Scotland joins growing global movement towards a four-day workweek
Scotland plans to launch a trial four-day workweek. Workers will have their hours reduced by 20%, but won’t suffer any loss in compensation.
Europe
Serbia foregoes lengthy, costly permits for rooftop solar panels
The Serbian government has completely flipped on solar permitting, going from extremely difficult to unbeaten ease and convenience, promising to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy in the country,
Scotland to provide free bikes to kids in need
The pilot projects will be launched officially in the first 100 days of the new Scottish government. They will trial a mix of ownership, loan, and subscription models in regions across the country.
Novel cement uses discarded clay to cut carbon footprint by two thirds
A research team from Germany’s Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Brazil’s University of Pará has developed an alternative cement that drastically cuts emissions from production while meeting normal performance requirements.
First fossil-free steel delivered to Volvo cars in Sweden
HYBRIT — a joint venture between SSAB, Vattenfall, and mining company LKAB — aims to revolutionize a steel industry that, by some estimates, produces nearly 10% of all harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenland halts new oil and gas exploration to combat the climate crisis
Despite the country having a substantial amount of potential oil deposits, the government has stated that the country has ceased further exploration in an effort to combat climate change and focus on sustainable development.
Dole and Piñatex are partnering to scale up vegan leather production
Piñatex turns pineapple leaves into vegan, petroleum-free leather products. Now, Piñatex will have access to waste leaves from Dole’s Philippines farm, one of the largest pineapple plantations in the world.
Major U.K. science funder to require grantees to make papers immediately free to all
UKRI developed the new policy because “publicly funded research should be available for public use by the taxpayer,” says Duncan Wingham, the funder’s executive champion for open research.
Iberian Lynx claws its way back from extinction thanks to conservationists
Spain’s Iberian Lynx is the world’s most endangered species of felines. But conservation efforts have successfully increased the cat’s numbers tenfold since 2002, with 1,100 Iberian Lynx living in the wild at the end of last year.
Bayer to pull glyphosate products, including Roundup, from U.S. home and garden market
In 2015, the World Health Organization declared that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Bayer now faces tens of thousands of legal claims from U.S. customers.