Today’s Solutions: January 25, 2025

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.

Solar panels on the parking lot near a supermarket on a sunny day in Avignon, Provence, France. Electricity and shade for cars at the same time.

France mandates that all large parking lots be outfitted with solar panels

Last week, the French Senate passed legislation mandating the installation of solar panels on all new and current parking lots with room for at least 80 vehicles— an enormous boost for solar power. Doubling solar and wind energy The new provisions are part of French President Emmanuel Macron's Read More...

Team volunteers with many plants in a planting campaign for climate protection.

Eco-anxiety and grief part II: how to cope

Part one of this two-part series discussed the differences between ecological grief and eco-anxiety, two relatively new terms used in reference to the feelings of sadness and distress that are related to the climate crisis. Now, let’s dive into how we can face them. How to cope with Read More...

Group of activists with banners protesting to save earth. Men and women rebellions doing a silent protest over global warming and pollution.

Eco-anxiety and grief part I: the differences

Environmentalists have warned about climate change's effects for decades, and in light of the COP27 conference in Egypt, climate change is certainly on many people's minds and hearts. Increasingly intense wildfires and other weather events, deforestation, food shortages, species extinctions, and Read More...

Wind Turbines Windmill Energy Farm

Could wind turbines capture CO2 while generating clean energy?

Wind turbines have long been one of the primary sources of clean energy. While they have not been without controversy over the years, they are widely acknowledged as a planet- and people-friendly answer to climate change when compared to other green energy sources. Soon, they may be able to Read More...

Young asian woman at solar power station

6 reasons to be optimistic about COP27

This year, the effects of the climate crisis have become even harder to deny – from flooding in Bangladesh and Pakistan to soaring temperatures in the UK – it’s clear that there is a lot on the line as we prepare for another crucial climate conference. From November 6 to 18, Egypt will Read More...

Aircraft landing to airport runway at dusk with huge flock of birds dangerously crossing its path.

The RobotFalcon, an innovative solution to bird and aircraft collisions

One of the unfortunate side effects of air travel is increasing collisions between birds and aircraft. These incidents, which are known as bird strikes, kill thousands of birds each year and can also cause damage to aircraft, cause flight delays, and even cancellations. This costs the Read More...

Mobile phone with webpage of 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) on screen in front of logo. Focus on center of phone display.

Climate justice is intrinsic to COP27’s success. Here’s how to address it

The Conference of the Parties (COP) in Egypt this year is crucial. In Glasgow last year, countries pledged increased climate financing and committed to raising their goals, but in the end, fell short of the 1.5 degree Celsius global warming limit. COP27 is an opportunity to fix that problem Read More...

A purebred Samoyed dog wrapped in a blanket lies on the bed

Tips to keep your heating costs low this winter despite rising prices

This winter, Americans are expected to pay the most for home heating in a decade.  The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates that the average U.S. household will pay 17.2 percent more for heating costs—$177 more—than last year, which already saw record-breaking Read More...

Solar panels installed on the roof in South Australia

Australian study reveals a low-cost strategy for recycling solar panels

A new study has proposed a low-cost method of recycling solar panels to help handle the growing volume of retired photovoltaic (PV) cells expected by the end of the decade. A team from the University of New South Wales published a paper last week outlining a process for collecting and extracting Read More...

Street artist painting with a color spray can a graffiti on a wall outdoor - Urban man performing with murals

European cities get funding to transform streets with art

A number of European communities will soon have the opportunity to give their roads a little creative flair. The Asphalt Art Initiative Nineteen European cities will each get a grant of $25,000 from the Asphalt Art Initiative, a project that aims to increase pedestrian safety by painting Read More...