Today’s Solutions: January 11, 2025

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.

Paris

Lower traffic accidents linked to urban emissions laws

From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, the US and France were more or less the same in traffic fatality rates. In fact, they had both declined by 31 percent from 1979 to 1994. Today, though, people getting around in the US are three times more likely to die than in France. What happened?  Bloomberg Read More...

Buffalo

US House allocates 1.3 billion dollars to conservation

On June 14, the United States House of Representatives voted 231 to 190 to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill dedicates more than $1.3 billion to conservation efforts. 15 percent of the funds will be designated for federally listed endangered species.  Bipartisan Read More...

Giant tortoise munching on leaves

Giant tortoise believed extinct for 100 years is actually alive

We previously shared a story about a family finding their pet tortoise alive and well in their attic after it had been missing for over 30 years. Now prepare for an equally endearing tortoise comeback story. Considered extinct for more than a century, a giant tortoise is actually alive in the Read More...

Bumblebees

The shape of flowers reduces parasites transmitted to bumblebees

Bumblebees are furry and critical pollinators that are sadly vulnerable to many things such as heat and predators. Another thing that affects their populations that we can keep an eye out for in our gardens is parasites.  Recent research from North Carolina State University showed that the Read More...

happy cute child in pastel colored dress grins while laying in a patch of wildflowers

A garden designer’s top 6 tips for rewilding your own garden

Rewilding is a progressive form of ecological restoration and conservation that returns a region to its natural, wild, and “unkempt” state. Here at The Optimist Daily, we love to spotlight the amazing rewilding initiatives that are taking off worldwide, and exactly how each project helps boost Read More...

woman walking or hiking in summer nature woods during

Explore the great outdoors this summer without leaving a trace

Whether you’re on a day trip to a nearby hiking trail, or in a remote forest with your camping gear and some adventurous buddies, the sunny summer months are perfect for trekking into the wilderness. However, our excursions can take a toll on the natural landscape, leaving it in less than Read More...

Hand holds LGBTQ rainbow flag against green and natural backdrop

6 LGBTQ+ climate activist organizations to check out and support

Bringing together diverse voices and perspectives helps tackle problems more effectively. One of the greatest problems we face today is the issue of climate change and climate justice. The chances we have to overcome these threats become stronger when we rally together, despite (or because of) our Read More...

E-scooters

Boston e-scooter company soon to unveil safer model

While shared electric scooters have boomed over the last few years, there remain many concerns about their safety. Scooter-related injuries have become so common that some law firms offer legal action against scooter manufacturers on their websites. Some cities like Miami and New York have kicked Read More...

Orange monarch butterfly on orange cosmos flowers.

Monarch butterflies are bouncing back

The number of monarch butterflies across North America has long been thought to be declining. Previously, scientists have thoroughly researched the winter behavior of these insects which led to this unfortunate conclusion. Therefore, even though no studies have been carried out on monarch Read More...

Cotton bags and glass gar for free plastic shopping, low-waste concept.

How to make your home a low-waste place

The average American consumer produces just under five pounds of trash each day, adding up to around 1,642 pounds per person annually. That’s a whole lot of rubbish! So what can we do about it? You may have heard of the phrase “zero-waste,” where the idea is to let nothing you use go to a Read More...