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 New York Yankees just signed onto the Paris Climate Agreement
We know you don’t subscribe to us just to updates about baseball, but here’s some news actually worth discussing: The New York Yankees, arguably the most despised team in America, has just made themselves a little more lovable after becoming the first and only baseball team in the world to Read More...
South Korea could teach us a thing or two about cutting down on food waste
What was once a city where foul-smelling landfills loomed over entire neighborhoods is now one of the cleanest cities on the planet. The city we're talking about is South Korea's capital, Seoul, which managed to clean up its streets thanks in part to one of the most rigorous food waste recycling Read More...
Tips and tricks to make your spring cleaning routine more eco-friendly
When the spring cleaning season comes around, many homeowners turn to their favorite cleaning products to tidy up. Unfortunately, most of these products contain harmful chemicals that get washed down the drain and into the sewage. The majority of these chemicals are filtered out in sewage plants Read More...
This Dutchman drove his electric car from Amsterdam to Sydney
In an attempt to prove to the world that electric cars are perfectly feasible transportation, Dutchman Wiebe Wakker set out on a three-year, 59,000-mile journey from Amsterdam to Sydney, Australia back in 2016. This past week, the “world’s largest electric car trip” came to a close after Read More...
These floating wetlands harness nature’s power to clean up pollution
Wetlands are a crucial part of our ecosystems. In addition to providing habitats for aquatic species, wetlands pull greenhouse gasses from the air, protect areas from flooding, and purify water. That’s why it’s an absolute shame that the planet has lost up to 71 percent of its global wetlands Read More...
London just launched an ultra-low emissions zone for its city center
Global cities around the world are starting to take drastic measures to reduce road transport emissions. In New York City, a new law is being put in place that will charge drivers well over $10 to drive n the busiest parts of Manhattan to reduce congestion and lower air pollution. Meanwhile, in Read More...
A Vietnamese man is creating biodegradable straws out of wild grass
As the world becomes increasingly aware of the plastic crisis, more and more people are saying no to plastic straws. After all, you don't really need a straw to enjoy a drink. Still, some people are insistent on drinking out of a straw, so innovators around the world are scrambling to find Read More...
Nature is our most valuable ally in the fight against climate change
There is a wonderful but largely overlooked approach to averting the worst case scenario of climate change while defending the living world: natural climate solutions. By defending, restoring, and re-establishing sea beds and other crucial ecosystems, large amounts of carbon can be removed from the Read More...
A Swiss startup claims to have made a battery with more than 600 miles of range
City dwellers tend to make up the great proportion of electric car buyers, but if the range of EVs were to improve, those of us living in more rural areas would be more tempted to buy one. The good news is a Swiss startup by the name of Innolith says it has developed new high-density lithium-ion Read More...
This aid agency is helping women in refugee camps thrive through permaculture
Although aid agencies have come to Sub-Saharan Africa with good intentions to help refugees, very few have made their desired impact. But one agency by the name of African Women Rising (AWR) is having startling success. The organization educates women and girls in Northern Uganda, schooling them in Read More...