into bedrolls for those in need
Since the start of the pandemic last year, the landscape of waste has changed significantly, with the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves creating a common source of waste in virtually all parts of the world. Well aware of the issue, Indian fashion designer Read More...
Austin redirects police funding to buy transitional housing for homeless
Last week, the Austin City Council voted unanimously to purchase the Texas Bungalow Hotel & Suites for $6.7 million. The hotel is slated to become transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness. Where did the money to buy it come from? Redirected money from the city’s police Read More...
Sleek air purifier uses a natural filtration system to improve air quality
As a lot of people have been spending much time indoors since the start of the pandemic, many have also begun to pay more attention to the air quality in their homes. And while air purifiers are a good way to improve the air quality indoors, most of them use disposable filters that eventually end Read More...
Newly discovered “nano-chameleon” fits atop your fingertip
In the northern regions of Madagascar, scientists have discovered the smallest reptile species known to humankind: the Brookesia nana, also known as the nano-chameleon. The tiny specimen is unlike any reptile you’ve ever seen, with its entire body being able to fit on the top of a fingertip. Read More...