Circularity
Understanding the value of a circular economy and identifying circular solutions are essential to changing our world for good. Circularity, or the zero-waste principle of keeping materials in a closed loop and away from landfills and incinerators, is the future. Find out about the latest innovations and solutions accelerating the transition towards a circular economy in the articles here from The Optimist Daily.
Are egg whites the missing ingredient for cheap effective water filtration?
As microplastic contamination and the lack of drinkable water worsen, finding efficient technologies to filter and desalinate seawater becomes increasingly vital. A novel airgel, fabricated from egg whites, shows great promise. An egg-citing concept Professor Craig Arnold of Princeton University Read More...
For the first time ever young people have a "seat at the table" at COP27
This year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, more commonly referred to as COP27, is the first ever to give children an official platform: the Children and Youth Pavilion. Considering how young activists like Vanessa Nakate and Greta Thunberg have led the climate campaign in Read More...
Eco-anxiety and grief part II: how to cope
Part one of this two-part series discussed the differences between ecological grief and eco-anxiety, two relatively new terms used in reference to the feelings of sadness and distress that are related to the climate crisis. Now, let’s dive into how we can face them. How to cope with Read More...
Eco-anxiety and grief part I: the differences
Environmentalists have warned about climate change's effects for decades, and in light of the COP27 conference in Egypt, climate change is certainly on many people's minds and hearts. Increasingly intense wildfires and other weather events, deforestation, food shortages, species extinctions, and Read More...
Could wind turbines capture CO2 while generating clean energy?
Wind turbines have long been one of the primary sources of clean energy. While they have not been without controversy over the years, they are widely acknowledged as a planet- and people-friendly answer to climate change when compared to other green energy sources. Soon, they may be able to Read More...
6 reasons to be optimistic about COP27
This year, the effects of the climate crisis have become even harder to deny – from flooding in Bangladesh and Pakistan to soaring temperatures in the UK – it’s clear that there is a lot on the line as we prepare for another crucial climate conference. From November 6 to 18, Egypt will Read More...
Wax worm spit: a promising weapon in the fight against plastic pollution
The saliva of wax worms, the beehive-infesting larvae of wax moths, has incredible power. Apparently, it contains enzymes that quickly degrade plastic bags— an item we all know plagues our planet. The enzymes—the first known to break down polyethylene in a matter of hours at room Read More...
Clever sustainable living tips for renters
When it comes to making the world a greener, more sustainable place, homeowners have a lot of power. In the US, 40 percent of total energy consumption per year comes from buildings. This means when property owners decide to make changes to their buildings to reduce how their property affects the Read More...
Solutions Thinking and Climate Change
Open Minds and Optimism: Keys to Solving the Climate Crisis In February 2022, the world’s leading climate scientists released the most urgent warning on climate change to date. The report, released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), describes the implications of our Read More...
This is how Australia reduced plastic litter on its beaches by 30 percent
When it comes to reporting about plastic waste on beaches, the news is rarely good. But one report paints a more positive picture of the state of the issue in Australia. According to the study, plastic litter on Australian beaches has actually decreased by 30 percent in recent years. The research Read More...