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.
World Bank sets out plan to bolster Africa against climate change
The World Bank aims to drive more funding into efforts to help African countries withstand climate change impacts and boost their clean energy production through a $16 billion plan revealed on Read More...
Climate Council chief optimistic of global deal at Paris talks
Australian Climate Council chief Tim Flannery says he is optimistic world leaders will reach a global agreement on climate change during talks in Paris next week. The council will release a report today outlining the growth of renewable energy in the past six years. Professor Flannery said the Read More...
Time to act on natural capital is now, says Prince Charles
Prince Charles has lamented the "economic invisibility of nature" and called on business leaders to act now to save the world's natural capital. In a video message to a global gathering in Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales warned of a failure to "run the global bank that we call our planet in a Read More...
Recycling in Kenya turns rubbish into cash
Used plastic is being given a new lease of life in Kenya. It is melted and then used to make poles for construction and road signs. The concept is still new in Kenya - and expensive given the manufacturing costs - but the poles are slowly changing the landscape. Kenya's female water tank masons are Read More...
The tremendous success of agroecology in Africa
It is essential that we get off the chemical treadmill that the modern industrial urban-centric food and agriculture system is based on. It is essential in terms of our health, the environment and sustainability and not least in terms of food security and supporting rural economies and smallholder Read More...
New database lists building materials based on environmental and health impact
Let's say a company would want to build a new office and has a wish to limit its impact on the environment. What building materials would it need to use? That's a hard question, because there is currently a lack of knowledge about the environmental and health impact of different materials. This is Read More...
Scientists worldwide are working on ways to cut methane from cows
Cows have a rather impressive digestion system. They spend about 8 hours a day eating, and their four stomachs can break down food that many other mammals can't. A problem is that they are rather gassy. Emissions from a burping grown dairy cow can amount to about 260 to 650 grams of methane per Read More...
Why a climate deal is the best hope for peace
Soon after the horrific terror attacks in Paris, last Friday, our phones filled with messages from friends and colleagues: “So are they going to cancel the Paris climate summit?” “The drums of war are beating. Count on climate change being drowned out.” The assumption is reasonable enough. Read More...
UK's coal plants 'to be phased out within 10 years'
The UK's remaining coal-fired power stations will be shut by 2025 at the latest, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to say later. Unveiling the government's new energy strategy, Ms Rudd will say that relying on "polluting" coal is "perverse". Instead, gas will become "central" to the UK's Read More...
Portland bans new oil, coal, and gas projects
Clean energy advocates in the United States have added another win to their recent string of victories on Thursday, as Portland, Oregon became the first city in the U.S. to ban all new oil, coal, or natural gas export infrastructure. “We need to take more action to address climate disruption,” Read More...