Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
Iberian Lynx claws its way back from extinction thanks to conservationists
Spain’s Iberian Lynx is the world’s most endangered species of felines. Just 20 years ago, the animal was at risk of becoming the first big cat to become extinct after the saber-tooth tiger died out 10,000 years ago. With that said, conservation efforts have successfully increased the cat’s Read More...
Texas oil and gas unions support a green energy transition
The fossil fuel industry in Texas employs about 450,000 people, a statistic that has long driven politicians in the state to oppose green energy adoption measures. However, as the impacts of climate change begin to affect more and more communities, even fossil fuel workers in the Lone Star State Read More...
4 Reasons to cultivate your own walled garden
Gardening isn’t just a good habit for your own health and wellbeing. More greenery boosts the air quality of the surrounding environment by absorbing even more carbon from the atmosphere. If you’ve already used up all the space in your yard but wish you could still cultivate more plants, then Read More...
Porous pavement could mitigate flooding and reduce water pollution
Devastating flooding has stretched from Germany to China to Nigeria this summer, and unfortunately, urban design exacerbates this flooding in highly populated areas as concrete and asphalt fail to absorb water as unpaved environments do. Adding more green space to urban areas is one solution to Read More...
Pedestrians have priority under Britain's revised Highway Code
Many of us will be familiar with the memorable Spiderman line: “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is the spirit behind the “hierarchy of responsibility,” the Highway Code revision that Great Britain plans to implement this autumn, pending parliamentary approval. Under Read More...
This innovative dome battery uses carbon dioxide to store green energy
As the world works to adopt renewables as its main source of power, we need to develop reliable and cheap ways to store and release green electricity on demand. As counterintuitive as it sounds, carbon dioxide may just be a promising candidate in helping us achieve that. At least that’s the idea Read More...
This book made of recycled plastic features letters to future generations
At this point, we can all agree that our take-make-use-dispose model of consumption has been nothing but harmful for the planet and that it’s about time we part ways with one of the biggest contributors to this problem — single-use plastics. A creative agency in Vietnam, called Ki Saigon, Read More...
Canada to dedicate over C$25 million to conserve wetlands
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Canada has announced more than C$25 million in funding to conserve, restore, and enhance wetlands and grasslands in the Prairie provinces. This initiative could conserve up to 30,000 hectares of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas, on top of Read More...
Orkney islands’ tidal turbine officially connects to UK power grid
The Orkney islands are famous for the innovative use of green hydrogen, but green hydrogen can’t exist without partnering with renewable energy sources and when you’re a chain of small islands, most of that renewable energy comes from the sea. Now, the islands officially have another source of Read More...
Wasara's compostable tableware set is so pretty you won't want to toss it
Replacing single-use plastic or styrofoam take-out containers with biodegradable, organic, and compostable alternatives isn’t a new solution, however, tableware design company Wasara has effectively elevated the concept. Normally, disposable tableware sticks to the basics: plates, bowls, and Read More...