Today’s Solutions: July 19, 2026

Old metal kettle beside a stacked steam pot on a campfire in a sandy outdoor area.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Nearly one billion people across Africa cook over charcoal or firewood every day. $3.1 billion in commitments is what it’s going to take to change that, and the number keeps climbing. African countries secured $900 million in new financial commitments to Read More...

London street lined with historic façades, with Big Ben in the distance and stone lions at the foreground monument.

Air pollution deaths in London fall 40 percent over five years

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Deaths linked to air pollution in London fell an estimated 40 percent between 2019 and 2024, according to a new Imperial College London study. That’s the good news. The more complicated part: the same research revised the original death estimates sharply Read More...

TEMPO Satellite: Harnessing ai

TEMPO Satellite: Harnessing air pollution data to combat environmental injustice

Air pollution is a major hazard to public health in the United States. Pollutants like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone, and fine particles are associated with a variety of ailments, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Despite significant progress in reducing Read More...

Man watering a Maranta Leuconeura, Fascinator Tricolor, houseplant with a plant mister bottle.

Four ways to clean your house plants

Cleaning your plants may seem trivial, but there is scientific support behind keeping your leafy friends squeaky clean. The stomata and chlorophyll of plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and help perform photosynthesis, can be clogged and blocked by dirt and dust. Cleaning your plants helps ensure Read More...

5 more reasons to have housepl

5 more reasons to have houseplants under your roof

From making your home more aesthetically pleasing to generally improving your wellbeing, the benefits of houseplants are well documented. Here are five of the most important reasons for living with green companions. Breathe easier While we breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. During Read More...

Poland’s AirBubble playg

Poland's AirBubble playground keeps air pure with algae

Poland is one of Europe’s most polluted countries, in a world where, according to the WHO, 93 percent of children breathe in polluted air while they play. To protect Poland’s children from air pollution, an innovative park, called the AirBubble, was erected in central Warsaw, next to Read More...

This clever lamp indicates out

This clever lamp indicates outdoor air pollution levels

When a body of water is too dirty to get into, the evidence is generally right before your eyes. You can see the swirls of oil on the surface of the water, as well as plastic waste or other rubbish floating along, so you know to search for another place to go in for a dip. This is not Read More...

This futuristic bus shelter is

This futuristic bus shelter is designed to improve air quality in cities

Air pollution is one of the most pressing public health challenges facing urban areas today, so designing infrastructure that tackles this problem is key to ensuring a sustainable future for our cities.  We’ve previously seen such innovations in the form of air-purifying advertising banners, and Read More...

Sleek air purifier uses a natu

Sleek air purifier uses a natural filtration system to improve air quality

As a lot of people have been spending much time indoors since the start of the pandemic, many have also begun to pay more attention to the air quality in their homes. And while air purifiers are a good way to improve the air quality indoors, most of them use disposable filters that eventually end Read More...

London has seen significant dr

London has seen significant drops in air pollution over the past four years

When Sadiq Kahn was elected mayor of London in 2016, more than 2 million people in the capital were living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution. Three years later, that number fell to 119,000, all thanks to a number of ambitious policies enacted by the mayor, aiming to improve air quality Read More...