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Life on a Sustainable Planet

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Youth Activists, David Attenborough, and What's Next at COP26 in This Week's Earth Optimism: Climate Edition

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth – this week with a focus on COP26.

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Wolves, Bats, and Parthenogenesis In This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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Wildlife Solutions and Jane Goodall's Hope in This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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A Tweeting Tree and Climate Refugia in This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With These Indigenous-Focused Conservation Reads

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, find time to learn about their rich connection and contributions to our planet's wellbeing.

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Climate Anxiety Remedies and Fighting Fast Fashion in This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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A Different Kind of Podcast: The Possibilists From Pelecanus and Earth Optimism

Earth Optimism has partnered with Pelecanus on a podcast that highlights stories from interdisciplinary facets of the conservation community on the idea of possibilism. Here, Taylor Parker, who protects and restores habitats as a conservation social scientist and co-founder of Pelecanus, introduces his organization and the creation of The Possibilists.

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Blubbery Bears and Indigenous Agroforestry in This Week’s Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

Paine uses her background in social work and sustainable development to develop solutions that work for both people and the planet.

Empowering Pastoralists and Hunter-Gatherers for Conservation in Tanzania

Paine Makko is the executive director of the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT) and a committed advocate for Indigenous Peoples in Tanzania. UCRT is a non-profit environmental and social justice organization that aims to empower Indigenous communities and secure their rights to land and sustainability. Makko combines both her experience as a pastoralist and her educational background in social work and sustainable development to develop solutions that work for both people and the planet. In addition to supporting Indigenous groups as a whole, Makko is also passionate about female empowerment in conservation and Indigenous spaces.

© Sophia Chapin

The Power of Storytelling in Conservation

A conservation communications intern reflects on what she's learned from two semesters with the Conservation Commons and Earth Optimism.

Celebrate Earth Day online again with Earth Optimism.

Earth Day Is Going Digital Again, but Don't Let That Get You Down

Let’s make this new, even-more-digital-than-before time we are in an opportunity to create a global, online conversation and remind our fellow citizens of planet Earth that there are so many things both worth celebrating and fighting for

Meet Sruthi, a National Geographic Young Explorer and aspiring eco-journalist.

Meet Sruthi Gurudev: Aspiring Eco-Journalist and Ocean Conservationist

Sruthi Gurudev’s love for the ocean has led her to pursue a career in saving it. From serving as a Global Goal ambassador in her community to becoming a National Geographic Young Explorer, Sruthi’s commitment to the sea and the planet has helped her find a path into conservation. She is currently heading up an exciting project in the form of an e-magazine called “An Hour in the Deep,” which uses eco-journalism to promote youth engagement and innovation in ocean conservation.

James Miller has used his personal passion for wildlife to draft other youth to the cause.

Meet James Miller: A Cambridge Student and Aspiring Champion for Biodiversity

James Miller is a first-year University of Cambridge student with a passion for wildlife and conservation. An aspiring nature presenter and filmmaker, James has put his interests into action by helping to engage others in the protection of biodiversity. He has also become an avid youth climate advocate, leading him to get involved in environmental policy within the UK and globally.

Don't forget to give to the planet this holiday season.

5 Ways to Bring Earth Optimism to the Holidays

From opting outside to recycled wrapping – here are a few ways to bring the values of Earth Optimism into your holiday celebrations.

The Global Co Lab Network and Smithsonian Conservation Commons partnered to create the Eco Teen Action Network to empower teens locally and globally to address the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and Earth Optimism.

Meet The Eco Teens Who Are Learning How To Save The Planet

The Global Co Lab Network and Smithsonian Conservation Commons partnered to create the Eco Teen Action Network to empower teens locally and globally to address the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and Earth Optimism.

Rachael Brenneman (left), Julia Smith (center), and Skye Austin (right) pose with supplies for their remote research projects. Photo: Amy Hruska

Three Undergraduate Students Share Their Remote Research Experience

This summer, a trio of students participating in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program took the classic backyard science experiment to a new level.

Fred Tutman is the Patuxent Riverkeeper, the longest-serving Waterkeeper in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the only African-American Waterkeeper in the nation

Discerning Blades of Grass in Grassroots Movements: A Riverkeeper's Perspective on Environmental Equity and Diversity

Fred Tutman has dedicated decades to grassroots efforts to keep the Chesapeake Bay region's vast waterways clean. He is the longest-serving Waterkeeper in the Chesapeake Bay region and the founding Patuxent Riverkeeper. There are over 300 Waterkeepers on six continents with nearly half located in the United States – and Tutman is the only African-American Waterkeeper in the country! He's shared his experiences in this field with Smithsonian's Earth Optimism both at our 2020 Digital Summit and during a Folklife Festival collaborated event. Here we talked to him once again about how grassroots causes can empower communities and promote diversity in environmental movements.

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More Sharks in the Water? That's a Good Thing.

Shark expert David Shiffman gives us reason for optimism this Shark Week.

Sahara Conservation Fund ecological monitoring member Habib Ali (next to vehicle) engaging in typical day-to-day monitoring of reintroduced oryx. Photo credit: Tim Wacher, Zoological Society of London.

Continuing Conservation on a Planet on Lockdown

In this multi-part series, the Smithsonian's Conservation Commons takes a look at how capacity building and local community involvement are key to continuing conservation during the current pandemic.

© Cristina Mittermeier

Framing Hope Through A Photographer's Lens

Following the 2020 Earth Optimism Digital Summit, photographer Cristina Mittermeier tells us how she is able to portray optimism in her images.

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