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.
Florida animal sanctuary opens its doors to former circus elephants
The use of wild animals, like elephants, in circus performances is banned in many parts of the US, but the question of what to do with these animals once they are no longer in use still remains. The White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida is a 135-acre sanctuary intended to give Read More...
These floating, 3D printed office pods take remote work to the next level
As it looks like remote work is here to stay for many companies around the world, it’s likely that employees will seek to diversify the places they work from in order to prevent fatigue and blurring the work-life balance. Working in a vertical park may sound like an enticing solution, how about Read More...
Over 100 endangered turtle hatchlings released after rescue from the cold
In early February, a nest of 113 endangered loggerhead turtle eggs was discovered on a beach in northern New South Wales, Australia, and reported to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Because the eggs were laid late in the season, the conservationists feared that the turtles wouldn't be able Read More...
Researchers want to reintroduce jaguars to the American Southwest
The successful reintroduction of native bison and wolves in the US has been so environmentally beneficial that researchers are looking into other once-plentiful species that could be used to restore ecological balance. The latest effort is one to reintroduce the jaguar to the Read More...
Cob on Wood is a refuge center that empowers the unsheltered in Oakland
A charming refuge for the unsheltered in Oakland has taken form under a highway overpass in West Oakland thanks to a coalition of organizations and members of both the housed and unhoused community. The structures are made of “cob,” a mixture of organic materials including sand, subsoil, water, Read More...
Spatial data mapping protects migrating animals around the world
We recently wrote about an agreement that sets aside migration corridors for monarch butterflies to help them travel safely. These corridors involve long strips of plant-rich land to offer food and shelter for endangered monarchs, but butterflies aren’t the only species that rely on safe Read More...
‘Park Habitat’ in San Jose will bring the office and nature together
The benefits of being surrounded by nature have been proven by a large body of research. With that said, wouldn’t it make sense to integrate as much nature as possible into our office spaces, where — at least in non-pandemic times — many of us spend much of our time? Well, a new sustainable Read More...
New York bans the use of mini plastic toiletry bottles in hotels
It’s no secret that single-use plastic is one of the chief contributors to the pollution crisis. Around eight to ten million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year, and in recent years, our newsfeeds have been flooded with images that clearly illustrate the suffering all that plastic Read More...
Forests as big as France have regenerated in the past 20 years
Good news from our planet’s reforestation endeavor! A new study has found that a forest area the size of France has regrown naturally across the world since 2000. As reported by the BBC, the restored forests have the potential to sequester the equivalent of 5.9 Gt of carbon dioxide — more than Read More...
Cats at Work: Chicago is using feral felines to tackle its rodent crisis
Chicago is famous for its bean sculpture and deep-dish pizza, but it’s also known for its rat problem. Seeking a natural solution to the pest problem, the city has found success in the form of feral cats. Since 2012, the Tree House Humane Society has been capturing feral felines, Read More...