Michelin’s airless passenger car tires get their first public outing
Michelin says “tweels” will last three times longer than normal tires, even when nothing goes wrong for the life of the tire, leading to a major reduction in waste.
France
France makes birth control free for everyone under 25
The free contraceptives offered include the pill, IUDs, contraceptive patches, and other methods composed of steroid hormones. Doctor’s visits for birth control prescriptions will also be free.
Landmark G7 agreement pledges 870 million COVID-19 vaccine doses
The Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations’ commitment to immediately share at least 870 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, supporting global access and helping to end the acute phase of the pandemic.
Landmark asthma vaccine looks to human trials
In a recently study published in Nature Communications, researchers from France’s Institut Pasteur describe several successful preclinical tests of this asthma vaccine in mice.
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.
63% of Europeans living in cities support E.U. ban on petrol and diesel car sales after 2030
Almost two-thirds of urban residents support banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in Europe after 2030, according to a new YouGov online poll in 15 European cities.
French government to ban short domestic flights in favor of trains
After a long debate, the French National Assembly has voted to suspend all domestic flights on routes that can be traveled by direct train in less than 2.5 hours.
World’s first hydrogen-powered cargo vessel to set sail this year
Developed by French shipowner Compagnie Fluvial Transport (CFT), the vessel will be the world’s first cargo ship to run on hydrogen and is set to be deployed on the river Seine in Paris.
Renault Trucks pledges to phase out fossil fuels by 2040
Renault Trucks is the latest manufacturer to lay out its electrification pledge: it’ll have a battery or fuel cell option in every segment from 2023, it’s aiming for 35 percent electric sales in 2030, and it’ll ditch fossil fuels and decarbonize completely by 2040.
Paris is turning dark underground parking lots into organic mushrooms farms
Along with mushrooms, Cycloponics grows chicory as well as microgreens like mini broccoli. These are delivered via bicycle to local organic grocery stores.