California condors return to Sequoia National Park for first time in 50 years
By 1985, only nine condors remained in the wild. This sighting signals that federal efforts to bring the California condor back from near-extinction are working.
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Endangered tiger populations in India and Thailand are rebounding
In a triumphant moment for the endangered species, new photos released today on World Tiger Day 2020, revealed sightings of numerous new tigers in a region of western Thailand for the first time in four years.
The world’s biggest rooftop urban farm is now bearing fruit
The 14,000 square meter space in Paris’s 15th arrondissement, known as Nature Urbaine, is now up and running and has planted roughly a third of the available space.
Congress approves billions for U.S. national parks
The Great American Outdoors Act allocates $9.5bn over the next five years for previously neglected park repairs. And it sets up $900m a year to acquire land for conservation and continue maintenance.
France to launch ‘railway highways’ in push for greener economy
France’s prime minister vowed to develop “railway highways” to carry food and other goods that now go by truck, part of a government push to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
U.S. FCC approves three-digit suicide prevention hotline – 988
When it becomes operational, the 988 dial-code will provide mental health support and ease pressure on the 911 line, which covers all emergencies. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US and has increased by 33% in the past 20 years.
World’s largest hybrid timber tower to be built in Sydney
According to BVN, this tower is “is one of the most hopeful technologies in moving the construction industry toward real solutions to the global climate crisis.”
India to propose World Solar Bank and mobilize $50 billion in solar funding
India’s Ministry for New and Renewable Energy is likely to propose to the government to set up a World Solar Bank. The MNRE may propose that the World Solar Bank disburse $50 billion over the first ten years.
U.K. to open citizenship path to Hong Kongers
Eligible individuals from Hong Kong currently can come to the U.K. for six months without a visa. With the rule change, they will have the right to live and work in the country for five years. After that, they will be allowed to apply for settled status and then again for citizenship.
Senate passes veto-proof bill that removes Confederate names from Army bases
President Donald Trump has threatened to veto a version that renames the military bases, but that looks less likely after the Senate passed its version 86 to 14, well above the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.