New Zealand creates first climate change refugee visa program
Faced with the looming prospect of entire islands disappearing under rising sea levels, New Zealand is designing the world’s first climate change refugee visa program.
Nations
Rwanda becomes first poor country to provide eye care for all
In a country where a third of people have sight problems, specialist nurses have visited all 15,000 villages as part of a life-changing project
France to shut all coal-fired power stations by 2021, Macron declares
The 2021 goal sets a more aggressive target than the timeline advanced by Mr Macron’s predecessor, Francois Hollande, who sought to shut down the country’s coal-powered plants by 2023.
Myanmar LGBT festival goes public for first time
The widening acceptance boosted numbers with some 6,000 people coming along on the first day alone, compared with 2-3,000 over the whole festival in previous years.
E.U. votes to increase 2030 renewable energy goal to 35%
The European Union Parliament voted Wednesday to increase its renewable energy goal for 2030 from a goal of 27% to a new target of 35%, which will now be taken to EU member states in upcoming talks.
New data shows solar energy creates more jobs in United States than any other industry
According to the census, solar energy adds jobs 17 times faster than the overall economy in the United States.
Vanuatu bans non-biodegradable plastic to protect ocean life
Single-use non-biodegradable plastic, including bags and polystyrene takeaway containers, will be banned in Vanuatu from January 31, as the Government tries to control a growing plastic waste problem.
France sets out ten-point plan to double wind power capacity by 2023
The government said the proposed reforms will cut in half the average time it takes for wind power projects to be completed and connected to the French electricity grid.
Norway is aiming for all of its short flights to be electric by 2040
Norway is a leading force in broad adoption electric vehicles. In its latest move, the country has pledged to make all of its short-haul flights electric by 2040.
Saudi Arabia plans up to $7 billion of renewable energy projects this year
Tenders will be issued this year for eight projects totaling 4.125 gigawatts of capacity, Turki Mohammed Al Shehri, head of the kingdom’s Renewable Energy Project Development Office, said.