1 DECEMBER 2019 - 10 JANUARY 2020
In 2019, renewables produced 43% of electricity in Germany, wind power alone contributed 47% of electricity in Denmark, carbon emissions from electricity in Spain fell by 33%, zero carbon electricity outstripped fossil fuels in the United Kingdom for the first time ever, and in the United States, overall emissions fell by 2.1%.
The WHO says 11 countries received 18 million doses of its new cholera vaccine in 2018, bringing the number of global cases down by 60%. UN
The Philippines has become the first country with a serious vitamin A deficiencies to approve genetically modified golden rice. New Scientist
US cancer death rates dropped 29% between 1991 to 2017, and the most recent update saw the largest single-year decline in mortality ever reported. NYT
Pakistan’s security forces are reporting a 31% reduction in terror and counter-terror related deaths in 2019. The Tribune
As of last month, more than half of Colombia’s municipalities are free of landmines, and the country is on track to remove all mines by 2021. Reuters
Indian Railways recorded zero passenger deaths in rail accidents in 2019, making it the national transporter's safest year in history. Economic Times
Child marriage in Bangladesh has dropped by two thirds in the past 20 years, and the country is on track to for zero under-15 marriages by 2021. IFPRI
Tunisia has become the first Arab nation to begin providing sex education for elementary and middle school students. Washington Post
Following a major drive to tackle pollution, water quality in China has improved significantly: since 2003, average chemical oxygen demand is down 63% and ammonium nitrogen levels have dropped by 78%. Phys.org
China has also banned all commercial fishing on the Yangtze – the first ban ever for Asia’s longest river - to restore aquatic life. SCMP
As of the 1st January 2020, single-use plastic plates, cups, and cotton buds are not allowed in France; straws and cutlery will follow in 2021. France24
9 NOVEMBER 2019 - 29 NOVEMBER 2019
The world’s largest multilateral financial institution, The European Investment Bank, has agreed to stop all financing for fossil fuels within the next two years. Guardian
New Zealand has passed a bill to reach zero carbon by 2050, will plant a billion trees in the next decade, and run its grid entirely from clean energy by 2035. Independent
India and Pakistan have opened a peace corridor on their border, allowing Sikhs to visit their second holiest site for the first time in 72 years. Al Jazeera
The number of children dying from pneumonia, "the ultimate disease of poverty," has decreased from 6,410 per day in 1990 to 2,216 per day in 2017. OWiD
Germany has passed a law requiring all children attending school to be immunised, with fines for parents who do not comply. NYT
Cigarette smoking among US adults has reached an all-time low of 13.7% — a decline of approximately two-thirds in the last 50 years. CDC
A new survey across 167 countries has shown that tolerance towards LGBTQIA+ people has risen in almost every region of the world in the last decade. Japan Times
The United States has passed a new law outlawing animal cruelty, punishable with fines and up to seven years imprisonment. WaPo
Thailand will phase out all plastics that degrade into fragments by the end of this year, and will ban plastic bags, styrofoam, cups and straws by 2022. Xinhua
Zambia's government has bowed to pressure and banned any future mining activities in the lower reaches of the Zambezi River. Zambian Eye
19 OCTOBER 2019 - 8 NOVEMBER 2019
The largest private coal company in the United States has filed for bankruptcy, the fourth major fossil fuels company to go under there this year. #MAGA. Bloomberg
The Australian electricity grid reached a new milestone in the first week of November 2019: for a few minutes, solar, wind and hydro met more than 50% of demand. Guardian
According to the World Bank, India has halved its poverty rate in the past 30 years, and zero extreme poverty in the next decade is now within reach.
