Tesla is attempting to merge with SolarCity, and this week the automaker's shareholders overwhelmingly approved the move. That's great news:The company's new solar roof is taking off, and some installations are already cost-competitive with grid-based electricity. Scandinavia is gearing up to build the world's largest offshore turbine array, and when it's complete it will produce the cheapest wind power on earth. At the COP22 climate conference France announced plans to shut down all coal plants by the year 2023, and Al Gore reached out to work with Donald Trump on climate change.

Seattle is building the world's first flexible bridge, which will be able to withstand major earthquakes once it's finished. In other design and technology news, BIG and Heatherwick Studio unveiled plans for Google's new London HQ at King's Cross. This year's James Dyson Award went to a paper bike helmet that collapses down to a tiny form factor. Adidas announced plans to make 1 million pairs of sneakers from recycled ocean plastic, and a scientist was inspired by Back to the Future to create fabric that can harvest and store solar energy.