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.)
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2019 C.E. February 19
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland signed a declaration, committing to step up climate ambition by 2020
In the declaration, the five countries commit to step up ambition by 2020, enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the Sustainable Development Goals, and intensify their cooperation.
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2019 C.E. February 19
Australia is planting a billion trees to fight climate change
The government estimates that the project, which will run until 2050, will eventually remove 18 million tons of greenhouse gases per years.
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2019 C.E. February 18
World Health Organization recommends removing cannabis from Schedule IV, the most restrictive category of a 1961 international drug convention
Global health experts at the United Nations are recommending that marijuana and its key components be formally rescheduled under international drug treaties. WHO is also moving to make clear that CBD-focused preparations containing no more than 0.2 percent THC are "not under international control" at all.
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2019 C.E. February 18
New ‘Trojan Horse’ cancer drug successfully treats patients with 6 different kinds of lethal tumors
A brand new type of cancer drug that acts as a "Trojan horse" to get inside tumor cells has shown promise in patients with advanced, drug-resistant cancers. Patients with six different cancer types have responded positively to the new treatment.
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2019 C.E. February 15
The U.S. Senate passes decade’s biggest public lands package, protecting 1.3 million acres of wilderness
The measure protects 1.3 million acres as wilderness, the nation's most stringent protection. It permanently withdraws more than 370,000 acres of land from mining around two national parks.
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2019 C.E. February 15
More than 8 million U.K. students to strike over climate change
Following in the footsteps of Greta Thunberg, school children across the U.K. have gone on strike for climate change. A new initiative called 'Fridays for Future' has been introduced, this will mean that students will strike every Friday until the government respond with an appropriate action.
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2019 C.E. February 14
Electric cars now cheaper than petrol or diesel alternatives in Europe, report finds
New research from the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) has found that electric cars are now cheaper to run compared to petrol and diesel alternatives.
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2019 C.E. February 14
Beijing will implement Stage 6 emissions rules in 2019 – reducing CO2 and NO2 emissions by 50%
Currently, Stage V rules, based primarily on regulations promulgated by the European Union, are in force. Stage VI rules will slash carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50% below those already strict Stage V level.
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2019 C.E. February 13
Earth has more tree and leaf coverage now than in 2000, thanks to China and India
According to U.S. NASA, there are now more than 2 million sq miles of extra leaf area per year, compared with the early 2000s -- a 5% increase. The greening effect stems mainly from ambitious tree-planting and intensive farming in China and India.
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2019 C.E. February 13
24-year old Kazakhstani man becomes first to use wirelessly-charged bionic heart
Tursunov's bionic heart (or VAD) doesn't need a power cord thanks to a charging system created by Israeli tech company Leviticus Cardio, eliminating one of the biggest points of failure in a device that cannot afford to fail.
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2019 C.E. April 9
Sikhs aim to plant million trees as ‘gift to the planet’
The project aims to reverse environmental decline and help people reconnect with nature as part of celebrations marking 550 years since the birth of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak.
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2019 C.E. April 8
World’s first’ Ultra Low Emission Zone comes into force in London
The introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone will result in motorists who drive into the zone in a vehicle that does not meet the new emission standard having to pay a daily charge.
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2019 C.E. April 8
Last fur farm in Germany shuts down
The country introduced a ban on all fur farming in 2017, with a deadline for closures required by 2022 to allow farmers to transition into new, less cruel industries.
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2019 C.E. April 5
Bali bans single-use plastics
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the Indonesian province of Bali is officially banning single-use plastics. The country produces 3.2 million tons of plastic annually.
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2019 C.E. April 5
Swiss startup Innolith claims 1000 Wh/kg battery technology breakthrough
1000 Wh/kg batteries would theoretically allow an electric car to travel 600 miles or more on a single charge.
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2019 C.E. April 4
China to ban all variants of deadly drug
China announced it will ban all variants of a powerful opioid responsible for many of the deaths in America's opioid crisis.
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2019 C.E. April 4
HPV vaccine linked to ‘dramatic’ drop in cervical disease in Scotland
Researchers said the vaccine has nearly wiped out cases of cervical pre-cancer in young women since an immunization programme was introduced 10 years ago.
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2019 C.E. April 3
70% of the materials used to make IKEA products during 2018 were either renewable or recycled
IKEA claims it is "on track" to achieve 100% by 2030 but will need to work with industry to spur the creation of larger supply chains for recycled materials such as wood, plastic and fabrics.
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2019 C.E. April 3
Chicago makes history electing Lori Lightfoot as first black woman mayor
Lori Lightfoot, a political newcomer, was elected the first black female mayor of Chicago. Lightfoot, who will also become the first openly gay mayor of the third-largest U.S. city, appealed to voters who are tired of politics as usual.
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2019 C.E. April 3
Sanitation coverage in India hits 99%, up 60% in 5 years
Three infants die every two minutes in India due to lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services. The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to achieve 100% sanitation by October 2019.