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.
France has unveiled plans to ban “imported deforestation”
The French government is set to alter its import policies in an effort to end worldwide deforestation. The new national strategy will focus on curbing imports of unsustainable products such as soybean, palm oil, and cocoa, which are directly or indirectly tied to forest degradation. The country Read More...
Climate Change: A Crisis of Human Belonging and Connection
In our ongoing search for solutions and indications of progress, we come across many opportunities and possibilities. We are much inspired by the creative forces around the world that persevere to serve humankind and the environment in the best possible way. We see many possibilities to make Read More...
This has to be the most sustainable bicycle on Earth
A bicycle shop in London is offering customers the opportunity to build their own bicycle out of bamboo sticks. While building a bike out of bamboo sounds strange, bamboo is actually a terrific material for building bikes because it’s so light and shock absorbent, which helps to provide a smooth Read More...
How farms can benefit from the presence of solar panels
After observing solar farms for the past couple of decades, researchers have found that solar farms have an incredible ability to alter the microclimate under them. In fact, scientists in Oregon found that 90 percent more biomass flourished in areas partly or fully covered by solar panels. This was Read More...
London schools want to cover their walls with plants to fight air pollution
Schools in London are attempting to raise thousands of pounds to help pay for an initiative that aims to cover school walls with plants to protect children from air pollution. “Living walls” can be an effective strategy for cleaning heavily polluted air while providing calming benefits as Read More...
System to capture astronaut exhalations inspires Earth-based CO2 removal
When astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) exhale carbon dioxide (CO2), it's removed from the air and pumped into space. Could an Earth-based version help remove greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere? In order to limit global warming to Read More...
Fight climate change in your own garden
During World War I, Americans were encouraged to do their part in the war effort by planting, fertilizing, harvesting, and storing their own fruits and vegetables. The food would go to allies in Europe, where there was a food Read More...
This startup found a clever way to reuse milk bottles
A start-up in New Zealand has developed a way to turn domestic and commercial plastic waste into fence posts. The posts, which are made from 100 percent recycled material, have an impressive life expectancy of 50 years. With more and more farmers trying to improve their on-farm sustainability, this Read More...
Elon Musk wants to upgrade sewage systems in cities across America
Speaking before a crowd of 3,800 mayors, Elon Musk announced plans to employ his ‘ground-breaking’ tunneling technology to upgrade underground sewage systems in cities across the US. Musk’s Boring Company is already busy constructing an underground rapid transportation system in Los Angeles, Read More...
Electric ferries represent the first step in sustainable maritime transportation
Since ferries take the same route again and again, they will be first mode of maritime transportation to be electrified. In Canada, two electric ferries equipped with a battery pack system are already getting to work. The electric vessels, which originally ran on diesel, are expected to reduce Read More...