Today (2017 C.E. - 2025 C.E.)

Bird in Ghanaian forest

Ghana repeals legislation that opened forest reserves to mining

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a historic win for conservation, the Parliament of Ghana has repealed L.I. 2462, effectively banning mining activities in the country’s protected forest reserves. This decision follows months of intense advocacy from a coalition of labor unions, religious groups, and environmental organizations. The repeal safeguards critical watersheds that provide drinking water to millions and protects vital habitats for endangered species. This legislative reversal marks a decisive shift toward sustainable development and restores the legal sanctity of Ghana’s natural heritage.

Pills and syringe

Fentanyl overdose deaths in the U.S. are now falling sharply

By / / Good News For Humankind

The United States is seeing a dramatic decline in fentanyl overdose deaths, with new data showing a drop of approximately 33% in 2024 after the crisis peaked at 76,000 deaths in 2023. Preliminary findings suggest continued double-digit reductions in 2025. This positive trend is driven by successful diplomatic efforts to cut off precursor chemicals from China, disrupting the supply chain. Simultaneously, the widespread availability of naloxone and expanded access to addiction treatment are saving lives domestically.

Bison on a plain

Major rewilding effort removes 100 miles of fencing across the Great Plains of Montana

By / / Good News For Humankind

Led by the American Prairie Reserve, this initiative relies on volunteers to clear abandoned barbed wire that endangers wildlife and fragments habitat. The removal reopens ancient migration corridors for species like pronghorn antelope and elk, allowing them to move freely across the landscape. This project restores the natural beauty of the prairie and serves as a powerful model for reconnecting fragmented ecosystems nationwide.

Illustration of the concept of nuclear fusion

China achieves breakthrough in fusion reactor plasma density

By / / Good News For Humankind

China has achieved a major breakthrough in the quest for viable fusion power with its experimental EAST reactor in Hefei, Anhui Province. The device shattered a world record by sustaining plasma at 158 million degrees Fahrenheit for over 17 minutes. This engineering feat proves that the extreme conditions needed for fusion can be stabilized for long durations. The breakthrough is a critical step in the global effort to develop abundant, safe, carbon-free energy supplies and combat climate change.

Faroe Islands town

The Faroe Islands legalizes abortion

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a landmark victory for reproductive freedom, the Faroe Islands parliament has voted to legalize abortion, ending one of Europe’s most restrictive bans. The new law allows for abortion on demand up to the 12th week of pregnancy, aligning the archipelago with its Nordic neighbors. This historic change removes the need for women to travel to Denmark for care, ensuring access to essential medical services at home. The decision is a triumph for grassroots activists who campaigned for years to modernize the nation’s healthcare laws.

Rhino along a river

India’s rhino stronghold records zero poaching cases in 2025

By / / Good News For Humankind

This achievement marks the second time in five years that the state has successfully protected its world-famous one-horned rhinoceros population from poachers. Before the initial success in 2022, Assam had not seen a zero-poaching year since 1977. This milestone is critical for global biodiversity, as Assam is home to roughly 70% of the world’s greater one-horned rhinos.

China unveils world-first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generator

By / / Good News For Humankind

China has achieved a major engineering milestone with the operation of Chaoton One, a large-scale power generator located in Shandong Province. This technology moves beyond traditional steam, utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide to drive smaller, more powerful turbines. The unit is expected to deliver a 50% increase in net electricity generation compared to current steam technologies. Furthermore, it improves overall power generation efficiency by over 85%, reducing both fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Woman in the shadows

New York State enacts new law offering sexual assault survivors stronger protections

By / / Good News For Humankind

The legislation, now signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, mandates strict timelines for hospitals and law enforcement to collect and process evidence kits, integrating medical facilities into the state’s tracking system. It sets clear deadlines for police to retrieve kits for forensic testing. The law also quadruples the preservation period for unreported kits to 20 years, ensuring survivors have the time and control needed to seek justice on their own terms.

Los Angeles skyline

Los Angeles County erases $363 million in medical debt

By / / Good News For Humankind

This initiative, funded by a $5 million investment from County general funds, provides direct relief to more than 153,000 low-income residents. Partnering with the non-profit Undue Medical Debt, the county purchased unpayable debt portfolios to wipe the slate clean for families. This decisive action removes financial barriers to care, improves credit scores, and advances health equity across the region.

Bees

Stingless bees from the Amazon granted legal rights in world first

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a historic environmental breakthrough, the Peruvian municipalities of Satipo and Nauta have become the first in the world to grant legal rights to native stingless bees. The ordinances recognize the bees’ right to exist and flourish, protecting them from threats like deforestation and invasive Africanized honeybees. This legislation integrates the traditional knowledge of the Asháninka and Kukama-Kukamiria peoples with modern law. It allows human guardians to represent the bees in court, setting a powerful new precedent for protecting biodiversity through the Rights of Nature.