Spain becomes latest European nation to ban short-haul domestic flights
Back in November, the Spanish government proposed a ban on flights that take less than 2.5 hours by train. Confirmation that the law will come into effect soon signals a win for the environment – but is it too good to be true? In efforts to reduce its national carbon...
Current in Change
Exposing the tyranny of caste in Indian academia
The dramatic detention of Dr. Ritu Singh, a former Delhi University professor, marks a turning point in her ongoing protest against caste discrimination in academia. Dr. Singh, a Dalit professor dismissed from University of Delhi allegedly due to caste bias, has protested for over 170 days seeking justice and reform. On...
Zimbabwe to block scholarship for LGBTQ+ people
In a controversial announcement, Zimbabwe's Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, declared the government would block scholarships for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those sponsored by GALZ, a membership organization advocating for the rights of such groups in Zimbabwe. The state university scholarship program, which caters to individuals aged 18 to 35, has been...
Study finds that deep ocean dwellers are full of microplastics
Microplastics are everywhere. In our homes, bloodstreams, and even in human placentas. New research shows these pesky plastic particles have even reached the deepest parts of the ocean – and they’re being eaten by sea creatures. Considering humans have been using non-biodegradable and non-recyclable plastic since the early 60s, there...
2024 Super Bowl was first to be powered by renewable energy
The biggest game in American sports has dominated headlines and timelines this weekend. But a surprising revelation about the Super Bowl’s sustainability initiatives has got people talking. As the most-watched sporting event in the US, the Super Bowl has some staggeringly unsustainable statistics attached to it. From the gross overproduction and...
JP Morgan and State Street back out of largest climate investor group
Some $14 trillion of assets have up and left Climate Action 100+. Key corporate members JP Morgan and State Street have announced their resignation from the global investment group while BlackRock has significantly limited its involvement. Sigh. Climate adaptation costs could reportedly climb to $340 billion by 2030. Yet, a...
I attended the International Prevention of Violent Extremism summit in Nairobi
This week, the International Prevention of Violent Extremism commemoration brought together a diverse array of organisations, leaders, and communities across the globe for a collective sustainable response to violent extremism. I left feeling buoyed. In Nairobi, participants from various backgrounds showcased a collective effort to address the global challenge of violent extremism. Representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), interfaith leaders, youths, refugee groups, and government officials...
India deploys arsenal against farmers’ protests
Outside the barricaded checkpoints in Delhi, tensions between farmers and authorities have reached fever pitch. The level of response to the grievances has been unwarranted and cruel. Seventy-one-year-old Jaspal Singh, who lives near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, sustained a leg injury during farmers' protests at the Shambhu Barrier. ‘I have never seen brutality of the kind I have encountered at the Shambhu Barrier,’ he said...
Oceans hit record temperatures in 2024
As 2024 begins with the hottest ocean temperatures ever recorded, our climate situation is looking pretty dire. The world’s oceans reached the hottest temperatures ever recorded early in 2024, serving as a profoundly concerning indication that the Earth is spiraling toward extreme climate breakdown - if greenhouse gas emissions from human activity do not see radical reductions immediately. As humanity continues emitting heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, principally by burning...
New report shows plastic companies knew recycling would be useless
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental and public health issues of our time. A new investigation shows that the companies producing it knew all along that recycling programs would be pointless. For the last 50 years, we have been advised to recycle plastic waste whenever possible, yet a new report claims that oil companies and plastic producers knew this effort was pointless. Published by the Center for Climate Integrity...
