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.
How activists in this Californian city stopped a gas plant from being built
When NRG Energy, one of the largest electric power producers in the country, won a contract to build a new gas plant on the beach in Oxnard, California, in 2014, nearly everyone assumed it was a done deal. The region’s electric utility, Southern California Edison, needed a new source of power to Read More...
Britain just committed to net zero emissions by 2050
The United Kingdom has just become the first major economy in the world to commit to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Although the UK already had a 2050 target to reduce emissions by 80%, which was agreed upon by MPs under the Climate Change Act in 2008, that target is now amended to the Read More...
Judges have finally legalized same-sex relation in this African nation
Just weeks after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage, the LGBT community has won another major victory. In Botswana, a country in southern Africa, high court judges ruled that laws criminalizing same-sex relations are unconstitutional and should be struck down. Jubilant activists in the packed Read More...
Canada just banned the captivity and breeding of dolphins and whales
When you see whales or dolphins swimming through the vast ocean, you come to realize that these magnificent creatures should never be held in captivity. It’s flat out inhumane to keep them cramped in small pools, and the government of Canada seems to agree. On Monday, Canadian lawmakers passed Read More...
Canada pledges to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021
Plastic forks and takeout containers could soon become a thing of the past for Canadians, as the country’s government has announced on Monday that it will ban single-use plastics from as early as 2021, joining a growing global movement in the fight against plastic pollution. Citing the example Read More...
The biggest climate villains in Washington are quickly losing power
Business trade groups are known for throwing their weight around — and getting their way — in Washington. The US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the American Petroleum Institute — these names Read More...
Why the Green New Deal has already won
The Green New Deal may not have passed its first time around, but in many ways, the ambitious plan has been victorious. If you hadn’t already noticed, ever since the far-left policy was introduced, the climate debate has completely shifted—and what now counts as “moderate” is surprisingly Read More...
Oregon may soon join California’s carbon trading market under new bill
Drawing inspiration from its southernly neighbor, Oregon may soon pass a landmark bill that will mandate not just greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector, but also economy-wide emission reductions. The only state to have done that is…you guessed it, California. Across every sector Read More...
Vermont passes bill restricting the use of pollinator-killing pesticides
Pesticides are one of the main reasons why bee populations have plummeted at an incredible rate in the past couple of years. In Vermont, for example, beekeepers reported losing an average of 57 percent of their hives from 2017 to 2018, and that’s even higher than the national average of 40 Read More...
Costa Rica has doubled its forest cover in the past 30 years
Long committed to the environment, Costa Rica has often been praised for its successful efforts in sustainability, biodiversity, and other protections. More recently, the nation has made headlines by pledging to go entirely fossil-free by 2050. In an interview with The New York Times, the Read More...