Landmark ruling blocks mining in Ecuadorian forest, citing rights of nature
Ecuador’s constitutional court has blocked plans to mine copper and gold in Los Cedros, a protected cloud forest, ruling that the plans violate the rights of nature.
Today (2017 C.E. - 2025 C.E.)
This archive spans the years 2017 through 2025, a period marked by rapid advances in clean energy, medicine, technology, and social equity. It collects documented breakthroughs, policy wins, and scientific achievements from the present era. If you want evidence that progress is real and ongoing, this is where to look.
China announces planting of Belgium-sized forests and expanded national parks
14,000 square-miles of new forest will go up every year, particularly in drought-prone regions of the North and West.
New York City opens the U.S.’s first safe injection site
The sites, intended to reduce overdose deaths, will serve as a safe place for drug users to inject heroin and other drugs under the supervision of medical professionals.
Researchers disable long-targeted gene behind spread of major cancers
Princeton University researchers have discovered what they call a “silver bullet” in the form of a compound that can disable the gene that allows most major cancers to metastasize in mice and human tissue.
Assisted dying is rapidly becoming legal and accepted – currently in 11 countries and 10 U.S. states
Since 2015, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, Colombia, Germany, Austria, Portugal, five Australian states, ten American states, and D.C. have legalized assisted dying.
New Zealand becomes first country in the world to fully legalize drug checking
The new law allows individuals to test the safety of illicit substances at festivals and other locations without the fear of legal repercussions.
Nissan to spend $18 billion developing a cheaper, more powerful EV battery
Nissan says its solid-state battery will cut charging time by two thirds and help its EVs to achieve cost-parity with gas-powered cars.
Chile elects its first transgender official to their national legislature
Trans woman and activist Emilia Schneider became the first trans person to win an election to the Chilean legislature this week.
Jaguar populations in Mexico are growing, a sign that conservation strategies are working
The first surveys to count jaguars in Mexico revealed a 20% increase in the population from 2010 to 2018, up to 4,800 animals.
Milan enacts groundbreaking strategy to cut food waste in half
Milan is the world’s first major city to enforce a citywide food waste policy, relying on the wide-ranging cooperation of public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities, and private businesses.