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.
Tasmanian Devils make a comeback to Australia’s mainland after 3,000 years
You may be familiar with the Tasmanian devil from silly cartoons, but in real life, the story is much more serious. The Tasmanian devil is classified as an endangered species, and their numbers have dwindled over the past two decades in their home island state of Tasmania. In an effort to boost Read More...
PlanetCare device catches microfibers released by your washing machine
Every time you wash your clothes in a washing machine, small microfibers and microplastics are released into wastewater and eventually make their way to our water systems. Fortunately, PlanetCare is here to catch these polluting particles so you can do laundry with a little more peace of Read More...
Bird-watching: These 3 tools let you track migratory birds near you
Running out of entertainment options as the pandemic continues to trudge onward? Now is the perfect time to take up bird-watching! Yes, this is the time of year where many birds migrate long distances to make a temporary home in a different climate, which means there’s a good chance that some Read More...
This is how climate-resilient neighborhoods might look in the future
Building resilient neighborhoods is key in enabling our growing cities to adapt to the threats of climate change. The Norwegian city of Bergen is well aware of this. That’s why it has recently devised plans to develop a former port area at the edge of the city into a regenerative, zero-emissions Read More...
Cambridge just dropped its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels
More and more universities are choosing to divest from fossil fuels, but the University of Cambridge is going one step further and decarbonizing its entire portfolio. Just last week, Cambridge announced it will drop its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels and reduce its holdings in companies Read More...
Ban on straws, stirrers, and cotton buds comes into effect in England
A ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds was supposed to come into effect in England this past April, but that ban was put on delay during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, months later, the ban has come into force. Each year, people in England use an estimated 4.7 billion Read More...
London has seen significant drops in air pollution over the past four years
When Sadiq Kahn was elected mayor of London in 2016, more than 2 million people in the capital were living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution. Three years later, that number fell to 119,000, all thanks to a number of ambitious policies enacted by the mayor, aiming to improve air quality Read More...
Mayors from 12 major cities commit to divesting from fossil fuels
Investing in green initiatives could accelerate an economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but if the federal government isn’t willing to divest from fossil fuels, then it’s up to local governments to do so. Recently, mayors of 12 major cities signed C40’s “Divesting from Fossil Read More...
Critically endangered skate successfully hatches at aquarium in Scotland
A critically endangered flapper skate, also known as the common skate, has been successfully cared for and hatched in an aquarium in Scotland, in what is thought to be a world-first for the species. The skate egg, which has been looked after by researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Read More...
Humpback whales in Alaska are enjoying the cruise ship-free waters
Alaska is usually overwhelmed with cruise ships and tourists in the summertime, but not this year. Tourism has come to a grinding halt due to the pandemic, and while it has been a disaster for the local economy, the state’s humpback whales seem to be enjoying the calm waters. Dr. Michelle Read More...