Recyclable and biodegradable Covid test kits are in the works
Award-winning design and innovation consultants at Morrama have developed a concept for Covid tests that are both recyclable and biodegradable. Last November, ocean-dwelling plastic waste deriving from the pandemic was estimated at being over 26,000 tonnes. That’s more than the weight of 2,000 double decker buses. No one is happy about...
Current in Change
Why this is the worst time for Britain to halve its foreign aid
Despite warnings from the UN that one fifth of the global population could be forced into poverty, destitution, and hunger by multiple ongoing crises, the UK is cutting its global aid budget. Again. You may be tired of hearing about the terrible things the British government has been up to...
Somalia faces devastating famine amid ongoing drought
The UN has warned that only a ‘massive’ and immediate scaling-up of funds and humanitarian relief will avert rapidly escalating levels of malnutrition across the country. Following reports that Somali children are starving to death in front of aid workers, the UN has issued a warning that only a ‘massive’...
IKEA to start selling solar panels in American stores
As part of its goal to help customers reduce their individual carbon footprint, the Swedish home wear giant has partnered with a reputable solar company to sell affordable home panels in US stores. By now, we all know that generating and improving widespread accessibility to clean energy is vital to...
Understanding Africa’s Gen Z activism on climate change
How are Africa’s Gen Z climate activists using social media to boost climate education and awareness with world leaders? Climate change effects can be felt across the globe. Africa is most vulnerable despite emitting the least greenhouse gases, only contributing 2-3% of all global emissions. This year, there was little...
Could olivine rocks help our carbon capture efforts?
As climate scientists search for feasible ways to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, a plentiful type of rock called olivine – and the process of chemical mineralisation – is providing an exciting lead. It’s looking increasingly likely that achieving our net zero goals will depend not only on green...
Protestors in Ecuador defy state of emergency
Occasionally violent demonstrations against the government’s economic policies are ongoing, led by Indigenous groups now looking to overthrow President Guillermo Lasso. Amid rising inflation and unemployment, Indigenous groups in Ecuador have defied a state of national emergency imposed in three provinces as they continue to protest the government’s economic policies. The mass demonstrations demanding cheaper fuel and food are a response to rising poverty across the country, which has been...
Venture capital is alarmingly down for Black owned startups
As investors retreat to safe and familiar options, Black founded startups are seeing dramatic troughs in venture capital funding for 2022. This isn’t surprising, but is definitely concerning. Talk of venture capital (VC) can quickly get convoluted, but we’ll get to the crux of what is happening and what it actually means. According to new data from Crunchbase, a popular VC analytics firm, Black founded startups are seeing a huge...
UK has considered fifty new fossil fuel projects since COP26
At least three projects have received government approval and are to be carried out over the next three years. Fifty more are known to be in the works. While I’m privy to dishing out good news on Fridays, it’s pretty hard to ignore the revelation that the UK government has considered at least 50 new fossil fuel schemes since hosting COP26 last November. As world leaders spent a week making false...
Measles outbreak hits Zimbabwe killing more than 24 children
The Ministry of Health and Child Care is battling a measles outbreak by administering vaccines to children in Manicaland Province, Mutasa District, and the rest of the country’s regions. The government has rolled out a mass vaccination in Mutasa District with an aim to vaccinate all children aged between six months to fifteen years - regardless of their vaccination status. According to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, the Covid-19 pandemic...
