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.
Why green bus stops are blooming around the world
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most bus stops serve a simple function: keep commuters dry and out of the sun. But in cities across the globe, a quiet revolution is taking shape overhead. Green bus shelters, compact rooftops planted with succulents, wildflowers, and native grasses, are Read More...
All aboard the clean power express: Colorado startup turns trains into rolling batteries
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For over a century, America’s railroads hauled coal by the ton, fueling the country’s insatiable appetite for fossil energy. Now, a Colorado startup is flipping that script by replacing coal with clean power. Meet SunTrain, the Denver-based company 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...
From wind farm to front door: architects turn turbines into tiny homes
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Step inside Nestle, and you might think you’re in a sleek, minimalist cabin. The sunlight filters through glass doors, white walls glow under a skylight, and four solar panels gleam overhead. Step outside, though, and the secret is revealed: this cozy Read More...
Australia says goodbye to plastic soy sauce fish in world-first ban
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, they’ve bobbed alongside sushi rolls across the globe: those tiny fish-shaped soy sauce bottles that squeeze out just enough seasoning for a mouthful of maki. But their days are numbered. As of September 1st, South Australia is the first place Read More...
Japan’s first osmotic power plant shows how salt and fresh water can fuel renewable energy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Fukuoka, Japan, has quietly switched on a facility that could point to the future of renewable energy. The country’s first osmotic power plant (and only the second in the world) will generate roughly 880,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. That Read More...
Could space-based solar panels power Europe’s clean energy future?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A new study suggests that solar panels in space could meet up to 80 percent of Europe’s renewable energy needs by 2050. The research, conducted by engineers at King’s College London (KCL), uses detailed computer modeling to assess the potential of Read More...
How pollinator pathways are turning city alleys into thriving insect havens
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM On a warm afternoon in Bristol, an alleyway once known for litter and neglect is now humming with life. Catmint, yarrow, geraniums, and anemones fill the air with color and scent, attracting bumblebees, hoverflies, and ladybirds. “It’s buzzing with Read More...
New York becomes first state to mandate all-electric new buildings
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM New York has officially become the first state in the U.S. to require most new buildings to be constructed without fossil fuels. On July 25, the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council finalized regulations that mandate all-electric systems for most Read More...
Amsterdam adds tiny canal staircases to save wildlife and pets
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Amsterdam is taking a thoughtful step to protect the animals that call this city of canals home. Following a rise in accidental drownings, including 19 cats so far this year, city councillors have approved a plan to install hundreds of small escape staircases Read More...