Fast Company posts tagged World Changing Ideas | Fast Company

World Changing Ideas

New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system.

We have the tech to tackle climate change now–here are the next steps

We don’t need brilliant new inventions: A new book offers a simple guide to the policies we need to enact to fight climate change right now.

We have the tech to tackle climate change now–here are the next steps

It’s time for industry to step up and embrace fixing climate change

The technology is there, why not the will?

It’s time for industry to step up and embrace fixing climate change

How the airline industry is cleaning up its climate act

Aviation is one of the most polluting industries on the planet–but a groundswell of innovation in alternative fuels, and investments from major airlines, could set it on a path to carbon zero.

How the airline industry is cleaning up its climate act

These algae-filled “urban curtains” suck CO2 from the air

Adding fast-growing microbes to the surfaces of buildings: An innovative way to clean up the air and expand the definition of urban greenery.

These algae-filled “urban curtains” suck CO2 from the air

This winter gear is made with plastic bottles rescued from the ocean

Retailers like The North Face are converting entire product lines to incorporate recycled plastic–and making the case for more to do the same.

This winter gear is made with plastic bottles rescued from the ocean

This campaign is fighting the California wildfires with fire emojis

Can the most popular emoji on the internet bring in more donations to wildfire victims?

This campaign is fighting the California wildfires with fire emojis

Want to build tech for good? Understand people’s needs first

Tech’s fast-moving, top-down approach often exacerbates social divisions. By building an understanding of communities’ needs, before developing tools to help them, tech can truly become a force for the public good.

Want to build tech for good? Understand people’s needs first

Why TOMS is taking a stand to end gun violence

The shoe company, known for its one-for-one giving model, has never taken a political stance. But after the recent mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, founder Blake Mycoskie is ready to change that–and his company’s entire giving strategy.

Why TOMS is taking a stand to end gun violence

How these 10 Black Friday destinations are making a positive impact

As you wade through holiday deals, the financial firm Aspiration, in its inaugural “Nice List,” wants to guide you to companies that do well by their employees and the environment.

How these 10 Black Friday destinations are making a positive impact

How even the dirtiest industries can reach zero emissions by 2050

If we want to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, industries like steel and shipping have to clean up their acts. The good news: That’s far from impossible.

How even the dirtiest industries can reach zero emissions by 2050

If you want to see the future of work, don’t look to Amazon HQ2

By choosing to build in New York and D.C., Amazon bypassed an opportunity to spur economic growth in a place that needs it–but also ignored trends showing that young workers don’t want to be tethered to an office anyway.

If you want to see the future of work, don’t look to Amazon HQ2

This blockchain-based platform will let anyone invest in renewables

Early next year, the startup Power Ledger will start selling tiny fractions of clean energy plants to anyone who wants to invest in helping renewables scale up, fast.

This blockchain-based platform will let anyone invest in renewables

It’s time to break up wealth dynasties in the U.S.

First, consider that three U.S. families control more wealth than 4 million average households, then consider what policies might fix this imbalance.

It’s time to break up wealth dynasties in the U.S.

This free app tracks the air quality around you in real time

As disasters like the deadly wildfires in California become more common, it’s important to know the state of the air you’re breathing, and Blueair Friend is designed to help with that.

This free app tracks the air quality around you in real time

How “Ban the Box” has helped (and hurt) the job prospects of people with criminal records

“Ban the Box” policies have come under fire recently for exacerbating racial discrimination in hiring. New research, though, finds that fair-hiring policies broadly work–when the employers using them check their biases.

How “Ban the Box” has helped (and hurt) the job prospects of people with criminal records

More than 20,000 French students have pledged to not work for polluting companies

American students should sign on to their manifesto.

More than 20,000 French students have pledged to not work for polluting companies

Can we design neighborhoods to survive wildfires?

As fires become more frequent and more powerful, is there a way to create resiliency that minimizes the damage?

Can we design neighborhoods to survive wildfires?

The fight to stop Amazon’s huge new New York office starts now

Amazon announced its “second headquarters,” and New York City politicians and locals began to mobilize against it–and the $1.5 billion in tax cuts it will receive.

The fight to stop Amazon’s huge new New York office starts now

Spring’s teachers’ strikes were a springboard for educators winning in the midterms

Following walkouts over low pay and poor benefits, public school teachers ran for office in unprecedented numbers this year.

Spring’s teachers’ strikes were a springboard for educators winning in the midterms

This new fund will help retiring baby boomers turn their businesses into worker co-ops

With its new fund, the Cleveland-based Evergreen Cooperatives have a bold goal: to make it easy to transition a business to worker-ownership.

This new fund will help retiring baby boomers turn their businesses into worker co-ops

Impact

3 tips to make the best of your end-of-year giving

Saving this Swedish town from falling into a mine has big lessons about a post-climate change world

This new service gives domestic workers a way to get benefits and paid time off

Creativity

This new deep fake video is both advertising and a piece of art

Study: Female-led movies make more money at the box office

Stephen Colbert makes a smart point by nominating himself for chief of staff

Co.Design

These are the cheapest cities to escape to right now

The future of art preservation is bacteria warfare

Scholastic’s new HQ is unlike any corporate office you’ve ever seen

Work Life

5 surprising traits of great leaders

Women CEOs on how they smashed the glass ceiling

7 ways to position yourself to get on a board