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.
Canada’s stimulus plan ensures companies take action on climate change
Canada has a new plan to help companies stay afloat during the coronavirus and promote corporate sustainability. The new relief program provides bridge loans of up to $60 million and even up to $80 million for companies with annual revenue over $300, but companies applying for the loans must agree Read More...
Why green infrastructure could help the economy bounce back after COVID-19
Of the 33 million Americans who have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus crisis began, many expect to get their jobs back—in one recent poll, 77% of workers who have been laid off or furloughed say that they expect their employers to rehire them. But economists say that may be overly Read More...
Intel aims to be waste-free and use only clean energy by 2030
While it can almost feel natural to get skeptical when big companies make sustainability pledges, it’s important to remember the big impact these companies have at the end of the day. With that in mind, tech giant Intel has unveiled its environmental goals for 2030 this week, committing to cut Read More...
Seattle to make some of its neighborhoods permanently “car-free”
In April, as the pandemic made parks and sidewalks more crowded in Seattle, the city shut down most traffic on a series of streets to help give people more room for exercise or walking to the grocery store. Now, the city plans to make the changes permanent on 20 miles of streets. Like in other Read More...
This is Bear, the Australian Koolie dog who saves koalas after bushfires
It wasn’t long ago that bushfires overwhelmed Australia, leaving an estimated 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres) of land charred. But from the ashes, we have since seen stories of hope emerge from Australia, which we have shared to remind us of nature’s resilience. For instance, Read More...
Scientists use new technique to produce more heat-resistant coral
Rising sea temperatures have created a crisis for coral populations that are experiencing widespread bleaching events. Researchers are being forced to get creative with solutions to save reefs. A team in Australia may have an answer to the crisis with a technique they call “directed Read More...
How Lush Cosmetics embodies the spirit of the circular economy
When Lush Cosmetics began in Poole, England in 1995, they didn’t have the resources for fancy wrappings, so they would hand-pour soap into upcycled drain pipes or lunch pails and then cut slices for customers to order. Now, almost 30 years later, the brand is highly successful, but they have Read More...
Brazil is now taking swift action to protect Amazon rainforest from loggers
Brazil is home to the largest swath of the mesmerizing Amazon rainforest, but unfortunately, its government has allowed mass deforestation to occur under its watch. The good news—we say with an air of caution—is that the Brazilian government seems to be finally taking the issue seriously after Read More...
World’s largest wealth fund drops fossil fuel investments
The world’s biggest wealth fund was built on Norway’s oil and gas production revenue. Now, the fund is shifting course and taking a stand against global warming by excluding some of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies from its portfolio. The fund, which owns about 1.5 percent of Read More...
Scientists invent process to turn waste seaweed into biofuel
When we allow substances such as agricultural fertilizer runoff to enter the seas, there are very real consequences. One of those consequences is that Sargassum seaweed is growing out of control in many areas, washing up on beaches in huge amounts. Utilizing a new technique, that rotting organic Read More...