Dozens of mayors of cities from every continent pledge cleaner air in a bid to improve urban health and tackle climate change. From Los Angeles to Tokyo, 35 cities committed on Friday to meet WHO minimum air quality levels by 2030 - something they said could save 40,000 lives a year - and report on progress. THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
A project to produce detailed maps of all the land on Earth through laser scanning has been revealed by researchers who say action is needed now to preserve a record of the world’s cultural, environmental and geological treasures. THE GUARDIAN
Read MoreA major airlines group that includes British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia has promised that it will remove or offset all carbon emissions from its fleet of over 570 aircraft by 2050. International Airlines Group (IAG) announced the pledge on Thursday, saying it would replace older aircraft, invest in sustainable jet fuel and develop technology that removes CO2 from the atmosphere. CNN
Read MoreA team of 13 students from the University of Copenhagen is on a mission to create a product to help women improve their chances of getting pregnant. Biotechnology and molecular bioscience students have been working together to create a “smart chewing gum” that will change colour to show where women are in their menstrual cycles. THE GUARDIAN
Read MoreAbiy Ahmed of Ethiopia became the first sitting black African leader to win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, an award that will boost one of the continent’s few genuine reformers against his powerful domestic enemies. THE TELEGRAPH
Read MoreMariana Mazzucato has demonstrated that the real driver of innovation isn't lone geniuses but state investment. Now she's working with the UK government, EU and UN to apply her moonshot approach to the world's biggest challenges. WIRED
Read MoreAmeen al-Jaleeli and a team of student translators are working to empower people with knowledge. Together, they are making Wikipedia pages, academic articles and seminal works covering science, literature and philosophy available to Arabic speakers in attempt to confront lies with logic and pit critical thinking against propaganda and fake news. THE GUARDIAN
Read MoreThe chaos of Dhaka's roads inspired Jon Moussally, a physician in Massachusetts and instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to cofound a volunteer-based emergency response system aimed at reducing death from road traffic injuries (RTIs). STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW
Read MoreFrustrated by food waste? Want to compost in a compact space? Anna De La Vega from The Urban Worm fills us in on why worms are miraculous creatures and how they might hold the key to combating climate change in your kitchen. PEBBLE MAGAZINE
Read MoreA new report from the Center for American Progress shows how that massive transformation could take place in the U.S., drawing on plans from states that are making the transition to zero emissions. FAST COMPANY
Read MoreA new project is training farmers to use smartphones to chart the health of their crops, so that they are more likely to receive compensation when droughts or floods hit. THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
Read MoreAs Hong Kong's protests deepen, one pastor and a group of mostly Christian volunteers are trying to stop clashes from happening. Protect the Children volunteers put themselves between protesters and police in a bid to mediate. BBC NEWS
Read MoreThey’re the medical system’s eyes and ears, yet they’re treated as crisis managers. Now some cities are letting their paramedics get to know their patients, with remarkable results. REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Read MorePenzance became the first town in Britain to receive “plastic free” status for its crackdown on single-use plastic. Fishermen collect litter at sea, schoolchildren march about climate change, and organic vegetables are grown to feed the homeless. Could this be the UK's most eco-friendly town? BBC NEWS
Read MoreFor the past eight years, Co.Design has been following the construction of Denmark’s much-awaited interactive power plant. Now, the 44,132-square-foot multipurpose destination—named CopenHill—is finally open to the public. FAST COMPANY
Read MoreThe German cabinet on Wednesday approved climate protection measures designed to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, keeping on track plans by Chancellor Angela Merkel to pass the landmark package this year. REUTERS
Read MoreWhen Jim Estill saw the horrors of the Syrian civil war on television, he decided he would do something to help. A successful Canadian businessman, he vowed to enable Syrian refugees to settle in Canada, simply because "it was the right thing to do". BBC NEWS
Read MoreThe app provides breathing exercises to help women, connects them to state officials in every town who can help them secure restraining orders and access benefits. REUTERS
Read MoreFarmers are feeding their livestock the larvae of black soldier flies—an abundant, sustainable snack that’s quietly greening the industry, one maggot at a time. REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Read MoreCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills into law on Tuesday that offer additional mental health support to firefighters amid the state’s worsening wildfires in recent years. THE HUFFINGTON POST
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