📈 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.
🚗 Fewer traffic deaths in the US last year
Traffic deaths in the USA decreased by 3.6 percent last year. This marks the second consecutive year of a decrease in deaths, despite an increase in miles driven.
📰 This is what the news could look like
The big news was not how many died in the earthquake in Taiwan, but how many did NOT die
🏢 Thousands of deaths avoided in Taiwan earthquake
Building codes and infrastructure have been strengthened to withstand seismic forces, reducing damage and saving lives. An advanced early warning system and education programs have helped prepare the population.
☯️ Bad and better – at the same time
For the first time, fewer than five million children are dying per year. Fantastic! But... nearly five million dead children, terrible! Hans Rosling taught us that something can be bad and get better at the same time.
👩⚕️ Sharp decline in tuberculosis in Cambodia
The number of tuberculosis deaths has decreased by 45 percent during the 21st century. New cases of tuberculosis have also decreased by 45 percent during the same time period.
☣️ Toxic chemical emissions have decreased by 21% over ten years
Emissions of toxic chemicals in the USA decreased by 21 percent between 2013 and 2022. Over this ten-year period, emissions from manufacturing facilities decreased by 9 percent while the economic value that the manufacturing industry contributed to the American economy increased by 14 percent.
🌽 The Food Price Index has dropped for the seventh consecutive month – the lowest in three years
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that the Food Price Index in February fell to its lowest level in three years. Prices for cereals, especially corn and wheat, decreased by 5 percent.
🌬️ Significantly improved air quality in Europe over the past two decades, study shows
A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health demonstrates significant improvements in air quality across Europe. Levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide have decreased by 1.7-2.7 percent per year.
🐖 Genetically modified pig kidney transplanted into human for the first time
For the first time, surgeons have transplanted a kidney from a genetically modified pig into a living person. This type of kidney could help reduce the shortage of organs.