Today’s Solutions: January 18, 2025

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.

Wind energy

Last month, wind and solar made up 18 percent of US energy

With the War in Ukraine and unfair demands from Russia for its gas, many western nations are feeling the need to switch to renewable energy now more so than ever. The good news is that nations are getting closer to 100 percent renewables and energy independence every day.  Wind and solar have Read More...

Green sprout of a young branch of a Bush of hazel illuminated by the sun with a visible spectrum of light The concept of plant photosynthesis.

This ancient enzyme can boost photosynthesis and crop yield

Photosynthesis - turning carbon dioxide, water, and light into oxygen and sugars - is the natural process by which plants sustain themselves. It's what has allowed life to flourish on this earth by transforming the atmosphere into an oxygen-rich environment. Besides pumping out oxygen, these Read More...

Washington skyline

Washington State passes all-electric heating mandate for new buildings

Washington passed a mandate requiring all newly constructed buildings to have all-electric heating, making it the first state in the US to do so.  The mandate restricting the use of natural gas in multifamily housing complexes and commercial buildings by requiring the installation of electric Read More...

Indigenous man in tropical forest looking towards the sky

This group helps Indigenous people protect the world's tropical forests

Looking after more than 80 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, Indigenous peoples are the world’s most knowledgeable and effective conservationists. Despite growing scientific evidence that they know better than others how to protect our natural heritage, their land and forest rights are Read More...

close up of ocean plastic pollution

Captain Fanplastic teaches young pirates about plastic pollution 

“Why do you think pirates are called pirates? Because they ‘aRRRRRe!’” This is the joke that forms the basis of the “Captain Fanplastic” initiative—a primary school program aimed at teaching young children in South Africa and the Netherlands about plastic waste and the “R’s” Read More...

Assembly of giant wind turbine in Utah

Wind turbine components to be 3D printed on-site soon

When it comes to the design of wind turbines, the bigger they are, the better — at least in terms of cost savings and energy efficiency. However, one of the hurdles of building larger wind turbines is the challenging task of transporting these giant pieces of machinery to the site of Read More...

Farm to table

The Table to Farm Movement: Anthony Myint on Regenerative Agriculture

Shifting the world’s food production to a regenerative system has been a frequent solution we’ve written about here at The Optimist Daily. In May 2021, Kristy and Summers sat down with award-winning chef Anthony Myint to discuss Zero Foodprint, his project to expand regenerative Read More...

Climate Anxiety

Coping with climate anxiety through connection

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”  — Martin Luther King Jr.  Constant news updates are inescapable. Wildfires Read More...

Graduation

Be bored, then get going

“Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination.”  — Arthur Schopenhauer Congratulations, graduating classes of 2022! Being young, with a freshly minted degree, you probably feel invincible, like you can do anything.  There’s a lightness and exuberance in your step, and you are full Read More...

Tel Aviv e-scooter

Tel Aviv is becoming an e-scooter city

No two cities are the same, and each one has its own particular changes to make to achieve its climate goals. New York is making plans to become “spongier” to handle excess water. Panama City, Florida is transforming into a tree city, planting over 100,000 new trees, and Tel Aviv, Israel aims Read More...