Sydney
Australia is banning incandescent light bulbs. The government said this week it plans to have the entire country using energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs within five years. Fluorescent bulbs produce the same amount of light as regular bulbs but use less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Consumers have been loath to buy them, though, because fluorescents cost more and give off harsher light. Prime Minister John Howard said the plan would help Australia cut emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. “Here’s something practical that everybody will participate in,” he said. Cuba started a similar campaign two years ago, and Venezuela followed last year.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘Capitalism: A Global History’ by Sven Beckert and ‘American Canto’ by Olivia NuzziFeature A consummate history of capitalism and a memoir from the journalist who fell in love with RFK Jr.
-
Who will the new limits on student loans affect?The Explainer The Trump administration is imposing new limits for federal student loans starting on July 1, 2026
-
Why does Susie Wiles have MAGA-land in a panic?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Trump’s all-powerful gatekeeper is at the center of a MAGA firestorm that could shift the trajectory of the administration