Type 3 polio has officially become the second species of poliovirus to be eliminated. Only Type 1 now remains - and only in Pakistan and Afghanistan. STAT
In the biggest breakthrough for cystic fibrosis in decades, a new drug that targets the genetic roots of the disease has been approved by the FDA. WaPo
Between 1990 and 2019, cancer mortality rates fell by 18% in Argentina, 26% in Chile, 14% in Colombia, 17% in Mexico and 13% in Venezuela, corresponding to almost 500,000 avoided deaths. Int J Cancer
Northern Ireland has officially legalised the right of women to decide what to do with their own bodies, and the right of people to marry anyone they choose. HRW
The murder rate in India has dropped to its lowest level in 54 years. Traditional theories of criminal justice are at a loss to explain why. Times of India
Toxic air pollution in London has fallen by roughly a third inside a new ultra low emissions zone that was launched 6 months ago. NPR
After an 18 year campaign, environmental campaigners have successfully saved one of the most important wetland areas in the Balkans from development. MongaBay
In a watershed moment for environmentalists and community activists, fracking has been halted in the United Kingdom with immediate effect. BBC
5 OCTOBER 2019 - 18 OCTOBER 2019
In the third quarter of 2019, wind, solar, biomass and hydro generated more electricity than coal, oil and gas in the United Kingdom. Carbon Brief
Carbon emissions are now falling in 30 of the world's cities, averaging 22% below their peak. Curious to know if you live in one of them? Check it out. CityLab
A new study covering 90% of the world's population shows the international homicide rate has dropped by 20% since 1990. Eureka Alert
Bolivia has been more effective at combating extreme poverty than any other South American country, slashing it from 33% in 2006 to 15% in 2018. WaPo
Nepal has been declared as an open defecation free country. Eight years ago, 9 million people did not have access to clean sanitation facilities. Rising Nepal
30,000 children in Cambodia have been rescued from hard labour in the past five years, and 180,000 prevented from being child workers. Phnom Penh Post
Nigeria, in partnership with the WHO, just immunized over 51 million children in a single month during its annual national immunization campaign. ReliefWeb
Sometimes you have to wonder what it takes to make the headlines. Children must be an easy sell right? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN??!! Apparently not. Save the Children just released their 2019 Global Childhood Report showing that in the last 20 years, children's lives have improved in 173 out of 176 countries. Today there are:
- 4.4 million fewer child deaths per year
- 49 million fewer stunted children
- 130 million more children in school
- 94 million fewer child laborers
- 11 million fewer girls forced into marriage or married early
- 3 million fewer teen births per year
- 12,000 fewer child homicides per year
Not a peep from media outlets anywhere…
Grown-ups don't get a look in either. Did you hear that stroke rates for US adults over the age of 65 have decreased by 32% each decade for the last 30 years. Reuters
Under the United States' Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 2 million diabetics, many of them poor, have received access to health insurance. US News
Sales of plastic bags in England’s largest supermarkets have fallen by 90% in the four years since the government introduced a 5p levy. ICAEW
The Welsh government just planted the ten millionth tree in the heavily-deforested region of Mount Elgon region in eastern Uganda. The Ecologist
Bottlenose dolphins are living and breeding in the Potomac River again for the first time since the 1880s, following 50 years of restoration efforts. Smithsonian
New surveys suggest there are now 25,000 individuals humpback whales in the southwest Atlantic - back to 90% of pre-whaling levels. BBC
For the first time since 1870, herds of bison are roaming the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. 1,200 bison now have 80,000 acres to graze. WWF
21 SEPTEMBER 2019 - 4 OCTOBER 2019
Australia's per capita levels of clean energy are the fastest growing in the world. Between 2018 and 2020, Australia will install 220 watts per person per year - nearly three times more than the next fastest country, Germany. The Conversation
The largest retail company in the world says it will run entirely on renewable energy by 2030 and will be fully carbon neutral by 2040. The Verge
