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.
Why seagrass meadows are the carbon capture solution we need
Although rainforests are vital for capturing carbon from the atmosphere, their efficiency hardly compares to that of seagrass. According to the United Nations Environment Program, seagrass can capture carbon an incredible 35 times faster than rainforests. The only problem is seagrass covers just Read More...
Finnish town gives locals free cake if they cut their carbon footprint
A town in Finland has found a rather tasty incentive to encourage its inhabitants to cut down their carbon emissions: free cake. Lahti, situated 100 kilometers north of Helsinki, has developed an app that tracks residents' CO2 usages based on traveling by car, public transport, bike or walk. The Read More...
Not a gram of salmon goes to waste with this new process
With their fresh taste and numerous health benefits, it’s not all too hard to understand why salmon is such a sought-after fish. But unfortunately, overfishing and polluted waterways have diminished populations globally. On top of that, we also waste a whole lot of the salmon we do end up Read More...
A giant virtual power plant is coming to California to avoid blackouts
As energy blackouts become more common in California, a German energy company called Sonnen believes virtual power plants (VPPs) can solve the issue. Rather than rely on utility companies, virtual power plants involve connected sets of solar panels and batteries that produce and store energy Read More...
Doubling down on diesel: CA regulations will slash nitrogen oxide emissions
Last week, the California Air Resources Board unanimously passed new regulations to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. The new legislation, aimed at diesel trucks, will reduce NOx emissions by 90 percent. This is the equivalent of taking 16 million light-duty vehicles off the road. The new Read More...
These US firms are part of a global reforestation effort to plant 1tn trees
Over the last couple of years, scientists have increasingly underlined the key role that reforestation can play in tackling climate change and, more recently, a growing number of reputable companies have pledged to plant trees as part of their sustainability efforts. Salesforce, for instance, Read More...
This concrete-like material was made from waste sea shells
The seafood and aquaculture industry produces tons and tons of waste seashells. Looking to make something from all this waste, a design firm called Newtab-22 has used them to develop a sustainable material that resembles concrete. Named Sea Stone, the material is made by grinding down shells that Read More...
How TikTok became a powerful vehicle for climate action
TikTok is often thought of as a social media app used by kids to share silly videos. But the reality is that TikTok is quickly becoming a major platform for people to educate others about protecting the environment. For instance, Philip Aiken has received more than 1.4m likes on the app. But his Read More...
After decades, this rare dolphin is back in the Adriatic Sea
It was largely believed that the Delphinus delphis, a rare dolphin species, was regionally extinct from the Adriatic Sea. But according to recent research by marine scientists at the University of St Andrews, the rare dolphin has been observed multiple times off the coasts of Italy and Read More...
Brooklyn Bridge will feature sustainable tropical wood and wider bike lanes
A source of pride for New Yorkers, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, with thousands of pedestrians and cyclists crossing the bridge every day. A new project aims to reimagine the bridge as an icon of climate action and social equity by refurbishing the Read More...