Policy Making
Strong public policy leads to more cohesive, resilient, and sustainable societies. In this section, find out about the latest legislations from around the world aimed at making our world a better place.
White House and 11 East Coast states partner to bolster offshore wind power
On Thursday, the White House announced that it will partner with 11 East Coast states to bolster offshore wind energy. This arrangement, called the Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership, will help to reach national climate goals of 30 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. Read More...
LA may ban the construction of new gas stations
In the face of the climate emergency, officials in Los Angeles are working on policies to stop the construction of new gas stations. Being the second-largest city in America, LA could become the largest city in the world to prohibit new fossil fuel infrastructure. “We are ending oil drilling Read More...
More on beavers and rewilding
We decided to dust off and update this innovative solution to restoring habitats with the most industrious aquatic mammal: beavers. At The Optimist Daily, we’ve written a great deal about the benefits beavers bring to their environment and the importance of restoring their populations in Read More...
Barcelona plans to limit docking of cruise ships
You’d think thousands of travelers disembarking from cruise ships in Barcelona would be a good thing for the city. However, these tourists coming in from the many yearly cruise liners don’t book accommodation, don’t spend as much as you’d think, and contribute to city congestion. The huge Read More...
Billionaires aren’t cool anymore in the eyes of the public and the planet
Consumerism and capitalism have been driving forces for the growth of wealth and the expansion of world economies. However, a study led by psychologists at the University of Bath has shown the pitfalls of these systems and that they have had dire consequences for the health of the planet and its Read More...
Study proves closing schools and workplaces in the pandemic saved lives
The past few years have been challenging. The pandemic forced the world indoors and caused us to adapt to a new way of life. Many of us are still adjusting and getting used to post-pandemic life and although nothing can make that easy, this new study might be able to help us remember that this Read More...
Making spongier and more climate-resilient cities
We decided to revamp a story about a wonderful solution, with a few updates. The world’s cities and population centers are overwhelmingly located near water. This makes good sense since water is essential for living, and throughout history, people have built their settlements where water is Read More...
Chicago will give 500 dollars each to 5,000 households
Sometimes, getting money to those who need it can become a complicated task. Organizations aiming to provide health or living relief can do great work, but not everyone needs help with healthcare or rent. Additionally, organizations that require oversight require staff, and that costs more Read More...
Lower traffic accidents linked to urban emissions laws
From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, the US and France were more or less the same in traffic fatality rates. In fact, they had both declined by 31 percent from 1979 to 1994. Today, though, people getting around in the US are three times more likely to die than in France. What happened? Bloomberg Read More...
US House allocates 1.3 billion dollars to conservation
On June 14, the United States House of Representatives voted 231 to 190 to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill dedicates more than $1.3 billion to conservation efforts. 15 percent of the funds will be designated for federally listed endangered species. Bipartisan Read More...