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.
Researchers use solar power to make carbon fiber out of thin air
Carbon capture is an idea that’s been around for a while, but it’s always seemed like a bit of an afterthought, a way to slightly slow the pace at which we’re pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But what if we could do at a scale that would suck all the carbon we’ve emitted since Read More...
In climate change era, new idea for conservation takes shape
Conservation has long been about protecting communities of plants and animals where they are. But climate change is leading to a nascent form of conservation that embraces change and instead seeks to provide a thriving stage on which it can happen. Chester, Mass. — It's a late-July morning, Read More...
This ‘artificial leaf’ could be the cleanest, most efficient source of renewable energy on Earth
When we think of solar power, we usually think of solar panels, but we should really be thinking about plants. After all, plants are the original solar power generators, turning the sun’s rays into energy through the process we all learned about in biology class: photosynthesis. Researchers Read More...
Coal mining sector running out of time, says Citigroup
Industry unlikely to pick up without advances in carbon capture technology as governments seek to drive down emissions, banking giant warns. RTCC reports US banking giant Citigroup says the global coal industry is set for further pain, predicting an acceleration of mine closures, li uidations and Read More...
The rise of the soil carbon cowboys
Ranching is a rare occupation. Rarer still are the ranchers pioneering new ways to gra e cattle, transforming their ranches and farms into vibrant ecosystems, producing black ink for their bank accounts and giving their incredibly robust animals a great life (with the exception of one bad day). Read More...
New wastewater treatment method captures carbon and creates renewable energy
You may not spend much thought on cleaning up municipal and industrial wastewater, but you may have guessed it's dirty. Quite dirty, in fact. Wastewater treatment produces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by powering the whole machinery (and this requires high amounts of energy) and by decomposing Read More...
Rewilding: Movement to restore wilderness areas is growing across Europe
Rewilding is probably the most exciting thing happening to the conservation movement. It's aimed at restoring and protecting natural processes and core wilderness areas, reintroducing keystone species that have, in extreme cases, gone extinct. It's a popular trend in Europe. Here's a fascinating Read More...
Research Suggests Uber Might Be Making Our Roads Safer
There is a lot that can be said about Uber, the popular car service and mobile app. On one hand, the company has been hailed as the gold standard of sharing-economy startups, providing a much-needed service to cities with transportation systems strained by overuse. On the other, Uber has faced any Read More...
5 African Cleantech Startups You Need To Watch
A woman uses a solar light from M-Kopa. Image: Georgina Goodwin/M-Kopa Africa is extraordinarily rich in energy power potential. According to McKinsey and Company’s 2015 Brighter Africa report, the continent has 10 terawatts or more of potential capacity for renewable energy. If sub-Saharan Read More...
Idaho mountains declared federal wilderness after decades-long bid
The Boulder-White Clouds Mountains in Central Idaho are a scenic landscape of soaring mountain peaks, lush forests and pristine lakes and rivers. 275,000 acres of this public land is now a federally protected wilderness area, which means it will remain open to recreation and closed to Read More...