UN Votes To Adopt New World Map That Shows Africa’s True Scale
by Eromo Egbejule, The Guardian
The United Nations has voted to adopt a resolution for the world to formally phase out the traditional Mercator map of the globe in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size. In a session at its headquarters in New York, the UN general assembly officially retired the 16th-century Mercator projection in favour of one based on the more accurate 2018 Equal Earth design. At the session, 164 countries voted in favour of the resolution. Only the US voted no, with its representative saying the resolution was “superfluous”. There were six abstentions.
‘Breakthrough’ As Turkmenistan Starts Fixing ‘Mindboggling’ Methane Mega-Leaks
by Damian Carrington, The Guardian
Turkmenistan has started plugging the mega-leaks of methane that spew from its ageing oil and gas facilities, the latest UN data shows, in a move hailed as a breakthrough. Methane, also called natural or fossil gas, is a potent greenhouse gas. It traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and causes 25% of global heating today. Stopping leaks can be quick and cheap and, because methane breaks down in the atmosphere far quicker than CO2, this has a rapid impact, with some experts calling it the climate “emergency brake”.
Gym Installed For Homeless Improves Their Health And Habits–Without Leaving The Shelter
by Good News Network
A gym equipment company from Finland is bringing physical fitness to the homeless community of Paris. Inactivity is a growing public health concern, but especially in lower income communities. To address this challenge, Omnigym installed an outdoor gym at a homeless shelter in the French capital. They tested whether easy access to exercise would improve physical and mental wellbeing. The project collected anonymous data from residents as well as self-assessments to evaluate the impact.
This Texas Coal Mine Will Soon Be Home To A 1.2GW Solar Farm
Construction is underway on a $1.7 billion solar and battery storage project in Texas that will turn existing coal mining land into a hub of clean energy generation. Panamint Capital announced last week that it broke ground on the 1.2-gigawatt Big Rooter Power solar farm in Bremond, about halfway between Dallas and Houston. The project will use some of the land and assets from the adjacent Twin Oaks coal-fired power plant and Calvert surface coal mine, both of which will continue operating. Panamint’s clean energy project will be among the largest in the nation.
$15m Fund Launched To Create ‘Unstoppable Momentum’ To End FGM Worldwide
by Karen McVeigh, The Guardian
Frontline activists and leaders in the fight against female genital mutilation, which has affected more than 230 million women and girls worldwide, have welcomed an unprecedented $15.5m (£11.4m) fund aimed at creating “unstoppable momentum” to finally end the practice. The launch of the fund comes as women’s rights are increasingly under attack and donor funding is in sharp decline, particularly for work led by FGM survivors in local communities. It is thought to be the largest single philanthropic contribution to ending the practice of FGM.
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