North & Central America | Peter Schulte

Global suicide rate has fallen by 40% since 1995

By Peter Schulte / April 10, 2026 / 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.

California condors nesting in Pacific Northwest for first time in a century

By Peter Schulte / April 6, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

A pair of California condors reintroduced by the Yurok Tribe appear to be incubating the first egg in the Pacific Northwest in more than a century, nesting inside a hollow old-growth redwood in Redwood National Park in early February 2026. The female, named Ney-gem’ Ne-chween-kah — Yurok for “She carries our prayers” — and her mate were among the first cohort released in 2022 as part of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. The species fell to just 22 individuals in 1982 and has since recovered to 607. The Yurok Tribe began working toward this moment in 2003, driven by the condor’s sacred role in Yurok World Renewal ceremonies and a two-decade commitment to restoring ecological and cultural balance to their ancestral territory.

Canada commits $3.8 billion to protect 30% of the country’s land and water by 2030

By Peter Schulte / April 5, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s $3.8 billion nature conservation strategy on March 31, 2026, committing the world’s second-largest country to protect 30% of its land and 28% of its marine territory by 2030. Two sites launched immediately: the Wiinipaawk Indigenous Protected Area in eastern James Bay and the Seal River Watershed National Park in Manitoba, one of the world’s largest intact watersheds at 50,000 square kilometers. The plan expands the Indigenous Guardians Program by $230 million. Conservation experts say implementation accountability, not the dollar figure, will determine whether Canada’s biodiversity commitments hold this time.

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.

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.

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.

U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery completes historic comeback after 25 years

By Peter Schulte / March 12, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

The West Coast groundfish industry has achieved a monumental recovery 25 years after being declared a federal disaster. Originally reported by Mongabay, the fishery reached a historic milestone in late 2025 when the yelloweye rockfish was declared fully rebuilt, 60 years ahead of schedule. By utilizing catch shares and innovative “light-touch” gear, scientists and fishers successfully restored 10 overfished species to healthy levels. While high monitoring costs remain a challenge, this measured victory serves as a global model for how science-based management can revive both marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

Stanford researchers cure type-1 diabetes in mice with new treatment

By Peter Schulte / March 5, 2026 / Good News For Humankind

Medical researchers at Stanford University have achieved a monumental breakthrough by successfully curing Type 1 diabetes in preclinical animal trials. The innovative treatment utilizes a combination of blood stem cells and insulin-producing islet cells to create a hybrid immune system within the recipient. This reset prevents the body from attacking its own tissues and eliminates the need for lifelong immunosuppressive drugs. With a flawless success rate in reversing the disease in test subjects, this highly translatable procedure offers immense hope for the future of autoimmune disease treatment and human organ transplantation.