Policy Making
Strong public policy leads to more cohesive, resilient, and sustainable societies. In this section, find out about the latest legislations from around the world aimed at making our world a better place.
UN Biodiversity Summit agrees to include Indigenous voices in conservation decisions
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP16) closed with a revolutionary agreement to formally integrate Indigenous peoples in nature protection decisions, marking a watershed moment in environmental history. The decision, announced in Cali, Read More...
Brazil fines meat producers $64 million over ties to deforested Amazon land
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major environmental crackdown, Brazil's IBAMA fined meat packers and cattle ranchers $64 million for rearing or purchasing livestock on unlawfully deforested Amazon property. This effort seeks to reduce one of the primary causes of Amazon deforestation: Read More...
Federal Trade Commission implements tough new rule to combat fake reviews
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Today, online shopping is the default for many of us, meaning we rely heavily on reviews when deciding on our purchases. But in this wild internet era, how can we trust that all the reviews we’re reading are legit? Luckily, the Federal Trade Commission's Read More...
Hundreds of veterans obtain honorable discharges following 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' review
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The United States Department of Defense announced that over 800 veterans who were previously removed under the now-repealed "don't ask, don't tell" policy have had their discharge statuses upgraded to honorable, in a historic action that finally begins to Read More...
Australia expands its marine parks, protecting more ocean than any other country
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Australia is creating ripples in the international environmental community with a bold new commitment to ocean conservation. Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Environment Minister, announced last week the expansion of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Read More...
Thailand set to legalize same-sex marriage in January 2024
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Thailand has made a significant step toward LGBTQ+ equality by becoming Southeast Asia's first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The groundbreaking ordinance, signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and published in the Royal Gazette, will take Read More...
California takes on fast fashion waste: a new bill puts the onus on brands to recycle
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The environmental impact of the fashion industry is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and California is leading the way in addressing the growing issue of textile waste. With the fast fashion cycle overwhelming consumers and landfills, California's Read More...
The Hague makes history as the world's first city to ban fossil fuel ads
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Hague made international headlines for being the first city in the world to approve legislation prohibiting marketing of fossil fuel-related products and services. This major ruling, issued earlier this month, seeks to limit the promotion of items with a Read More...
California imposes a complete ban on plastic shopping bags at grocery stores
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law prohibiting all plastic shopping bags at grocery store checkouts, making the state the first to impose such broad regulations. The new law, which goes into force in 2026, eliminates the choice of plastic bags Read More...
California's first national marine sanctuary in 30 years to protect 116 miles of coastline
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The proposal for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary marks a big step in protecting California's coastline. This sanctuary, which spans more than 116 miles of the state's central coast, will become the third largest of its kind in the United Read More...