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.
4 small ways you can be a more conscious consumer
Climate change lays heavy on our minds, but as we are bombarded with news about the debilitating impact we’ve had on our environment, it can be easy to slip into feeling as though our daily efforts don’t make a real difference. If you’re in an eco-conscious rut, try to remind yourself that Read More...
Central Park and other open spaces are about to get an organic upgrade
Some of the world’s most famous parks, including Central Park in New York City and Grant Park in Chicago are about to get a green upgrade with the announcement that yogurt brand Stonyfield Organic is sponsoring the transition of these parks to pesticide-free areas. As part of the StonyFIELDS Read More...
Kauri trees provide rare glimpse into Earth’s ancient climate
Kauri trees are copper-skinned conifers endemic to New Zealand. They’re held sacred by the indigenous Māori and have been used for carvings and canoes for thousands of years. They also hold invaluable information about the world’s climate history. The trees can live for more than two Read More...
14-year-old makes biodegradable pots to reduce plastic waste
Srija, a 14-year-old girl from Telangana, a city in India’s Gadwal region, is a young environmentalist keen on supporting the natural world in her community. She involved herself in various tree planting efforts taking place in her city and at her school when one day while digging in the dirt to Read More...
Nike’s refurbished program to sell gently used goods at discounted price
In an effort to promote sustainability and reduce waste, Nike has launched their new “Nike Refurbished” program to clean and resell gently worn shoes. Shoes that are returned within 60 days of purchase will be assessed and placed back on the shelf at a discounted rate. Shoes that are too Read More...
Starbucks moves to make reusable cups the new normal
The vast majority of take-away coffee cups from Starbucks are single-use, non-biodegradable, and non-recyclable. That may soon change though, thanks to the company’s recent initiative to integrate reusable cups across more of its stores. Seattle is one of the first places to test such a reuse Read More...
Small wind turbine could enable buildings to live off the grid
Last week, we discussed Vortex Bladeless, a bladeless wind turbine with the potential to become the wind equivalent of rooftop solar panels. As it turns out, Vortex Bladeless is not the only invention out there seeking to rethink the design of traditional wind turbines. Enter Powerpod, a portable Read More...
Nepal’s rhino population grows by more than 100 over last five years
Good news from Nepal! The country’s rhino population has seen a significant increase over the last five years. That’s according to the National Rhino Count 2021, which concluded that the current population of the species inhabiting Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape stands at 752 individuals — Read More...
How will farmers face rising sea levels? Floating gardens may be the answer.
Farmers in Bangladesh are ahead of the game in developing creative solutions for planting in places with more water than land because Bangladesh’s wild monsoon season gives farmers no choice but to adapt to excess rains. According to experts, 20 percent of the available land in Bangladesh will Read More...
Daimler is now taking orders for their all-electric freight truck
Electric trucks have the power to revolutionize the shipping industry and drastically cut emissions, but designing a truck that can travel long distances and transport large amounts of goods on electric power is no easy feat. Fortunately, vehicle company Daimler Trucks has announced they are ready Read More...