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.
Gene-editing could save American forests from pests and diseases
US environmental agencies are considering whether or not to use biotechnology to protect American forests which, especially due to climate change, are becoming more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Biotechnological tools such as genetic editing could help introduce trees that can survive threats Read More...
European citizens will stop using disposable plastic products by 2021
In 2021, Europeans will have to say goodbye to single-use plastics such as straws and cups. Just this week EU member states confirmed the provisional agreement reached between the presidency of the Council and the European Parliament on a new directive to introduce restrictions on disposable Read More...
Growing crops becomes more efficient when farmland is shared with solar panels
Farming and solar panels are sharing the same land in some fields of Massachusetts with the goal of helping farmers diversify their income through renewable energy generation. The dual-use solar installation, sometimes called agrivoltaics, is a photovoltaic array that’s raised far enough off the Read More...
After near extinction, the bison is thriving on the Great Plains once more
In 1890, fewer than 1,000 bison were left in North America. Today nearly half-a-million bison have been restored in over 6,000 locations across the continent, a remarkable comeback spurred by conservation initiatives. And what makes their comeback even more beautiful is that scientists are learning Read More...
David Attenborough urges decisive climate action as we enter new geological age
David Attenborough claims that humanity has stepped into a new geological age, leaving the Holocene and entering the Anthropocene: the age of humans. The natural historian has made the statement as he urged politicians and businessmen from around the world to make a renewed push to tackle climate Read More...
A designer in Chile has created an algae-based alternative to single-use packaging
Disappointed by the abundance of non-recyclable materials currently used to contain food products, a Chilean designer has created a sustainable, biodegradable alternative using raw material extracted from algae. According to the designer, the material only includes natural matter, including the Read More...
New poll shows more Americans than ever believe in climate change
Despite President Trump continuously denying the existence of climate change, more and more Americans are saying that climate change is real. According to a new poll, Americans who think global warming is taking place right now outnumber those who think it isn’t by a 5-to-1 ratio. The new numbers Read More...
The Autobahn may soon have speed limits in order to curb emissions
Germany may soon trade unlimited thrills for lower emissions. That’s right, German lawmakers have set forth a proposal that may soon cap speeds on the Autobahn, which is legendary for having segments with no speed limits. The proposal would also scrap tax breaks for diesels, raise fuel taxes by Read More...
Nevada City is turning to goats to prevent the spread of wildfires
After the ravaging wildfires that have laid waste over hundreds of acres of Californian land last year, Nevada City wants to recruit goats to help it prevent such devastating damage occurring again. The town has launched a crowdfunding scheme called #goatfundme to raise $30,000 to be able to Read More...
Six great lessons we can learn from the campaign that saved the ozone
Thirty years ago, all 197 countries got together to ban the gases damaging the Earth’s ozone layer. Now we need to unite to combat an even greater threat, which raises the question: what can we learn from Read More...