|
| |
When the clock struck midnight on December 31st, it marked the end of the first quarter of the 21st century. The past 25 years have brought remarkable technological advances and progress on a range of issues, such as:
- ? Energy efficiency improvements and rising renewable energy production are bringing hope for a lower carbon future.
- ⚕️ Breakthroughs in genomics, disease treatment, and surgical technologies have led to faster diagnoses and improved patient outcomes for a range of conditions.
- ♀️ Women’s representation in business and political offices grew. Case in point: 58 women lead Fortune 500 companies today, up from two in 2000.
- ? Smartphones transformed daily life for billions of people, increasing access to information and making it easier to connect with others.
These are just a few of the many signs of progress, and 2024 alone was filled with significant milestones and discoveries. Vox recently spotlighted nine good things that happened last year, and Reasons to Cheer has an impressive 144 reasons to celebrate.
We know that the news can sometimes get you down. That’s why every month, Breaking Good strives to bring you stories of hope and inspiration to provide a little balance in your inbox.
Below, we feature several stories that we hope will bring you hope for 2025 and the next quarter of a century.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Fighting Fire with Innovation
|
When looking through the photos of California’s devastating wildfires and hearing the harrowing tales of LA residents, it’s heartening to find stories of fearless individuals who risked their lives to save others: firefighters directing hoses toward the flames, helicopter pilots dropping water over the burning hills, and police officers carrying people to safety.
We salute the many emergency workers and ordinary citizens working tirelessly to quell the flames and save lives. The tales of neighbors helping neighbors are wonderful to see amongst so much heartache. We also applaud the people working behind the scenes, including innovators exploring new ways to prevent and fight future fires.
A growing number of firetech entrepreneurs are developing innovative solutions in response to growing wildfire threats worldwide. The New York Times recently highlighted several Silicon Valley startups using automation, robotics, and other high-tech methods to speed up laborious fire-prevention efforts.
Entrepreneurs in Europe have similar aspirations. They’re introducing new sensors, cameras, and satellite systems to detect smoke and flames before they get out of control. Drones with fire suppression technology also hold significant promise.
The recent fires show the pressing need for these emerging solutions. We’re thankful for the individuals who are letting urgency conquer fear and dedicating their careers to help prevent future catastrophes. |
| |
|
| Impacting Investing Trends to Watch in 2025 |
| What’s in store for impact investing in 2025? Impact Investor features predictions from nine industry insiders. If their outlooks prove correct, we could see a renewed focus on the working class, more investment in emerging markets, and increased investment in nature-based solutions. For more crystal ball gazing, check out GIIN’s seven trends to watch in the new year. |
| |
|
Sustainable Investing on the Rise
|
| The US market for sustainable investments is worth $6.5 trillion, or 12% of the overall investment market, according to a US SIF report. Researchers highlighted direct impact investing and community investing as bright spots, with growing enthusiasm across multiple types of investors. Nearly three-quarters of survey respondents plan to maintain or increase prioritization of impact investing strategies. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Spotlighting Black Innovators
|
| From health tech and biodesign to venture capital and the creator economy, Black innovators are reshaping industries, launching transformative products, and empowering communities worldwide. People of Color in Tech recently featured five inspiring individuals leaving their mark on health tech, finance, app development, and more. |
| |
|
| Empowering Entrepreneurs with Disabilities |
| A new pre-accelerator program aims to help people with disabilities who have ideas for tech-driven startups. Venture Labs’ four-week program is designed to help founders validate, test, and showcase their ideas. Along with providing education and mentorship, the program strives to create community and combat loneliness – a common issue for entrepreneurs with disabilities. |
| |
|
Keeping Sustainable Resolutions
|
| If you resolved to live a more sustainable lifestyle in 2025, Triple Pundit has a list of “low-lift shifts” that might help you keep your resolution. From cutting food waste to avoiding overconsumption, the ideas show that living a greener life can be low-stress and good for your wallet, too. |
| |
|
|
