Is free public transport a fundamental right?
In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country to scrap public transport fees. Its residents now believe that free public transport is a fundamental right. Could the scheme work in other countries? Free public transport is a rarity around the world. So rather than pay a daily fee to get from point...
Current in Change
Unpacking the ongoing protests in France
After two months of peaceful demonstrations sparked by a proposed pension reform in France, the message is clear: President Macron remains unmoved by his citizens’ clear opposition to the policy. As frustration increases without any sign of a U-turn, the national mood has started to turn sour. Protests. They’re the...
Cyclone Freddy causes havoc in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar
Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar experienced heavy rains from early February to mid-March caused by Cyclone Freddy killing close to 600 people, and leaving more than 500,000 displaced. According to UNICEF, more than half of the affected population are children. At the beginning of this year, Cyclone Lindiwe struck Malawi, Mozambique,...
This tree offers an eco-friendly alternative to palm oil and soy
Farmers in Hawaii are cultivating the pongamia, a tree that could prevent further clearing of natural rainforests for palm oil and soy plantations. Its resilient nature could offer a huge economic boost to farmers losing out due to land degradation. Palm oil is known as one of the most environmentally...
How will climate change affect Earth’s tectonic plates?
Climate change has damaged our planet in many aspects. However, many overlook its effect on the Earth’s lithosphere which could potentially put many lives in danger. Climate change is steadily causing a rise in sea levels and extreme weather events. This shift is affecting our planet’s crust, which is...
Ugandan parliament to criminalise LGBTQ identification
Uganda has been known for its conservative views on LGBTQ rights, with the country's government and society being largely intolerant of homosexuality. With the new anti-homosexuality bill passed this week, parliament has imposed the death penalty for some offences. In a shocking move, Uganda has passed a bill criminalising homosexuality...
Is the vertical farming bubble popping already?
Vertical farming had been touted by numerous experts as the future of food production in a warming world. In 2023, however, such companies are already withering, and key players have called it a day. If farming conditions become untenable due to climate change, we’ll just take our crops indoors, right? In theory, the concept of vertical farming may seem an easy win for the future of food production. Stacking vegetables from floor to ceiling...
Florida lawmakers look to ban ‘period talk’ in local schools
Mere months before discussions about sexual orientation become prohibited in state-wide Florida schools, Republicans are now looking to do the same for lessons and discussions about menstruation. Republicans in Florida have been on a mad one for quite some time. Last year, they passed the Don’t Say Gay bill, which will ban school staff and pupils from leading or discussing any conversations about sexual orientation before they enter grade four. Considering an...
‘Liquid tree’ installation absorbs CO2 emissions in Belgrade
Serbia is among the nations with the very worst air quality on the planet. A novel solution to sequestering GHGs in Belgrade’s most concentrated urban area, is the ‘Liquid 3’. If humanity has any chance of remaining under a 1.5C temperature rise, atmospheric greenhouse gases must decline by 43% before 2030 and 60% by 2035 – reveals the latest IPCC report. As well as nationwide transitions away from fossil fuels,...
Should fossil fuel firms be charged with homicide?
Legal experts are preparing to publish a paper in next year’s Harvard Environmental Law Review. They will argue that fossil fuel companies should be charged with homicide for the deaths they’ve caused by accelerating the climate crisis. The booming fossil fuel industry continues to be the number one cause of the worsening environmental crisis. Individuals running these companies have been aware of their actions' consequences for decades, yet have shown no...
