Humankind

Aerial view of solar array

Renewables now make up at least 49% of global power capacity

By / / Good News For Humankind

Renewable energy reached 49.4% of total global installed power capacity by end of 2025, up from 46.3% in 2024, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026. The world added 692 gigawatts of new renewable capacity last year — the largest annual addition ever recorded — with solar alone contributing 511 gigawatts. Africa recorded its highest renewable expansion on record, and the Middle East its fastest-ever growth. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera noted that countries investing in renewables are absorbing the current Middle East energy crisis with measurably less economic damage than fossil-fuel-dependent economies.

Global suicide rate has fallen by 40% since 1995

By / / Good News For Humankind

A landmark study published in The Lancet Public Health by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington found that the global age-standardized suicide mortality rate fell nearly 40% between 1990 and 2021 — from 15 deaths per 100,000 people to nine. The decline was driven by measurable interventions including restrictions on toxic pesticides, expanded mental health services, and national prevention strategies. Female suicide rates fell more than 50% globally over the period. Roughly 740,000 people still die by suicide each year, and rates have risen in parts of Latin America and North America, underscoring that progress is real but uneven — and that further investment in evidence-based prevention can save more lives.

"One World" sign

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

By / / 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.

Wind turbine

Humanity on track to triple renewable capacity by 2030 since 2023 pledge

By / / Good News For Humankind

The Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, formalized at COP28 in 2023, committed nearly 200 countries to ambitious renewable energy goals.
Since that pledge, the pace of new installations has surged, with an average of over 550 gigawatts (GW) of new renewables capacity added annually, according to data from energy think tank Ember. To meet the tripling target, analysts say, renewable additions need to grow by just 12% each year from 2026 to 2030.
This massive, coordinated push is critical for keeping the crucial 1.5°C warming limit within reach.

Wind turbines with rising sun in background

Renewables overtake coal as world’s largest source of electricity

By / / Good News For Humankind

Global renewable energy generation is set to surpass coal power for the first time in history, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). New global capacity additions are expected to exceed 750 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, driven overwhelmingly by solar and wind power. This record-breaking growth confirms that clean energy is now the most affordable and dominant source of new power worldwide, establishing a firm trajectory for global decarbonization.

Hong Kong traffic

Global EV sales up 27% in 2025 despite political headwinds

By / / Good News For Humankind

Global EV sales have soared by 27% in 2025, demonstrating that the move to climate-friendly electric vehicles is an unstoppable market-driven transition.
This phenomenal growth continued despite significant anti-electrification policies and political headwinds coming from the U.S. market.
The surge is delivering significant benefits, eliminating harmful tailpipe emissions to improve public health and protect planetary systems, fueled by rapidly falling battery costs and strong global demand.

Solar farm

Global solar installations up 64% so far this year

By / / Good News For Humankind

Global solar installations are soaring, with a record-breaking 380 gigawatts of new capacity added in the first half of 2025 alone. This unprecedented surge, documented in a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), solidifies solar’s position as the world’s fastest-growing power source. This rapid pace of development is not only a major win for the climate but also a powerful driver of energy independence for nations worldwide.

Air pollution from a coal plant

Global mercury emissions have fallen 70% over last four decades

By / / Good News For Humankind

Gold mining, coal burning, and cement and nonferrous metals production all release several thousand tons of mercury into the atmosphere every year, leading to tens of thousands of deaths worldwide. However, a team of Chinese scientists from schools in Tianjin, Beijing, Tibet, and Nanjing has found that mercury concentrations in the atmosphere have reduced by a staggering 70% since a peak in the year 2000.

Solar farm

Renewable energy now handles 40% of global electricity needs

By / / Good news links

According to a new report from U.K. think tank Ember, clean energy accounted for 40.9% of electricity produced worldwide in 2024. The push past the 40% mark was fueled by an unprecedented growth in solar, significant contributions from wind, a recovery in hydropower, and a small rise in nuclear power. China and the E.U. demonstrated the most remarkable increases in clean electricity generation, meeting 81% and 71% of their new electricity demand from renewables in 2024, respectively.