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.
7 ways to make the most out of your almost empty condiment jars
We are all familiar with the dilemma of what to do with an almost empty condiment jar. What’s left at the bottom and along the sides of the jar isn’t enough to do anything substantial with, but the contents are just enough so that disposing of it would induce feelings of guilt. Here are seven Read More...
Bee species last seen almost a century ago found alive in Australia
A rare species of bee that was feared extinct has been spotted for the first time in almost a century. The elusive pollinator, endemic to Australia, was in the forests of north Queensland all along. The exciting discovery is the result of a widespread field search that was prompted after bee Read More...
Skyscraper design uses aquaponic terraced gardens to purify Shenzhen’s air
Sustainable architectural designs can go a long way in helping cities cope with some of the most pressing social and ecological challenges facing metropolitan areas today. The design of a pair of supertall skyscrapers in Shenzhen aims to showcase how integrating sustainability into our built Read More...
Four states collaborate to protect Delaware River Basin from fracking
The Delaware River Basin provides drinking water for 13 million people and is home to hundreds of species of fish and other animals. In a victory for all those who rely on this natural ecosystem, the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, who make up the Delaware River Basin Read More...
Three strategies for buying clothes eco-consciously
As the public becomes less ignorant of the fashion industry’s enormous environmental impact, more consumers are aspiring to change old and unsustainable shopping habits. The fashion industry is responsible for a significant chunk of global carbon emissions and accounts for 20 to 35 percent of Read More...
Sweden will soon become home to world’s first fossil-free steel plant
Every ton of steel produced in 2020 emitted on average 1.9 tons of carbon dioxide, equating to about 8 percent of the planet’s total carbon footprint. This makes it a key target for the world’s decarbonization efforts, and it’s one of the key areas where hydrogen could play a vital role in Read More...
Rare yellow penguin is mystifying biologists
In December 2019, Belgian wildlife photographer Yves Adams had an exceptional stroke of luck while on a remote island in South Georgia. Adams was leading a two-month photography expedition through the South Atlantic and had decided to stop on a South Georgia beach. It was then that he caught Read More...
Hemp is the main ingredient in this truly sustainable alternative to wood
We have used wood to house us, furnish our lives, and further develop our civilizations for thousands of years. But now, as deforestation threatens the balance of nature, we are finding more sustainable materials to take the place of wood. The popularization of an alternate material will facilitate Read More...
How green mayo is helping save sea turtles from Mediterranean oil spill
Following a devastating oil spill on the Israeli coastline this week, an unexpected ingredient is being used to save endangered sea turtles in the region. Volunteers from Israel's National Sea Turtle Rescue Center are feeding the green sea turtles mayonnaise to flush out their digestive Read More...
Meet Domingo Morales: The young New Yorker making composting cool
Domingo Morales’s composting journey began in 2015 when he decided to apply for the Green City Force sustainability training program aimed at youth within the New York City Housing Authority. Fast forward to the present day and Morales finds himself managing composting sites and educating Read More...