📈 Human Progress
In the last decades humanity has made great progress with less extreme poverty, increased health, wealth and democracy. We follow in the tradition of professor Hans Rosling.
💣 Historic clearing of ammunition from the Baltic Sea floor
SeaTerra initiates a groundbreaking effort to clear 1.5 million tons of World War II ammunition from the Baltic Sea floor. The company uses the advanced underwater robot Norppa 300 that can work at 300 meters depth around the clock.
🌳 Forests can naturally regrow in area larger than Saudi Arabia, new study shows
Tropical forests can naturally regrow on 215 million hectares of land without trees needing to be planted. If all identified areas were reforested, it would sequester 23.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide over 30 years.
🐕 New project to eradicate rabies in over 50 low-income countries
More than 50 low-income countries can now apply for financial support from Gavi for rabies vaccines and cold storage. North and South America have reduced rabies cases by over 95 percent through dog vaccination.
🚰 Major increase in access to clean water and sanitation in China
Access to safe water in China has increased from 45.7 percent to 91.3 percent between 2000 and 2020. In urban areas, over 95 percent of households now have access to clean water, while rural areas reach 82.4 percent.
💉 Covid vaccines saved 20 million lives during first year of the pandemic
The Covid vaccine saved an estimated 20 million lives globally during the first year the vaccine was available. Data shows that mortality was significantly higher among unvaccinated individuals, particularly during virus outbreaks. At least 25 million people died in the pandemic.
💉 Sudan begins malaria vaccination
Sudan starts malaria vaccination, with 186,000 doses reaching 148,000 children under one year. The vaccine will be administered in 15 areas in the Gedaref and Blue Nile states, with plans to expand to 129 areas during 2025-2026. Sudan has high prevalence with over 3.4 million cases during 2023.
🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon decreases by 30%
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has decreased by 30 percent over the past year, reaching its lowest level since 2015. In Cerrado, Brazil's savanna region, deforestation also decreased by 26 percent, the first reduction in five years.
📉 Lowest poverty level of the 21st century in Latin America
Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean has decreased by 4.7 percentage points between 2021 and 2023. The middle class has grown to 41.1 percent of the population in 2023, the highest level this century.
💊 Weight loss drugs could transform society and save billions
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 20 percent in overweight people with cardiovascular disease. The drugs could save countries $429 billion annually between 2020-2060 if obesity increase slows by 5 percent.