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 Azores lead Europe's largest marine protected area network—a win for conservation
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Portugal constructed Europe's largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in the Azores, protecting an astonishing 287,000 square kilometers of water. These safeguards assist diverse ecosystems that support deep-sea corals, whales, manta rays, and sharks, Read More...
Ireland's 'reverse vending machine' bottle return initiative is a recycling success story
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Re-turn, Ireland's first bottle deposit return scheme, has seen a remarkable metamorphosis since its inception in February 2023. Despite initial criticism, the public has welcomed the idea, with over 630 million cans and bottles dumped in reverse vending Read More...
From pollution to progress: the recovery of the Cuyahoga River
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Cuyahoga River, formerly associated with industrial trash and environmental negligence, is now a symbol of resilience and rehabilitation. Conservationists recently released a group of lake sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River, marking a significant turning Read More...
Transforming climate anxiety into positive action
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine dedicating your studies to the natural beauty of coral reefs, only to witness their rapid decline firsthand. That is precisely what occurred to Jada Alexander, a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The vivid life of the coral reefs Read More...
Changemakers of the week: Coalition for Compassion and Justice and Fish Reef Project
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, it is often the ones right in our communities that make the largest impact. Today we are thrilled to present to you the second round of Read More...
Recycling old cables can help meet the copper demand for green technology
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM UK households are sitting on a hidden treasure: millions of unused cables that may help meet the soaring worldwide demand for copper. According to the Recycle Your Electricals initiative, there are over 627 million unused cables in UK households, totaling Read More...
Australia expands its marine parks, protecting more ocean than any other country
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Australia is creating ripples in the international environmental community with a bold new commitment to ocean conservation. Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Environment Minister, announced last week the expansion of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Read More...
Changemakers of the week: Nature in the Classroom and The Man That Rescues Dogs
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, it is often the ones right in our communities that make the largest impact. A few weeks ago, The Optimist Daily asked you, our readers, Read More...
Oldest living microbes discovered in 2-billion-year-old rock give a glimpse into Earth's early life
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A historic finding beneath South Africa's Bushveld Igneous Complex uncovered bacteria that have lived for two billion years, 1.9 billion years longer than previous records. Sealed in rock fissures almost 50 feet underground, these microbes provide vital clues Read More...
Botanists identify 33 global 'dark spots' filled with undiscovered plant species
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Botanists have uncovered 33 global 'dark spots' rich in unknown plant species, which could include over 100,000 species, just waiting to be discovered. These regions, which include Asia, Africa, and South America, overlap with biodiversity "hotspots" but Read More...