Politics
Having a difficult time finding positive news about national and global politics? Search no further! From public policy to positive leadership to democracy efforts, find the latest good news stories in the world of politics at The Optimist Daily.
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon drops to 11-year low ahead of COP30
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to new government data. This encouraging milestone appears just days before the country hosts the upcoming United Nations climate summit, Read More...
French court holds TotalEnergies accountable for greenwashing in landmark ruling
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a groundbreaking decision, a French civil court ruled that oil giant TotalEnergies misled consumers in a 2021 advertising campaign that promised it could reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The judgment marks the first time France’s greenwashing law has Read More...
Scotland moves to criminalize ecocide with bold new legislation
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Scotland is taking a brilliant step toward environmental justice with a proposed law that could make it the first UK nation to criminalize ecocide, a term used to describe large-scale, long-lasting, or irreversible damage to the environment. The Ecocide Read More...
Ireland makes basic income for artists permanent, signaling support for creative economy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Ireland is preparing to make a fresh cultural experiment permanent. Starting in 2026, the country will officially launch a permanent basic income program for artists, following a three-year trial that showed strong economic and social returns. Under the Read More...
New York’s hair-saving law offers comfort for cancer patients
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Maureen Green was diagnosed with breast cancer, one of her major concerns was losing her hair. “I was really afraid I would look in the mirror and really not know who I was,” she said. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, she Read More...
World’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve is one step closer to reality
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM An extraordinary marine conservation initiative has taken a major step forward in the Pacific. The Melanesian Ocean Reserve, a proposed Indigenous-led marine protected area, will span over six million square kilometers (more than 2.3 million square miles) of Read More...
California takes bold step to remove ultra-processed foods from school meals
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM California is once again leading the way in school food policy. Known for pioneering free school meals for all students in 2022 and for banning synthetic food dyes last year, the state is now poised to become the first in the nation to define and ban Read More...
World Trade Organization launches first global agreement to curb overfishing
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After years of negotiations and national approvals, a landmark World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement aimed at reducing overfishing officially took effect on September 15. The deal requires countries to scale back subsidies that encourage unsustainable Read More...
Koala comeback: new national park and vaccine offer hope for Australia’s iconic marsupial
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Koalas, one of Australia’s most beloved and vulnerable species, are getting a much-needed lifeline. In a remarkable one-two punch for conservation, two major developments have brought renewed hope for the marsupial's survival: the official creation of the Read More...
How the Chicago River went from dumping ground to eco destination
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For generations, the Chicago River was overlooked, dismissed, and heavily polluted. But today, this waterway is showing signs of life so promising that Chicago is preparing to host its first downtown open-water swim in nearly a century. "Everyone used to Read More...