It’s the start of a new month – which means it’s time for another Squirrel News roundup! There’s a lot to celebrate from November – from poverty in Latin America dropping to a decades-long low to the G20 committing to taxing the ultra-rich, we’ve got a lot to cover in today’s edition.
G20 leaders have made a historic commitment to ensure billionaires are effectively taxed, a move praised by anti-poverty advocates as a step toward reducing global inequality.
UN to include Indigenous voices in conservation decisions
Following two weeks of negotiations, delegates at the UN’s biodiversity conference reached an agreement to create a new advisory body that includes Indigenous representatives in nature conservation decisions.
Denmark to plant one billion trees and turn 10% of farmland into forest
Danish lawmakers announced their plan to plant one billion trees and repurpose 10% of the nation’s farmland into forests and natural habitats over the next 20 years. The initiative aims to curb fertiliser use and marks what the government has described as “the most significant transformation of Denmark’s landscape in over a century.”
Historic election sees new ruling party in Botswana after nearly six decades
Botswana’s voters have unseated the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) after 58 years of uninterrupted rule since the country’s independence in 1966. By Friday afternoon, the BDP had secured only four parliamentary seats, paving the way for the opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change, to take power in the southern African nation.
The poverty rate across Latin America fell in 2023 to 27.3% of the population – marking a 1.5 percentage point decline from the previous year and a reduction of over 5 points compared to 2020, when the region’s economies faced severe disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colombia outlaws child marriage after 17-year campaign
Colombian lawmakers have approved a bill to close a 137-year legal loophole and eradicate child marriage in the South American country. The move comes after 17 years of campaigning by advocacy groups and eight failed attempts to push legislation through the house and senate.
China launches world’s largest open-sea offshore solar farm
Situated 8 kilometres off the coast of Dongying City in Shandong Province, eastern China, this solar farm spans 1,223 hectares and features 2,934 solar platforms supported by robust offshore steel truss foundations. The farm is set to power roughly 2.67 million urban homes in the region.
Currently delivering 220 megawatts (MW) of clean, affordable solar power to the grid, Sherco Solar will eventually reach a massive capacity of 710 MW. The remaining two phases of the project are set to come online in 2025 and 2026.
Pakistan’s rapid solar growth surpasses expectations
Pakistan has rapidly expanded its solar energy capacity, with the industry seeing quite substantial growth in a relatively short period – helping residents better navigate frequent blackouts.
Pakistan’s Sindh Rescue Service is welcoming more women who are defying societal expectations to join the firefighting profession. Their presence not only challenges gender norms but also ensures better support for women in emergencies.
Australia appoints first anti-slavery commissioner
With an estimated 41,000 people living in modern slavery across Australia, former senator Chris Evans has been appointed as the country’s first anti-slavery commissioner. Evans will lead efforts to address forced labour, deceptive recruiting, and exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers.
Homeless people to be given cash in first major UK trial to reduce poverty
Researchers are conducting the UK’s first major scientific trials to establish whether giving homeless people cash is a more effective way of reducing poverty than traditional forms of help. Poverty campaigners have long believed that cash transfers are the most cost-effective way of helping people, but most studies have examined schemes in developing countries.
How Redondo Beach reduced levels of homelessness to “functionally zero”
Homeless individuals in the area were frequently arrested for offenses like trespassing, disorderly conduct, and drug-related crimes. In 2020, City Attorney Mike Webb convinced a Torrance Superior Court judge to preside over a specialised homeless court, using judicial authority to guide defendants toward shelter and treatment rather than prison.
How an Argentine prison cooperative ended recidivism
Although Argentina lacks official data on recidivism, estimates suggest that 70% of those released from prison reoffend within a year. At Batán prison, however, more than 1,000 inmates have joined the Liberté cooperative programme – and of the 104 participants who have been released, none have committed new crimes.
Istanbul offers free public transit to job seekers
Istanbul has introduced free public transit for unemployed residents to help ease financial barriers in their search for work. The programme provides 96 free rides over three months, improving job access for thousands in the city.
Green signal given for first UK cooperatively owned railway service
The Office of Road and Rail has approved a bid from open-access operator Go-op to run several new services and compete with Great Western Railway on the line. Go-op, which is based in Somerset, will be owned and managed by staff and the local community, with all profits invested back into improving the service.
Caribbean innovators turn invasive seaweed into sustainable vehicle fuel
A Caribbean team has developed a method to convert sargassum seaweed, a tourism-disrupting invasive species, into biogas to fuel vehicles. This offers a renewable energy solution while protecting coastlines and supporting regional climate goals.
100% self-sufficient Danish supermarket system can also work in other climates
Designed to save operating costs and reduce food waste, the supermarket has a closed loop heating/cooling system and is 50% more energy efficient than a typical supermarket. It is also a real life testing centre allowing engineers to practice energy efficiency technology.
Swiss architects design demountable timber sports hall for sustainable reuse
A Swiss architecture studio has created a sustainable timber sports hall for the University of Zurich that can be fully dismantled and repurposed. Designed for minimal environmental impact, the building can be relocated, reused, or naturally biodegrade.
From ‘Sin City’ to ‘Solar City’: Las Vegas embraces sustainability
Known for its bright lights and high energy consumption, Las Vegas has invested heavily in solar power and water conservation, achieving more than 97% water recycling and becoming second in the US for solar capacity per capita.
Virtual fences protect Montana’s grasslands and wildlife
In Montana, a new fund has just been established to help farmers and ranchers implement virtual fencing, reducing physical fences and protect native wildlife and grasslands.
A new generation of UK farmers is opening their land to the public, offering activities like nature walks, yoga, and forest schools to connect people with nature. These initiatives help support farm income, improve community wellbeing, and promote environmental sustainability.
Rats trained to sniff out smuggled rhino horn and pangolin scales
Researchers trained eight African giant pouched rats to sniff out the contraband, even when it was hidden among items commonly used to hide trafficked goods, including peanuts, leaves, wigs and washing powder. The rats were studied by scientists at Apopo, a Belgian-founded, Tanzania-based NGO, whose rodents also sniff out landmines and tuberculosis.
Exiled journalist creates lifeline TV for Afghan women
Hamida Aman, an Afghan journalist now living in exile in Paris, has launched an educational TV programme aimed at women and girls in Afghanistan. As the Taliban tightens its grip on women’s freedoms, the programme is gradually becoming an important link to the outside world for many.
Theatre programme boosts student engagement in US schools
Schools across the U.S. are seeing the benefits of the Spirit Series theatre programme. In Massachusetts, California, and Maine, the programme is improving teamwork, reducing absenteeism, and boosting student confidence.
How matchmaking programmes build friendships between teens and seniors
Dorot, a long-established nonprofit, is being joined by newer organisations with the same goal: creating meaningful connections between older adults and teenagers. These intergenerational friendships are helping to address the growing crisis of loneliness and isolation, worsened by the pandemic.
