Katerina Sakellaropoulou becomes Greece’s first female president
A high court judge and ardent human rights advocate has been elected Greece’s first female president in a historic vote by parliament.
2020 C.E.
Switzerland votes in favour of LGBT protection bill
The result – 63.1% in favour to 36.9% against – is a huge boost for Switzerland’s LGBT community. A bill to legalise same-sex marriage is currently on its way through parliament.
Scientists invent device to generate electricity from rain
The City University of Hong Kong researchers say that a single rain droplet can briefly generate 140 volts, enough to briefly power 100 small lightbulbs.
Ernst & Young pledges to be carbon neutral by end of 2020
To achieve carbon neutrality, EY will focus on areas including reducing travel emissions, sustainable procurement practices and purchasing more renewable energy to power EY offices, for example wind or solar energy.
Women’s rights group eliminates female genital mutilation in Kurdistan’s Garmiyan region
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a women’s rights group active in the Kurdistan Region announced that zero cases of GM were reported in the Garmiyan Administration in 2019.
$500M investment means construction to start on Canada’s largest solar farm this year
The project will consist of 1.5 million solar panels that will create 500 jobs and generate about 800 million kWh per year, enough to power more than 100,000 homes.
Mayor announces plans to make Paris 100% bicycle friendly by 2024
In order to fulfill the commitment of carrying out an “ecological transformation of the city”, a new traffic plan will be implemented to promote walking, cycling and public transport.
Finland to offer new fathers as much paid leave as mothers
Finland’s woman-led center-left government plans to give new fathers the same amount of paid time off work as new mothers, nearly doubling paternity leave, it announced on Wednesday.
U.K. aviation industry commits to net zero carbon emissions by 2050
The Sustainable Aviation coalition say that the U.K. will be able to grow passenger numbers by 70% while reducing net emissions from 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year today down to zero.
Borneo locals win a court battle to bar a coal miner from their land
After a two-year court battle, Indonesia’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit that claims the permit for the mining firm should be revoked.