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.
How to identify sunscreen that doesn't damage coral reefs
The same stuff you put on to protect your skin from the sun on a day at the beach is killing the coral reefs that live beneath the waves. That is unless you apply reef-safe sunscreens. But it can be rather difficult to tell which sunscreens are actually safe and which ones are just pretending to Read More...
New York is close to enacting one of America’s most aggressive climate bills
In recent months, we’ve written about New York’s grand climate plans, which aim to achieve a net-zero economy in New York by 2050. At the time of writing, those ambitious plans still had to jump over several hurdles before they became official policy. Flash forward to today, and those plans are Read More...
The singing of the world’s rarest whales has been recorded for the first time
The North Pacific right whale is one of the rarest whales on the planet. In fact, these slow-moving whales were nearly wiped out due to intensive whaling, with only about 30 of these precious animals remaining. That’s why it’s wonderful news that marine biologists have recorded singing by one Read More...
Boston is launching a new curbside compositing initiative for city residents
Boston is going all-in on composting in order to help reach its goal of being carbon-neutral by midcentury. Under a new plan from Mayor Marty Walsh, Boston will provide citywide composting pickup, meaning that city residents will now be able to place their food and gardening waste curbside to be Read More...
The North Face joins National Geographic to make clothes from plastic waste
To show the rest of the fashion industry what can be done with recycled plastic, the North Face has decided to collaborate with National Geographic and create a special line of clothing made from upcycled plastic. The collection, called Bottle Source, consists of branded black and white hoodies, Read More...
This digital directory shows Londoners where to shop for zero-waste goods
Even if people want to live a zero-waste lifestyle, it can be difficult to know where to go to get zero-waste goods. That’s why ethical creatives agency Nice and Serious has developed an online platform that directs people in London to their closest zero-waste shops and offers tips on how to Read More...
Madison becomes first in America to make its bike share program 100% electric
The city of Madison in Wisconsin is set to become the first city in America to go 100 percent electric for its bike star program. The reason: E-bikes are simply easier for people to ride and will motivate more people to ditch their cars. The extra push from a motor makes previously unconquerable Read More...
Five strategies that will help you do less laundry
If it feels like you constantly have a load of laundry to do, then your approach to laundry might be all wrong. The truth is running your clothes through the washing machine shortens the lifespan of your clothes, and beyond this, running the washing machine is an energy-intensive process that uses Read More...
Wow. Pope Francis convinced a room full of big oil CEOs to act on climate change
Say what you will about the Vatican, but it has become an advocate of some incredibly progressive ideas since Pope Francis became head of the papal state. Most importantly, though, Francis is using his immense influence to make the world more environmentally-conscious. Just this week, the Pope Read More...
How a dying Swedish town went from industrial powerhouse to recycling empire
The city of Eskilstuna in Sweden was once a steel-producing powerhouse, but as the industry declined rapidly throughout the 1970s, so did the town. It now has an unemployment rate that is almost double the national average of 8%. But the town has come up with an answer: recycling! Far from the Read More...