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!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
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State/Province
Institution
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Filters
Search
Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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2021 C.E. December 13Dubai becomes world’s first paperless government, saves over 336 million papers
With the Dubai Paperless Strategy fully implemented, no employee or customer of the Dubai Government will need to print any paper documents or transactions, unless they personally prefer to do so.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Developers cancel Oregon pipeline and natural gas export terminal
The $8 billion, three-foot-wide, 229-mile-long pipeline would have carried methane-based gas from Canada to the Oregon facility where it would have been shipped to international markets.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Scotland ends all coal power
Scotland has marked the end of its coal-powered history by demolishing the huge chimney at its last remaining coal plant at Longannet in Fife.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Nevada becomes first U.S. state to recognize gay marriage in state constitution
Nevada voters overturned an 18-year-old ban on same-sex marriage, making the state the first to enshrine gay couples’ right to marry in its constitution.
-
2021 C.E. December 9Humanity achieves 59% decline in deaths of children under five since 1990
The progress may be the result of related efforts like improved nutrition, housing, water, sanitation, education, and financial security, as well as the availability of health services worldwide.
-
2021 C.E. December 9Canada bans conversion therapy
As of January 7, 2022 it will be a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to cause another person to undergo conversion therapy.
-
2021 C.E. December 9United Arab Emirates is adopting a 4.5-day work week and a Saturday-Sunday weekend
The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE government's efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE's economic competitiveness.
-
2021 C.E. December 9United Airlines logs first-ever commercial flight powered entirely with biofuels
Made up of fats, cooking oils, and grease produced by the company World Energy, this "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" is said to emit 80% less carbon dioxide than traditional fuels.
-
2021 C.E. December 8Wind becomes largest source of electricity for first time in Turkey
Turkey has prioritized the security of its energy supply as one of the central pillars of its energy strategy, leading to efforts to boost investments in the clean energy sector.
-
2021 C.E. December 8Countries with regulations against industrially produced trans fats tripled over the past year
Forty countries now have best-practice trans fat elimination policies in effect, protecting 1.4 billion people from this deadly food compound, according to new WHO report.
-
2021 C.E. December 13Dubai becomes world’s first paperless government, saves over 336 million papers
With the Dubai Paperless Strategy fully implemented, no employee or customer of the Dubai Government will need to print any paper documents or transactions, unless they personally prefer to do so.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Developers cancel Oregon pipeline and natural gas export terminal
The $8 billion, three-foot-wide, 229-mile-long pipeline would have carried methane-based gas from Canada to the Oregon facility where it would have been shipped to international markets.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Scotland ends all coal power
Scotland has marked the end of its coal-powered history by demolishing the huge chimney at its last remaining coal plant at Longannet in Fife.
-
2021 C.E. December 10Nevada becomes first U.S. state to recognize gay marriage in state constitution
Nevada voters overturned an 18-year-old ban on same-sex marriage, making the state the first to enshrine gay couples’ right to marry in its constitution.
-
2021 C.E. December 9Humanity achieves 59% decline in deaths of children under five since 1990
The progress may be the result of related efforts like improved nutrition, housing, water, sanitation, education, and financial security, as well as the availability of health services worldwide.
-
2021 C.E. December 9Canada bans conversion therapy
As of January 7, 2022 it will be a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to cause another person to undergo conversion therapy.
-
2021 C.E. December 9United Arab Emirates is adopting a 4.5-day work week and a Saturday-Sunday weekend
The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE government's efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE's economic competitiveness.
-
2021 C.E. December 9United Airlines logs first-ever commercial flight powered entirely with biofuels
Made up of fats, cooking oils, and grease produced by the company World Energy, this "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" is said to emit 80% less carbon dioxide than traditional fuels.
-
2021 C.E. December 8Wind becomes largest source of electricity for first time in Turkey
Turkey has prioritized the security of its energy supply as one of the central pillars of its energy strategy, leading to efforts to boost investments in the clean energy sector.
-
2021 C.E. December 8Countries with regulations against industrially produced trans fats tripled over the past year
Forty countries now have best-practice trans fat elimination policies in effect, protecting 1.4 billion people from this deadly food compound, according to new WHO report.
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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.