Archive of Human Genius

The world’s largest database of good news and social change milestones from throughout human history

We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history. Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more.

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  • Young saplings
    2023 C.E. November 13

    Kenyans get tree-planting holiday to plant 100 million seedlings

    The government is making available about 150 million seedlings in public nurseries in an effort to combat climate change. The tree planting will be supported by an app that helps people match their location with an appropriate species and creates a communal record of tree-planting activities across the country.


  • Atoll
    2023 C.E. November 10

    Australia offers Tuvalu residents special climate emergency visas in ‘groundbreaking’ treaty

    It is expected that by 2050, half the land area of Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, will be flooded by tidal waters daily. Under the deal, Australia has committed to provide access to education, health care and income and family support instantly to Tuvaluans upon arrival.


  • German Bundestag
    2023 C.E. November 10

    Germany approves global minimum corporate tax

    In 2021 almost 140 countries agreed to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development deal they are meant to implement from next year to prevent big companies from avoiding taxation by transferring profits to low-tax countries. Germany has now formally implemented that commitment.


  • Vatican City
    2023 C.E. November 9

    The Vatican says transgender people can be baptized

    The Vatican, which leads the Catholic Church, has said that transgender people and people in same-sex relationships can be baptized and serve as witnesses at weddings, and trans people can also be godparents as well.


  • Colombia rainforest landscape
    2023 C.E. November 8

    Deforestation in Colombia down 70% year-on-year

    Since taking power last year, leftist President Gustavo Petro has enacted a slate of new policies aimed at protecting Colombian forests, including paying locals to conserve woodland. The recent gains in Colombia mirror similar advances in the Brazilian Amazon, where leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cracked down on forest clearing.


  • "Never underestimate the power of women" sign
    2023 C.E. November 7

    Ohio voters enshrine abortion access in constitution

    Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment that ensures access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care. Ohio became the seventh state where voters decided to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.


  • View of mountains and water in British Columbia
    2023 C.E. November 3

    British Columbia, Canadian government, and First Nations announce $1 billion conservation agreement

    The Canadian federal government has signed its first major nature agreement with a province and First Nations to mutually support protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. The agreement is meant to protect old growth forests in the B.C., support the recovery of at-risk species, and restore ecosystems.


  • People in auditorium seating

    Butler University to become third U.S. college to offer two-year, debt-free associate degree program

    The new program aims to help students of color, first-generation college students and students from low-income households receive a higher education. After earning an associate degree, the new program will also allow students to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university for about $10,000.


  • Palm trees
    2023 C.E. November 2

    Indonesia to reforest more than 400,000 acres of palm plantations

    Landowners with oil palm trees in designated production forests will be allowed to continue growing the crops after paying fines, while plantations found in protected forests will have to be turned over to the government for reforestation. Companies that grow oil palms illegally after the Nov. 2 deadline will be subject to legal action.


  • Seattle skyline
    2023 C.E. November 2

    New ‘first-in-the-nation’ policy limits Seattle police from knowingly lying

    According to the new policy, police will not be able to use a statement an officer knows is not true over any mass media or in any way that will “shock the conscience.” The policy also requires officers to get permission before using any ruses, along with other use guidelines.


  • Young saplings
    2023 C.E. November 13

    Kenyans get tree-planting holiday to plant 100 million seedlings

    The government is making available about 150 million seedlings in public nurseries in an effort to combat climate change. The tree planting will be supported by an app that helps people match their location with an appropriate species and creates a communal record of tree-planting activities across the country.


  • Atoll
    2023 C.E. November 10

    Australia offers Tuvalu residents special climate emergency visas in ‘groundbreaking’ treaty

    It is expected that by 2050, half the land area of Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, will be flooded by tidal waters daily. Under the deal, Australia has committed to provide access to education, health care and income and family support instantly to Tuvaluans upon arrival.


  • German Bundestag
    2023 C.E. November 10

    Germany approves global minimum corporate tax

    In 2021 almost 140 countries agreed to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development deal they are meant to implement from next year to prevent big companies from avoiding taxation by transferring profits to low-tax countries. Germany has now formally implemented that commitment.


  • Vatican City
    2023 C.E. November 9

    The Vatican says transgender people can be baptized

    The Vatican, which leads the Catholic Church, has said that transgender people and people in same-sex relationships can be baptized and serve as witnesses at weddings, and trans people can also be godparents as well.


  • Colombia rainforest landscape
    2023 C.E. November 8

    Deforestation in Colombia down 70% year-on-year

    Since taking power last year, leftist President Gustavo Petro has enacted a slate of new policies aimed at protecting Colombian forests, including paying locals to conserve woodland. The recent gains in Colombia mirror similar advances in the Brazilian Amazon, where leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cracked down on forest clearing.


  • "Never underestimate the power of women" sign
    2023 C.E. November 7

    Ohio voters enshrine abortion access in constitution

    Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment that ensures access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care. Ohio became the seventh state where voters decided to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.


  • View of mountains and water in British Columbia
    2023 C.E. November 3

    British Columbia, Canadian government, and First Nations announce $1 billion conservation agreement

    The Canadian federal government has signed its first major nature agreement with a province and First Nations to mutually support protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. The agreement is meant to protect old growth forests in the B.C., support the recovery of at-risk species, and restore ecosystems.


  • People in auditorium seating

    Butler University to become third U.S. college to offer two-year, debt-free associate degree program

    The new program aims to help students of color, first-generation college students and students from low-income households receive a higher education. After earning an associate degree, the new program will also allow students to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university for about $10,000.


  • Palm trees
    2023 C.E. November 2

    Indonesia to reforest more than 400,000 acres of palm plantations

    Landowners with oil palm trees in designated production forests will be allowed to continue growing the crops after paying fines, while plantations found in protected forests will have to be turned over to the government for reforestation. Companies that grow oil palms illegally after the Nov. 2 deadline will be subject to legal action.


  • Seattle skyline
    2023 C.E. November 2

    New ‘first-in-the-nation’ policy limits Seattle police from knowingly lying

    According to the new policy, police will not be able to use a statement an officer knows is not true over any mass media or in any way that will “shock the conscience.” The policy also requires officers to get permission before using any ruses, along with other use guidelines.



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