Senegal Launches Digital Currency; eCFA. Durban, South Africa.
US Grants Approval for 1st Private Lunar Landing. Ontario Initiates UBI Pilot Project. Germany Bans Meat at Official Functions to 'Set a Good Example for Climate Protection' Australia's First Heavy Rare Earths Mine Gets Approval. Australia is a step closer towards developing its very first heavy rare earths mine after a state government approved a pilot processing plant for a rare earths deposit that straddles the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) green-lighted the Browns Range Pilot Plant Project Management Plan earlier this month. EU hits energy reduction target six years early. Europe has met a landmark goal of slashing its energy consumption six years ahead of time, cutting greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to switching off about 400 power stations.
US, China Formally Join COP21. The two biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world have formally joined the Paris climate agreement.
Shortly after China adopted the agreement, U.S. President Barack Obama today made the announcement that the U.S. had followed suit while he was in Hangzhou, China, ahead of this weekend's G20 summit. Together, the U.S. and China are responsible for some 38.76 percent of global emissions. Hezbollah Deploys Drones. Unprecedented Travel Advisory Issued For Zika In Continental US. Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, talks with The Post's Lena Sun about how it's tackling the mosquito-borne virus as local cases spread in the United States Watch: CDC director talks about Zika in Miami (The Washington Post) Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, talks with The Post's Lena Sun about how it's tackling the mosquito-borne virus as local cases spread in the United States (The Washington Post) On Aug. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged pregnant women to avoid visiting a South Florida neighborhood where mosquito-borne cases of the Zika virus have emerged.
It was the first time officials have warned against travel to part of the continental United States because of the outbreak of an infectious disease. EPA Finding Clears Way for Limit on Aircraft Emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday declared that jet engine exhaust endangers public health by contributing to climate change, a key milestone as it works to develop regulations that will cut carbon emissions from commercial aircraft.
Large commercial jets account for 11 percent of all emissions from the global transportation sector. Aircraft emissions are expected to grow by 50 percent by 2050 as demand for air travel increases. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of a new generation of fuel efficient commerical aircraft. Credit: Wilco737/flickr Regulating aircraft emissions is part of the Obama administration’s goal under the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by up to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. Portugal Powered By Renewables Alone For 4 Days. Portugal just did something pretty amazing.
In fact, it’s historic — something no other nation has ever done. Portugal just powered its entire country’s electricity needs for four consecutive days using nothing but renewable energy. Using a combination of solar panels, wind turbines, biofuels, geothermal heat and hydroelectric power, Portugal powered everything requiring electricity for 107 hours between Saturday morning, May 7, 2016, and Wednesday evening, May 11, 2016.
The country’s ZERO System Sustainable Land Association, in collaboration with the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association, released information about this impressive achievement on its website. “These data show that Portugal can be more ambitious in a transition to a net consumption of electricity from 100 percent renewable, with huge reductions of emissions of greenhouse gases, which cause global warming and consequent climate change,” according to a statement on the ZERO website. San Francisco The First US City to Mandate Solar on New Buildings. By Kayla Matthews Although those who reside outside of San Francisco may not be aware of the fact, mid-April 2016 marked a huge milestone in the advancement of green technology in the city and its mandated usage in all newly-constructed buildings.
The new legislation, unanimously approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 19, states that all new buildings with 10 stories or fewer, including all residential and commercial projects, must include a photovoltaic solar panel installation that encompasses 15 percent of the building’s total rooftop. Moreover, the area that is dedicated to the installation must be positioned in full sunlight and free of any shade or obstructions.
San Francisco’s new law doesn’t officially take effect until Jan. 1, so builders and contractors still have time to prepare their businesses for the new regulation. However, any buildings that are under construction within San Francisco city limits will be required to accommodate the recent legislation. FAA Rules Open Skies to Commercial Drones. Small commercial drones will soon be free to take to the skies without getting special permission, as long as their operators follow new rules published Tuesday by the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration. Companies in multiple industries, including agriculture, mining, infrastructure maintenance, insurance, and retail stand to benefit by deploying drones. Amazon to Test Drones With UK Government. World's First Passenger Drone Cleared for Testing. Germany Gives €1bn Subsidy to Boost EV Sales. Mexico City Crowdsourcing Its New Constitution. Mexico City just launched a massive experiment in digital democracy.
It is asking its nearly 9 million residents to help draft a new constitution through social media.