Good News | Peter Schulte | Coach for Purpose-Driven Professionals

The U.N. grants international protection to 40 new migratory species

By Peter Schulte / April 2, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

At the CMS COP15 summit in Campo Grande, Brazil, 132 nations expanded UN migratory species protections on March 29, 2026, adding 40 animals — including the snowy owl, giant otter, striped hyena, and great hammerhead shark — to the treaty’s legally binding protection lists. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species now covers more than 1,200 unique species. A new UN interim report released at the summit found that 49% of already-protected species populations are declining and 24% face extinction. The decisions set binding conservation obligations for member nations and signal that coordinated international action remains the strongest tool available to slow wildlife loss.

Washington state enacts historic millionaires’ tax

By Peter Schulte / April 1, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the Millionaires’ Tax into law on March 30, 2026, creating the state’s first-ever tax on income above $1 million. Less than half of 1% of residents will pay it — but millions will benefit. The revenue funds free K-12 school meals, expands the Working Families Tax Credit to 460,000 additional households, cuts taxes for 138,000 small businesses, and invests more than $320 million in affordable childcare. After nearly a century of one of the most regressive tax structures in the country, Washington is rewriting the rules.

Detroit cash aid program for mothers distributes $1.4 million in its first month

By Peter Schulte / March 31, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

Detroit’s Rx Kids cash aid program for mothers enrolled more than 1,100 families and distributed $1.4 million within its first month after launching Feb. 9, 2026 — making Detroit the largest U.S. city to offer universal prenatal cash support. Led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly, the program provides $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for six months post-birth, with no income restrictions. Research from Flint, where Rx Kids launched in 2024, found evictions among eligible mothers dropped 91% and postpartum depression fell significantly. Detroit’s participation could reach every family among the city’s roughly 8,000 annual births.

Indian state of Telangana order over 900 electric buses

By Peter Schulte / March 30, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation awarded a contract for 915 Telangana electric buses to GreenCell Mobility and EKA Mobility in March 2026, the first phase of a planned 2,000-bus deployment in Hyderabad under India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme. The program targets more than 14,000 zero-emission buses across nine major Indian cities, backed by government subsidies and a per-kilometer contract model that reduces financial risk for city transit authorities. India is home to 20 of the world’s 25 most polluted cities, making this shift to zero-emission public transport one of the most consequential clean air investments any government can make.

Chile surpasses 50% ocean protection with the world’s third-largest fully protected marine zone

By Peter Schulte / March 28, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has signed a decree extending full Chile ocean protection to roughly 140,000 square miles around the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks, pushing national coverage past 50% of its exclusive economic zone. Once implemented, the fully protected zone will rank as the third largest in the world, behind the Ross Sea and Papahānaumokuākea. The Organización Comunitaria Funcional Mar de Juan Fernández — a community of fewer than 1,000 people managing a sustainable lobster fishery since 1890 — drove the proposal forward. Their success demonstrates that durable ocean conservation starts with the people who live there.

Los Angeles jury finds tech giants liable in landmark social media safety trial

By Peter Schulte / March 26, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

In a historic verdict for digital accountability, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive features that harm children. The first-of-its-kind ruling awarded $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff, focusing on social media safety and the negligent engineering of “infinite scrolls” and autoplay. While tech companies are expected to appeal, the decision builds on research from the Center for Humane Technology and marks the first time a jury has held platforms responsible for their design choices. This victory provides a major blueprint for protecting the mental health of the next generation.

Wales becomes first part of U.K. to mandate solar panels on new buildings

By Peter Schulte / March 25, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

The Welsh Government has officially updated its national building regulations to require the installation of solar panels on new buildings across the country. This historic move makes Wales the first nation in the United Kingdom to mandate that all new homes and non-domestic structures generate their own clean electricity. While housing experts maintain a measured outlook on the initial construction costs, the policy is designed to dramatically lower energy bills for families and secure national energy independence. This achievement provides a practical blueprint for how modern urban planning can successfully drive the global transition toward a net-zero future.

Bhumika Shrestha becomes Nepal’s first out trans lawmaker

By Peter Schulte / March 25, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

A historic milestone for representation has been reached as Bhumika Shrestha becomes the first out transgender lawmaker in the federal parliament of Nepal. A long-time leader with the Blue Diamond Society, Shrestha was appointed through the nation’s Proportional Representation system to ensure marginalized voices have a seat in the legislature. While activists maintain a measured outlook on the work remaining for marriage equality and rural acceptance, this appointment builds on a 20-year history of legal progress. This achievement provides a powerful regional blueprint for how developing nations can successfully integrate diverse identities into modern, democratic governance.

Monarch butterfly population sees dramatic increase in Mexico wintering grounds

By Peter Schulte / March 25, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

A new survey from the National Alliance for the Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly reveals that the monarch butterfly population in Mexico’s wintering grounds has increased by 176 percent. Data shows the butterflies occupied 2.49 hectares of forest this year, up from 0.9 hectares in the previous season. While researchers maintain a measured outlook because the population remains below historical levels, the growth signals a major victory for habitat protection efforts across North America. This recovery proves that coordinated conservation between three nations can protect the most vulnerable migratory species and ensure a vibrant future.

Survey reveals majority of people worldwize prioritizes environmental protection over economic growth

By Peter Schulte / March 19, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

A groundbreaking study from the University of Vermont, published in Nature Communications, has revealed that eighty-six percent of the global population now prioritizes environmental protection over economic growth. Using data from 1.2 million people across 130 nations via the Gallup World Poll, the research challenges the political myth that citizens are unwilling to sacrifice financial wealth for the planet. While researchers maintain a measured outlook regarding the gap between belief and actual behavior, the high support for a global carbon tax signals a major shift in public will and a historic mandate for leaders.