Climate change, endangered species, and LGBTQ+ rights saw some positive developments this week. China, the world’s biggest polluter, is set to experience a drop in CO2 emissions. Carbon Brief analysed the country’s low-carbon energy infrastructure to conclude that the decline is likely to begin next year with fossil fuel use set to enter structural decline. This follows a muted economic recovery from the pandemic, and high investment in solar, EVs, and battery production. This growth is the first expansion of low-carbon energy meeting China’s electricity demand. If this rate is sustainable, or increased, it could lead to a period of structural decline, marking another world-first for China.
Tuvalu’s climate-hit residents have gained a route to escape: 280 nationals can live, work, and study in Australia each year. The South Pacific islands are threatened by rising sea levels and are home to 11,200 people. The visa agreement has been praised by the Tuvalu prime minister, who called it a “beacon of hope”, and by the Australian PM, who described it as a developed nation’s “responsibility to provide assistance”.
Latvia’s inclusion pushes in LGBTQ+ rights have continued after the appointment of Europe’s first openly gay head of state in July. The nation has now agreed to legalise same-sex civil partnerships. Latvia’s parliament voted in favour of the move, which will come into effect from 2024. This legislation will allow same-sex couples legal recognition, hospital visiting rights, and some tax and social security benefits. However, there are exclusions, like the right to adopt a child that married heterosexual couples enjoy.
Dominica has announced the creation of a sperm whale reserve that spans 800 sq km (300 sq miles) of ocean on its western coast. The Dominica government aims to restrict commercial fishing and shipping across this area, which is a significant feeding and nursing ground for the endangered mammal. Only a few hundred of these whales remain in the eastern Caribbean, and their numbers have been dropping by around 3% annually since 2010. The new reserves can protect them from ships, fishing nets, and marine pollution, according to the head of communications at the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
Finally, an international psychology study has published a meta-analysis of five previous studies debunking the commonly held idea that feminism means hating men. Researchers involved in the study, which involved almost 10,000 participants across nine countries, found that feminists’ attitudes toward men are widespread positive and similar to that of other people’s attitudes towards men. The authors suggest that debunking the misandry myth could prevent both genders from backing the feminist cause
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