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.
Here are the U.N.'s global goals that will (hopefully) change the world in 15 years
The countries of the world to set ambitious (and perhaps impossible) goals for fixing our planet and society by 2030. By 2030, the world will be a vastly better and perhaps unrecognizable place. At least it will be if you believe that the world can even partly meet the United Nations' new Global Read More...
To build a greener economy, Bhutan wants to go organic by 2020
Farmer Phub Zam, 55, is in a hurry. Monsoon rains have hit her farm in Bhutan’s Paro valley and Zam is rushing to harvest her broccoli before crop is damaged. "Of all my vegetables, broccoli is the most sought after," she said. “Each kilogram sells for 90 rupees ($1.40)." That’s 15 to 30 Read More...
the Guardian
David Cameron says cash spread over five years will come out of foreign aid budget as he meets Ban Ki-moon and François Hollande at UNSunday 27 September 2015 12.00 EDTLast modified on Sunday 27 September 2015 12.03 EDTAlmost £6bn of the UK’s foreign aid budget will be spent on tackling climate Read More...
Paris goes car-free for a day on Sunday
Central Paris goes car-free on Sunday as part of its fight against air pollution, at a time when the Volkswagen emissions scandal again turns the spotlight on diesel and the air pollutants it produces. The French capital's central arrondissements and areas around landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower Read More...
Richard Branson—who owns 3 airlines—calls for a carbon tax
He owns three airlines, but he's still in favour of a carbon tax. Entrepreneur Richard Branson yesterday called for an end to subsidies for dirty fuels and oil drilling in the Arctic, and for a cap on coal and a carbon tax, saying that he is prepared to shoulder the short-term cost. In a meeting Read More...
Global goals 2030: Using data to achieve worldwide sustainability
Today is not just another Friday. It’s a remarkable day that will go down in history in every corner of the world. It’s the day that 193 world leaders are gathering at the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Summit 2015 to adopt 17 highly ambitious Sustainable Development Read More...
How carbon capture technology is turning CO2 into cash
Today there are over 50,000 active coal plants in the world, and by 2030 fossil fuels will still account for 85% of the global energy market. Fossil fuel-based power plants are no more than 50% efficient; half the power is delivered as a service to consumers and the other half is released into the Read More...
Pope Francis and the case for climate change optimism
These days, climate change momentum is everywhere. It’s in U.S. politics, as the Clean Power Plan promises to significantly curb U.S. emissions by 2030. It’s in the clean energy industry, as a solar and wind boom couldn’t possibly arrive at a more opportune time. It’s in the international Read More...
New technology to capture, convert carbon dioxide
Novel molecular structures are a first step toward economical carbon capture at a wide scale. A viable technology for economical carbon capture would be a huge step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The intricate, highly porous structure of covalent organic frameworks makes them uniquely suited Read More...
Rescuing ancient seeds from a war-torn city
One of the world’s most important seed banks has left Syria, and it won’t be returning. Aleppo, Syria, has as good a claim as any to the title of “world’s oldest city.” It is certainly among the longest to be continuously inhabited. There are hints that nomads camped Read More...