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.
Mayors want guaranteed income programs to help us recover from Covid-19
In early 2019, we published a story about Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs, who implemented a guaranteed income program in his city to help residents meet their basic needs. We have been closely following the program ever since, with the preliminary results from October showing that the 125 recipients Read More...
This bill will require all new public buildings to be bird-friendly
Birds, often migratory ones, are known to fly into the reflective facades of glass buildings. In fact, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology estimates almost one billion birds are killed annually from collisions with buildings in the US. In order to protect birds from this fate, the US House of Read More...
After near extinction, thousands of red kites now fly over British skies
In April, we shared a story about white-tailed eagles returning to England for the first time in more than 240 years. Then, just over a week ago, another conservation story out of England was published about plans to bring bison back to the UK for the first time in 6,000 years in order to Read More...
South Korea will invest $61b as part of its path towards a green recovery
As countries around the world are increasingly considering a green recovery from the pandemic, South Korea is looking to lead the way. Part of the South Korean New Deal, this "green" policy is the Asian country's response to the rising tide of climate change, while also boosting its economy — Read More...
Why solving hunger is more than just making food cheaper
When we look at the fact that 8.9 percent of the world’s population is undernourished, it’s tempting to point to cheaper food as the solution. In reality, types of food available, access points, and distribution networks are far more influential in solving long term food Read More...
Germany is offering generous subsidies to lure people to switch to EVs
If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle in Germany, you’re in luck! Government subsidies aimed at boosting an electric kickstart to the auto industry means leasing the best-selling five-door Renault Zoe EV is now essentially free. Individuals and families who put off buying a new Read More...
A green recovery could create as many as 400m jobs by 2030
As scientists and business leaders from different industries, as well as religious and medical institutions, have recently stressed, driving a post-pandemic economic recovery that focuses on the environment is paramount in our efforts to solve the climate crisis. Now, a report brings in new data on Read More...
Why climate change lawsuits could benefit from COVID-19 court battles
Courts have on occasion enabled massive changes in the societal structure before politicians were ready to, including school desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education and the more recent ruling on marriage equality. Moreover, judicial decisions have strength: Once the legal precedent is Read More...
These 15 states will join California in electrifying all buses and trucks
Fifteen states and Washington, DC have announced that they will follow California’s lead in switching all heavy-duty trucks, vans, and buses over to running on electricity, in what could be one of the most significant efforts to reduce harmful diesel engine pollution in the United States. It Read More...
Scientists develop anti-gravity solar panel that absorbs and purifies water
Pure drinking water may be a widely available commodity in developed countries, but in many other parts of the world, it’s still a scarcity. Many innovative solutions have been attempted, much like these ‘hydro panels’ from an Arizona-based startup, but there’s still a lot of work to be Read More...