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 Bronzeville microgrid: One part of a bigger, safer future
Unpredictable and impactful weather events like wildfires, snowstorms, and tornadoes present a particular problem for large areas with large unifying power grids. In one wild day, a whole city’s power and essential services can be shut off. It’s for this reason that researchers and utilities Read More...
Italy’s passes new law that makes its constitution greener
Italy’s natural beauty is iconic. Indeed, its rolling green hills, lush forests, and fertile river valleys have made it not only one of the most agriculturally prosperous lands in Europe but also a popular tourist destination. That being the case, environmental groups have long voiced their Read More...
Demand is dwindling—Iceland decides to end whaling by 2024
For now, Iceland remains one of the only countries in the world that still hunts whales commercially. As demand declines, however, the fisheries minister has said that they plan to end whaling by 2024. “There are few justifications to authorize the whale hunt beyond 2024,” wrote Svandis Read More...
This is how strip malls could provide a solution to the housing crisis
From San Jose, California, until San Francisco along El Camino Real you can find stretches a six-lane road outfitted with an endless stretch of strip malls and enormous parking lots. In its current state, the street doesn’t necessarily welcome pedestrians to walk alongside it, as it has been Read More...
Reusable pallets make the UK construction industry greener
Wasted wooden pallets are a huge problem in construction. In the UK alone, the construction industry goes through 18 million wooden pallets every year (the production of which requires a total of 6,000 acres of forestry), and most of them are used only once! At a time when it’s becoming Read More...
How to be a more conscientious coffee consumer
Most of us are loyal daily coffee drinkers, but the environmental impact of the industry from transportation emissions to disposable coffee cups can tarnish your daily cup of joe. Previously, we shared stories about coffee grounds being used for making sustainable sneakers and how you could use Read More...
Why your dog shouldn’t poop wherever it wants in nature
Interestingly, poop is a recurring theme at The Optimist Daily. From maintaining a regular bathroom schedule, aiding the search for a home for endangered owls, and fish poop feeding the world’s largest vertical farm. The latest addition to these poop-filled articles is a Belgium study Read More...
Another reason to protect wildlife? Pandemic prevention
It’s safe to say that we are done with the Covid-19 pandemic, and wish that it would disappear. As vaccines are developed and we learn more about the nature of the virus, we have been slowly figuring out how to continue on in a semi-post pandemic world. However, the worst scenario would be that Read More...
Scotland plants over a million trees to help save wild salmon
The bodies of water around the world have been experiencing unprecedented warming that is taking a toll on the ecosystems and marine life that inhabit them. One of the species that is suffering from this warming is wild salmon. That’s why, in Scotland, the River Dee Board and Trust in partnership Read More...
Submarine to explore the underside of Greenland’s glaciers in a first
Scientists are desperately trying to save the world’s glaciers. As they hold a large amount of water and carbon dioxide, it is essential that we slow the demise of these structures for the climate's sake. We’ve previously written about a group using special mountain blankets on Mount Titlis Read More...