⚡ Almost everyone in the world now has access to electricity …
Since 2010, access to electricity expanded from 84% to 92% of people worldwide, even as global population swelled by over a billion. The share of humanity still without power dropped from 1.1 billion to 655 million. IEA
👁️ El Salvador conquered a tropical eye disease …
In just three years, the country eliminated trachoma through improved sanitation, vision screenings, and clean water initiatives, becoming Central America’s first to do so and joining 64 nations that have vanquished this neglected tropical disease. WHO
Andy DeMeo’s notes: “This story sticks out to me because the elimination of trachoma is one of these really under appreciated progress stories. Last year, seven countries accomplished this, meaning millions of people are no longer at risk of a debilitating eye infection, yet the story is largely absent from the media because it happened slowly and gradually.”
🌍 The UN’s development agenda delivered tangible progress …
While 2030 sustainability targets won’t all be met, the world has achieved remarkable milestones: Internet connectivity surged from 40% to 74%, a billion more people gained safe drinking water, 1.5 billion more accessed proper sanitation, and disease and hunger have declined substantially. UN
Andy DeMeo’s notes: “Note how the dominant media narrative will be around the ‘failure’ to achieve the goals, rather than the extraordinary progress that has been made.”
