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.
Mangrove restoration expands carbon credit benefits to coastal Kenya
Eight years ago, mangrove forests in the Kenyan village of Gazi were greatly depleted for use as firewood and construction poles while poaching ran rampant nearby. Today, the village has turned over a new leaf. The mangrove forests are thriving once again and poaching has fallen 90 percent over the Read More...
This Dutch pollinator strategy protects bees across the country
Last week, the Netherlands held a bee-counting event in which more than 11,000 volunteers from across the country participated. The volunteers spent 30 minutes recording the various types of bees visiting their gardens with the help of a list of the most common bees present in the country during Read More...
The rewilding movement is gaining momentum in Scotland
The natural world thrives when allowed to maintain the delicate balance of its ecosystems, but human activity has thrown nature off balance and we are now facing the consequences. In the past 50 years, approximately two-thirds of the world’s wildlife has been lost, and around 40 percent of plant Read More...
This recognition program encourages cities to plant more trees
Planting more trees in urban areas is one of the best ways for cities to improve the wellbeing of their residents while also helping them tackle a growing number of challenges resulting from climate change. In an effort to encourage cities worldwide to green up their concrete-laden cityscapes, an Read More...
GPS tracking is helping tigers and humans coexist in Nepal
Earlier this week we shared how AI tracking is saving elephant populations in Africa. Now, it turns out that tech innovations could help protect tigers in Nepal in a very similar way. Significant progress has been made in wild tiger conservation in Nepal with the population doubling from 2009 Read More...
Why you should invest in all-electric gardening equipment
Personal vehicles and public buses get a lot of attention when we talk about moving away from fossil fuels, but electric technology has valuable applications outside of the realm of transportation as well. Did you know that using a gas-powered leaf blower for 30 minutes creates the same hydrocarbon Read More...
Scientists may use bacteria to clean up microplastics floating in water
Although microplastics are incredibly tiny in size (smaller than 5mm), they pose a huge threat to marine environments, and because of their minuscule size, they are also incredibly difficult to remove from water. Fortunately, a team of microbiologists has developed a sustainable solution that could Read More...
Support pollinators this spring with flower 'billboards'
We at The Optimist Daily are always looking for ways to help our pollinator friends. If you are looking to plant a pollinator-friendly garden this spring, then a new study led by Jaret Daniels and Elizabeth Braatz can help! Their research indicates that insects are attracted to landscapes where Read More...
Save the earth and your wallet by renting your kid's clothes online
Parents and guardians everywhere are all too familiar with the struggle of clothing a growing infant. New parents hurry to buy brand new baby clothes for their newborn but are then disappointed to find that once they dress their infants, many of the newborn clothes only fit for a couple of weeks. Read More...
This fashion partnership is making jackets out of old fishing nets
Fishing nets discarded in the sea pose a threat to marine animals and break down into polluting microplastics. Apparel and gear company Bureo prevents these nets from ending up in our oceans and gives them new life as upcycled sunglasses, skateboards, and even Jenga blocks. Now, the company has Read More...