Miscellaneous
Could litigation prompt governments to do the right thing about climate change?
When the legislative and executive processes fail us, let’s go the judiciary route. That is the strategy behind the legal campaign spearheaded by the Oregon-based nonprofit Our Children’s Trust. Its goal is to have the courts acknowledge that the atmosphere is part of the commons and, as such, Read More...
Top academics demand that universities around the world divest from fossil fuels
The Guardian’s “Keep it in the Ground” campaign, which launched last month in partnership with 350.org’s Fossil Free, is gaining momentum. With 176,000 signatures and counting, it received this week the support of Academics Stand Against Poverty (Asap), an international association Read More...
Subway Sets brings obscure talents into the spotlight for sold-out concerts
New York City has been cracking down on musicians performing on subway platforms. It is too bad, given the crop of talents that can be found there on a regular basis. This, at least, is the opinion of Dan Pierson, the founder of Subway Sets. A couple of years ago, the Brooklyn resident started Read More...
India’s Prime Minister launches first national air pollution index
Thirteen of the dirtiest 20 cities worldwide are in India, with New Delhi holding the undesirable title of the world’s most polluted city, according to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged this much this week, and even urged his Read More...
The City of Lights intends to become the 'World Capital of Cycling'
In the days following the second particle-pollution alert for the second consecutive year, Paris announced its Plan Vélo 2015-2020. The city is to invest 150 million euros to double bike lanes from 700 to 1,400 km, providing parking spaces for an extra 10,000 bikes, and even subsidizing the Read More...
Web platform Dynamo helps freelance workers organize
With 53 million Americans working as freelancers, it was only a matter of time before social-media style platforms would emerge to help organize this fluid and nimble workforce seemingly devoid of bargaining power with employers. A team of Stanford researchers took the first shot at creating one. Read More...
African entrepreneurship is on the rise, attracting foreign investors
It’s time Africa be widely known for more than poverty, corruption and violence. Nigeria and Kenya are leading innovation hubs in the region, with a roster of startups and investments to match. This emerging market is ripe with opportunities for discerning investors—read more for some Read More...
US military vets to receive free training to join the solar industry
The Obama Administration is determined to support the growth of the solar industry, while helping veterans land on their feet. Days after declaring its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions nationwide by up to 28% below 2005 levels within a decade, it announced it would train 75,000 workers by Read More...
How to fight climate change with drones? It’s the trees, stupid!
Planting 36,000 trees in a day for about 15% of the cost of traditional methods: that’s the promise of BioCarbon Engineering, an Oxford-based company that aims to fight climate change through effective reforestation. Drones can survey land for restoration potential, and plant up to 10 Read More...
Homegrown low-emission and electric car projects sprout in Africa
Is the eco-friendly car the future of transportation in Africa? Engineering students and innovators in Nigeria, Ghana, Lagos and Uganda have recently come up with prototypes of zero-emission or low-emission vehicles. The Abucar II, a highly fuel-efficient vehicle which was built over five months in Read More...