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.
UN votes to make a clean and healthy environment a human right
The U.N. Human Rights Council has finally recognized access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental human right, adding it to others─like food, shelter, and freedom from slavery─laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The resolution was first discussed in the Read More...
Ireland agrees to join international agreement on minimum corporate tax rate
We recently shared how 130 countries signed on to a global minimum tax rate proposed by G7 finance ministers. This agreement, establishing a 15 percent minimum corporate tax rate, aims to dismantle tax shelters and reduce tax evasion by increasing accountability, but it will only reach its full Read More...
Germany to offer Holocaust reparations pensions to more survivors
World War Ⅱ ended 76 years ago, but survivors of the Holocaust continue to experience negative health consequences as a result of the devastating persecution of Jewish people in Europe. The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference, has Read More...
What is COP26 and why does it matter?
Leaders from around the world are preparing for COP26, and we at The Optimist Daily are gearing up to report on the latest climate action surrounding the conference, but today we’re here to share some basic details on what COP26 is and what outcomes it hopes to achieve in terms of curbing global Read More...
Department of Education expands eligibility and ease of student loan forgiveness
The average public university student borrows $30,030 to attain a bachelor’s degree, and as education prices and cost of living continue to rise, many spend decades struggling to pay off these loans. The US Department of Education has announced student loan forgiveness eligibility for certain Read More...
Formed coalition commits seven countries to ending all new coal power
During a recent UN General Assembly, a coalition of seven countries formed the No New Coal Compact to adhere to Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The compact calls for all countries to halt the construction of new coal-fired power generation projects by the end of Read More...
Canada celebrates first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Canada celebrated the country’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. The day, which honors the lost children and survivors of Indigenous schools, comes after more than 1,000 unmarked graves were discovered at former schools this year. Governor General Mary May Read More...
US restores protections for migratory birds
The US government has restored protections for migratory birds, reviving an old environmental law that prohibits hunting, killing, capturing, selling, or otherwise hurting these avian species. A rule from the previous administration rolled back protections for migratory birds, relaxing legal Read More...
New UK law ensures servers don't miss out on their tips
The pandemic has spurred a shift to contactless payments, however, it has presented some negative consequences for servers and kitchen staff at restaurants at a time when they need all the support they can get. Many servers and kitchen staff all over the world have been left without employment Read More...
The case for eliminating jaywalking laws
Most of us have probably looked both ways quickly before darting across the street outside of a sidewalk. Whether traffic was light or the crosswalk was simply too far away, jaywalking is a fairly common offense, but data from the California Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) shows that Black Read More...