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.
Environmentalists just won big in France’s municipal elections
The municipal elections just took place in France, and the results show there is one big thing that voters have in mind: the environment. Several major cities across the country saw victories for environmentalists. The unprecedented showing for Europe Écologie Les Verts, a once minor political Read More...
Germany will say goodbye to single-use plastic as early as 2021
No more single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and food containers for Germany. Starting next summer, the European country will end the sale of plastics including disposable cutlery, plates, stirring sticks and balloon holders, as well as polystyrene cups and boxes. The ban will mean the country Read More...
NSW buys large piece of land to protect over 25 threatened animal species
In a major win for threatened species and habitats, the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has recently taken under refuge a massive piece of the country’s outback by purchasing it from a private owner. Called the Narriearra, the new national park covers an area of 1,534 sq km (392 sq Read More...
This NBA team will turn its arena into a polling station to attract voters
Citizens in cities across America have lamented the lack of polling stations in predominately African American precincts, and Atlanta is no different. The June 9 primary elections were beset by logistical problems, with many Georgians enduring waits of several hours to vote. In an effort to help Read More...
How public works projects could help the US rebound from the pandemic
During the Great Depression, the federal government enacted the Civilian Conservation Corps to employ millions of young Americans and improve federal land by planting trees, building ranger stations, and creating trails. Today, as we face an economic downturn potentially worse than the 1930s, some Read More...
Massive fruit producer Dole wants to achieve zero food waste by 2025
Dole is the biggest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, including bananas, the globe's most popular fruit. The company announced several new sustainability goals this week including a plan to eliminate fossil-based plastic packaging by 2025 and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Read More...
A sustainable farming movement in Brazil looks to save the Amazon
In the Amazon, more land is cleared for cattle than anything else. It’s easy enough to clear – chop down a few trees, light a few fires. But restoring the forest? Bringing back life and the greenness? That is far, far harder. But that’s exactly what scientists at the Experimental Active Read More...
New biomaterial has plastic-like properties but is eco-friendly
Due to its amazing material properties such as flexibility, durability, and ease of manufacturing, plastic has made its way in virtually all aspects of society, becoming an indispensable material in nearly all industries. But, of course, this wondrous material has also brought our planet on the Read More...
Black environmentalists are uniting to fight climate injustice
"I can’t breathe." These were among the final words that George Floyd and Eric Garner gasped before their deaths at the hands of white police officers. That plea has become part of the current rallying cry for racial justice and an end to police brutality in the United States. But for Black Read More...
Growing colorful cotton may be a game-changer for the textile industry
Throughout the years, growing concerns over environmental and water resources have pushed textile manufacturers to seek out alternative and sustainable dyeing practices. Now, scientists in Canberra may have come up with the ultimate solution by developing a new kind of colored cotton that Read More...