The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3788
social change milestones archived
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- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
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Era
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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2018 C.E. January 2Transgender individuals may now openly join the U.S. military
Starting today, transgender individuals may openly join the U.S. military, this despite stiff opposition from President Trump.
-
2018 C.E. January 2U.K. scientists claim they found a drug that significantly reverses memory loss
A team at Lancaster University in the U.K. has discovered that a drug designed to treat type 2 diabetes may hold the key to fighting the memory loss that accompanies Alzheimer's disease.
-
2017 C.E. December 28A ‘smog vacuum’ will clean China’s air, turning pollution into jewelry
The two-story Smog Free Tower is an extra-large air purifier that acts as a vacuum, cleaning almost 40,000 cubic yards of air each hour and leaving a more breathable zone in the space around the tower, according to the design studio.
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2017 C.E. December 28Breakthrough as US and China agree to ratify Paris climate deal
The United States and China, the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, have announced they will formally ratify the Paris climate change agreement in a move campaigners immediately hailed as a significant advance in the battle against global warming.
-
2017 C.E. December 28
China bans its ivory trade, moving against elephant poaching
China announced on Friday that it was banning all commerce in ivory by the end of 2017, a move that would shut down the world's largest ivory market and could deal a critical blow to the practice of elephant poaching in Africa.
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2017 C.E. December 28China committed to battling climate change – even if the U.S. drops out of Paris accord
The good news is that China will stick with its pledge to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 or sooner, according to Chen Zhihua of the NDRC, China's Chief Climate Negotiator.
-
2017 C.E. December 28China to create “forest city” to fight air pollution
Stefano Boeri, the architect famous for his plant-covered skyscrapers, has designs to create entire new green settlements in a nation plagued by dirty air
-
2017 C.E. December 28
China’s carbon emissions have dropped for the last two years
China's coal use and carbon emissions have dropped for the last two years. In 2015, China cut its coal use 3.7 percent and its emissions declined an estimated 12 percent, following similar decreases in 2014.
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2017 C.E. December 22U.N. votes overwhelmingly to condemn U.S. decision on Jerusalem
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly rejected the Trump administration's decision to recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
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2017 C.E. December 22United Kingdom vows to make access to broadband speed internet a legal right for its citizens
Earlier this year, the passage of the Digital Economy Act ensured that by 2020, all residents of the UK will have the right to demand broadband service at speeds of at least 10 Mbps (compromised down from 30 Mbps) through a provision in the law called the Universal Service Obligation.
-
2018 C.E. January 2Transgender individuals may now openly join the U.S. military
Starting today, transgender individuals may openly join the U.S. military, this despite stiff opposition from President Trump.
-
2018 C.E. January 2U.K. scientists claim they found a drug that significantly reverses memory loss
A team at Lancaster University in the U.K. has discovered that a drug designed to treat type 2 diabetes may hold the key to fighting the memory loss that accompanies Alzheimer's disease.
-
2017 C.E. December 28A ‘smog vacuum’ will clean China’s air, turning pollution into jewelry
The two-story Smog Free Tower is an extra-large air purifier that acts as a vacuum, cleaning almost 40,000 cubic yards of air each hour and leaving a more breathable zone in the space around the tower, according to the design studio.
-
2017 C.E. December 28Breakthrough as US and China agree to ratify Paris climate deal
The United States and China, the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, have announced they will formally ratify the Paris climate change agreement in a move campaigners immediately hailed as a significant advance in the battle against global warming.
-
2017 C.E. December 28
China bans its ivory trade, moving against elephant poaching
China announced on Friday that it was banning all commerce in ivory by the end of 2017, a move that would shut down the world's largest ivory market and could deal a critical blow to the practice of elephant poaching in Africa.
-
2017 C.E. December 28China committed to battling climate change – even if the U.S. drops out of Paris accord
The good news is that China will stick with its pledge to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 or sooner, according to Chen Zhihua of the NDRC, China's Chief Climate Negotiator.
-
2017 C.E. December 28China to create “forest city” to fight air pollution
Stefano Boeri, the architect famous for his plant-covered skyscrapers, has designs to create entire new green settlements in a nation plagued by dirty air
-
2017 C.E. December 28
China’s carbon emissions have dropped for the last two years
China's coal use and carbon emissions have dropped for the last two years. In 2015, China cut its coal use 3.7 percent and its emissions declined an estimated 12 percent, following similar decreases in 2014.
-
2017 C.E. December 22U.N. votes overwhelmingly to condemn U.S. decision on Jerusalem
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly rejected the Trump administration's decision to recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
-
2017 C.E. December 22United Kingdom vows to make access to broadband speed internet a legal right for its citizens
Earlier this year, the passage of the Digital Economy Act ensured that by 2020, all residents of the UK will have the right to demand broadband service at speeds of at least 10 Mbps (compromised down from 30 Mbps) through a provision in the law called the Universal Service Obligation.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.