The Good News You Might Have Missed | Angus Hervey | TED

Summary

This script addresses the fear and despair over global issues by highlighting positive developments in various fields. Despite challenges like climate change and political unrest, it points out significant progress: poverty and disease rates are declining, renewable energy is on the rise, and conservation efforts are expanding. It encourages optimism, emphasizing humanity's capacity for innovation and improvement.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The world is facing numerous challenges, including climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and humanitarian crises.
• 📉 Despite the negative headlines, there have been significant positive developments, such as the decline in extreme poverty and deforestation rates.
• 🏥 Major health achievements have been made, with diseases like Hepatitis C and black fever being eradicated in some countries and a significant drop in global AIDS deaths.
• 💡 The script highlights the potential for optimism, suggesting that progress is possible and that we should focus on the positive stories as well as the negative ones.
• 📊 There has been a reduction in carbon emissions in advanced economies, and advancements in renewable energy are changing the trajectory of our climate future.
• 🌿 Conservation efforts have been successful, with large areas of land and marine environments being protected, and species populations recovering.
• 🚀 Technological and scientific breakthroughs continue to amaze, with advancements in fields such as space travel, genetic editing, and artificial intelligence.
• 📚 Education is improving, with more girls in school and children being fed at school, indicating progress in social development.
• 💼 Economic and social rights are expanding, with several countries legalizing same-sex marriage and passing laws to improve women's rights.
• 🚗 The transition to clean energy is gaining momentum, with electric vehicles becoming more popular and renewable energy technologies growing rapidly.
• 🌐 International cooperation is still possible, as evidenced by global efforts in conservation, disease eradication, and renewable energy development.

Q & A

What is the current global situation described in the script regarding extreme poverty?

The script mentions that extreme poverty has declined to its lowest level in human history, estimated at 8.4 percent.

How has deforestation in the Amazon basin changed recently according to the script?

Deforestation across the entire Amazon basin has declined by 55 percent, as stated in the script.

What progress has been made in the fight against diseases globally in the last 12 months?

A record number of countries have eliminated diseases, including Egypt eliminating Hepatitis C and Bangladesh eliminating black fever. Additionally, global AIDS deaths have declined to their lowest level since the 1990s, down by more than two thirds since their peak.

What significant changes have occurred regarding carbon emissions in advanced economies?

Carbon emissions in advanced economies have declined back to the same level as 50 years ago, according to the script.

How have air pollution levels changed in the world's largest cities?

Air pollution is now falling in 21 of the world's 25 biggest cities, as mentioned in the script.

What advancements have been made in education for girls globally?

There are now 50 million more girls in school today than there were just under a decade ago, as per the script.

What is the current state of global access to water and electricity?

Since the last gathering mentioned in the script, millions of people have gained access to water and tens of millions have gained access to electricity.

What recent advancements have been made in the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community?

In the last 12 months, at least ten countries have passed laws expanding the rights of women, and Estonia and Greece have legalized same-sex marriage. Thailand and Japan are likely to be next, as per the script.

What changes are predicted for China's carbon emissions based on the script?

China’s carbon emissions are now predicted to start falling as early as this year, based on the installation of wind and solar energy.

What is the significance of the advancements in clean energy and electric vehicles mentioned in the script?

The script highlights that a car powered by electrons was the world's best-selling vehicle last year, and batteries are the fastest-growing technology since aircraft were made during World War II. This indicates a significant shift towards clean energy and the momentum for this transition is unstoppable.

How has conservation fared in 2023 according to the script?

The script argues that 2023 was arguably the greatest year ever for conservation, with large tracts of land protected in various regions across the globe and the creation of new marine protected areas.