China breaks ground on massive 100-gigawatt renewable energy project
The new project, likely built in western China, will generate more renewable energy than all solar and wind installations in India combined.
Nations
This archive collects milestones and progress stories involving nations — countries and their governments — acting to improve lives, protect rights, or address shared challenges. From policy breakthroughs to international cooperation, these stories show what countries are doing right.
Austria announces new carbon tax to curb emissions
The government believes that the tax will generate five billion euros by 2025, which will be returned to residents as an annual “climate bonus.”
France to ban plastic packaging for most fruit and vegetables in January 2022
France’s environment ministry expects that the measure will prevent more than one billion useless plastic packaging items per year.
Indian health insurance to expand coverage options for transgender people
Ayushman Bharat, India’s flagship health insurance for the least privileged communities, will provide coverage for #trans individuals that includes support for sex-change operations.
Biden to restore protections to three national monuments cut by Trump
The decision to restore the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments will protect the sites’ stunning physical beauty and fossil record, as well as substantial Native American history.
Canada celebrates first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The day, which honors the lost children and survivors of Indigenous schools, comes after more than 1,000 unmarked graves were discovered at former schools this year.
Germany elects first-ever transgender members of parliament
Tessa Ganserer and Nyke Slawik from the Greens part have made history in Germany as the first transgender women to win parliamentary seats in the recent national election.
Turkey ratifies Paris Agreement, becoming the last G20 country to join
Turkey’s parliamentarians on Wednesday unanimously approved the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
Mongolia to spend no less than one percent of GDP to plant one billion trees
The goal is to create a legal environment in which at least 1% of Mongolia’s GDP to be spent annually on combating climate change and desertification, and on increasing environmentally friendly and green facilities.
Seven nations launch initiative to end new coal power
The Compact calls on nations to halt the construction of unabated coal-fired power generation projects by the end of this year. Initial signatories include Sri Lanka, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Montenegro, France, and the U.K.