UK’s largest opencast coal mine to permanently close in November 2023
Campaigners had been pushing for the site in Merthyr Tydfil to close since its planning permission expired in September last year after 15 years.
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Rooftop solar capacity in South Africa has increased by 349% since March 2022
The South African Government is actively encouraging the uptake of new rooftop solar with targeted policy, including a new rebate scheme announced in February, which allows individuals who install new panels onto their homes to claim rebates equal to 25% of the cost of the panels.
Youth wins climate case against U.S. state of Montana in first-of-its-kind legal ruling
A landmark ruling found that Montana violated young people’s constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment,” marking the first time a U.S. court has connected the government’s fossil fuel promotion with harm to youth.
Massachusetts adopts universal free school meals
All public school students grades K-12 will be entitled to free lunches regardless of their financial status. It’s estimated to save families about $1,200 a year per student.
Brazil’s Amazon deforestation continues to fall dramatically
An analysis of satellite data showed that 500 square kilometers of tropical rainforest were cleared in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon during the month of July, a 66% decline relative to July a year ago.
AI-supported mammography screening saves time & detects more cancer
A new study from Lund University in Sweden has found that using AI resulted in the detection of 20% more cancers compared with standard screening, without affecting false positives.
China to reach peak gasoline demand in 2024
With plug-in cars increasingly displacing gas guzzlers, China is now on track to hit peak gasoline demand in 2024, according to independent analyses from the International Energy Agency and Rystad Energy.
Ghana ends capital punishment
The West African country currently has 170 men and six women on death row, whose sentences will now be replaced by life imprisonment. Until now, execution has been the mandatory sentence for murder in Ghana.
Australian state of Victoria bans natural gas in new homes
The government said from January 1, 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions, including public and social housing, will only connect to all-electric networks.
Michigan bans conversion therapy for minors
The law prohibits state-licensed providers from engaging in the psychologically-damaging practice. Michigan is now the 22nd state in the United States to ban such “therapy.”