For solace in uncertain times, here’s a reminder of some positive #signalsofchange we’ve featured recently. A sustainable future is both possible and necessary.
1. Malawi female chief annuls 850 child marriages and sends girls back to school
‘Whether you like it or not, I want these marriages to be terminated’, Theresa Kachindamoto, the appointed Chief of Malawi since 2003, told the 900,000 population of the Dedza District, Central Malawi. She commits to annul 850 marriages and send the girls back to school during her time in office.
2. Portugal opens national budget to participation: a world first
Proposals are already being submitted to the world’s first national-scale participatory budget, due to launch in January 2017. Citizens are invited to share ideas for government expenditure, and vote on which proposals should be adopted. To make it easy for people to get involved, they will be able to cast their votes at ATM machines.
3. UK solar overtakes coal for 6 months!
Another signal among a seemingly countless number of signals that the energy transition – from a centralised, fossil-fuel-based system, to a smart, decentralised and renewable system – continues apace. In 2015, electricity from coal was outpaced by renewables. 2016 has gone one better, and solar power alone produced more electricity than coal for a full six months this year in the UK.
4. World’s largest marine park created in Ross Sea in Antarctica in landmark deal
After five years of compromises and failed negotiations, a landmark international agreement has been brokered between 24 countries and the European Union to create the world’s largest marine park in The Ross Sea, a deep bay in the Southern Ocean. More than 1.5m sq km of the Ross Sea around Antarctica will be protected, and roughly 1.1m sq km of it will be set aside as a no-take “general protection zone”, where no fishing will be allowed.
5. China aims to halve meat consumption
The Chinese Communist Party has drafted guidelines to curb meat consumption in China by 50%. This initiative is designed to improve general health conditions amongst its citizens as well as contributing to the fight against climate change.
6. World’s largest sovereign wealth fund drops 11 companies over deforestation links
Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, dropped 11 companies in 2015 over their connections to forest destruction: six palm oil companies, four pulp and paper companies, and one coal company.
What other signals of solace have you seen? Do share them with us here.
