Today’s Solutions: January 10, 2025

Global Development

In an increasingly globalized world, international development efforts aim to improve living conditions, equity, and human rights around the world. Our global development section tracks this globalization and reports on specific equitable and sustainable development initiatives.

Two people walking their dog in the streets of Rome

WHO proposes global treaty to better address future pandemics

Unfortunately, as the climate crisis progresses and humans continue to infringe on wild animal habitats, the risk of another global pandemic is growing. To address this, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has agreed to form an intergovernmental negotiating body to create a legally-binding Read More...

White Rhino in a grassy field

30 White rhinos make record journey to Akagera national park

White rhinos are classified as near threatened, with numbers dropping due to poaching. In a bid to improve the outlook for the species, 30 of these giant animals recently made the journey from South Africa to Rwanda in the largest single rhino translocation in history. Weighing 1.5 tons each, Read More...

Chickpeas on a wooden table

AI has helped design the chickpea of all chickpeas

AI has helped humans achieve a lot of things; from predicting seizures, to completing Beethoven’s unfinished 10th Symphony. Its latest endeavor: designing the ultimate chickpea. Although these pulses are a thoroughly understood crop, the genome of most varieties is not well sequenced. An Read More...

Teens sit in circle during class discussion

7 Reasons to sign your teen up for Model UN

Following the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, your child may be asking some questions about what exactly the UN is and how they can get involved in advocating for a better world through diplomacy. Fortunately, Model UN (MUN) programs in school are a perfect place for young adults to get Read More...

Youth activists march at COP26 climate conference in Glasgow

7 takeaways from COP26

The 26th annual United Nations climate change summit has officially come to a close. We shared a few updates along the way about coal pledges, carbon-neutral countries, and Indigenous forest protection, but now that COP26 is wrapped up, let’s take a broader look at what the summit Read More...

Woman in yellow coat walks her bike on the street

Could ‘universal basic mobility’ end youth disconnection?

The concept of universal basic income (UBI) is being tested in cities around the world to explore how no-strings-attached payments can improve standards of living for vulnerable individuals. Now, some cities are looking beyond payments and embracing “universal basic mobility” as another Read More...

Sign in Lowndes County, Alabama

US launches first-of-its-kind environmental justice investigation

Public health departments have a responsibility to operate waste management in a safe, uniform, and equitable manner, but for years, sewage overflows have plagued Alabama’s Lowndes County, predominantly affecting Black residents. To address this injustice, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Read More...

A view of earth at night from space

NASA's multi-pronged approach to the next 10 years of space exploration

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey is carried out every decade to discuss and prioritize upcoming projects of federal agencies and policymakers for the next 10 years. A panel of global experts is carefully curated by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine to come Read More...

two handfuls of coal

Over 40 countries pledge to shift away from coal during COP26

During the COP26 climate summit, more than 40 countries have pledged to move away from coal, one of the biggest contributors to climate change. This is a major win for the environment, even though some of the world’s biggest coal-dependent countries, such as the US, India, and China, opted out Read More...

Monastery on a hill in Bhutan

This elite group of countries is already carbon negative

As the COP26 climate conference continues this week, all eyes are on countries’ plans to achieve their net-zero emissions goals. For most nations, this accomplishment is slated for 2045 or 2050, but for a select few, carbon neutrality is not on their mindsーbecause they’re already carbon Read More...