Nine Latin American countries just set a collective target of 70% renewable energy use by 2030, more than double what the European Union is planning. Reuters
Melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK. Ten years ago, one in twenty people survived. Today the survival rate is more than 50%. BBC
Russian alcohol consumption has decreased by 43% since 2003. As a result average life expectancy in 2018 reached its highest level ever. BBC
Italian officials are saying that after a decades long battle, the Sicilian Mafia has been brought to its knees and is now a ghost of its former self. Guardian
Abortion is now legal in every state in Australia, Oaxaca has become the second state in Mexico to give women autonomy over their own bodies and in the US, abortion rates have reached their lowest level since Roe vs. Wade in 1973. CNN
In 1990 the global annual death rate for children under the age of five was 82 for every 1,000 live births. In 2018, it was 37 per 1,000 live births. WaPo
The literacy rate for Palestinians over the age of 15 has increased from 86.1% in 1997 to 97.2% in 2018. Palestine Chronicle
China now has equal numbers of girls and boys in primary and high school, and more than half of university students are women, from less than a quarter in 1978. Xinhua
A new report on the social performance of 149 countries in the last five years, using indicators like nutrition, shelter, safety, education, health, rights and inclusiveness, says only four countries have regressed overall since 2014. First Post
China's tree stock rose by 4.56 billion m³ between 2005 and 2018, deserts are shrinking by 2,400 km² a year, and forests now account for 22% of land area. SCMP
7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2019
Coal shipments to the United States have fallen to their lowest since 1983 - and the dramatic reduction of coal in the country's energy mix has reduced deaths from air pollution and cut the cost of damages by more than $200 billion. Ars Technica
The number of cigarettes being smoked in the UK fell by nearly a quarter between 2011 and 2018 - meaning 1.4 billion fewer cigarettes smoked every year. Cancer UK
Saudi Arabia says women may now travel overseas, register births, marriage & divorce, receive family documents and be eligible as guardians to minors. Reuters
Indonesia has lifted the minimum legal age for marriage to 19. Previously, girls of 16 could be married (and there was no minimum age if parents requested it). Reuters
The United States' poverty rate has reached its lowest point since 2001. There were 1.4 million fewer people living in poverty in 2018 than in 2017. US Census
The Canadian government has lifted almost 900,000 people out of poverty since 2016, including 300,000 children. CBC
The Asian Development Bank says that Pakistan's extreme poverty rate fell from 28.6% of total population in 2001 to 3.9% in 2015. APP
California has banned the operation of private prisons - a major victory for criminal justice reform because it removes the profit motive from incarceration. Guardian
Four years after the WHO declared Delhi the world’s most polluted city, the government has announced that pollution has dropped by 25%. Indian Express
A year ago, Chile began a campaign to ban plastic straws. Since then, 200 million fewer straws have been delivered to shops and restaurants. Emol
11 AUGUST 2019 - 6 SEPTEMBER 2019
Refugees are integrating into Germany's job market far quicker than expected. Around 400,000 people of working age are now employed. The Local
Five months after the 'ghost battalion' overthrew the dictatorship, Sudan's leaders have signed a landmark deal for transition to civilian government. Al Jazeera
Speaking of Sudan, a campaign begun in April 2019 has managed to provide 13 million children with vaccines against measles and polio. ReliefWeb
Dementia is declining in Australia. The hospitalisation rate has dropped by almost a quarter – from 408 per 100,000 people in 2007 to 313 in 2017. AAA
A new cure for tuberculosis (the world's leading infectious cause of death) has been approved by the US FDA, clearing the path for global distribution. NYT
The new Ebola vaccine is working miracles. Over 200,000 people have been innoculated, and the mortality rate has dropped from 70% to as low as 6%. The Brink
Canada's government has partnered with Inuit custodians to create its largest marine reserve ever. The country now protects 14% of its oceans. National Observer
