Creative cement recycling breakthrough promises to slash emissions
University of Cambridge scientists identified a new way for recycling cement from demolished concrete buildings, which might reduce emissions from one of the world's most polluting industries. Cement, the cornerstone of contemporary construction, accounts for a considerable share of worldwide CO2 Read More...
US injects 3.5 billion into carbon removal technologies
The US has ambitious goals to reach and maintain a net-zero economy by 2050. To get the nation closer to this objective, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is accelerating its Carbon Negative Shot initiative to facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while also driving down the Read More...
The EU’s plan for carbon emissions tariffs on imported goods
In an effort to reduce the importation of goods that generate environmental damage during their production processes, the EU has declared their support of a plan to impose carbon tariffs on said goods. The EU aims to introduce such a tax on materials such as aluminum, cement, electricity, Read More...
Major music labels come together to sign the Music Climate Pact
Major players in the music industry have joined forces to combat the climate crisis by committing to the Music Climate Pact. Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group as well as independent labels like the Beggars and Secretly groups of labels, Warp, Ninja Tune, and Read More...
Italian garden installation shows us how much CO2 trees store
Trees are the lungs of our planet—we know that trees are needed because they sequester dangerous CO2 emissions, but do we really know how much we depend on them to clean the air we breathe? We don’t see trees and plants absorbing emissions as we trek through the forest or sit in our gardens, so Read More...
Austria announces new carbon tax to curb emissions
In order to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the Austrian government has introduced a new carbon tax that is set to be fully implemented by July next year. This means that Austrians will have 30 euros (around $35 USD) added to their consumer bills per ton of CO2. This cost will rise to 55 euros Read More...
Night trains are gaining steam again in Europe
As most of us went over a year without travel, the month of July is extremely exciting for those who are planning to dust off their backpacks and suitcases to take advantage of the easing travel restrictions across Europe, which took place on the first of this month. However, travel may look Read More...
These algae curtains combat air pollution in urban environments
Here at The Optimist Daily, we're highly interested in the expansion of algae as an eco-friendly component of a variety of products that protect the environment and reinforce the value of sustainable, eco-conscious living. Algae has been used to make biodegradable sequins and more sustainable Read More...
Maersk’s first carbon-neutral ship to set sail 7 years ahead of schedule
Shipping accounts for around 2 percent of the planet’s energy-related carbon footprint. To shrink those emissions down to zero and in line with the Paris Agreement, the shipping industry needs to urgently find alternative, more efficient fuels to power its oceangoing vessels. Well aware of the Read More...
New concrete recipe enables the material to absorb CO2 twice as fast
Concrete is the most widely used material in the world. And as you might know already, it’s also one with a gargantuan environmental footprint, producing over eight percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. What’s less known about this binding material, however, is that it can also capture CO2 Read More...