Policy Making
Strong public policy leads to more cohesive, resilient, and sustainable societies. In this section, find out about the latest legislations from around the world aimed at making our world a better place.
Berlin plans to have the world’s largest car-free urban area
In recent years, many cities around the world have become much more aware of the plight of designing our urban spaces with a car-centric mentality. In Europe in particular, cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, and Stockholm are well ahead when it comes to reclaiming urban space from cars in Read More...
The Philippines bans child marriage to help stop child abuse
According to a report issued last year by the United Nations Children’s Fund, more than half a billion girls and women across the globe were married as children, meaning under the age of majority (18). The areas with the highest rates of child marriage are found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Read More...
Everything you need to know about California’s new composting law
Food waste is a huge problem to tackle, which is why we’ve shared numerous stories with tips on how you can help reduce your own personal food waste. To that end, we’ve suggested that people re-organize their pantry and refrigerator, download apps that connect consumers with grocery items that Read More...
Belgium's "right to disconnect" protects workers from burnout
In November of last year, we shared a story about how Portugal has made it illegal for employers to contact workers outside of working hours in an effort to encourage a healthier work-life balance. Now, Belgium’s Minister of Civil Service Petra De Sutter has introduced a similar law for the Read More...
Tennessee beauticians are trained to identify victims of domestic abuse
A law in Tennessee harnesses the unique position of beauty professionals to help identify victims of domestic abuse. The law, which was enforced on the first day of 2022, requires hairstylists and barbers to go through a free training program that will teach them how to look for signs that their Read More...
European cities could see a lot less cars on the roads in the near future
As local governments are finally coming to the realization that prioritizing cycling and walking over driving can tremendously benefit their residents, many are considering implementing permanent policies to tackle car-centric city development. In a bid to accelerate the adoption of such policies, Read More...
Canada pledges to compensate First Nations children billions of dollars
Indigenous community advocates in Canada are finally celebrating a historic win—the Canadian government has reached Agreements-in-Principle to financially compensate Indigenous children who suffered discrimination and injustice. On Tuesday, the federal government released a statement that Read More...
Same-sex couples in Israel can now become parents through surrogacy
Last July, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of lifting the surrogacy ban for same-sex couples. On Tuesday, the country announced that starting next week the ruling will go into effect, finally allowing Israeli same-sex couples to become parents through surrogacy. Before, surrogacy in Read More...
French ban on plastic packaging for most fruit and veg comes into force
A few months ago, we wrote about France’s ambitious plan to phase out single-use plastic packaging. On January 1st, that ban went into effect, paving the way for more sustainable and ethical consumption habits among its citizens. As part of the ban, about 30 varieties of fruit and vegetables, Read More...
New York City moves away from natural gas in new buildings
As cities scramble to meet their ambitious emissions reduction goals, local governments are increasingly looking to shift from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy. New York City, for example, has become the latest major city to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings, reports Reuters. As Read More...