Nations

Bolivian flag

Bolivia bans child marriage

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a major victory for children’s rights, Bolivia has passed a law that officially bans child marriage. This landmark legislation, which makes Bolivia the 14th country in Latin America to take this step, eliminates legal loopholes that had previously allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. The change is the result of a four-year campaign by groups like Save the Children, and it’s a powerful move to protect children from violence and ensure they have a chance at a healthy future.

Man holding Palestinian flag

France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco formally recognize Palestinian statehood

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a landmark diplomatic moment, France, Belgium, and a coalition of other European nations have formally recognized a Palestinian state. The coordinated effort, announced at the United Nations General Assembly, is a powerful affirmation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. This is a significant step toward a two-state solution, demonstrating a growing international consensus that a stable peace in the Middle East requires a sovereign Palestine existing alongside Israel.

Palestinian flags

Britain, Australia, and Canada formally recognize a Palestinian state

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a landmark move, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized Palestine as an independent state.
This diplomatic action, hailed as a major step toward a two-state solution, is a powerful affirmation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. The coordinated effort signals a growing international consensus that a stable and lasting peace requires a sovereign Palestinian state existing alongside Israel.
While this move is largely symbolic and does nothing to mitigate the suffering happening in Gaza every day, it is perhaps still a moment of hope, demonstrating that diplomacy and international law can be key tools in resolving long-standing conflicts and moving toward justice.

Sea water crashing against rocks

Japan opens landmark osmotic power plant

By / / Good News For Humankind

A groundbreaking development has put osmotic power back on the map as a viable clean energy source. Japan has opened the world’s second large-scale osmotic power plant, a facility in Fukuoka prefecture that turns the natural mixing of freshwater and saltwater into electricity. This milestone proves that this technology is moving beyond the lab. It offers a new model for continuous, emissions-free power generation that can be integrated into existing infrastructure, providing a stable complement to intermittent sources like solar and wind.

Wind turbines on a farm

Wind and solar power fuel over one-third of Brazil’s electricity for first time

By / / Good News For Humankind

Brazil has reached a clean energy milestone: in August, wind and solar supplied more than one-third of the country’s electricity for the first time. This rapid growth has cut emissions, created thousands of jobs, and reduced dependence on hydropower, which is increasingly vulnerable to drought. According to the International Energy Agency and World Bank, Brazil now leads emerging economies in showing how renewables can meet rising demand while slashing carbon pollution. The achievement positions Brazil as the only G20 nation currently on track to meet its COP28 renewable energy commitments.

Oil rig at sunset

Guatemala closes massive oil field

By / / Good News For Humankind

Guatemala has permanently closed the Xan oil field in Laguna del Tigre National Park, marking a major shift from fossil fuel extraction to forest protection. The site, once responsible for nearly 90% of the country’s oil production, will now serve as a security base to curb illegal logging, ranching, and trafficking in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Conservation groups and local communities have welcomed the move, while the government is also investing in renewable energy and new conservation funds. The closure signals hope for safeguarding biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community resilience across Central America’s largest tropical forest.

Coral

The Philippines protects massive coral hotspot

By / / Good News For Humankind

A significant victory for marine conservation has been achieved in the Philippines, where a new law establishes a vast marine protected area off Panaon Island. The legally protected seascape covers approximately 151,000 acres and is home to some of the world’s most climate-resilient coral reefs. This action, championed by local communities and a multi-year effort, not only safeguards endangered species but also supports the livelihoods of local fisherfolk.

Wind turbines in the desert

Clean energy to provide one-third of India’s utility electricity for first time ever

By / / Good News For Humankind

India’s energy sector is experiencing a monumental shift, marked by a record 20% surge in clean electricity generation in the first half of 2025. This significant increase, fueled by wind and solar power, has allowed the country to reduce its fossil fuel output by 4%. The growing share of clean power in India’s energy mix demonstrates that robust economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive goals.

Fly

Kenya declared free of deadly sleeping sickness by WHO

By / / Good News For Humankind

Kenya has officially eliminated sleeping sickness as a public health problem—becoming the tenth country worldwide and the fifth in Africa to reach this milestone. The disease, spread by tsetse flies, causes fever, swollen lymph nodes and, if untreated, severe damage to the nervous system, disrupting sleep and leading to coma or death. Kenya recorded its last local case in 2009 and its last imported cases in 2012 after years of investment in surveillance, diagnostics and fly control. With WHO validation, Kenya’s success strengthens Africa’s collective drive to eliminate sleeping sickness across the continent by 2030.

Fishing people in Ghana

Ghana passes landmark legislation to protect artisanal fisheries

By / / Good News For Humankind

Ghana has enacted the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act of 2025, a landmark reform that strengthens protections for its artisanal fishing communities. The law doubles the inshore exclusion zone (IEZ) from 6 to 12 nautical miles, effectively banning industrial trawlers from critical coastal waters and safeguarding vital breeding grounds. It also introduces mandatory electronic monitoring on industrial vessels, tougher penalties for illegal activity, and greater autonomy for the Fisheries Commission in managing marine resources. Signed into law by President Mahama on August 19, the reform is widely seen as a major step toward rebuilding overfished stocks, defending livelihoods, and positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable West African fisheries management.