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.
Innovative tracking technology strives to keep wild polar bears and humans apart
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As summer ends in the Canadian Arctic, polar bears begin their trip inward, waiting for the ice to form. While tourists rush to see these gorgeous creatures, researchers are developing novel strategies to avoid hazardous confrontations between humans and Read More...
Namibia's sustainable solution to its housing crisis? Mushroom waste and weeds
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Namibia is experiencing a serious housing crisis, with roughly 90 percent of households unable to purchase a home. However, an innovative project, MycoHab, is offering a sustainable and promising solution by converting invasive bush and mushroom waste into Read More...
Preparing for a smokier future
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In light of the extreme coast-to-coast heat hitting the United States and Canada, this week we're bringing back earlier articles with advice and guidance on how to stay cool and safe during heatwaves and wildfire season. Wildfire smoke is hazardous to our Read More...
Beating the heat: Your comprehensive guide to staying cool and safe in extreme heat
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In light of the extreme coast-to-coast heat hitting the United States and Canada, this week we're bringing back earlier articles with advice and guidance on how to stay cool and safe during heatwaves and wildfire season. Summer's blistering heat can turn Read More...
Colombia's battle against deforestation achieves remarkable results
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Colombia's deforestation rate dropped to its lowest level in 23 years, marking a significant milestone in the country's environmental conservation efforts. According to Colombia's environment ministry, forest loss decreased by 36 percent in 2023, from 1,235 Read More...
Tiny spas for endangered frogs battling fatal fungi
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Biologists devised a novel approach to tackle a fatal fungal illness that threatens amphibians worldwide. These specially designed shelters, functioning like miniature saunas, help vulnerable and endangered amphibians fend off chytridiomycosis, a deadly skin Read More...
Denmark to pioneer CO2 tax on farms in a global first
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, is slated to become the first country to impose a carbon dioxide tax on livestock emissions beginning in 2030. This daring step intends to dramatically cut the agricultural sector's carbon footprint while also Read More...
Breakthrough in green hydrogen production: cobalt and water replace rare iridium
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Hydrogen generation is frequently cited as a critical component in the shift to renewable energy. However, according to a paper published in Nature Energy by Kiane de Kleijne of Radboud University and Eindhoven University of Technology, the technique has Read More...
Chicago's bike path expansion keeps city on track for a sustainable future
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL STAFF Chicago is preparing to drastically improve its bicycle infrastructure, with plans to build about 47 miles of new bikeways in 2024 alone. This effort is part of a larger pledge to build 150 miles of new and enhanced bikeways over the next few years, Read More...
Air pollution down 40%: a look at a pedestrianized Paris
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Paris will seem very different from how it did ten years ago when the Summer Olympics roll around this summer. Since 2014, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has led a substantial makeover in Paris aimed at reducing vehicle dependence and encouraging greener urban living. Read More...