In the first half of 2019, Beijing reported its lowest level of air pollutants since the city first started monitoring air quality 35 years ago. CX Tech
169 countries at the UN have just agreed to significant new protections for elephants, giraffes, sharks and rays and dozens of other species. New Scientist
More than 100 seal pups have been born on the shores of the Thames, 60 years after the river was declared 'biologically dead.' Telegraph
NASA says that the number of fires around the world is decreasing. Between 2003 and 2019, the area of land being burned has fallen by around 25%
20 JULY 2019 - 10 AUGUST 2019
Electricity generation from coal power stations across Europe fell by nearly one fifth in the first half of 2019, the steepest decline ever recorded. New Scientist
In the second quarter of 2019 the Tesla Model 3 was not only the best selling car in its segment in the United States, but outsold all of its petrol and diesel powered equivalents combined. Elektrek
Last year, Japan saw its population decrease by over 444,000 people, the tenth straight year of declines, and the largest annual decrease since the end of World War Two. Mercatornet
Sri Lanka has been declared free of measles, the fourth country in south-east Asia to reach this milestone after Bhutan, Maldives and Timor-Leste. The country reported its last homegrown case of the virus in May 2016. WHO
Americans are becoming more tolerant. A major survey of attitudes towards sexuality, race, skin tone, age, disability and body weight has shown that explicit bias has decreased in all six categories since 2007; ranging from 49% (sexuality) to 15% (body weight). Implicit bias also decreased—33% for sexuality, 17% for race and 15% for skin tone. Scientific American
A decade ago, Scotland adopted a nationwide ban on indoor smoking. Over the next decade there was a 13% reduction in heart attacks for people over the age of 60. Reuters
Panama has become the first Central American nation to ban single-use plastic bags, joining more than 60 other countries that have passed total or partial bans, or introduced taxes to reduce their use. Reuters
Ethiopia has smashed the world record for tree planting. Led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, millions of Ethiopians planted more than 350 million trees in 12 hours on the 29th July. BBC
Since 1990, thanks to better protection and a decline in farming, France’s wooded or forested areas have increased by nearly 7%. Forests now cover 31% of the country. Economist
The population of tigers is recovering in India. The tiger population has risen from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018, an increase of over one third. This is a major conservation success. BBC
6 JULY 2019 - 19 JULY 2019
In the first six months of 2019, sun, wind, water and biomass produced more electricity in Germany, the world's fourth largest economy, than coal and nuclear combined. DW
In the first six months of 2019, Scottish wind turbines generated enough electricity to power 4.47 million homes - almost double the number of homes in Scotland. CNBC
According to the United Nations, in 2018, global HIV-related deaths fell to 770,000, 33% lower than in 2010 when 1.2 million deaths were recorded. DW
A new report by UNESCO says that between 2006 and 2016, India, Ethiopia and Peru achieved significant improvements in nutrition, sanitation, child mortality, drinking water, schooling, electricity access and housing. India alone lifted 271 million people out of poverty during this period. Understandably there's been wall-to-wall coverage of this story on every major global news channel. The Hindu
New diabetes cases in the US have declined by 35% since 2009, the longest decline since the government started tracking the statistic nearly 40 years ago. STAT
Mali has announced it will begin providing free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five. Universal healthcare, not just for rich countries. Guardian
Drug overdose deaths in America declined by around 5% last year, the first drop since 1990. It's almost entirely due to better control of opioid painkillers. NYT
Last year crime rates in the 30 largest cities in the US declined by 3.5%, violent crime by 4% and murders by 8%. Did someone just say 'hellholes?' Brennan Centre
Ethiopia has kicked off a new campaign to plant four billion trees and will monitor progress with a satellite the country is launching in November.
