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 Netherlands may soon pass the world’s toughest climate policy
Seven parties in the Netherlands have come forth with a radical climate policy. The policy requires the country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent by 2030 and 95 percent by 2050. The climate policy also requires that all energy must be carbon-neutral by 2050. Plus, the fourth Thursday Read More...
There are a few things environmentalists actually do agree on
Fights over renewable standards and nuclear power can be vicious. Here's a list of things that climate hawks share broad areas of Read More...
A lawsuit in Colorado could force oil companies to pay for climate change
Across the U.S., nine cities and counties have filed lawsuits against fossil fuel companies with the goal to make the oil majors liable for the greenhouse gases produced from their products. If successful, the suits would put energy companies on the hook for billions of dollars in damages to pay Read More...
Dutch town implements new bat-friendly street lighting
A sustainable housing development in the Netherlands uses a new smart street lighting system that works on a wavelength that is comfortable for a rare species of Read More...
Here's how to recycle electronic waste
Technology is advancing faster than it breaks, which means we’re upgrading our devices and getting rid of our old gadgets more often than ever. In 2016 alone, the United States trashed about 44 pounds of electronic waste per person. And today’s devices, from iPhones to simple alarm Read More...
Why reef-safe sunscreens are going mainstream
What was once a fringe environmental movement is finally going mainstream: more and more people are buying anti-chemical sunscreen. This is partially thanks to the non-profits urging all coastal areas to ban sunscreen lotion that harms coral reefs. So far, the governor of Hawaii signed into the law Read More...
Eco-friendly fitness, the Swede way: how to get started "plogging"
If you haven't already heard of the latest fitness trend sweeping the nation, now's the time to listen up. Known as "plogging," Sweden's current workout craze has officially made its way to the U.S. shores, and it's all about environmentally-friendly Read More...
Eating seaweed could reduce cows’ methane production
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found a surprising food source that could help reduce cows’ methane production: seaweed. A recent study from the university suggests bovines who eat an experimental mix of special food and a specific strain of seaweed produce less greenhouse Read More...
Norway invites bids for storing CO2 on its continental shelf
Norway on Thursday invited companies to submit bids to use subsea reservoirs to store carbon dioxide near the country’s largest oil and gas field, Troll. The Nordic country aims to develop a full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) by 2022 as part of its commitment to slow climate change Read More...
New elevator design could disrupt city infrastructure
It seems the endless minutes spent waiting for elevators to arrive has been inspiring more engineers. We’ve already covered the world’s first rope-free elevator and now, UK firm PLP Architecture is using a new system to create more adaptive elevator Read More...