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.
You can kayak down European rivers for free—if you pick trash along the way
Want to take a kayak down the rivers of Europe for free? If you do, we have just the thing for you. Greenkayak, a Denmark-based environmental group, is letting travelers kayak for free on a number of Europe’s rivers and lakes—as long as they pick up any garbage they find along the way, which is Read More...
This famous DJ is using her platform to bring the climate crisis home to fans
Not everyone will listen to science, but many people will listen to the words of famous musicians and artists. That’s why it’s great news when artists use their platforms to inform the public about pressing issues such as the climate crisis. The latest one to do so is Jayda G, a Canadian DJ Read More...
Giant cement producer to slash emissions in line with Paris climate goals
While it is a key ingredient in shaping our built environment, cement accounts for more than 7 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. For a better frame of reference, if the cement industry were a country, it would be the third largest emitter in the world - behind China and the US. Read More...
Whole Foods to become first national grocery chain to say bye to plastic straws
The movement to ban straws and other single-use plastics to protect our environment is growing bigger by the day. So far, 127 countries and counting are working to enact bans on single-use plastics, including straw bans. Cities like Seattle jumped on the plastic-free bandwagon last year, and Los Read More...
Little Caesars becomes the latest chain to put plant-based meat on the menu
The first time news broke out about a fast food chain offering menu items made with faux meat rather than real meat, the news was shocking and exciting. Now it seems it’s simply becoming the norm as yet another restaurant chain has announced that it will be adding plant-based meat to their menus. Read More...
England is offering millions in grants to plant 130,000 trees in two years’ time
While engineers around the world race to build effective carbon capture technologies, there’s one simple tool we already have that can effectively sequester carbon from the atmosphere and clean up air pollution: trees. That’s why the UK government has announced funding to plant more than Read More...
How Africa is leading the world when it comes to banning plastic bags
Tanzania is moving into the second phase of the country’s anti-plastic initiative, which means both locals and tourists will no longer be able to make use of plastic bags. But will banning plastic actually help the country rid itself of plastic waste? To find an answer to this question, all we Read More...
Satellites are helping scientists prevent disasters cause by land subsidence
Land subsidence is the shifting and sinking of the ground, and it can be disastrous for low lying countries. It’s usually caused by several factors, including erosion, earthquakes, mining, and even rapid urbanization. Because of the risks that subsidence poses to urban areas and agriculture, it Read More...
Why living near public amenities such as parks can change your life
As our political discourse generates derision and dissension, our time in the virtual world crowds out our time in the actual one, and trust in our institutions and each other has plummeted, local places such as markets, libraries, and coffee shops can help. A new study shows that living near Read More...
This program will make these five American cities bike-friendly by 2020
When it comes to quick, efficient, inexpensive, and relatively enjoyable ways for cities to lower their carbon emissions, it’s hard to beat bike lanes and good public transit. Well-designed, safe cycling infrastructure encourages more people to ride bikes that emit no carbon and take up a lot Read More...