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.
New York to divest massive pension fund from fossil fuels
Environmental activists won an incredible victory this week after the state of New York announced it will divest its $226 billion pension fund from fossil fuels. New York state has the third-largest pension fund in the US, with more than $12 billion having been invested in fossil fuels. In fact, Read More...
Tweet tweet! Study finds birds are linked to happiness levels
If you find yourself happier around singing birds, you’re not alone. A new study from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research indicates being around greater bird biodiversity is actually linked to greater happiness levels amongst people. To come to this conclusion, the Read More...
Two new critically endangered right whale calves spotted off US coast
The North Atlantic right whale is one of the planet’s most endangered species, with only about 360 of them left in the world. That’s why the recent sightings of two calves of this elusive whale species are such good news. The first of the two calves spotted over the past week was seen swimming Read More...
This company lets you rent an eco-friendly living Christmas tree
Love the smell of fresh pine tree, but feel guilty about cutting down a Christmas tree? We have good news! If you live in California, an innovative company, The Living Christmas Co., offers customers the best of both worlds with a potted, live Christmas tree you can rent and return after the Read More...
This Buddhist temple in Myanmar offers refuge to threatened snakes
Pythons, vipers, and cobras — these are some of the main occupants being offered a safe haven at a temple sanctuary in Myanmar’s city of Yangon. The host and caretaker is Buddhist monk Wilatha, who’s trying to play a part in saving scores of snakes that might otherwise be killed or sold on Read More...
The world’s biggest wind turbines are coming to the New England coast
America’s known for having an appreciation for all things big, so it may not be surprising that the first ‘commercial scale' offshore wind farm in the US will be home to the biggest and most powerful wind turbines the world has ever seen. The wind farm will be located 15 miles off the Read More...
Nike’s latest outdoor apparel collection puts sustainability first
When it comes to shifting the apparel industry’s polluting practices towards circularity, the onus lies on major brands to lead the green transition. That’s why we’re happy to see Nike put sustainability at the heart of its latest outdoor apparel collection. About 85 percent of the brand’s Read More...
Australia to begin nationwide “koala count” to assess population health
Although they are fluffy and sleep for about 20 hours a day, koalas are deceptively difficult to locate. Due to their elusiveness, the Australian government is deploying some new and innovative tools in their nationwide “koala count.” The Australian government is dedicating 2 million Read More...
House passes bill to protect big cats across the US
Netflix’s popular documentary series “Tiger King,” sheds light on the prolific issues surrounding wild cats kept in captivity across the US. To address the threats that captivity poses to communities and these cats, the House of Representatives has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act. The Read More...
This company is using beer and chips to slash emissions
In a bid to drastically cut down on emissions, British snack food manufacturer Walkers is summoning the power of potato chips and beer. Yes, you read that right. What the company is doing is utilizing new technology to capture carbon dioxide from beer fermentation in a brewery, which is then Read More...