Since introducing new fuel efficiency rules a decade ago New York has cut nitrous oxide and particulate emissions from taxis by 82% and 49%, respectively. Nature
Costa Rica has just signed a new law banning the importation, commercialisation and delivery of all styrofoam containers and packaging. Costa Rica News
South Africa has nearly doubled its number of marine protected areas, increasing the proportion of conserved territorial waters from 0.4% to 5.4%. Cape Talk
For the first time in 17 years there will be no commercial whaling in Iceland after the sole company certified to hunt whales failed to renew its license in time. Newsweek
15 JUNE 2019 - 5 JULY 2019
Los Angeles has announced the largest, cheapest solar + storage project in the world, at half the cost of a new natural gas plant. Wright's Law FTW. Forbes
Ireland has joined the growing list of countries that say new petrol and diesel powered vehicles will not be allowed on the roads after 2030. BBC
8.8 million Nepalis have gained access to electricity since 2010, and officials say the country is on track for universal access by 2022. Kathmandu Post
Heart disease rates in the UK have declined significantly - it's still the leading cause of mortality, but deaths have decreased by almost half since 2005. Telegraph
Good news from North Korea. According to the WHO, smoking rates have declined by 8.4% since 2012, thanks to a government-led anti-smoking campaign. DailyNK
Rates of HPV in Britain have fallen by 86% among young women aged 15 to 19 since they started being vaccinated in schools in 2008. Times
UNESCO says that 19 African countries have reached gender parity (equal numbers of boys and girls) in primary education in the past decade. Brookings
Kenya's High Court has ruled that rape survivors have the right to an abortion, a landmark ruling in a country where abortion is still illegal. Reuters
An estimated 10,000 LGBTQIA+ teens in the US have been protected from conversion therapy in states that have banned the practice since 2012. NBC
Canada has passed its most progressive Fisheries Act in history; for the first time since 1868, there's a legally binding requirement to rebuild fish populations. Oceana
The Scottish government has met its annual tree planting targets for the first time. 11,200 hectares were planted last year, a significant increase on 2017. BBC
Since 2000, the area of land dedicated for livestock pasture around the world has declined by 1.4 million square kilometers — an area the size of Peru. MongaBay
Thanks to rigorous anti-poaching strategies, one of Africa’s largest wildlife reserves has just gone a year without losing a single elephant. Independent
1 JUNE 2019 - 14 JUNE 2019
Germany produced 47% of its electricity from clean sources in the first five months of 2019, putting it well ahead of its 2025 targets. Renew Economy
The number of people killed in wars around the world has reached it lowest level in seven years, and battle fatalities have fallen by 43% since 2014. PRIO
In a landmark victory for Africa's LGBTQI+ activists, Botswana's High Court has decriminalized homesexuality, overturning a colonial-era law. Independent
The number of malaria cases in India was cut by almost half last year, an indication that the country’s malaria elimination programme is succeeding. HT
In Rwanda, 95% of babies are now receiving vaccinations for rubella, measles and polio, and it's also on track to be the first country to eliminate cervical cancer. CNN
Inspired by the EU, Canada has announced it will phase out harmful single use plastics, such as water bottles, plastic bags and straws, by 2021. HuffPo
Vietnamese authorities have banned herbicides containing glyphosate after it was discovered that the substance causes cancer. Asia Times
Israel has partnered with seven other, mostly Muslim countries, to collaborate on a research project in the Red Sea. Science diplomacy FTW. Times of Israel
Canada has banned whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity, as well as the trade, possession, capture and breeding of cetaceans. NPR
An area nearly twice the size of England will become a 'blue belt' of protected waters after the government created 41 new marine conservation zones. Guardian
18 MAY 2019 - 31 MAY 2019
The UK's astonishing coal free run continues - 13 days and counting. The National Grid says the country has not switched on its coal plants since 18th of May.
Algeria and Argentina have officially eliminated malaria. That means there are now 38 countries free from one of humanity's most devastating killers. CNN
The AIHW says that more people are surviving cancer in Australia than ever before. Since 1989, the mortality rate has dropped by 32% for men and by 21% for women.
In the last three decades, dementia rates in Europe and North America have declined by an average of 15% per decade (and they're also declining in Australia).
