France says new roofs must be covered in plants or solar panels
According to a new French law approved on Thursday, rooftops on new buildings in commercial zones across France must either be partially covered in plants or solar panels.
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India launches massive, historic Swachh Bharat Mission to boost poverty alleviation through sanitation efforts
Initiated by the Indian government, the mission aimed to achieve an “open-defecation free” and resulted in the construction of an estimated 89.9 million toilets between 2014 and 2019.
Norway will pay Liberia $150 million to stop deforestation
Liberia is a global diversity hotspot, home to the last remaining viable populations of species including western chimpanzees, forest elephants and leopards.
Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology create’s the first ever garment made entirely of recycled cotton
Old cotton clothes are brought to a factory and shredded then turned onto a porridge-like substance. The porridge is broken down to the molecule level and turned into a fibre substance to be used for thread, resulting in rayon fabric.
Voyager 1 becomes first human-made object to leave solar system
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 traveled past Jupiter and Saturn and is now more than 11.66 billion miles (18.67 billion kilometers) from the sun, becoming the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
San Francisco bans sale of plastic water bottles on city property
Americans use 50 billion plastic water bottles a year, according to an anti-plastic bottle campaign Ban the Bottle, and just 23% of those are recycled. Ban violators found selling plastic water bottles 21 oz or below on city grounds after October 2014 would be subject to a fine up to $1000, according to the San Fransisco Examiner.
Cuba ends foreign travel permits for its citizens
Cuba previously saw people attempting to leave the country as traitors or enemies of the revolution.
Agreement entitles river in New Zealand to legal identity for first time
The Whanganui River will become an legal entity and have a legal voice under a preliminary agreement signed between Whanganui River iwi and the Crown tonight.
This is the first time a river has been given a legal identity.
Lesotho legalizes homosexuality
Before the current Penal Code Act, homosexuality was illegal for men in the Southern African nation as it is in many African nations, often punishable by prison or even death. However, in 2012, Lesotho became one of the first African nations to legalize homosexuality and in 2013 hosted its first Pride event.
India completes its first solar park
Inaugurated in 2012 by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, it was home to about 250 MW capacity initially. In April 2012, a total of 214 megawatts had been commissioned. It also became the world’s third largest photovoltaic power station. 345 MW had been installed by March 2016. So far, the park has witnessed investments of Rs 5,365 crore and generated 3,441 million units till date.