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.
California passes radical emissions disclosure bill
California senators took a huge step toward corporate transparency by enacting Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the nation's first mandate for significant U.S.-based firms operating in California to publicly declare their Read More...
Could California’s solar canal project be an answer for climate resilience?
In a state beleaguered by drought, high temperatures, and growing wildfire dangers, the idea of placing solar panels over irrigation canals to address both water loss and climate pollution is finally getting traction. Solar AquaGrid creators Jordan Harris and Robin Raj envisioned a game-changing Read More...
High-tech robotic hive keeps honeybees alive during cold spells
While honeybees are notoriously difficult to study, changing their natural behavior when any outside influences are detected, they are also extremely vulnerable to colony collapse due to cold. If hive temperatures fall below 50 °F, the bees stop buzzing and producing heat and fall into a lethal Read More...
Study finds yet another potential use for aloe plants—Natural insecticide
The green skin and stomach protector aloe vera unveiled a new weapon in its arsenal: its discarded peels. Previously discarded as agricultural trash, these peels are now set to become nature's response to crop-munching pests. Scientists at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley developed a Read More...
The future of sustainable fashion: self-healing mushroom-based leather
The environmental impact of the fashion industry has become an increasing worry in a society where fast fashion has been the standard. But there is good news! Three biotechnologists based in the UK have created a new type of self-healing leather derived from mycelium, the vegetative component of a Read More...
New York State passes nation's first statewide ban on fossil fuel use in new construction
New York State recently approved groundbreaking legislation mandating all-electric new construction, making it the first state in the US to prohibit the use of fossil fuels in buildings. The All-Electric Building Act, which is scheduled to be signed into law soon by Governor Kathy Hochul, will Read More...
A recycling guide for the mysteries of takeout containers
Do you wish to conquer the world of takeaway container recycling? Let's dive into the deceptively complex world of packaging—sustainable and otherwise— armed with knowledge to ensure that we dispose of them in the best way possible. Chinese food containers Consider the lovely folded Read More...
Style and sustainability: Patagonia transforms ocean waste into high-tech fashion
Patagonia once again emerged as a symbol of sustainability and style amidst rising concerns about plastic trash devastating coastal ecosystems through creating the groundbreaking Stormshadow Parka. This novel jacket, priced at $899, represents not just Patagonia's warmest product but also an Read More...
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe celebrates salmon return after century-long wait
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington State hoped for the reintroduction of coho salmon to the Elwha River for over a century. The river, which was vital to their way of life, was obstructed by two dams in 1911, impeding salmon migration. These dams, however, were demolished in August 2014. Read More...
Denmark introduces green taxes for aviation sustainability
Denmark recently revealed a bold plan to implement a green tax on air travel beginning in 2025. According to Thomas Danielsen, the country's transportation minister, this taxing proposal intends to reduce the aviation industry's environmental impact and support a transition to eco-friendly methods. Read More...