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.
Why the Green New Deal could be the antidote to Detroit’s woes
During the second round of the 2020 presidential debates in Detroit, candidates looked to gain voters by addressing auto workers and speaking—although sparingly—about keeping drinking water safe in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis. However, none of the candidates proposed a specific plan Read More...
How design and disaster can spur climate change resilience
Extreme weather events are forcing cities to re-evaluate their climate preparedness. For densely populated coastal cities, the question has become how, not if, they will prepare for the next disaster. Rebuild by Design, a resiliency initiative that began as a response to Hurricane Sandy, is Read More...
Never produce toothbrush waste again with this subscription service
When it comes to the conversation surrounding waste, there is one common form of waste that seems to fly under the radar: toothbrushes. That, however, doesn’t mean toothbrush waste isn’t a serious issue. It’s estimated that around 1,000,000,000 toothbrushes head to the landfill annually in Read More...
The electric vehicle market now has more options than ever for prospective buyers
While it may seem daunting to invest in an electric car, it's never been easier to find an EV that fits your needs and the needs of the planet, as more and more automakers come out with new clean models. We shared a story a couple of weeks ago about how Volkswagen is releasing an electric Read More...
Novel technology plans to turn ocean plastic into biofuel
According to the United Nations, more than eight billion tons of plastic have been produced over the last 65 years, a mere nine percent of which has been recycled. As scientists continuously look for new ways to clear out the plastics that have become ubiquitous in oceans, a Canadian entrepreneur Read More...
The growing movement that is making nature more open to African Americans
As much as we’d like to think that racial discrimination is no longer a problem in 2019, we’re far from that being a reality. Across the country, police are routinely called to investigate black people doing the most mundane things — waiting for a business meeting in Starbucks, delivering Read More...
How Chilean national parks successfully crafted conservation-based tourism
Backpacking the diverse terrain of Patagonia is a bucket-list adventure for many outdoor enthusiasts, but campers may be surprised to find sites are booked out months in advance. The rise of Patagonia as a booming tourist location is in part due to the work of Kristine Tompkins and her late Read More...
Britain set to impose strict laws around trophy hunting to protect endangered animals
Every year, tens of thousands of animals around the world are killed in trophy hunts, where endangered species like elephants, rhinos, and lions are gunned down by tourists eager to show off their spoils. In an effort that could save the lives of thousands of such endangered animals, Britain Read More...
José Andrés wants to take his post-disaster food operation to the next level
Celebrity chef José Andrés emerged as quite the hero after Hurricane Dorian pummeled the Bahamas. His organization, World Central Kitchen (WCK), was prepared for the storm and prepared meals for the thousands of people who were affected by the devastating storm. This wasn’t the first time WCK Read More...
A polka-dotted zebra has been captured on camera in Kenya
When we picture a zebra in our minds, we all think of the wild African horse with its eye-catching black and white stripes. You can imagine how strange it was then for photographer Frank Liu when he came across a zebra in Kenya that did not have the signature black and white stripes, but rather, a Read More...