Weekly Briefing: The everyday bias detector for public servants

Top Stories

The Everyday Bias Detector: learn how to use behavioural insights in your work. Identifying your cognitive biases is easier said than done, but they can be detrimental to the policymaking process. Take this test to uncover your assumptions and find behavioural science strategies to overcome them. (Apolitical)

Here’s how to build a successful social impact bond. They have the potential to tackle some of society’s toughest challenges, but it can be hard to get them right. This field guide will teach you how to overcome common challenges and bring you up to date with the latest in the field. (Apolitical)

Discover how climate change will affect your department. From transport to health, climate change impacts all policy areas. But it can be difficult to get colleagues on board — many feel it’s not their problem. Here, we’ve laid out the facts. (Apolitical)

To win citizens’ trust, public servants need to start collaborating — here are 3 ways to do it. Some issues are too big for government to tackle alone. From hackathons to internships, try out these ways to incorporate users, businesses and experts. (Krzysztof Izdebski, ePaństwo Foundation)

Upcoming

Join the Apolitical Workshop: Persuasive Writing for Public Servants. Whether it’s crafting a brief, an email, or a social media post, it’s time to take your writing to the next level. Led by editor and former journalist, Josh Lowe, you’ll discover techniques, practice your skills — and get feedback. (Apolitical)

Technology Frontiers

Lawmakers in the US are pushing for Netflix and Spotify to warn citizens of national emergencies. From nuclear attacks to flood and earthquake warnings, the bill states that streaming services will be legally obliged to broadcast alerts to users. (Fast Company)

Evolving Cities

Brussels is banning diesel and petrol cars by 2035. As one of the most congested and polluted cities in Europe, the Belgian capital is taking drastic action to decarbonise by 2050. And so are others: Paris, Madrid and Copenhagen have pledged to ban diesel within a decade. (Forbes)

How mindful is your city? Here’s why urban areas are on a mission to get slower and quieter. Research shows that noise can pose serious health risks for residents. From mindfulness programs to lower speed limits and quiet spaces, cities around the world are relaxing and slowing down. (World Economic Forum)

London is awarding electric car drivers with green number plates and perks to boost sales. Exclusive to ultra-low emission vehicles, the plates boost visibility and attract new buyers with the badge’s kudos and benefits, including access to bus lanes and special parking spots. (CityLab)

Health and Ageing

China is on a mission to build the best and cheapest healthcare system in the world. In a bid to outprice other countries with new and high-quality medication, the government has doubled investments in hospitals over the last five years. So far, drug prices have already dropped by an average of 52%. (Bloomberg)

Energy, Environment and Economic Opportunity

Outdoor air conditioning is on the rise in Qatar — but government is concerned. With highs of 48 degrees Celsius, organisations are building units in stadiums, shopping centres and markets. But the government worries they will only make things hotter by using fossil fuels that drive global warming. (The Washington Post)

Scotland is the first country in the UK to make plastic cotton buds illegal. One of the worst sources of beach litter and marine pollution, cotton buds damage the environment and threaten wildlife. Next year, they will be banned across the whole of the UK, along with plastic coffee stirrers and straws. (BBC)

And finally

Australia plans to use facial recognition to scan porn viewers’ faces. The Department of Home Affairs has recommended using the technology to match faces with government identification documents in order to verify age, before granting access to sites. (Futurism)

(Picture credit: Unsplash)