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.
This low-cost filter fits directly onto jerry cans to provide potable water
According to the World Health Organization, at least two billion people worldwide use a contaminated drinking water source, leading to tens of thousands of deaths associated with unsafe water every year. To help expand access to clean drinking water where needed and save lives in the process, Read More...
Mangrove restoration expands carbon credit benefits to coastal Kenya
Eight years ago, mangrove forests in the Kenyan village of Gazi were greatly depleted for use as firewood and construction poles while poaching ran rampant nearby. Today, the village has turned over a new leaf. The mangrove forests are thriving once again and poaching has fallen 90 percent over the Read More...
This rural development project is helping solve water scarcity in Djibouti
As a result of infrequent rain and little surface freshwater, more than 190,000 people in Djibouti, about 20 percent of the country’s population, lack access to clean drinking water. In rural areas where pastoralism provides a critical means of survival, the welfare of entire communities is Read More...
Groundbreaking treaty protects environmental activists in Latin America
After eight years of planning, a key treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries finally went into effect last week. Called the Escazú Agreement, the groundbreaking international legislation is the first international treaty in the region and serves to both preserve the environment and Read More...
New vaccine offers potential breakthrough in the fight against malaria
We recently discussed how mRNA technology could provide more effective vaccines for diseases like malaria. It turns out a successful malaria vaccine is coming onto the scene sooner than anticipated with the announcement that researchers have developed a single-dose formula with at least 75 percent Read More...
North Dakota to offer Covid-19 vaccines to Canadian truck drivers
The border between the US and Canada has been closed since March of last year, but truck drivers continue to drive essential goods between the two countries. To protect these essential workers and extend the reach of unused Covid-19 vaccines in the US, North Dakota is extending vaccine eligibility Read More...
Soap is a big water polluter. This probiotic version does the opposite
We use soap to clean our dishes, clothing, and even ourselves, but this same soap that we use to clean isn’t so great for rivers and oceans. Especially in countries where many people still use rivers for washing purposes, soap can directly contaminate ecosystems and pollute water that communities Read More...
How will farmers face rising sea levels? Floating gardens may be the answer.
Farmers in Bangladesh are ahead of the game in developing creative solutions for planting in places with more water than land because Bangladesh’s wild monsoon season gives farmers no choice but to adapt to excess rains. According to experts, 20 percent of the available land in Bangladesh will Read More...
Does Mario Kart hold the key to reducing poverty and boosting sustainability?
Andrew Bell, a Boston University College of Arts & Sciences assistant recently published a paper that suggests we adopt the principles of the popular racing game Mario Kart to reduce world poverty and improve sustainability. This classic Nintendo racing game has stirred up competition Read More...
Hemp-based insulation is toxin-free and continually absorbs emissions
In one Parisian apartment building, the residents rarely turn on the heat, even in the dead of winter. That’s because the walls are filled with “hempcrete,” an innovative insulation that is better for people and better for the planet. The revolutionary material doesn’t contain harmful Read More...