Latest good news via #The Crunch
6 JULY 2019 – 19 JULY 2019
In the first six months of 2019, sun, wind, water and biomass produced more electricity in Germany, the world’s fourth largest economy, than coal and nuclear combined. DW
In the first six months of 2019, Scottish wind turbines generated enough electricity to power 4.47 million homes – almost double the number of homes in Scotland. CNBC
According to the United Nations, in 2018, global HIV-related deaths fell to 770,000, 33% lower than in 2010 when 1.2 million deaths were recorded. DW
A new report by UNESCO says that between 2006 and 2016, India, Ethiopia and Peru achieved significant improvements in nutrition, sanitation, child mortality, drinking water, schooling, electricity access and housing. India alone lifted 271 million people out of poverty during this period. Understandably there’s been wall-to-wall coverage of this story on every major global news channel. The Hindu
New diabetes cases in the US have declined by 35% since 2009, the longest decline since the government started tracking the statistic nearly 40 years ago. STAT
Mali has announced it will begin providing free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five. Universal healthcare, not just for rich countries. Guardian
Drug overdose deaths in America declined by around 5% last year, the first drop since 1990. It’s almost entirely due to better control of opioid painkillers. NYT
Last year crime rates in the 30 largest cities in the US declined by 3.5%, violent crime by 4% and murders by 8%. Did someone just say ‘hellholes?’ Brennan Centre
Ethiopia has kicked off a new campaign to plant four billion trees and will monitor progress with a satellite the country is launching in November.
Since introducing new fuel efficiency rules a decade ago New York has cut nitrous oxide and particulate emissions from taxis by 82% and 49%, respectively. Nature
Costa Rica has just signed a new law banning the importation, commercialisation and delivery of all styrofoam containers and packaging. Costa Rica News
South Africa has nearly doubled its number of marine protected areas, increasing the proportion of conserved territorial waters from 0.4% to 5.4%. Cape Talk
For the first time in 17 years there will be no commercial whaling in Iceland after the sole company certified to hunt whales failed to renew its license in time. Newsweek
15 JUNE 2019 – 5 JULY 2019
Los Angeles has announced the largest, cheapest solar + storage project in the world, at half the cost of a new natural gas plant. Wright’s Law FTW. Forbes
Ireland has joined the growing list of countries that say new petrol and diesel powered vehicles will not be allowed on the roads after 2030. BBC
8.8 million Nepalis have gained access to electricity since 2010, and officials say the country is on track for universal access by 2022. Kathmandu Post
Heart disease rates in the UK have declined significantly – it’s still the leading cause of mortality, but deaths have decreased by almost half since 2005. Telegraph
Good news from North Korea. According to the WHO, smoking rates have declined by 8.4% since 2012, thanks to a government-led anti-smoking campaign. DailyNK
Rates of HPV in Britain have fallen by 86% among young women aged 15 to 19 since they started being vaccinated in schools in 2008. Times
UNESCO says that 19 African countries have reached gender parity (equal numbers of boys and girls) in primary education in the past decade. Brookings
Kenya’s High Court has ruled that rape survivors have the right to an abortion, a landmark ruling in a country where abortion is still illegal. Reuters
An estimated 10,000 LGBTQIA+ teens in the US have been protected from conversion therapy in states that have banned the practice since 2012. NBC
Canada has passed its most progressive Fisheries Act in history; for the first time since 1868, there’s a legally binding requirement to rebuild fish populations. Oceana
The Scottish government has met its annual tree planting targets for the first time. 11,200 hectares were planted last year, a significant increase on 2017. BBC
Since 2000, the area of land dedicated for livestock pasture around the world has declined by 1.4 million square kilometers — an area the size of Peru. MongaBay
Thanks to rigorous anti-poaching strategies, one of Africa’s largest wildlife reserves has just gone a year without losing a single elephant. Independent
