Today’s Solutions: March 29, 2024

Global Development

In an increasingly globalized world, international development efforts aim to improve living conditions, equity, and human rights around the world. Our global development section tracks this globalization and reports on specific equitable and sustainable development initiatives.

West Africa, the village of Yongoro, Sierra Leone, young girl listens to the lesson at school

Sierra Leone backs bill to legalize abortion—a “monumental step forward”

The current laws surrounding maternal health, abortion, and contraceptive services in the West African country of Sierra Leone were adopted in 1861—a century before it won its independence from Britain. In the past, there were attempts at reforming the colonial-era legislation, including in 2015 Read More...

Single-use plastic

India bans single-use plastics

India experiences worse-than-average plastic pollution with single-use plastic water bottles and containers finding their way into streets and important waterways.  To rein in this pollution, the Indian government announced from the capital of New Delhi on Friday that it will be imposing a ban Read More...

Panama City

Tree cities: regreening and making cities more climate-resilient

We decided to revamp a story about a wonderful solution: tree cities.  At The Optimist Daily, as you’ve probably guessed, we love solutions for urban green spaces. We’ve written quite a bit about these, with their ability to offset carbon emissions, help grow food, and help animals and Read More...

Paris

Lower traffic accidents linked to urban emissions laws

From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, the US and France were more or less the same in traffic fatality rates. In fact, they had both declined by 31 percent from 1979 to 1994. Today, though, people getting around in the US are three times more likely to die than in France. What happened?  Bloomberg Read More...

American Solar

US pushes through solar panel imports while helping boost production

A tariff investigation by the Commerce Department has stalled the expansion of the United States solar industry. This was a look into whether or not Chinese solar manufacturers were improperly funneling parts through other Asian countries.  Determined to meet its clean energy and climate goals, Read More...

Aerial view of observation tower with Finnish flag among blue lakes and green forests in summer Finland.

Finland is the first country to pass a legally binding carbon negativity act

Many countries are putting forth considerable efforts to fight climate change and reach ambitious targets of net-zero emissions. However, Finland has decided to take it up a notch. Finland’s parliament recently passed a new Climate Change Act which legally binds it to its commitment to Read More...

G7

G7 countries plan to stop fossil fuel development overseas

Environmental and energy ministers from the world’s largest economies agreed to stop funding any overseas fossil fuel development by the end of 2022. This will cut off investment in high carbon pollution programs that threaten the world from meeting its climate targets. The G7 countries Read More...

Medication Gels

Plant-based-oil gel helps the medicine go down

It isn’t just children who can have trouble swallowing pills. Some adults find it difficult too, for example, adults who have suffered a stroke and need certain medications.  Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed a drug-delivering gel that is easier to swallow and Read More...

Greenwashing

Watchdogs zero in on greenwashing financial institutions

Individuals and companies around the world are looking to invest with their conscience and only support eco-friendly enterprises. Many fund managers noticed the rise in popularity of funds in line with ecological, social, and governance (ESG) principles and embellished how green they Read More...

Dance Therapy

Dance the cough away: how Kyrgyzstan folk dance treats COPD

Chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) is a very common and also treatable lung disease that can be caused by pollution and smoking. It is preventable, and there are many medications for it, but some medical professionals believe that this doesn’t go far enough to treat the Read More...