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.
US court strikes down coal-friendly climate rule just before inauguration
In 2019, the administration of the (now former) President of the United States attempted to relax restrictions on power plant greenhouse emissions. In a move that could only harm the environment, the administration’s EPA lawyers filed a lawsuit that argued that the federal government does not Read More...
This app lets you cut your emissions by funding climate-positive projects
With all the unavoidable necessities of modern life and their associated environmental impacts, living a truly sustainable lifestyle may seem like an impossible undertaking. A newly launched startup would beg to differ. Enter Treepoints, a new app that gives users reward points for offsetting Read More...
How sustainable agriculture is taking coal’s place in Appalachia
The collapse of the coal industry may be good news for the environment, but for towns in the Appalachian mountains that have long relied on coal, it’s been disastrous for the economy and eliminated thousands of jobs. The good news is that we’ve seen a number of green-minded initiatives spring Read More...
No more range anxiety: new EV battery fully charges in 5 minutes
If we want to tackle the climate crisis, then we have to adopt electric vehicles in mass. One major barrier that stands in the way of mass adoption is range anxiety: the fear that you will either run out of charge and get stuck on the highway or you’ll end up sitting at a charging station for two Read More...
This is how lobsters are helping make 3D-printed concrete stronger
In recent years, 3D concrete printing has emerged as an attractive candidate to reimagine the construction industry — one of the biggest sources of environmental pollution in the world. But making concrete durable enough for building complex structures is still an obstacle. Seeking to overcome Read More...
Namibia: A simple switch of fishing gear is saving thousands of seabirds
Fishing boats off the coast of Namibia unintentionally kill thousands of seabirds a year. The problem lies with the long fishing lines that industrial fleets use to lure fish, which are fitted with thousands of baited hooks. When the birds try to snatch away the bait, they can become tangled in Read More...
New process separates fabric microplastics into harmless CO2 and H2O
We recently shared a story about balls of seaweed that help collect plastic from the seafloor, but the question still remains, what do we do with this plastic once we collect it? Researchers from Quebec's Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) may have an answer with their new Read More...
This biodegradable alternative to Styrofoam is made from discarded paper
As it’s non-biodegradable and a pain to recycle, Styrofoam packaging is one of the most pernicious types of plastic pollution. But thanks to an eco-friendly alternative developed by a group of scientists from Germany, it may not be long until the outdated plastic material becomes a thing of the Read More...
These sleek sneakers are made from mushroom-derived leather
With giant brands like Adidas and Stella McCartney embracing the incredible potential of mycelium to replace animal-derived leather, it seems fungi will play a huge role in transitioning the fashion industry towards greener production practices. With that being said, it’s good to see that it’s Read More...
New York’s popular park High Line will expand to improve pedestrian access
For more than a decade the High Line project — which transformed a run-down railway track into an elevated park in the lower Manhattan — has been a symbol of creative urban renewal, showing how the city can find refreshing ways to reimagine decaying spaces. Now, the popular park is slated to Read More...