The WHO has officially decided to remove 'gender identity disorder' from its list of mental illnesses. Welcome to the 21st century folks. CBS
A majority in Brazil's Supreme Court has voted in favour of criminalising homophobia and transphobia, making them the equivalent of racism. BBC
In 2018, employment reached its highest ever rate in Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, and 22 other OECD countries. Did someone just say robots? Economist
New research says US states that legalised marijuana have experienced a remarkable decline in serious injury from domestic violence. C'mon 'Straya. Green State
Bangladesh has banned all fishing off its coast for 65 days. All vessels will be covered by the ban, and it will be carefully enforced by coast guards. BBC
Staggering numbers of whales are being sighted off the shores of New York. Cleaner waters have caused a 540% increase in numbers in just eight years. Newsweek
4 MAY 2019 - 17 MAY 2019
Last year, more global coal capacity was closed than approved for the first time since the 19th century, and the UK just had its first coal-free week since 1882. BBC
Chile has reached its 2025 clean energy targets six years ahead of schedule, and says it's now on track for 70% electricity from renewables by 2030. BN Americas
The world's largest car supplier, Bosch, says it will be fully carbon neutral by 2020, making it the first major industrial company to take that step. Reuters
Big new dataset here, we've been waiting for this for a while. The proportion of people in extreme poverty has fallen from 36% in 1990 to 8.6% in 2018. Absolute numbers are down from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 610 million in 2018. ODI
The 2019 election in India is on track for the highest turnout in history, driven by unprecedented numbers of women voters, who may be the majority this year. Quartz
The number of people incarcerated in American prisons has declined again, to 1.48 million people, down from 1.61 million in 2009. Washington Post
New Global Burden of Disease Report says that between 1990 and 2017, deaths of kids and teenagers decreased by 51.7%, from 13.77 million to 6.64 million. CNN
The United Nations says that 187 countries have agreed to control the movement of plastic waste between national borders, in an effort to curb waste. CNN
Tanzania has become the latest country to implement a plastic ban. From the 1st June, no one will be allowed to produce, import, sell or use plastic bags. WWF
California, the United States' most productive agricultural state, has banned a widely used pesticide blamed for harming brain development in babies. Associated Press
Costa Rica has doubled its forest cover in the last 30 years; half its land surface is now covered with trees, a huge carbon sink and a big draw for tourists. NYT
19 APRIL 2019 - 3 MAY 2019
Renewable energy use in Japan in the last fiscal year increased by 10%, and emissions fell by 1.2% - the fourth straight year of decline. Japan Times
New York just passed a law requiring any new building to have a roof with either plants, solar panels, wind turbines, or a combination of all three. Dwell
The UN says that family planning and more education have caused a 'significant decline' in India’s population growth rate since 2010. The Print
A new Ebola vaccine given to more than 90,000 people in the DRC has been shown to be 97.5% effective. Next challenge? Distribution. STAT
The Philippines has passed a Universal Health Care Act, entitling all of its 107 million citizens to health insurance and access to medical treatment. WHO
Malawi has become the first country to begin immunising children against malaria, and similar programmes are about to start in Kenya and Ghana. Independent
Deaths after surgery in Scotland have dropped by more than a third since 2008, thanks to the use of a safety checklist. Sometimes, the solutions are simple. BBC
China says it's lifting a law that requires animal testing for cosmetic products. From 2020, non-animal tests will be the preferred method. IIVS
The indigenous Waorani community of Ecuador has won a landmark case against oil companies, protecting 180,000 hectares of their land against exploitation. Al Jazeera
Canada has unveiled new standards for its marine protected areas, banning all oil-and-gas activity, as well as mining, dumping and bottom-trawling. Globe & Mail
Chile has formally taken over the management of 407,000 hectares of pristine national parks, thanks to the largest private land donation in history. Reuters
30 MARCH 2019 - 18 APRIL 2019
Malawi has eliminated trachoma, the second African country to do so after Ghana. In 2014 more than 8 million people were at risk. Today, that number is zero.
The introduction of routine HPV vaccinations for young women in Scotland ten years ago has wiped out 90% of cases of cervical pre-cancer. BBC
In an effort to reduce period poverty, British Columbia has become the first Canadian province to provide free tampons and pads to all students. CBC
Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 4.2% in 2018, the first major decrease in Europe’s biggest economy in four years. Associated Press
In Madrid, a ban on vehicles in the city centre has reduced levels of nitrogen oxide by 38%, and Barcelona is now planning a similar ban for next year.
