Global solar power capacity projected to grow by 17% in 2019
The International Energy Agency expects to see growth in solar of over 17% and capacity of 115 gigawatts (GW) by year’s end.
Today (2017 C.E. - 2025 C.E.)
This archive spans the years 2017 through 2025, a period marked by rapid advances in clean energy, medicine, technology, and social equity. It collects documented breakthroughs, policy wins, and scientific achievements from the present era. If you want evidence that progress is real and ongoing, this is where to look.
Guatemala to ban plastic bags, straws, cups beginning 2021
The measure gives merchants two years to phase out bags, straws, plates, cups and containers made from plastic or plastic foam, and replace them with compostable items.
Panama bans single-use plastic bags
Panama’s plastic bag ban has gone into effect. Panama became the first Central American country to ban single-use plastic bags in 2018.
Millions march worldwide in youth-led climate strike
An estimated four million protesters in over 150 countries marched in the youth led global climate strike.
Early child mortality has dropped in 96 of the world’s 97 low-to-middle-income countries from 2000 to 2017
From 2000 to 2017,96 low-to-middle-income countries that account for the vast majority of deaths of young children lowered their child mortality, according to a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation report.
Indonesia raises minimum age for brides to end child marriage
Indonesia’s parliament has revised the country’s marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step toward curbing child marriage.
Merriam-Webster officially recognizes ‘they’ as a nonbinary pronoun
Merriam-Webster has formally acknowledged the use of “they” as a nonbinary, gender neutral pronoun, adding that definition to its dictionary.
Environmental pollution in China is now declining
For decades pollution in China has paralleled economic growth. But this connection has weakened in recent years, according to a new international research study.
2019 ozone hole could be smallest in three decades
The EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) says it’s currently well under half the area usually seen in mid-September.
California bans private prisons
The legislation is being hailed as a major victory for criminal justice reform because it removes the profit motive from incarceration.