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.
E-waste: Crucial “right to repair” laws have come into force in the EU
In an effort to cut the environmental impact of electronic goods, the European Union passed a law in 2019 that would force companies that sell products such as TVs, hairdryers, and refrigerators to ensure that those appliances can be repaired for up to 10 years. This week, the law finally came into Read More...
Phoenix is using green space to tackle urban heat disparities
Our latest Optimist View discussed how urban green space impacts heat exposure and health outcomes in cities. One of the cities grappling with this issue is Phoenix. As the hottest city in the US, Phoenix is very focused on keeping things cool in a warming world. The city has pledged to reach Read More...
Small things can make a huge difference for mothers with depression
Mental illness is not only hard for the sufferer but can also impact surrounding family and friends. This is especially true for the children of mothers that experience depression. Research has been found that children in this position not only are more likely to gain mental health problems Read More...
The United Arab Emirates decides to stop censoring movies
For generations now, the United Arab Emirates has censored sensitive scenes from cinematic work that are considered offensive to traditional Islamic sensibilities. This includes any scenes involving nudity, homosexuality, sex, or any other content regarded as inappropriate. Unsurprisingly, the Read More...
US Government lays out ambitious plan to replace all lead pipes
Childhood lead poisoning has decreased significantly over the past 50 years, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that up to 10 million households and 400,000 schools and child care centers still have service lines or fixtures that contain lead. These are significant health Read More...
UK introduces bill to ban trophy hunt imports
Two years after its introduction, the British government is finally moving forward with a ban on trophy hunting imports. The new law, which bans bringing back trophies from exotic animal hunts, plans to protect 7,000 species threatened by international trade. The law is expected to go before Read More...
Spain formally recognizes animals as sentient beings
Spain joins nations like the UK and Brussels in passing an animal welfare law that recognizes animals as sentient beings, meaning that the country will no longer consider pets and wild animals as “objects." Spain’s Congress of Deputies passed the new legislation, which received majority Read More...
New York City bans the use of fuel-burning systems in new construction
Following in the footsteps of green cities like San Francisco, New York City voted last week to pass a bill that will ban fuel-burning systems, like stoves and heaters, from all new construction. A huge source of emissions and indoor air pollution, gas stoves are being replaced with electric models Read More...
Pittsburgh will become a dark sky city in 2022
Anyone who lives in a big city knows that stars are a rare sight due to light pollution, but that may soon change in one American metropolis. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has announced that it will become a dark sky city in 2022, joining others like Tucson and Sedona in Arizona, and Fulda in Germany in Read More...
US will stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad
The US government has officially halted federal aid to overseas fossil fuel projects. The new policy comes after the US joined nearly 40 other countries in a COP26 pledge to end foreign fossil fuel financing by the end of 2022. The funding change will mean no more US financing for coal plants, Read More...