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.
New York launches interactive Tree Tracker to monitor 25 million tree goal
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM New York is ramping up efforts to combat climate change and expand green spaces with a bold initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033. To keep the public engaged and informed, Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced the Tree Tracker, an interactive online Read More...
Is water the simple solution to making future solar cells recyclable?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Solar energy is rapidly rising, with panel prices dropping and global adoption increasing by around 24 percent annually over the past decade. The industry is projected to triple in size by 2028, thanks in part to the growing use of perovskite solar cells—a Read More...
England’s largest bird sanctuary expands as a haven for wildlife and rewilding
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major victory for conservation and rewilding, RSPB Geltsdale in the north Pennines has grown by a third, making it the largest bird sanctuary in England. Covering over 5,500 hectares (13,590 acres) of blanket bog, heath, meadows, and woodland, the Read More...
America’s first car-free neighborhood is proving walkability works
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a country where the car is king, a bold car-free community in Arizona is challenging the status quo. Culdesac Tempe, a $200 million, 17-acre development, is designed to prioritize walkability, public transit, and community connection. Since its debut in Read More...
SF State leads the way as the first major university to require climate justice course
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM San Francisco State University is setting a historic precedent by becoming the first major public university in the U.S. to require all students to take a climate justice course before graduating. Beginning as early as fall 2026, this initiative ensures that Read More...
How vertical farming transforms urban spaces and breathes new life into empty offices
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In cities across the globe, office vacancies are at an all-time high. In the United States alone, more than 20 percent of office spaces sit empty, a consequence of the shift to remote and hybrid work. While real estate developers scramble to repurpose these Read More...
Solar shines brighter than coal in the EU
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For the first time in history, solar power has overtaken coal in the European Union’s electricity mix. In 2024, solar energy generated 11 percent of the EU’s electricity, while coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, fell below 10 percent. This milestone, Read More...
Michael Bloomberg steps up to fund UN climate body after U.S. withdrawal
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When the United States announced last week the plans to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement and cut international climate funding the ripple effects were felt across the globe. One of the biggest casualties was the United Nations Framework Read More...
Architects embrace trees to bring nature in and redefine home design
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Biophilic design—the practice of integrating nature into architecture—is no longer confined to houseplants and scenic views. Architects and designers worldwide are turning to trees as a central element of their projects, blending sustainability with Read More...
Oslo’s quiet revolution: how electric construction sites are changing the game
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine walking past a bustling construction site and hearing… almost nothing. In Oslo, that’s becoming the new normal. The city’s ambitious mandate to eliminate fossil fuels from municipal building projects has ushered in a quieter, cleaner era for Read More...