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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Era
- Tomorrow (2025 C.E. - ???)
- Today (2017 C.E. - 2024 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
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2021 C.E. April 8
New York doctors complete first-ever successful trachea transplant
A 56-year-old woman from the Bronx, New York, named Sonia Sein is the recipient. She ended up in the hospital six years ago after a particularly nasty asthma attack.
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2021 C.E. April 7
ABB launches “world’s fastest, most sensitive drone-based leak detection & GHG measuring system”
ABB claims that the sensitivity with which it detects methane is 1,000 greater than it is with conventional methane detection tools. And it can do so while flying 130 ft above the ground or even higher — at 55+ mph.
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2021 C.E. April 7
In 24 years, California has cut toxic air pollution by 78%, resulting in 82% fewer attributable deaths
Scientists at UC Berkeley are hailing the state’s diesel engine standards and other measures imposed over a number of years, even in the face of loosened environmental regulations in recent years.
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2021 C.E. April 7
U.K. launches world’s largest ocean monitoring system
The U.K. government, under the Blue Belt program, has announced its plan to install underwater camera rigs for monitoring ocean wildlife across over 4 million square kilometers of ocean space.
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2021 C.E. April 6
Tesco removed one billion pieces of plastic from across its stores in 2020
Last year, Tesco met with 1,500 suppliers to let them know that the company reserves the right to no longer stock products that use excessive packaging or hard to recycle materials.
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2021 C.E. April 6
New renewable energy added in 2020 smashes records
IRENA's annual Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021 shows that global renewable energy capacity grew by more than 260 GW last year, beating the previous record set in 2019 by nearly 50%.
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2021 C.E. April 6
Spain set to pilot four-day work week program
The €50m project provides funding to incentivize companies to try out the new schedule. Officials estimate that they will have the funding to sponsor 200 companies, impacting 3,000 to 6,000 employees.
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2021 C.E. April 5
Virginia bans the gay/trans panic legal defense
It's the 12th state to ban defendants from arguing they "panicked" when they found out their victim was LGBTQ.
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2021 C.E. April 5
The Netherlands to install a million EV chargers by 2030
By building the infrastructure, the Dutch government will make the transition to electric vehicles as seamless and painless as possible.
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2021 C.E. April 5
India fishermen divert their catch of ocean plastic so it can be used to rebuild roads
The Kerala fishermen’s work has so far amassed 176,000 pounds (80,000 kilograms) of plastic, of which more than half has gone towards creating 84 miles (135km) of road.
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2021 C.E. May 10
Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda begin using drones to deliver medical supplies to millions
The three nations are using medical supply drones to reach far off communities, and together the technology promises a faster and more reliable way to deliver life-saving drugs and supplies to more than 22 million Africans.
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2021 C.E. May 7
The E.U. signs historic deal that makes its climate goals legally binding
Under the new law, an agreement between member states and the European Parliament, the bloc will cut carbon emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
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2021 C.E. May 7
Vermont bans lawyers from using “panic” excuse for killing LGBTQ people
Vermont is the 14th state to ban the gay and trans “panic defense” that allowed defendants to justify murder by saying they were surprised to find out someone is an LGBTQ person.
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2021 C.E. May 7
Colorado becomes second U.S. state to legalize human composting
The US buries an estimated 5.3 million gallons of embalming fluid each year, which is toxic to the natural environment. Although cremation removes this factor, each cremation emits about as much as a 500-mile car drive.
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2021 C.E. May 7
World’s first laundry detergent made from industrial carbon emissions launched by Unilever
Unilever has partnered with LanzaTech and India Glycols to produce a laundry soap made from industrial carbon emissions—instead of from fossil-fuels.
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2021 C.E. May 7
Germany to return 19th century looted art to Nigeria
The announcement was made by the country’s culture minister, Monika Grütters, who said Germany will start the restitution of a “substantial” part of the artifacts held in its museums to Nigeria, starting next year.
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2021 C.E. May 7
World’s biggest jeweler will only sell lab-grown diamonds
This week, the world’s biggest jeweler Pandora announced it will cease to sell all mined diamonds, and switch exclusively to selling lab-made diamonds, as the BBC reports.
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2021 C.E. May 4
Ugandan startup turns banana waste into eco-friendly products
The company turns banana tree pseudostems into long, leathery fibers that are hung to dry before being processed and turned into environmentally friendly products like carpets, textiles, and biodegradable hair extensions.
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2021 C.E. May 4
First Phase 3 trial data for MDMA therapy sets path for approval in the U.S.
The extremely promising data are the first Phase 3 results to be revealed for any psychedelic-based therapy, paving the way for a landmark US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2023.
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2021 C.E. May 4
Hawaii becomes first U.S. state to declare climate emergency
According to the Climate Mobilization Project, such declarations have been made by over 1,900 jurisdictions worldwide, including 144 within U.S. 24 states.