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.
Buying bottled water is not a problem; doing something with the bottle is an opportunity
Americans use about 50 billion plastic water bottles each year and 38 of those end up in landfills, where they can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. But in a matter of weeks, a recycled water bottle can be made into a lumber alternative, polyester, stadium seating, car parts—or even a dress Read More...
Get the snails out of your lettuce: How to make natural garden pesticides
Urban farming is rapidly spreading, and many people spend more time growing food in their gardens. And with that good news comes the growing frustration of garden pests spoiling the fun. Snails take over your lettuce or aphids suck on your roses. As a responsible citizen supporting sustainability, Read More...
First commercial carbon-capture plant set to open in Switzerland
What is the best way to get rid of greenhouse gases? The Swiss company Climeworks thinks the answer is to feed them to a greenhouse. The company is now building what is expected to be the world’s first plant to do so commercially. The firm expects to be opening the plant near Zurich in September Read More...
Sharing economy shows U.S. the end of car addiction
American cities are built for cars, not for people. However, technology is beginning to wean the U.S. off its car addiction. The impact of ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft in the past five years is showing substantial changes in society. There’s a steady drop in drivers’ Read More...
New China diet guidelines major contribution to global warming fight
Animal agriculture is a major cause of carbon emissions and is a big contributor to the decline of the rainforests. At the same time, eating too much meat is unhealthy for people. So eating less meat helps planet and people. More and more governments advise their citizens to eat less dairy and Read More...
How farmers could be the new climate warriors: Agricultural carbon credits
Farms are responsible for about 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally—but there's an untapped opportunity offered by crop systems as a means to sequester carbon. Environmental advocates have all but given up on their long-cherished goal of a federally-mandated cap-and-trade program to Read More...
Baking soda 'sponge' could capture carbon emissions
Scientists in California are testing sponges made with the key ingredient of baking soda as a way of capturing carbon emissions. The researchers say that soda is more effective than current methods and less damaging to the environment. The team have already successfully trialled microcapsules Read More...
China releases new action plan to tackle soil pollution
China aims to curb worsening soil pollution by 2020 and stabilize and improve soil quality by 2030, the cabinet said in an action plan published on Tuesday. The central government will set up a special fund to tackle soil pollution, as well as a separate fund to help upgrade technology and Read More...
China introduces 1,400 passenger super bus to fight global warming
Big problems require big solutions. China expects some 20 million new drivers on the road each year and with them comes more CO2 emissions and air pollution. A Beijing-based transit company is planning to test an innovative solution this summer: A straddling bus. The bus, which can carry up to Read More...
This new neighborhood will grow its own food, power itself, and handle its own waste
If you live inside one of the houses in a new neighborhood being built in an Amsterdam suburb, your dining room might be next to an indoor vegetable garden. Outside, you'll have another seasonal garden. And down the street, almost everything you eat will be grown in high-tech vertical farms. The Read More...