Malawi cuts tax on sanitary pads
The Malawian government has cut the 16.5% tax on sanitary pads to make them more accessible and affordable as part of a mission to end period poverty. Approximately 80% of Malawians live in rural areas of the country. With such a large portion of the population based in rural areas, most...
Current in Change
The start-up creating animal-free dairy from cow cells
A Boston based start-up has successfully cultivated mammary cells from a cow in a lab, meaning real dairy can be produced without an animal being involved. Can this eventually become even more popular than alt-milk products? If, despite mounting peer pressure, you’re still consuming cow milk on a daily basis,...
How the media is shaping climate action
The final IPCC report confirms the media’s role in how we perceive and address the climate crisis. Global media coverage of climate change has been steadily increasing since the 1980s. In a study across 59 countries, researchers found that coverage had risen from 47,000 stories in 2016-17 to about...
Mexico rattled by increasing gender-based violence
748 women have disappeared this year alone, an average of seven a day since the beginning of 2022. This has sparked outrage across the country, with many protesting against the authorities they believe to be indifferent about the problem. Deemed the most lethal location on the planet for women prior...
Jamaica demands colonial reparations from UK ahead of Royal visit
Ahead of Prince William and Kate’s visit to Jamaica, over one hundred local leaders have demanded financial reparations from Britain with protestors taking to the streets in agreement. The British Monarchy’s rule over island nations has come under growing scrutiny as many of these countries consider cutting their historical ties...
Part 4: Activism effective in blocking fossil fuels
In 2021, the world witnessed record-breaking climate disasters alongside the harsh reality that global fossil fuel production is incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 or even 2 degrees Celsius. Overwhelming evidence of the fossil fuel industry’s role in this production gap has sparked an increasing number of protests...
How to get involved in Earth Day 2022: ‘Invest in Our Planet’
Earth Day 2022 is almost upon us, and as we near vital climate target deadlines this year’s theme: ‘Invest in Our Planet’ is pressing for increased spending on solutions. Here’s how you can get involved on the day. A year on from the previous Earth Day, which arrived amid Covid restrictions, we can once again celebrate in person. Though, the level of ‘progress’ we’ve made in that time probably...
The Great Barrier Reef experiences sixth mass bleaching event
Last year, scientists said that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef couldn’t survive another bleaching event. According to experts in the field, it’s happening right now. After the mass coral bleaching event of 2020, marine biologists said that another coral bleaching event could cause irreversible, long-term damage to the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists had hoped that cooler temperatures caused by La Niña conditions would prevent it from happening on a wide scale this...
Climate change is threatening larger bees and global pollination
New research suggests that as our planet warms, larger bees such as the bumblebee will become less prominent. Scientists now warn of potential ‘cascading’ effects on plant pollination and entire ecosystems. Climate change is ruining summers in more ways than one, according to new research. A cohort of US scientists, who study the knock-on effects of global warming to our natural ecosystems, have determined that populations of large bees could drastically...
Fortescue announces ‘infinity train’ powered by gravity
Forget solar power, wind, or any other traditional sustainability energy source. A new train by Fortescue will be powered by the sheer force of gravity, allowing it to potentially run forever. Ever considered how your morning commuter train is powered? Although they’re a greener option than using a car, trains are still responsible for a hefty amount of carbon emissions, making them less than ideal when discussing net-zero ambitions and 2030...
