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.
Business is leading the transition to renewables while politicians dither
It is a volatile time for energy politics. Last week the US president, Donald Trump, rocked the world by following through on his pledge to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement. Considering even North Korea is party to the accord, this leaves the US marooned and alone as a rogue climate Read More...
France is being sued by a Parisian because the air is too polluted
After pollution hit record levels last December, a Parisian woman decided to take the French state to court. She claims the French state is responsible for failing to protect her health from the effects of air pollution, which has caused her a series of respiratory problems over the last few years. Read More...
Hawaii becomes first state to enact law that aligns with Paris agreement
Hawaii has become the first state to enact a law that aligns with the Paris agreement after its governor signed two bills into law Tuesday that "support the commitments and goals" of the accord, Gov. David Ige's office announced Tuesday. The governor, as well as the state's county mayors and state Read More...
Who is wilt-free? Farmers with organic-rich, water-holding soils, that's who
Long-term success for farmers depends on how they treat their soil, especially as climate change is making rainfall patterns more unreliable. The make-up of soils varies enormously, sometimes from one field to another. Clay, which holds four times as much water as coarse light sand, can be a big Read More...
U.S. cities, companies move forward on climate commitments
In case you missed it, the Trump Administration last week announced that the U.S. would leave the Paris Agreement reached during COP21 in late 2015. And if you’ve really been asleep, then you have missed all the outrage expressed by world governments, NGOs and environmental leaders. The reality, Read More...
The conversation between plants and soil
To a child, soil is just dirt – a home for worms. To a gardener, soil is a collection of organic matter and nutrients. But to plants, soil is a hotbed of chemical activity. And plants don't just observe, they actively participate in this activity. Plants release chemicals into the soil, Read More...
This is why the environment needs the support of blockchain technology
The blockchain technology that underpins the cryptocurrency Bitcoin is completely secure. No central authority controls the blockchain, and every transaction made is logged in a transparent matter. Considering that many modes of governance work in secrecy and are prone to corruption, the Read More...
Beyond organic: How regenerative farming can save us from global catastrophe
A growing corps of organic, climate, environmental, social justice and peace activists are promoting a new world-changing paradigm that can potentially save us from global catastrophe. The name of this new paradigm and movement is regenerative agriculture, or more precisely regenerative food, Read More...
Algae based omega-3 supplements are healthy for people and for the environment
Omega-3 supplements have been proven to support heart and brain health and to reduce inflammation. That’s why millions of people take these fish oil pills on a daily basis. The unhealthy side-effect is devastating overfishing of fish species like menhaden, which are crucial to the aquatic Read More...
Trump's Paris pullout is more damaging to the US than the climate
Will Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement tip the world into fiery catastrophe? The extraordinary unity of the rest of the world’s nations in tackling global warming, allied with the booming green economy, driven by plummeting renewable energy costs, Read More...