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.
Monsanto found guilty in Roundup weedkiller cancer trial
Once it was scientifically-proven that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, causes cancer, a school groundskeeper from California took Monsanto to court. Lee Johnson was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, following years of mixing and using the weedkiller at his job site Read More...
Youtube is now adding ‘fact checks’ to any video questioning climate change
In attempt to combat misinformation about climate change online, Youtube is adding fact-confirming text below videos about climate change. The text is directly taken from Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia. The fact-checking text makes the videos quite awkward considering a fake-scientist could Read More...
Massive study finds global tree cover has increased 7 percent since 1982
A new global land change analysis has concluded that trees now cover 7% more of the earth’s surface – roughly 2.24 million square kilometers – than they did in 1982. The study, conducted by the University of Maryland, says this increase is due to net gain of trees in the extratropics compared Read More...
This footwear company uses 17 plastic bottles per pair of shoes
The leader in the barefoot shoe industry is rolling out a line of shoes made out of recycled water bottles. Instead of heading to the oceans or a landfill to decompose over 400 years, the material will be reworked into durable, high-performance shoes deployed to mimic and stabilize the anatomy of Read More...
The EU wants to force all phone manufacturers to use the same charger
Not only is it inconvenient that different smartphones have different chargers, but it’s also terrible for the environment. The EU Commission estimates that incompatible chargers contribute 51,000 tons of electronic waste every year in Europe. Now the EU is considering creating a law forcing all Read More...
The verdict is in: Rotating crops boosts yields and reduces emissions
If you’ve ever pulled a few all-nighters in a row, you understand the importance of rest. Soil needs rest too in order to replenish nutrients. Traditionally that means rotating crops throughout the year, something many farmers ignore by simply planting the same crop year round. A new long-term Read More...
Is your city amongst the most sustainably powered cities in America?
When it comes to sustainability, cities from the East Coast of America need to take note of the West Coast. San Francisco and Oakland finished on top of a recent ranking of sustainability by city, followed by Seattle and Portland. The ranking was determined by how much of a city’s energy comes Read More...
Climate change: a chance to restructure toxic politics and destructive economics
This author interviewed many experts across many fields about the impact of climate change. All these people are working on economic and political solutions. The emerging picture is inspiring and optimistic. The solutions are as diverse as the backgrounds of the experts. However, they agree that Read More...
U.S. Supreme Court: teenagers can proceed with climate lawsuit
The Trump administration argued that the lawsuit was against the U.S. Constitution, but the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to halt a novel case pressed by children and teenagers seeking to force the federal government to take steps against climate change. The teenagers say government policies have Read More...
Save energy and the planet: your clothes don’t get cleaner in warm water
It used to be that your clothes got cleaner if washed in warm water. However, today's detergents are made to do the job as well in cold water. And that means that you can save energy and the environment by washing with cold water Read More...