Paris has ordered 800 new electric buses as it begins the process of replacing its old fleet. It's the largest public EV order in European history. Elektrek
Chicago is now the largest city in the United States to commit to getting 100% of its energy from clean sources. PV Magazine
Between 2000 and 2015, houses with adequate sanitation, sufficient living area and reliable construction doubled in sub-Saharan Africa, from 11% to 23%. Nature
The Gambia has become the 22nd country to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), meaning it now has enough signatories to go into force. This is a massive boost - the biggest free trade agreement since the WTO. WEF
South Korea used to recycle 2% of its food waste. In 2013, the government introduced compulsory collection. Now they recycle 95%. C'mon Australia. HuffPo
Germany has closed its last fur farm three years ahead of schedule, signalling the end of the fur trade in yet another European country. PETA
Ecologists have confirmed that the Netherlands has its first resident wolf population in 140 years, and that the first Dutch wolf pack could be months away. BBC
Belize has approved a plan to protect 12% of its territorial waters, doubling the size of ocean reserves around the world’s second largest barrier reef. Reuters
15 MARCH 2019 - 29 MARCH 2019
Volkswagen, the largest car manufacturer in the world, responsible for 1% of global carbon emissions, has committed to going fully carbon neutral by 2050. NYT
America has officially entered coal cost crossover. 74% of existing coal plants now cost more to operate than to replace with wind and solar. Utility Dive
Between 10th and 17th March, Germany got 72.6% of its electricity from renewable energy resources. Did someone just say "baseload power?" Renew Economy
In January 2015, at the height of ISIS's power, 7.7 million people were estimated to live under its rule. As of last week, that number is zero. CNN
Between 2010 and 2013, India ran a measles vaccination campaign. A new study estimates that it saved the lives of about 50,000 children. Nature
This year will see almost two billion people in 50 countries vote, the largest number in history. Did someone just say "death of democracy?" Al Jazeera
Indian tech billionaire Azim Premji is giving away $21 billion to philanthropy, the fifth largest endowment in the world and the biggest in Asia. ET Tech
Clever win by animal rights activists. Australia has passed a law that prevents companies using data from animal testing for developing cosmetics. The Age
Deep in the frozen forests of Russia's far east, the Siberian tiger is staging a quiet comeback, thanks to government-led conservation efforts. CBC
23 FEBRUARY 2019 - 14 MARCH 2019
The biggest global story you haven't heard about right now is India's sanitation drive. Since 2014, 90 million toilets have been built, 93% of households now have access, and 500 million people have stopped defecating in the open. Economic Times
California, the fifth largest economy in the world, has reached its 33% clean energy target two years ahead of schedule, and petrol sales are officially decreasing.
The UK, the sixth largest economy in the world, has reduced its carbon emissions for the sixth year in a row. The last time emissions were this low was 1888. Carbon Brief
The Finnish parliament has approved a ban on the use of all coal to produce energy by 2029. After that date, coal will only be allowed in an emergency. Reuters
Canada's poverty rate has reached the lowest level ever recorded. The proportion of people below the poverty line is now 9.5%, down from 15.6% in 2006. CBC
Using a new data-based approach, three cities in the United States have ended chronic homelessness, and nine have ended veteran homelessness. FastCo
In a bid to curb obesity, London's public transport authority will no longer allow advertising for unhealthy food anywhere on its network. BBC
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu, home to 80 million people, has imposed a full ban on the usage, manufacture, storage, supply and sale of single use plastic. ICD
New Zealand just expanded the Kahurangi National Park by 64,000 hectares, the largest addition of land to a national park in the country's history. NZ Herald
In the last five years, Kenya's poaching rates have dropped by 85% for rhinos and 78% for elephants. In 2018, elephant poaching alone dropped by 50%.
