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.
Cargo ships may soon have no captains, crews or anyone else onboard
This may seem absurd, but the shipping industry may soon have ghost ships delivering cargo across the world without a single person on board. Just like the auto-industry, self-automation is expected to be the future of the shipping industry. Having crew-less vessels could save up to 22% on a Read More...
What does peace in Colombia have to do with the environment?
After 52 years of war, the government finalised a peace accord to cease conflict and construct stable and long lasting peace in Colombia. After four years of negotiations and almost 300 pages, the accord delves into different key points for the ceasefire, the guerrilla demobilisation, the integral Read More...
Flotsam and fashion: recycler of 'ghost' fishing nets makes marine litter trendy
The oceans are choked with discarded fishing nets, or ghost nets, that are estimated to kill 300,000 whales, dolphins and seals each year. It’s a grotesque and avoidable toll on nature, and one that Giulio Bonazzi, CEO of Aquafil, hopes to reduce using an unlikely ally – fashion. The Read More...
Could carbon farming help the climate?
An ear of corn, swaying gently before a stand of apple trees. A cow chewing slowly on clover. They’re probably not what you think of when you imagine solutions to climate change. But perhaps their time has come. Enter “carbon farming,” a term that encompasses a host of practices aimed at Read More...
The hydrogen plane that represents the future of air travel
A hydrogen-fueled airplane made its maiden flight in Germany this past month, emitting nothing but water vapor as it flew across the sky. The electrical system on board is emission-free, and makes a lot less noise than a conventional fuel engine. The plane itself is rather small, with four seats on Read More...
Seaweed could slow down emissions from cow burps
The world isn’t slowing down when it comes to meat consumption, meaning emissions from the meat industry are only rising. Since people aren’t stopping their habits, scientists may have found a solution for cutting emissions in the form of seaweed. They have found a type of seaweed suitable for Read More...
Airbnb users can now get a $1,000 discount on solar panels
Have you used Airbnb before? Then you can get a discount on solar panels. The short-term home rental company is partnering with SolarCity to give Airbnb users a $1,000 rebate on any purchase of solar panels. The rebate is available to any Airbnb user — guest or host — with a home in one of Read More...
Technology can help make agriculture cleaner and pesticide free
On the long run pesticides create more problems than they solve. They destroy the soil and ultimately that leads to lower yields. They are not good for our bodies either. That’s why organic agriculture is best. But technology can help. Scientists are investigating the plant microbiome: the Read More...
Whales’ dung is the real reason we need to stop hunting them
Sometimes it’s pink, sometimes greeny-brown. But whatever the colour, whale dung could be the unlikely catalyst for ending whaling. The role of whale faeces in regenerating fish stocks will occupy centre-stage this week and next at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission Read More...
Indigenous land rights bring economic, not just environmental benefits
Secure indigenous land rights not only bring environmental benefits, they can also foster economic development, according to a new report released by the World Resources Institute. The report, Climate Benefits, Tenure Costs: The Economic Case for Securing Indigenous Land Rights, describes how Read More...