How will nations at COP27 discuss climate change recovery funding?
Funding for loss and damage will take centre stage at COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference. In the past year, catastrophic flooding overwhelmed both Pakistan and Nigeria, wildfires scorched dozens of countries, and extreme heat waves blanketed large parts of the planet. These events killed thousands of people, destroyed essential infrastructure, and destabilized entire economic sectors. In...
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New strategy for tackling homelessness trialling in UK
After notable success in the US and Europe, a surprisingly simple model for getting rough sleepers into safe housing is being tested in the UK. The approach was put forward by a psychologist in the 90s but has taken two decades to be implemented. According to Occam’s Razor, the most...
Eleven actions you can take today to impact COP27
You can speak up to urge world leaders at COP27 to take the urgent climate action we need to see. If “big, nebulous, and dry” sum up your thoughts on COP27, you’re not alone. Like a lot of political summits, conferences, and round-tables, the UN Climate Change Conference — taking place...
Tiny village becomes India’s first to run completely on solar power
Home to 6,500 residents, Modhera has become India’s first village to run entirely on solar energy. A government-funded project is raising the area’s living standards and boosting the local workforce. As the time margin for limiting global heating narrows, the race to implement renewable energy sources is intensifying. Not to...
Exclusive – Zandile Ndhlovu on fostering a more inclusive ocean
We spoke to South Africa’s first Black female freediving instructor about her mission to diversify the sea and educate young people of colour on the importance of preserving it. Born in a land-locked South African township, far from any coastline, it wasn’t until adulthood that Zandile Ndhlovu first experienced the...
African Gen Zers to benefit from YouthConnekt summit
Last week, Rwanda hosted its annual YouthConnekt Africa summit. The continental initiative looks to empower young people by investing in their ideas, innovations, and initiatives. The YouthConnekt Africa summit was initiated by the Rwandese government in 2012 to focus on improving youth employment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement through tech...
A third of UK employees would quit over lack of climate action
Data collected by Supercritical reveals that one-third of employees based in Britain would be willing to quit their jobs if their employer does not initiate a clear climate crisis mitigation strategy. With the climate crisis undeniably coming to a head, more individuals are becoming concerned with eliminating behaviours that worsen it. While changing our personal habits does make a difference, a huge portion of our carbon footprint can be traced...
Russia passes law banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ among adults
The controversial bill outlaws any promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual relations,’ representing a toughening of an existing 2013 legislation which makes providing information about homosexuality to children a criminal offence. On Thursday, Russia’s parliament approved by 397 votes to none a bill that makes any expression of an LGBTQ+ lifestyle almost impossible. Though it still has yet to pass in the upper house and be signed off by President Putin, this is...
Transforming cities into sponges could save us from floods
Urban planning and landscape architect Professor Kongjian Yu has put forward an innovative and eco-friendly option for flood mitigation. It involves transforming our cities into ‘sponges’ to absorb overflowing waterways and prevent threats presented by extreme flooding. Are you ready kids? I can’t hear you… nah I’m just joking. It’s time to be real. As a result of altered weather patterns caused by climate change, the Earth’s natural water cycles have...
Understanding Africa’s Gen Z mental health problem
Gen Z are the most likely group to be affected by mental health problems in Africa. Africa’s failure to adequately respond to the surging mental health crisis is affecting more than 60% of the population. It is saddening that poor mental health is not considered a crisis in Africa, despite many young people suffering with depression and schizophrenia. Untreated conditions can negatively impact development, quality of life, and the ability to fully...
