Paris bans nearly 3 million vehicles during weekdays to curb pollution
The policy is set to ban diesel cars and vans made before Jan. 1, 2006, from the city between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Cities
Sydney declares state of emergency over climate crisis
The decision makes Sydney the first major city in Australia to declare a climate emergency, but nearly the 660th to do so worldwide.
Beijing opens new bicycle expressway
Researchers say infrastructure for bicyclists make roads safer for everyone, while reducing congestion and reducing carbon emissions.
New York City becomes first city in the United States to invest in female musicians
The New York City Mayor’s Office is addressing the underrepresentation of women in music by opening up $500,000 worth of grants to local female-identifying musicians.
Canary Wharf is now the world’s first plastic free commercial center
Canary Wharf, the Estate at the heart of London’s capital, has become the first commercial center in the world to be awarded a ‘Plastic Free Community’ status.
Oakland in California decriminalizes magic mushrooms and peyote
The city council’s vote directed law enforcement to cease investigating and prosecuting individuals for using or possessing drugs sourced from plants, cacti, and mushrooms.
Mexico City drops gender-specific school uniforms
“Boys can wear skirts if they want and girls can wear trousers if they want,” Mexico City Mayor Claudia Mayor Sheinbaum said.
Atlanta to create United States’s largest food forest for public
The move would result in the city’s first food forest and the largest of its kind in the country.
Glasgow commits to be U.K.’s first net-zero city
Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Council leader, said: “We need to be a Net Zero city. And we need to be the U.K.’s first Net Zero city.”
Los Angeles launches its own Green New Deal to go carbon-neutral by 2050
The plan requires all new city-owned buildings and major renovations to be all-electric, effective immediately. The plan also hopes to phase out styrofoam and to plant 90,000 trees by 2021, and to end plastic straws and single-use containers by 2028.