Today (2017 C.E. - 2024 C.E.)

Traffic in a Chinese city

25% of new car sales in China were fully electric in 2023 for the first time ever

| By | -, Change Milestones

Electric vehicles sales in China, the world’s largest automotive market, are surging. All plugin models accounted for 37% of the market in 2023, up from just 6% at the end of 2021. Full electrics (BEVs) alone accounted for 25%. Plugins are expected to cross the 50% mark for plugins and electric by 2026, with BEVs likely to account for over a third of sales, if current trends persist.

25% of new car sales in China were fully electric in 2023 for the first time ever Read more

Chromosomes

Gene therapy hailed as ‘medical magic wand’ for hereditary swelling disorder

| By | -, Change Milestones

Hereditary angioedema, or HAE, is a rare disease that affects about one in 50,000 people. It is caused by a genetic mutation that leaves patients with leaky blood vessels, causing erratic bouts of swelling. Dr. Hilary Longhurst, the principal investigator at New Zealand’s Te Toka Tumai, Auckland City hospital, said the new single-dose therapy appeared to provide a permanent cure for her patients’ “very disabling symptoms”.

Gene therapy hailed as ‘medical magic wand’ for hereditary swelling disorder Read more

Streets of Palau Koror and coves of coral reefs

Palau is the first nation to ratify treaty to protect high seas

| By | -, Change Milestones

Palau has become the first nation to ratify the high seas treaty, a legally binding international agreement that seeks to protect and manage ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction. Other countries, including Chile and the Maldives, are engaged in their ratification processes, pushing the treaty closer to becoming international law. The establishment of the high seas treaty has been under debate for nearly two decades, but U.N. member states finally reached a consensus to approve the treaty in March 2023.

Palau is the first nation to ratify treaty to protect high seas Read more

California coast

First ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area declared in California

| By | -, Change Milestones

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Resighini Rancheria, and Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community designated the first ever Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area (IMSA) in the U.S. along the northern California coast.
The tribes plan to steward nearly 700 square miles of their ancestral ocean and coastal territories from the California-Oregon border to Little River near the town of Trinidad, California using traditional ecological knowledge and management practices.

First ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area declared in California Read more

Cosmetics

E.U. will force cosmetic companies to pay to reduce micropollutants

| By | -, Change Milestones

Under draft rules that follow the “polluter pays principle”, companies that sell medicines and cosmetics will have to cover at least 80% of the extra costs needed to get rid of tiny pollutants that are dirtying urban wastewater. Governments will pay the rest, members of the bloc said, in an effort to prevent vital products from becoming too expensive or scarce.

E.U. will force cosmetic companies to pay to reduce micropollutants Read more

Lionesses and cubs

Belgium bans import of hunting trophies from endangered species

| By | -, Change Milestones

Before the ban, Belgium allowed the import of trophy species vulnerable to extinction such as hippopotamus, cheetahs and polar bears. The new law will stop the import of hunting trophies from many species currently at risk of extinction or that could be threatened unless trade is limited. The bill will protect all species listed in the European Regulation on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.

Belgium bans import of hunting trophies from endangered species Read more

Desert landscape at sunset

Mexico announces 20 new protected areas covering more than 5 million acres of land

| By | -, Change Milestones

Mexico’s government recently announced the creation of 20 new protected areas across 12 states and two coastal areas in the country, covering roughly 5.7 million acres. Officials introduced four new national parks, four “flora and fauna protection areas,” seven sanctuaries, two biosphere reserves and three “natural resources protection areas” under the protection of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas.

Mexico announces 20 new protected areas covering more than 5 million acres of land Read more

EU flag at night

E.U. fossil fuel CO2 emissions hit 60-year low

| By | -, Change Milestones

The European Union pumped out 8% less carbon dioxide from the fossil fuels it burned in 2023 than it did in 2022, pushing these emissions down to their lowest level in 60 years. The fall is the steepest yearly drop on record behind 2020, when governments shuttered factories and grounded flights to stop the spread of Covid-19, according to analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

E.U. fossil fuel CO2 emissions hit 60-year low Read more

Back of a school bus

Miami commits to putting 100 electric school buses on the road

| By | -, Change Milestones

Miami-Dade county is set to receive nearly $20 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to help cover the costs of 50 new electric school buses and 16 DC fast chargers, bringing the public school district’s total to 100 electric buses. Miami-Dade county is one of four school districts selected to receive a total of $33,175,000 through the EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program’s Grants Competition.

Miami commits to putting 100 electric school buses on the road Read more

Start typing and press enter to search