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.
Study: Electricity-eating bacteria could help fight climate change
From spreading crushed rocks in forests and farmlands to constructing green buildings with materials that suck carbon up out of the atmosphere, scientists are hard at work developing innovative solutions that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, a team of scientists from Washington Read More...
Israel makes history as first country in the world to ban the sale of fur
Israel is set to become the first country in the entire world to ban the sale of fur fashion. The new legislation will come into effect in six months — a historic decision for animal rights and protection. The environmental protection minister of Israel, Gila Gamliel, issued a statement once Read More...
Citizen scientists step up to track cicada rising
Citizen science has been booming during the pandemic as curious adventurers seek out new ways to get involved in their local natural environment. As billions of cicadas rise up after their 17-year slumber, teams of citizen scientists are taking on the task of mapping their path and prevalence Read More...
South Korea to plant 3 billion trees to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050
In recent years, scientists have increasingly highlighted the key role that reforestation can play in fighting climate change. This has given rise to numerous initiatives around the world that have made it their goal to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere by planting trees. Among these is the Read More...
Scientists extract carbon dioxide from the ocean by turning it to rock
Human-induced climate change is one of the most prevalent threats we are facing as a species, and to combat this, we must change our way of living and innovate new solutions to temper the damage that has already been done. For instance, carbon emissions in the atmosphere need to be reduced at a Read More...
These beautiful underwater sculptures serve to support marine life
Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has recently erected an underwater ecomuseum near Saint-Marguerite Island, off the coast of Cannes in France. The exhibit displays six mask-like sculptures made of PH neutral materials and features textured surfaces to encourage marine life to return to the area. Read More...
Update: Holland's fish doorbell is a worldwide hit!
A couple of months ago, we wrote about a remarkable online “fish doorbell” or visdeurbel that allows spawning fish to swim through the canals of Utrecht in the Netherlands unobstructed by the Weerdsluis lock. The system is comprised of an internet-connected underwater camera located next to Read More...
Italian carmaker Fiat to transition its fleet to all-electric starting 2025
With major automakers such as General Motors, Volkswagen, Jaguar, and Volvo pledging to shift their cars to all-electric over the next decade, there should be little doubt left that the electric vehicle revolution is in full swing. Now, Fiat is looking to make the same pledge, with the Italian Read More...
Developers permanently pull the plug on Keystone XL pipeline
After a 13-year environmental battle, the Keystone XL pipeline has finally been canceled for good. After the permit for the project was revoked by the federal government in January, Calgary-based TC Energy, the sponsor of the project, announced this week that the project has been Read More...
Gabon passes measures to protect its sharks and rays on World Ocean Day
On World Ocean Day this past Tuesday, the government of Gabon passed significant measures to regulate and protect the country’s sharks and rays. Gabon’s waters are home to a variety of shark and ray species such as the open ocean whale shark and the giant manta ray. This wide diversity makes Read More...