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.
Protect our planet by becoming a guerrilla gardener
Climate activism and public protests are a great way to garner attention from governments and citizens about the threat of climate change, but you don’t need to attend an organized event to advocate for the planet. Meet Jenny van Gestel, the coordinator of Guerrilla Gardeners NL, whose work Read More...
Scientists aim to turn our built environment into rechargeable batteries
According to the World Green Building Council, about 11 percent of the environmental footprint of buildings and construction comes from embodied carbon emissions. This includes all the CO2 emitted in producing the materials needed for creating our built environment. Seeking more sustainable and Read More...
The Olympic Games showcase Japan’s ‘hydrogen economy’
When Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic flame in Japan last week, it not only marked the start of the Olympic Games, but also showcased the increasingly important role that hydrogen plays in the country’s drive towards a greener future. For the first time ever, hydrogen is powering both the Olympic Read More...
Basel knows how to increase urban green space: make it mandatory
Research shows that urban greenspace not only enhances air quality but also supports biodiversity and the mental health of residents. The city of Basel, Switzerland has successfully interjected greenery into its concrete jungle by making urban greenery (and all of its benefits) a legal requirement Read More...
New IBM tool quantifies the amount of carbon an individual tree sequesters
Although all trees sequester CO2 as they grow, not all of them do so equally. Depending on their type and their location, trees capture different amounts of carbon. In an effort to measure their exact climate benefits, IBM has developed an AI-based tool that precisely maps trees and shows how Read More...
How to protect and soothe skin from smoke exposure
The West Coast wildfires demonstrate that fires will be an increasingly common aspect of a warming world. This means that we will have to learn how to adapt, even as we attempt to reverse and mitigate the effects of climate change. Although skin health isn't our primary concern when it comes to Read More...
Zelp makes methane-reducing masks for cows
We at The Optimist Daily have written extensively about the numerous ways in which the beef and dairy industry can clean up their act with solutions like seaweed-supplemented feeds and plant-based food alternatives. These days, veganism and vegetarianism are gaining more popularity as we become Read More...
Snakes assist scientists in studying areas affected by nuclear disasters
In 2011, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, damaging three nuclear reactors in the process. The accident was rated a seven, which is the highest level on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. Now, a decade later, Read More...
Meet Pattie Gonia, the environmentalist drag queen fighting for inclusivity
The climate movement could use all the help it can get, and environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia is determined to make sure it can by pushing for it to be more inclusive. Pattie uses her Instagram account, which has more than 300,000 followers, to challenge what a conventional climate Read More...
How cooling chips are revolutionizing the refrigeration industry
It goes without saying, cooling technologies like air conditioners, freezers, and refrigerators have significantly improved our lives over the last few decades. But the chemicals underlying these technologies have also proved to be very detrimental to the environment, harming the ozone layer and Read More...