Washington State creates first-of-its-kind sea grass and kelp sanctuary to protect marine life
2,300 acres of tidelands in Everett are now off-limits to development for the next 50 years with more likely to come soon.
North & Central America
This archive covers progress stories from North and Central America, spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the countries of Central America. The 1,760 articles here track milestones in areas such as public health, conservation, policy, and community-led initiatives across the region. Browse to find reported evidence of what is working and why.
Toronto releases first-ever Reconciliation Action Plan to repair relationship with Indigenous Peoples
The plan’s 28 goals are spread through five themes, including restoring truth, sharing power, financial reparations, and actions for the Indigenous Affairs Office.
New Jersey’s last two coal plants to close in 2022
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved a petition filed by Atlantic City Electric Co. (ACE) to cease coal-fired generation at the two plants sometime around June 2022.
Panama legally recognizes rights of nature
The new law could have major implications for Panama’s land and energy development policies, which are now required to respect and protect the natural world’s new rights.
Indigenous communities in Oaxaca restore more than 20,000 hectares of land depleted by overgrazing
Many sites have been transformed into burgeoning forests. The communities now have more options for forest-based livelihood, such as agroforestry or even selling carbon credits.
Barcelona cemetery has a new 100% biodegradable burial area
The new 8,600 square-meter park and cemetery is planted with pines and oaks, ready to host 1,500 new, more environmentally-friendly graves.
GE produces world’s largest recyclable wind turbine blade
One University of Cambridge study suggests that there will be 43 million tonnes of blade waste around the world by 2050.
Light-duty plug-in electric vehicle sales in the United States nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021
The rapid growth in plug-in electric vehicle sales from 2020 to 2021 is remarkable in the context of overall light-duty vehicle sales, which increased by only 3% during the same period.
Climate-resilient corals offer viable options for reef restoration, new study shows
In the longest coral resilience experiment ever, researchers found that two coral species cope well with changing ocean conditions and could be used for reef restoration.
Moderna kicks off Phase 1 trial of 3 different mRNA HIV vaccines
The trial is expected to run until mid-2023. By that point it is hoped one of the three formulations will have demonstrated robust immune responses and Phase 2 trials can commence.