Electric car sales in Europe have smashed expectations
Electric car sales in Europe are expected to have tripled this year compared to 2019, and are expected to climb to as much as 15% of the total market share by 2022.
Citizens
This archive collects milestones and solutions-focused stories involving citizens — everyday people taking action in their communities, organizing locally, and driving change at the grassroots level. From civic participation to community-led initiatives, these stories highlight what ordinary people accomplish when they work together.
Consumer Reports confirms electric car owners spend half as much on maintenance
Chris Harto, CR’s senior transportation policy analyst, says: “Electric vehicle owners don’t need a coupon to get half-off typical maintenance and repair costs from their dealer, it comes standard! These savings are going a long way to offset the upfront costs for consumers.”
Norway shows rapid transition from diesel to electric cars
Today, no Norwegians are buying diesel Golfs. Instead, 97% of new Golfs sold in Norway are electrics. The shift is so dramatic that Volkswagen no longer sells the Golf with a diesel engine in Norway.
Portuguese youth activists sue 33 countries over climate crisis
Young activists from Portugal have filed the first climate change case at the European court of human rights in Strasbourg, demanding 33 countries make more ambitious emissions cuts to safeguard their future physical and mental well-being.
Sales of plant-based foods grew 29% over the past two years in the U.S.
Plant-based foods are a booming business. New SPINS retail sales data released March 3, 2020, shows that grocery sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products have grown 29% in the past two years to $5 billion.
A million people in the U.K. have quit smoking since the start of the pandemic
More than one million people in the U.K. have given up smoking since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study by the nonprofit Action on Smoking and Health. Almost half (41%) said it was a direct response to heightened health concerns due to COVID-19.
Missouri voters approve Medicaid healthcare expansion
Voters made Missouri the 38th state to approve expanding Medicaid health care coverage to thousands more low-income adults. As many as 250,000 more adults could choose to be covered by government health insurance beginning in July 2021.
Female US Army soldier makes history by becoming the first woman to become a Green Beret
In a major achievement for women in the armed forces, a soldier became the US Army’s first female Green Beret Thursday, US Army Special Operations Command announced.
Madeline Swegle makes history as US Navy’s 1st Black female fighter pilot
The U.S. Navy celebrated a historic moment this week as it announced Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle was set to become its first Black female tactical fighter pilot. Swegle has earned her wings as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and will receive her “Wings of Gold” in late July.
More than 2 million people in India gather to plant 250 million trees
More than 2 million people gathered Sunday at river banks, farmlands and government buildings in northern India while trying to practice social distancing to plant 250 million trees as part of a government plan to tackle climate change.