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.
Ants could be super pest controllers, as efficient and more cheaply than chemicals
As global population rises and finite resources dwindle, farmers need new, more sustainable ways to control pests. Now, ecologists have found a safe, sustainable and cost-effective new pest control. But rather than a high-tech compound or genetic technology, it's a tiny, low-tech organism: the Read More...
Samsung introduces electric bike with 100-kilometer battery
A new e-bike battery pack that can power an e-bike for 100 kilometers on a single charge was recently unveiled by Samsung SDI — with the new offering being showcased on August 26th at Eurobike 2015 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The new offering is a 500 watt-hour (Wh) battery pack, designed to Read More...
Europe to discuss deep-sea trawling ban to protect biodiversity
After fishing of the orange roughy, a deepwater fish, started, populations collapsed within 15 years (Image: Kim Westerskov/Getty) In an autumnal ritual as unvarying as migrating geese, European Union officials head back to Brussels next week – to fight over fish. But this time they might Read More...
BEEcosystem creators looking to create a buzz about bees
The BEEcosystem has been designed to be modular so that more hives can be added as the colony grows Honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating crops, but colonies are in trouble. Earlier this year, the Bee Informed Partnership reported a 23.1 percent loss of US managed honeybee colonies in the Read More...
New Orleans launches resilience roadmap to tackle climate and social challenges
As well as focusing on climate-related catastrophes, the 41-step resilience strategy addresses social issues such as poverty, racial inequality and crime Wednesday 26 August 2015 05.26 EDT Last modified on Wednesday 26 August 2015 05.27 EDT In the week that marks the 10th anniversary of Read More...
This Danish power plant will poetically inform residents of how much carbon they’re using
In less than a decade, Copenhagen expects to become the first carbon-neutral city on the planet. There are plenty of reminders around the Danish capital to will the locals towards achieving a zero-carbon future by 2025: a 20-turbine wind farm, half of its population zipping around in bikes (and an Read More...
Finally, fireworks that are safe for our health and the environment
When it comes to fireworks, we tend to think about safety in terms of fingers or eyes. A more neglected concern with fireworks is the impact on our health and the environment. Yet, after exploding, the chlorine-based compounds that make for the nice red color in the explosions can transform into Read More...
Sydney has been carbon neutral since 2008. But they aren’t stopping there…
The City of Sydney has been carbon neutral since 2008. Amidst strong economic growth, emissions across our Local Government Area have fallen 12 per cent since 2006 and we have reduced emissions in our own buildings and operations by over 23 per cent. In continuing our work to create a sustainable Read More...
Coca-Cola to replenish 100% of water it uses 5 years earlier than planned
Coca-Cola Co. and its bottling partners expect to be replenishing 100% of the water used in their factories by the end of 2015, reaching a longstanding conservation goal five years ahead of schedule. The beverage giant, which announced the replenishment target in 2007, said it's already "balancing" Read More...
Fashion chain H&M offers $1m recycling prize for reusable clothing
Swedish firm Hennes & Mauritz reacts to critics of ‘throwaway culture’ by encouraging ideas for recycling fibre Monday 24 August 2015 22.38 EDT Last modified on Monday 24 August 2015 23.07 EDT Hennes & Mauritz, the world’s second-biggest fashion retailer, is Read More...