Insert introduction hereFrom new marine protected areas in Australia and Portugal to a “revolutionary” hospital for kids in Switzerland and new method to regrow forests with the help of animals: Here’s our recap of the most important solutions-focused news from the past month.
Australia to protect 52% of its oceans, more than any other country
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has declared Australia will soon protect more ocean than any other country after the government finalises a more than 300,000 square kilometre expansion of a sub-Antarctic marine park.
Portugal becomes home to the largest marine protected area in Europe
Currently, 15% of the waters surrounding the Portuguese archipelago are classified as fully protected, with an additional 15% designated as highly protected – a total area of 287,000 square kilometers. The move aims to protect deep-sea corals, whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and fish species from harmful practices such as fishing.
Egypt has officially been declared malaria-free by the WHO
Egypt is the third country in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this, following the UAE and Morocco. Globally, 44 countries and one territory have hit this milestone.
Global life expectancy rebounds to pre-pandemic levels
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp decline in life expectancy worldwide in 2020 and 2021. However, recent data shows a recovery trend, with life expectancy in 2022 returning to the 2019 level of 72.6 years, and in 2023, it increased further to 73.2 years.
The most popular teen tobacco choice of vaping is down almost 6%, but also down are cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. The CDC reports that only 1 in 10 high schoolers and 1 in 20 middle schoolers say they use tobacco currently.
Murder rate way down in Argentinian city troubled by drug trafficking
September was celebrated as a homicide-free month in Rosario, Argentina’s highest-crime city. The mayor says the number of murders so far this year is 70, and was 200 at the same point last year. A huge increase in law enforcement presence is credited with the drop.
US power grid added battery equivalent of 20 nuclear reactors in past four years
The US is installing huge batteries at a dizzying pace with California and Texas leading the way. The steep rise in renewable power storage capacity is already helping to keep electricity flowing during blackouts, heatwaves, and times of energy rationing.
Amid Australia’s chaotic climate politics, the rooftop solar boom is a big triumph
It’s difficult to overstate how rapidly Australians have embraced solar power – there’s now more rooftop solar than coal-fired power. The key question is what policymakers can learn from its success.
World Bank launches $90 billion plan to provide electricity to 300 million Africans
A bold initiative aimed at bringing power to more than 300 million people across the African diaspora by 2030 is now in motion, backed by a $30 billion initial investment from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Groundbreaking railway to connect East Africa starts in Tanzania
Electric trains are a first for the region and the smooth, comfortable, travel a huge improvement over past options. Now open in Tanzania, the railway is intended to also connect to neighbours Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
New 20€ rail pass in Portugal grants unlimited national travel
Portugal is moving to make train travel more affordable and accessible as an investment in a greener future. The new monthly “Green Rail Pass” will cost less than half of its predecessor.
Consumers embrace Ireland’s first bottle deposit return scheme
Since its launch in February, the new bottle deposit return scheme has seen 630 million empty cans and bottles returned at reverse vending machines across the country. The programme – launched by Re-turn under the mandate of the Irish government – aims to help Ireland hit EU recycling targets of 90%.
Ireland’s year off-curriculum is a life changer for teens
First piloted in 1974 and rolled out a nationally in 1994, the idea is to give teens the space to try new things, appreciate classics of art and literature no matter what their socioeconomic level, and to “take a break from the treadmill”. For some teens, it has led their life down a whole new path.
Texas teen courts offer alternative to prison for youth
El Paso’s Teen Court offers a peer-led, youth-driven alternative focused on supporting teenagers, helping them avoid the harsh consequences of the traditional criminal justice system.
Student’s app closes knowledge gap in neonatal care for non-white infants
Ruby Jackson, a 23-year-old student midwife, has launched an app designed to educate users about the symptoms of maternal and neonatal conditions on black and brown skin. “Melanatal” hopes to address the lack of awareness surrounding how these issues manifest in non-white individuals.
‘Like a sylvan spa!’ Inside Zurich’s revolutionary new hospital for kids
From the chalet-style patient ‘cottages’ to the walls designed for scribbling on, Herzog & de Meuron’s Kinderspital is a stylish, healing, child-friendly miracle – and it cost less than UK equivalents.
New cervical cancer treatment regime ‘cuts risk of dying from disease by 40%’
Doctors are hailing a “remarkable” new treatment regime for cervical cancer that reduces the risk of dying by 40%, in the biggest advance against the disease in 25 years.
The dome-structured houses in Florida that survived level 5 hurricanes
Constructed from a 2015 design called the “Golden Eye” these homes in the shape of domes were resilient and intact when all the homes around them were destroyed. The trend is catching on and can hopefully be applied to affordable housing in future.
In Rwanda’s iconic hills, an agricultural method from decades past is seeing a big resurgence, helping to tackle the problem of soil erosion and revive the landscape.
This video documents an experimental programme in the Choco region of Ecuador, where a multinational team is having early success with a new approach to reforesting. They are planting small areas rich in fruit that encourage animals to reseed the forest with their poop.
Following Germany’s innovative model, South Carolina has allowed inmates to create their own living spaces, establish house rules, and resolve conflicts among themselves, with prison guards acting in the role of counsellors.
The Pennsylvania prison with a cat and a fish tank to reduce recidivism
The US has the highest prison population in the world and a staggering reoffending rate, with two-thirds of released inmates returning to crime within three years. One prison in Pennsylvania is experimenting with a different approach to rehabilitation – and since its establishment two years ago, the facility has reported only one violent incident.
For nearly two decades, Nigel Bromage was a prominent figure in the British far-right movement. After breaking away from his past, Bromage founded Small Steps, an organisation of former extremists dedicated to supporting those who want to leave these ideologies behind.
Community dining in Denmark, convivial and affordable
Community suppers at Copenhagen restaurants are welcoming groups in the hundreds. Locals and tourists alike sit together at long tables and enjoy locally-sourced meals with changing daily menus for a low set cost.