9 FEBRUARY 2019 - 22 FEBRUARY 2019
Sales of fossil-fuelled vehicles are now officially on the decline in the world’s three largest car markets: China, Europe and the United States. Clean Technica
Remember bird flu, the disease that was going to be the next global pandemic? There hasn't been a single H5N1 human infection since February 2017. STAT
Global health experts at the UN have recommended that marijuana and its key components be formally rescheduled under international drug treaties. Forbes
Pakistan experienced an unprecedented drop in violence last year. Violence-related casualties declined by 45%, and have dropped by 86% since 2013. The News
The rate of victimisation from violent crimes for teenagers in the United States is now one sixth of what it was in the mid 1990s. Child Trends
The US Senate has passed its most sweeping conservation legislation in a decade, protecting 1.3 million acres and withdrawing 370,000 acres from mining. LA Times
After watching an animated film about abandoned dogs, the mayor of Seoul has announced the city will shut down all remaining dog butcheries. Korea Times
The number of rhinos killed by poachers fell by 25% last year thanks to South Africa's efforts to save the endangered species, the fifth annual decrease in a row.
Satellite data from NASA says that compared to the early 2000s, the planet now has five million extra square kilometres of green leaf area per year – a 5% increase.
25 JANUARY 2019 - 8 FEBRUARY 2019
Germany, the fourth largest consumer of coal on the planet, has announced it will shut down all 84 power plants in the next 19 years. C'mon Australia. LA Times
India added 17.6 GW of power generation capacity in 2018 (the equivalent of nine Hoover Dams) and 74% of it was clean, mostly solar. Clean Technica
Sweden has announced a ban on the sale of gasoline and diesel engines after 2030, joining Denmark, India, the Netherlands, Ireland and Israel. Electrive
As predicted, global terror attacks fell by 33% last year, and deaths halved. Attacks by Daesh fell by 71%. Naturally this was front page news everywhere. IHS
The WHO says there are now adequate supplies of the new Ebola vaccine to control the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. STAT
Big legal milestone for human rights in Europe. Germans can now choose 'diverse' as an option for gender on their birth certificates and other records. NYT
Angola has become the latest African country to decriminalise same-sex conduct, overturning the penal code it inherited from colonisation. HRW
The largest rewilding project in Australian history, the Great Southern Ark, has just begun on the Yorke Peninsula, providing a safe haven for 20 native species.
Tanzania has created a new protected area, the Magombera Reserve, protecting the endangered Udzungwa red colobus monkey and Verdcourt's Polyalthia tree. PSMag
1 JANUARY 2019 - 24 JANUARY 2019
Nothing like a little east west rivalry to speed up the energy transition. New York just one-upped California, committing to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Utility Dive
In the last four years, the Indian government has provided 100 million families with gas connections, meaning they no longer have to cook over wood stoves. The Print
It's now looking very likely that 2018 was the peak year globally for sales of cars with internal combustion engines. The EV revolution is here folks. The Drive
The Powering Past Coal Alliance has added two more countries to its list, with Senegal and Israel announcing that they will stop all use of coal by 2030. Reuters
The Economist is reporting that democracy had a good year in 2018. Only 42 countries experienced a decline, while 48 improved. Progress isn't a straight line.
The Malaysian government has started providing free healthcare insurance for the country's poorest 40%, providing coverage against 36 critical illnesses. Malay Mail
The number of suicides in Japan dropped by 3.4% last year, the ninth annual decrease in a row, and the lowest rate since records began in 1978. Japan Today
The latest Global Terrorism Index says terrorism deaths dropped by 27% in 2017, the third consecutive year of improvement. 2018 is on track to be even better.
The number of financial institutions that fund banned cluster bombs fell from 166 in 2017, to 88 in 2018, and investments fell from $31 billion to $9 billion. Swiss Info
South Korea's ban on plastic bags has just kicked in and so has a ban on single use plastics in Bali, largely thanks to a five year campaign by two teenage sisters.
Argentina has created two new marine parks in the South Atlantic, covering an area of 96,000 square kilometres, bringing total protected ocean waters to 8%. Nat Geo