British Methodist Church allows same-sex marriage in ‘momentous’ vote
A vote to change the definition of marriage at the Methodist Conference on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed by 254 in favor with 46 against.
Civil society
Museum in Dubai is first in the Arab world to exhibit Holocaust memorial
According to the museum’s founder, Ahmed Obaid AlMansoori, the opening of the museum is timely, as parts of the Middle East region open up and there is an effort being made towards normalizing relations between countries.
America’s first transgender suicide hotline is up and running
The new hotline is staffed entirely by transgender people and dedicated to addressing and supporting members of the trans community in mental health crises.
Major firms sign ambitious deal to cut plastic waste in the Pacific
Called the ANZPAC Plastics Pact, the agreement aims to drastically reduce plastic waste from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific by 2025. Among the signatories are big brands like Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Woolworths.
Leonardo DiCaprio and conservationists launch $43M plan to restore Galápagos Islands
The initiative involves more than 40 partners, ranging from local NGOs to governments to international organizations, leveraging decades of collective experience working across the archipelago.
Community coral planting restores Belize’s expansive reefs
So far, 85,000 corals have been planted in the area and the coral cover of the seafloor in the park increased from 6% to 50% between 2010 to 2017.
International Energy Agency raises 2021 global growth forecast for wind and solar by 25%
The IEA’s “renewable energy market update” forecasts nearly 40% higher growth in 2021 than it expected a year ago, putting wind and solar on track to match global gas capacity by 2022.
GPS tracking is helping tigers and humans coexist in Nepal
Significant progress has been made in wild tiger conservation in Nepal with the population doubling from 2009 to 2018.
Chloé Zhao is the first woman of color to win an Oscar for Best Director
The Nomadland director was also the first woman to get four Oscar nominations in a single year, in ‘best film editing,’ ‘best-adapted screenplay,’ ‘best director,’ and ‘best picture’ categories.
U.S.’s largest coal miners’ union voices support for a transition to renewables
United Mine Workers of America has announced that it would support a transition to renewable energy sources provided that union members were given opportunities for well-paying jobs in the new solar, wind, and hydropower sectors.