Sustainable Urban Development
With cities expected to host about 70 percent of the world's population, sustainable urban development is key to making communities worldwide more resilient against the growing threat of climate change. Find out about the latest urban practices from across the world aiming to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive in these good-news stories from The Optimist Daily.
These 5 new California laws combat plastic waste
The problem of plastic is in many ways a pandemic in and of itself, and the entire world is suffering from it. Most consumers believe that recycling is an effective way to combat the plastic problem, however, in practice the system simply doesn’t work, and in fact, only encourages people to Read More...
Good news! Climate tech startups have raised more money than ever this year
This year may not have been the easiest year to get through—we find ourselves still reeling from the pandemic and on top of that, we are also dealing with extreme weather and the consequences of climate change. That said, according to a new report from Dealroom and London & Partners, it Read More...
Drivers in Barcelona can exchange their old car for a free transit pass
With governments racing to meet their climate targets, many of them have been particularly attentive to the transportation sector, where reducing emissions can have a huge impact. In that vein, there is an increasing number of initiatives looking to move people away from cars and towards cleaner Read More...
Paris to become a 100% bicycle-friendly city by 2026
As cities are around the world increasingly step away from car-centric urban planning, it’s safe to say that cycling will soon become a primary mode of transportation for a growing number of people. In Paris, at least, that will definitely be the case. Starting this year, Parisians are expected Read More...
This gigantic vertical greenhouse uses 100% natural light
Vertical farming is an amazing solution that allows us to grow fresh produce using a fraction of the water and land that traditional agriculture requires. That said, most vertical farms need a lot of heating and artificial light. The use of 100 percent natural light is what sets Shockingly Read More...
Residents of this small Spanish town pay less taxes the more they recycle
The small Spanish town of La Nucía is located just 10 kilometers away from the touristy seaside resorts of Benidorm. But compared to its skyscraper-dominant neighbor, La Nucía’s architecture ranks high in sustainability rather than height. For over 20 years, the municipality has followed a Read More...
EU is giving away 60,000 free Interrail tickets to European youth
The European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas realizes that the coronavirus pandemic forced young people to “[miss] valuable and formative moments of their youth.” As a recognition of their sacrifice in the name of public health and safety, and to “rekindle mobility in Europe,” Read More...
This new tool is a roadmap for safe renewable energy development in Maine
Maine has identified a new tool to proceed with renewable energy expansion more sustainably. The state’s new Renewable Energy Siting Tool is an interactive map that allows officials and energy developers to identify the safest places for renewable energy projects where they will have the least Read More...
Celebrated landscape architect finds beauty in the margins of public space
The newly-established Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize honors advancements and innovation in landscape architecture. The inaugural winner of the award is Julie Bargmann, and when you look at the work she does, it’s no surprise that her work is being celebrated Read More...
Public libraries are climate justice tools
We’ve written about how libraries should double as food banks, but did you know that public libraries are also essential to climate justice? As more regions face extreme temperatures due to climate change, libraries are increasingly serving as refuges for heat-vulnerable residents. For Read More...