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.
After a 29 percent drop, UK carbon emissions are now back at 1988 levels
A carbon brief has revealed that the United Kingdom’s carbon dioxide emissions have dropped 29 percent since 2010. The analysis found that carbon emissions dropped 2.9 percent last year alone, bringing 2019 emissions down to 1988 levels. The drop in emissions is largely attributed to coal Read More...
The Netherlands is doubling its 2020 green subsidies to meet climate goals
Let’s start with the bad news: The Netherlands is struggling to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by the end of this year. The good news: the Dutch government is actually taking this seriously. This week, the government Read More...
Amsterdam’s classy canal boats are going electric ahead of diesel ban
Transitioning from vehicles powered by fossil fuels to electric vehicles doesn’t mean we have to lose the classic aesthetic of old cars and boats. To see what we mean, just look to Amsterdam where the famous canal boats have been getting a clean makeover. Building an entirely new electric canal Read More...
California designates 300 state buildings to house homeless
California Governor Gavin Newsom made addressing homelessness a key issue of his campaign. Last month, he dedicated his State of the State address to the issue with a plan to allocate 286 state properties for use as homeless shelters. This plan builds on his previously proposed plan of Read More...
A new online tool is helping cities and businesses find the EVs they need
The technology driving clean transportation is rapidly evolving, so much so that it’s hard to keep track. That’s why a transportation nonprofit focused on cleantech has launched a new online tool called The Zero-Emission Technology Inventory to help cities and businesses know exactly what’s Read More...
Scientists zero in on gut bacteria that enable waxworms to eat plastic
Plastic pollution is a monumental issue and one that isn’t going away anytime soon, but researchers are opening up new possibilities around how we could chip away at the problem. Scientists working in this area at Canada’s Brandon University have made an exciting discovery, zeroing in on the Read More...
Nike’s Team USA Olympic uniforms are stylish and more sustainable than ever
The 2020 Olympics are coming up in Tokyo this summer and Nike has released its highly anticipated Team USA uniforms. This year, the uniforms are making not only a fashion statement but a sustainability statement as well. The athletic clothing features sustainable recycled materials such as Read More...
Scientists make earthquake-proof concrete without energy-intensive cement
Concrete is the world’s most widely-used building material thanks to its incredible strength – but it doesn’t stand up well against bending. Now, researchers at Swinburne University have developed a new type of concrete that can not only bend better, but doesn’t require cement to make, Read More...
A rare video of a sloth giving birth has scientists thrilled. Here’s why
When Steven Vela, a tour guide in Costa Rica, spotted a brown-throated sloth up in a tree near La Fortuna, he had no idea the animal was in the late stages of labor—or of the drama that would unfold next. With the camera rolling, the sloth gives birth to its baby, but seconds later the baby Read More...
How the ski world is addressing the problem of harmful wax chemicals
The wax applied to the bottom of skis helps them glide smoothly across the snow, but it also has a heavy environmental footprint. The wax contains perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, or 'fluoro' in the ski world, which are harmful to ecosystems and human Read More...