The start of a new month means a roundup of the most exciting stories from the world of solutions journalism – and we’ve got 27 of our favourites right here. In this edition, we explore everything from the world’s largest solar project to a breakthrough lung cancer vaccine trial and a whole lot in between.
Global school attendance rate up by 40% since 2000
The number of children not attending school worldwide has dropped from 390 million in 2000 to 244 million in 2023, marking significant progress despite global population growth.
Australian government greenlights world’s largest solar project
A bold plan to construct an enormous solar farm in the remote northern region of Australia, with the goal of transmitting energy via undersea cable to Singapore, has moved forward. On Wednesday, the Australian government granted environmental approval for the AU$30 billion project.
6,000 sheep to start grazing across 10,000 acres of Texas solar fields
The biggest solar grazing initiative in the U.S. is about to kick off in Texas, where thousands of sheep will help cut down on mowing costs and emissions, all while giving these animals plenty of room to roam and graze happily.
First-ever commercial seaweed farm to launch in the North Sea this Autumn
The Project is set to use the space between wind turbines to grow seaweed off the coast between The Hague and Zandvoort. With plenty of room in existing and future wind farms, the plan is to ramp up seaweed production to 1 million tons annually by 2040, potentially cutting millions of tons of CO2 emissions.
“Many indications that the overconsumption will soon decrease”
Earth Overshoot Day – the day when humanity has reached its yearly sustainable consumption limit – came slightly earlier in 2024 than 2023. Even though much more needs to be done, there are encouraging signs of a trend reversal in global overconsumption.
World-first lung cancer vaccine trials launched across seven countries
Doctors have begun trialling the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in patients, as experts hailed its “groundbreaking” potential to save thousands of lives.
People in mental health crisis in England can now call NHS 111
Millions of patients who experience a mental health crisis will be able to access help via NHS 111, making England one of the world’s first countries to offer 24-hour daily support through one phone line.
White House strikes deal to slash prices of costliest medications
The Biden Administration has agreed with drug manufacturers on reductions of 38 to 79 % to the prices of vital and expensive medicines like blood thinners and diabetes drugs for patients on Medicare. The change will take effect in 2026.
San Francisco middle school opens free grocery store to support families in need
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in San Francisco has launched a free grocery store to help low-income families access fresh food. The initiative aims to improve food security and strengthen the connection between students, families, and the school.
Bike use has increased in India and the highest increase is among schoolgirls. A government-run free bicycle distribution scheme targeting high school girls is bringing them more independence and cutting down their commuting time.
UK to review school curriculum to teach students how to spot fake news
The UK is launching a review of the school curriculum to introduce critical thinking skills aimed at helping students identify misinformation and extremist content online. The initiative will span multiple subjects to better prepare children for navigating digital information.
The policy extends a pilot programme that made enrollment at community colleges in the state free for people above 25 without a degree. There is no minimum age and an additional stipend will also books and supplies for some.
Free transportation for low-income residents of Philadelphia
The poorest households in the city struggle the most with transportation costs, creating a barrier for job seekers. The new free travel requires no application: all income-qualified residents between 18 and 64 are granted service automatically.
Could a £2-a-day basic income be the key to protecting rainforests?
“It’s the world’s first basic income pilot for Indigenous peoples who live in rainforests with a link to protect the forest and fight the climate crisis,” said Isabel Felandro, the global head of programmes for Cool Earth, who leads the organisation’s work in Peru.
Citizens plant over 240 million trees in Kenya thanks to government app
Jazamiti promotes citizen engagement in tree planting efforts by providing information about appropriate species to plant in their region and where to get tree seedlings.
Florida builds world’s largest environmental restoration project
Florida is constructing a massive reservoir as part of the world’s largest environmental restoration effort in the Everglades. This project aims to secure drinking water for millions, reduce harmful algal blooms, and restore the state’s delicate ecosystems.
In southern Finland, a wind farm company is taking a unique approach to safeguard endangered birds by using radar to prevent them from crashing into the turbine blades.
Denver’s green schoolyards improve student outcomes, community health
Denver transformed nearly 100 elementary schoolyards into green spaces, resulting in better academic performance, improved community health, and increased property values. A new study reveals a $3 return for every $1 invested in green schoolyards.
10 charts that explain how US schools have become less violent
New federal data shows a continued decline in school violence across the U.S., with 2022 rates at their lowest in a decade. Increased focus on school climate and social-emotional learning is helping drive this positive trend.
Breakthrough in ALS: Patient can speak again after brain implant
The incurable disease often leads to the loss of speech. Thanks to a brain implant, a patient in the US is speaking again, assisted by AI that translates his thoughts in real time.
Climate change and urbanisation in the capital of Sierra Leone has driven temperatures as high as 40ºC, with high humidity on top of that. A programme installing heat-reflective mirrored sheets has shown initial results of cooling up to 6 ºC.
Communities lead the way in protecting Malawi’s forest
In Malawi’s Zomba Forest Reserve, a community that previously contributed to deforestation has now taken on the role of protector. They are safeguarding this vital forest area, which is crucial for sustaining the streams that irrigate their crops.
How a Polish activist united the country to cut back on coal
60% of Poland’s electricity is still generated by coal plants, causing significant air pollution. Krakow resident Anna Dworakowska started a Facebook group to monitor smog levels in the city, which ultimately led Krakow and other cities to ban coal plants.
Former oil executive on a quest to plug abandoned oil wells
Former oil and gas executive Curtis Shuck stumbled upon an oil well in 2019, improperly abandoned and leaking methane and other pollutants. He founded Well Done which has so far plugged 45 such wells across the US.
How descendants of slaves took over Brazil’s largest coffee plantation
400 acres of what was the largest plantation in Brazil, a country where most of kidnapped Africans arrived, was returned to the ownership of their descendents. Now a town of 24,000, they have received a grant to turn the former palace on site into a museum and school of Afro-Brazilian tradition.
