Today’s Solutions: January 20, 2025

Conservation

Nature relies on a rich diversity of organisms to keep it in balance. Conservation plays a key role in ensuring that environmental equilibrium is preserved. Learn about the solutions spearheading our efforts to promote biodiversity, safeguard vital ecosystems, and protect endangered species.

How the Environment Leaders Pr

How the Environment Leaders Programme cultivates climate action in schools

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The climate crisis can feel like an overwhelming storm—literally and figuratively, but young people across the UK are eager to be part of the solution. A recent survey of 1,500 students aged 7-17 revealed something inspiring: the next generation doesn’t Read More...

The giant beneath the waves: w

The giant beneath the waves: world’s largest coral found in the Pacific

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where bad news about the environment routinely outweighs good news, scientists have discovered an incredible exception: the world's largest coral. Nestled in the pristine seas of the Solomon Islands, this huge marine monster is 34 meters broad and Read More...

Rat patrol: African rodents tr

Rat patrol: African rodents trained to sniff out smuggled wildlife products

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Move over, sniffer dogs! Scientists in Tanzania are now using African giant pouched rats to locate smuggled wildlife products such as pangolin scales, rhino horns, elephant tusks, and illegal timber. The organization Apopo's effort capitalizes on these Read More...

UN Biodiversity Summit agrees

UN Biodiversity Summit agrees to include Indigenous voices in conservation decisions

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP16) closed with a revolutionary agreement to formally integrate Indigenous peoples in nature protection decisions, marking a watershed moment in environmental history. The decision, announced in Cali, Read More...

Changemakers of the week: Thir

Changemakers of the week: Third Act and HeartMath

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, the ones that emerge from our local communities often have the greatest impact. Welcome to the fifth round of The Optimist Daily’s Read More...

Washington voters uphold groun

Washington voters uphold groundbreaking climate law, a victory for climate action

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM On November 5, Washington voters made an important decision for the future of climate action by deciding to uphold the state's Climate Commitment Act (CCA), one of the nation's most ambitious climate laws. This vote marked a huge loss for Republican efforts Read More...

Migrating birds find refuge in

Migrating birds find refuge in pop-up wetlands thanks to the innovative rice farming program

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every year, tens of millions of birds fly thousands of miles along the Pacific Flyway, a critical migration path that runs from the Arctic to South America. The western sandpiper, for example, migrates from Alaska to as far as Peru, stopping to rest and feed Read More...

Brazil fines meat producers $6

Brazil fines meat producers $64 million over ties to deforested Amazon land

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major environmental crackdown, Brazil's IBAMA fined meat packers and cattle ranchers $64 million for rearing or purchasing livestock on unlawfully deforested Amazon property. This effort seeks to reduce one of the primary causes of Amazon deforestation: Read More...

Changemakers of the week: The

Changemakers of the week: The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative and Treasure House Fashions

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, the ones happening locally, and being driven by our communities often make the greatest impact. Today we are excited to publish the Read More...

From pollution to progress: th

From pollution to progress: the recovery of the Cuyahoga River

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Cuyahoga River, formerly associated with industrial trash and environmental negligence, is now a symbol of resilience and rehabilitation. Conservationists recently released a group of lake sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River, marking a significant turning Read More...