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.
The EU signs historic deal that makes its climate goals legally binding
The European Union has signed a major climate deal with ambitious new targets to curb climate change, pledging to make them legally binding. Under the new law, an agreement between member states and the European Parliament, the bloc will cut carbon emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, Read More...
Hawaii marks threat of climate change with state of emergency declaration
Hawaii is poised to take a momentous step in the recognition of the severity of climate change with the adoption of the State Senate Concurrent Resolution 44. Under the new bill, Hawaii will officially declare a state of emergency in response to the threat of climate change. Although this may Read More...
German high court rules in favor of young climate activists
The consequences of human-induced climate change are looming, and young people around the world are making it clear that they refuse to accept the inadequate efforts of today’s governments to curb carbon emissions and protect what’s left of the world’s ecosystems. This past Thursday, Read More...
One of Britain’s rarest butterfly species bounces back from near extinction
Ten years ago, a butterfly called the Duke of Burgundy was listed as Britain’s rarest, with the species hurtling towards extinction. Thanks to wildlife-friendly farms, however, the population of the small butterfly has now bounced back, with the number surging by 25 percent over the last Read More...
Dutch couple moves into Europe's first fully 3D-printed home
3D printing has gained popularity as scientists, engineers, architects, and innovators discover more ways that we can use this technology to make housing more equitable and sustainable. Now, as reported by The Guardian, a Dutch couple has become the tenants of Europe's first fully 3D printed Read More...
Colorado becomes second state to legalize human composting
Last year, we shared how Washington state became the first in the country to legalize human composting. Now, Colorado is adopting similar legislation that will allow residents to become one with the earth at the end of their lives. The bill passed the Colorado House by a margin of 45 to 18. Read More...
This campaign encourages dog owners to collect litter while they walk
There are plenty of benefits to being a dog owner, one of which is that having a dog encourages you to be more active, which is great for your health. According to a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports, dog owners spend almost 300 minutes per week walking their dogs, which is a whopping 200 Read More...
SUGi's "healing forest" project helps inmates reconnect with the land
Ethan Bryson is a ‘forest maker’ for SUGi, a US conservation organization and app specializing in community forestation. Recently, he was struck with an idea that would change the landscape of the Yakama Nation Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility, as well as the lives of the inmates who Read More...
Epicurious moves away from beef recipes in favor of plant-based options
Last week, prominent food and recipe website Epicurious.com announced in an article that they have decided to stop promoting or posting recipes that feature beef. They reveal in the article that their choice to distance themselves from beef-focused recipes is based on a 2013 United Nations Read More...
Troubleshooting 7 common composting mistakes
So you’ve purchased a composting bucket and instituted sustainable food scrap disposal in your home. Great! Now, let’s make sure you’re compositing properly to generate the most benefits for you and the planet. Today we share some of the most common composting mistakes and how you can avoid Read More...