Climate Action
What is Climate Action? Climate Action is humanity's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our planet's resilience against climate change. From adaptation to mitigation, at The Optimist Daily you will learn about the most recent positive news stories and solutions targeting climate change and other environmental issues.
Demand is dwindling—Iceland decides to end whaling by 2024
For now, Iceland remains one of the only countries in the world that still hunts whales commercially. As demand declines, however, the fisheries minister has said that they plan to end whaling by 2024. “There are few justifications to authorize the whale hunt beyond 2024,” wrote Svandis Read More...
Reusable pallets make the UK construction industry greener
Wasted wooden pallets are a huge problem in construction. In the UK alone, the construction industry goes through 18 million wooden pallets every year (the production of which requires a total of 6,000 acres of forestry), and most of them are used only once! At a time when it’s becoming Read More...
Another reason to protect wildlife? Pandemic prevention
It’s safe to say that we are done with the Covid-19 pandemic, and wish that it would disappear. As vaccines are developed and we learn more about the nature of the virus, we have been slowly figuring out how to continue on in a semi-post pandemic world. However, the worst scenario would be that Read More...
Scotland plants over a million trees to help save wild salmon
The bodies of water around the world have been experiencing unprecedented warming that is taking a toll on the ecosystems and marine life that inhabit them. One of the species that is suffering from this warming is wild salmon. That’s why, in Scotland, the River Dee Board and Trust in partnership Read More...
Submarine to explore the underside of Greenland’s glaciers in a first
Scientists are desperately trying to save the world’s glaciers. As they hold a large amount of water and carbon dioxide, it is essential that we slow the demise of these structures for the climate's sake. We’ve previously written about a group using special mountain blankets on Mount Titlis Read More...
These Indigenous women are helping save endangered coral reefs
Coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet. In addition to providing essential habitat for marine life, they also protect coastal areas from waves, storms, and floods, all while providing a key source of income for hundreds of communities around the world. With that said, Read More...
Ecuador creates a new marine reserve north of the Galápagos archipelago
Since its discovery in 1535, the Galápagos archipelago has fascinated researchers and visitors from all over the world. In an effort to preserve its lush and biodiverse ecosystems, Ecuador has recently created an extensive new marine reserve north of the islands. The new reserve, called Hermandad Read More...
The EV charging stations of the future are about the experience, not the wait
Thankfully it looks like the era of the electric vehicle is on the rise, which means that gas stations as we know them will hopefully go extinct (along with the harmful CO2 emissions that go hand in hand with them). Instead, new kinds of service stations will take their place, but what will they Read More...
Hawaii is the first US state to enact ban on shark fishing
On the first day of the year, January 1st, 2022, Hawaii became the first state in the US to enact a ban on shark fishing. House Bill 553 bill was first passed last year and under the new legislation, and now it is a misdemeanor to knowingly capture, entangle, or kill a shark in state marine Read More...
8 ways to minimize your pet's environmental pawprint
Over the past two years and counting, many people have taken on the company of a cat, dog, or other animal companions to ease the feelings of isolation that the pandemic has brought upon us. According to the American Pet Products Association, over 70 percent of American households own a pet. Read More...