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.
Colombia's battle against deforestation achieves remarkable results
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Colombia's deforestation rate dropped to its lowest level in 23 years, marking a significant milestone in the country's environmental conservation efforts. According to Colombia's environment ministry, forest loss decreased by 36 percent in 2023, from 1,235 Read More...
Tiny spas for endangered frogs battling fatal fungi
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Biologists devised a novel approach to tackle a fatal fungal illness that threatens amphibians worldwide. These specially designed shelters, functioning like miniature saunas, help vulnerable and endangered amphibians fend off chytridiomycosis, a deadly skin Read More...
Denmark to pioneer CO2 tax on farms in a global first
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, is slated to become the first country to impose a carbon dioxide tax on livestock emissions beginning in 2030. This daring step intends to dramatically cut the agricultural sector's carbon footprint while also Read More...
Breakthrough in green hydrogen production: cobalt and water replace rare iridium
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Hydrogen generation is frequently cited as a critical component in the shift to renewable energy. However, according to a paper published in Nature Energy by Kiane de Kleijne of Radboud University and Eindhoven University of Technology, the technique has Read More...
Chicago's bike path expansion keeps city on track for a sustainable future
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL STAFF Chicago is preparing to drastically improve its bicycle infrastructure, with plans to build about 47 miles of new bikeways in 2024 alone. This effort is part of a larger pledge to build 150 miles of new and enhanced bikeways over the next few years, Read More...
Migration of 6 million antelope in South Sudan is the largest land mammal movement on Earth
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL STAFF A thorough aerial study in South Sudan revealed a startling migration of six million antelope, establishing it as the world's greatest land mammal migration. This journey is more than double the size of the well-known annual 'great migration' between Read More...
Air pollution down 40%: a look at a pedestrianized Paris
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Paris will seem very different from how it did ten years ago when the Summer Olympics roll around this summer. Since 2014, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has led a substantial makeover in Paris aimed at reducing vehicle dependence and encouraging greener urban living. Read More...
Lightning season safety: important tips for staying safe during thunderstorms
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL STAFF As the warm weather tempts people outside for barbecues, beach trips, and ballgames, it's important to remember that summer is also lightning season. Every year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 37 million times, taking an average of 21 Read More...
How greenhouse-grown cotton can transform the denim industry
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The fashion industry has long struggled to source cotton in a sustainable way. While Patagonia, Citizens of Humanity, and Christy Dawn have embraced regenerative agriculture, Dutch denim company G-Star Raw is looking into a new alternative: greenhouse-grown Read More...
Shasta Tribe finally reclaims ancestral lands long buried by Klamath River Reservoir
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a historic effort, the Shasta Indian Nation stands to regain nearly 2,800 acres of ancestral grounds buried by the Copco I dam on the Klamath River. This important return coincides with California Governor Gavin Newsom's apology to the state's tribes, Read More...