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.
Australia uses 80 percent less plastic bags since supermarket ban
Two giant Australian supermarket chains have managed to slash down plastic bag consumption by 80 percent in the country. Since their remarkable decision to ban single-use plastic bags earlier this year, the supermarkets prevented an estimated 1.5 billion bags being introduced into the environment. Read More...
Climate change in seven charts and what to do to help save the planet
The world will face unprecedented environmental damage if countries fail to act on keeping global warming below 1.5C. Having a good understanding of the climate issues at stake and the impact of human activity on our planet’s health is vital to help prevent an environmental catastrophe. Here are Read More...
The Dutch have built a cycle lane from used toilet paper
Can you imagine cycling on a road made from used toilet paper? The Dutch – known for their love of two-wheeled transport – are doing just that, thanks to an innovative waste recycling scheme. Turning toilet paper into asphalt The Dutch reportedly use around 180,000 tons of toilet paper every Read More...
Can blockchain technology save the environment?
The findings from the Fifth Assessment Report created by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environmental Progam have shown that temperatures have reached a new high due to carbon pollution that is a direct result of human activities. The summary report shows that Read More...
EU embarks on a mission to achieve climate neutrality by 2050
In an arduous effort to keep global temperatures under 1.5C, the European Union has unveiled its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The 28-nation bloc will try to offset its carbon emissions by methods of removing warming gases from the atmosphere. The plan includes strategies like ramping Read More...
New technologies, not Paris climate agreement, will do the job
Since climate change began to gain political traction in 1990, very little has been achieved. The concentration of carbon in the atmosphere has kept going Read More...
Germany’s environment minister unveils country’s strategy to end plastic waste
Germany’s officials have put forth an impressive five-point strategy to curb plastic pollution not only in their country but also around the world. The plan involves cutting down excess plastic products, making packaging and other products more environment-friendly, recycling more, and reducing Read More...
The unbelievably simple way to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half
If we all swapped beef burgers and bacon sandwiches for vegetarian alternatives most of the week, we could cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half. So say the scientists behind a new study published in Nature, who predicted that in 2050, sticking to a plant-based diet, with just one portion Read More...
This computer model can monitor groundwater levels in real-time
A reservoir in Finland pumps water from the underground that is so pure it doesn’t require any treatment to make it potable. The natural reservoir is vast enough to serve as the prime water source for as many as 150,000 people. In order to prevent its over-exploitation, scientists have developed Read More...
These waterless hi-tech toilets could be the answer to urban Africa’s waste problems
About 23 percent of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to toilets while 31 percent with toilets use one’s that aren’t connected to a formal sanitation system. This means that more than half the people in sub-Saharan Africa live without proper sanitation – that’s about Read More...