All Points of Progress
French drains, barrels for rain, and a wind-energy bullet trainProgress roundup: New Orleans聽citizens build聽green infrastructure,聽plus wind-fueled trains in Morocco and a win for coal-mine cleanup in India.
Lowering burdens: Overdraft fees in US, plastic packaging in FranceProgress roundup: Some U.S. banks end a practice that affects low-income people the most, France continues phasing out single-use plastics, and more.
Shut the door, and stay out of the way: Strategies to help wild animalsProgress roundup: Hong Kong bans ivory trade, Costa Rica鈥檚 camera traps prove success of habitat protections, and the new 鈥淕reat Blue Wall鈥� of the Indian Ocean.
City or country, policies that green the landscapeProgress briefs: Planted spaces yield benefits beyond the expected, from urban farms in Argentina to tree growth in Australia enabling species spread.
Animal crossings, and other networks for safetyProgress roundup: A Canadian highway features paths that protect animals and people. In Bangladesh, cyclone preparation means layers of warning. 聽
Moms in school: From teens in Tanzania to college students in USFrom teens in Tanzania to community college students in the U.S., mothers are getting more encouragement and help to stay in school.聽
From around the world, a year鈥檚 worth of high notesOur weekly roundups covered 257 moments of progress in 2021, evidence that humanity is capable of working together to advance a common good.
Amid species loss, the 鈥榦h my鈥� mammals that are doing betterProgress roundup: Amid species loss, conservation and human attitude shifts are bringing back high-profile animals like mountain gorillas and jaguars.
Workers鈥� well-being: Workweek laws and co-ops boost fairnessProgress notes: Workers鈥� quality of life improves as they gain control. For hourly earners, predictable schedules are increasingly a legislated right.
Low-level traffic stops decrease; Saudi women in the workplace increaseProgress roundup: Governments are giving more freedom to those who鈥檝e been denied it, from women in Saudi Arabia to Black drivers in U.S. cities.
Feeling at home: Accessibility in US parks; rights for Thai forest dwellersProgress roundup: legal protection for forest inhabitants in northern Thailand; and in the U.S.,聽better park accessibility for people with autism.
Shifting the conversation: From diverse boardrooms to hotlines for menOur progress roundup highlights getting new voices into the conversation, from men who are calling hotlines to boardrooms increasing in diversity.聽
Can courts be compassionate, in crime prevention and punishment?Progress roundup: In Brazil, a court condemns a past dictatorship鈥檚 crimes. In the U.S., red flag laws are removing guns from hands deemed dangerous.
From rainforest to row houses, honoring rights to homeProgress roundup: Australia returns land to Indigenous residents, and in U.S. cities, aggregated data helps citizens curb urban blight and evictions.
Ways to weave a safety net: Free college and alternative justiceProgress roundup: Young adults aging out of foster care and repeat offenders needing treatment are two different groups targeted with more services.
Conserving species and specimens, from tuna to treesIn our progress roundup, conservation measures are looking after an Italian tree with connections to St. Francis, and tunas fished around the world.
Protecting the 鈥楢mazon of Europe鈥� and a small Aussie bandicootAnimal gains: Our progress roundup includes a healthier marsupial, an animal-testing ban in Mexico, and a new UNESCO, five-nation biosphere reserve.
Leaded gas dies. And carbon-free fusion power inches closer.Progress roundup: Clean energy and air are featured in three briefs this week. In Iceland, the world鈥檚 largest carbon capture plant is up and running.
New respect for Black hair in Illinois, and for Josephine Baker in FranceProgress roundup: A preschooler鈥檚 mom who braided her son鈥檚 hair and the family of a Jazz Age icon both made their cases for respect 鈥� and won.
Taking better care of people: Silver Alerts, non-English driver鈥檚 testsIn our progress roundup, Arizona includes intellectual disabilities in its Silver Alerts, and Namibia recognizes native tongues in its driver鈥檚 test.
