Diet, including eating less beef, dropped Americans’ carbon emissions by 9%
A decline in carbon-intensive foods like beef and orange juice has shrunk individuals’ carbon footprints between 2005 and 2014.
United States
This archive collects solutions-journalism stories and milestones from the United States — covering policy wins, community-led efforts, scientific advances, and social progress happening across the country. Each entry highlights what’s working and why it matters.
The United States Supreme Court rules in favor of special education students
The decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District could have far-reaching implications for the 6.5 million students with disabilities in the United States.
Infant mortality rates fall 15 percent over last decade in United States
The biggest drop 29 percent is for deaths from sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS, the team at the National Center for Health Statistics found.
A majority of Americas now oppose discriminatory transgender bathroom bills
Majorities of Americans support legal protections for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender people, opposing laws that force transgender people to use bathrooms according to the gender on their birth certificate and that allow business owners to refuse to service to LGBT people based on religious beliefs.
Maryland House votes to ban fracking by veto-proof margin
The majority, including a handful of Republicans, voted to ban the practice after hearing arguments that science shows that the risk of earthquakes, water contamination and health problems increases in fracked areas.
Wind overtakes hydro as renewable energy leader in the U.S.
According to new data released on Monday 6 March, installed wind capacity in the U.S. surpassed hydroelectric generating capacity, long the nation’s largest source of renewable energy, in 2016.
Tesla charges ahead with plans for more gigafactories
Tesla claims that by the end of 2018, the Nevada factory will assemble more lithium-ion batteries than what were produced globally in 2013.
U.S. Appeals Court rules that Second Amendment doesn’t protect right to assault weapons
Issued by the court sitting en banc, Tuesday’s decision reversed a previous ruling in which a panel of judges had struck down Maryland’s ban on assault weapons and detachable large capacity magazines.
Teen suicide attempts have declined since legalization of same-sex marriage
Teen suicide attempts in the U.S. declined after same-sex marriage became legal and the biggest impact was among gay, lesbian and bisexual kids, a study found.
Solar now provides twice as many jobs as the coal industry
As solar power keeps getting cheaperand more and more of it is built as a resultthe industry is also an increasingly important source of new jobs, adding workers at a rate nearly 17 times faster than the overall economy.