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.
Dutch city is preparing for climate change by replacing roads with trees
When it comes to sustainable urban development, there are a few things cities around the world can learn from the Netherlands. Take, for example, the Dutch city of Arnhem, which has recently undertaken the ambitious endeavor of greening up the city by replacing roads that are rarely used by its Read More...
Deutsche Bank joins list of banks in banning Arctic drilling
The world could use some good news about the Arctic after weeks of battling a prolonged heatwave and wildfires. Fortunately, we have some good news: Financial giant Deutsche Bank has introduced a new energy policy banning financial support of drilling in the Arctic. The move comes after years of Read More...
After 250 years, the Esselen tribe has reclaimed their homelands
In 1770, the people of the Esselen Tribe of northern California were forcibly removed from their lands and brought to Spanish missions. But now, after more than 250 years, the Esselen tribe is landless no more. This week, the Esselen tribe finalized the purchase of a 1,200-acre ranch near Big Read More...
41 US states show emission cuts and GDP growth go hand in hand
Economic prosperity and environmental preservation are often portrayed as mutually exclusive goals. But do we really have to choose between financial health and a healthy planet for future generations? Research from 41 states across the US says no. Research from the World Resources Institute Read More...
Study: Lifestyle changes could delay or prevent 40% of dementia cases
Excessive drinking, exposure to air pollution, and head injuries all increase dementia risk, experts say in a report revealing that up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or prevented by addressing 12 such lifestyle factors. This may not sound positive on the outset, but what the Read More...
Britain’s biggest pension fund will now divest from fossil fuels
If we want to foster the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, then we’re going to need major financial institutions to shun companies that profit off the extraction or production of these dirty fuels. In that vein, climate campaigners will be pleased to know that the UK’s biggest pension Read More...
Wild tiger populations around the world are making a comeback
Millions watched them in captivity on the lockdown TV hit Tiger King, but in the wild, tiger populations have been in rapid decline for decades. There is some positive news though. According to new figures from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), the number of wild tigers in some parts of the Read More...
Tahlequah, the grieving orca, is pregnant once more
Nearly two years ago, a tragic story surfaced in the news about a mother orca named Tahlequah who carried her dead calf 17 days and more than 1,000 miles. It is heartbreaking to think about, but we have good news: Tahlequah is pregnant again. Tahlequah is a member of the endangered population of Read More...
Future of food: The world’s biggest rooftop urban farm is now bearing fruit
In the summer of 2019, we published a story about a rooftop urban farm being constructed in Paris that was set to be the biggest in the world. Now, nearly a year later, the world’s largest urban rooftop farm has started to bear fruit. Strawberries, to be precise: small, intensely flavored and Read More...
This all-female expedition team is diving into ocean plastics research
We recently shared a story about Ocean Voyage Institute completing the largest ocean clean up to date. Now, another crew is exploring the ocean’s five garbage-collecting gyres to learn more about plastic pollution and its impact. Even more unique, the crew is made up entirely of women. The Read More...