The Brighter Side
Sometimes the state of the world can feel overbearing, especially when there are so many environmental and health crises afflicting everyone. But throughout history, humanity has come out on top time after time. Instead of focusing on all the problems we’ve yet to solve, here are 20 that we successfully addressed. While we still have a way to go, it’s worth celebrating the wins.
1. Acid Rain
You might have heard of acid rain and how it was damaging architecture and hurting people all the same. Well, these sulfurous rains were relevant in the 70s and 80s and were caused by burning fossil fuels. However, a law was passed to implement a cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions, and with restrictions put in place, sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped, making acid rain less relevant than it once was.
2. Silent Spring
In 1962, Rachel Carson wrote a revolutionary book called Silent Spring, which raised awareness on how a pesticide known as DDT was causing birds to go infertile. The book led to an insurgency of DDT bans in 1972, and since then, bird populations have rebounded while farmers turned to safer pest control methods.
3. Gray Wolves
Gray wolves are a significant part of the United States' woodlands and are one of the prime predators inhabiting the country. They’re also a vital part of the ecosystem but have taken a major hit due to hunting and habitat loss. However, they have since been reintroduced to Yellowstone and have been thriving all over.
4. The California Condor
At its lowest, there were only 30 individual California Condors in the 80s. Luckily, humans were able to turn it around for this bird through captive breeding programs. While these birds are still endangered, they’ve begun to sprout up in the wild as well, thanks to the breeding initiatives.
5. City Smog
Smog was another major problem caused by air pollution and was prevalent in cities like Los Angeles and London. However, standardizing emissions and banning the burning of coal helped mitigate this problem. Consider the industrial revolution and the terrible quality of air produced through all those factories—now consider how it’s at least a bit better today.
6. Asbestos
Asbestos is a problem lots of older houses still deal with, but newer constructions know better. In the past, asbestos was used in insulation and contributed to cancer. However, many countries banned and regulated its use, leading to a major decline in asbestos-related ailments.
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7. The Whales
From the 1800s to 1900s, the whaling industry was booming, causing many of these gentle giants to face the threat of extinction. Some species were even reduced by 90% by the 70s. However, the International Whaling Commission would come together to ban the practice, with whale sanctuaries sprouting up and the public gathering together around Save the Whale campaigns. Turns out, eco-tourism around these whales was far more profitable than hunting them, which has helped these numbers boom. While some species are still endangered, others have made major comebacks.
8. Trash Burning
Burning trash used to be an acceptable means of getting rid of garbage, with waste incineration releasing all sorts of harmful particles into the air. But nowadays, humans are much better about managing waste, with clever landfill policies and a promotion of recycling practices. It’s now pretty rare to burn trash in developed countries.
9. Bring Back the Bees
Remember all those campaigns about saving the bees? Well, turns out we succeeded. When bee populations began to decline due to pesticide use and habitat loss, campaigns were launched to improve public awareness and integrate pollinator-friendly agriculture. While it’s not solved, these efforts have helped to stabilize honeybee populations, and we’re beginning to see early signs of improvement.
10. Bald Eagles
Speaking of saving animals, the bald eagles are another example of a creature being brought back from the brink. They were particularly vulnerable to DDT but managed to rebound after pesticide bans and the added layer of legal protection. Now, they’re no longer considered extinct.
11. Phosphate Pollution
If you’re not familiar with algae blooms, they are caused by phosphates in the water. When they do form, they cause eutrophication in lakes, which means they absorb sunlight at the upper layer of the water, preventing nutrients from reaching the plants and fish below. This can degrade and devastate ecosystems but has been improved through the implementation of phosphate-free detergents.
12. Smallpox
Humanity has also had great success eradicating dangerous diseases. For example, smallpox was mostly wiped out in the 80s thanks to stringent vaccination campaigns. Before this, this ailment would claim millions of lives over centuries.
13. Global Communication
While it might not feel like a massive issue now, there was a time when communication was difficult at best. Talking to one another wasn’t as easy as sending a text, as many would have to wait weeks to months for their letters to be returned. But now, through the internet and phones, billions of people are connected like never before.
14. Waterborne Diseases
There was a time when water contamination was relatively common, with E. coli strains and other pathogens getting into the supply. However, humans have modernized and improved wastewater treatment and sanitation infrastructure. This has led to a dramatic decrease in water-related diseases in modern times.
15. Illiteracy
While there are still illiterate people out there, the rate has been reduced by more than half. Girls, especially, have more access than before to education. While this isn’t the case for every country, it has significantly improved through universal education campaigns.
16. Ozone Layer
The hole in the ozone layer was a point of fear for many when news came out. This layer depletion was caused by a chemical called CFC, which was prevalent in aerosols. The Montreal Protocol was enacted in 1987 to minimize the use of CFCs, and ever since then, the ozone layer has been steadily recovering, with scientists predicting it will eventually return to normal.
17. Lead Paint
It’s pretty well known that lead paint is dangerous, but this wasn’t always an accepted fact. However, people began to realize that lead exposure could result in neurological damage, especially in children. This led to the banning of lead-based paints in most countries, and since then, public health has improved in this regard.
18. Polio
Speaking of dangerous ailments, polio was another concerning illness that would cause paralysis and fatality. Once again, the world united to steer massive immunization campaigns. By 1988, the majority of cases were eradicated, with only a few remaining in developing countries.
19. Industrial Waste
Unfortunately, toxic waste still gets dumped into water systems, but now there are stricter regulations and penalties. In the past, this dumping has caused defects and health crises in nearby communities, but programs have since been funded to prevent and mitigate these behaviors. It’s certainly a step in the right direction!
20. Burning Cities
Going back once again, there was a time when fires were completely devastating for cities like London and Tokyo. While forested and dry cities are still in danger, the implementation of fire codes and zoning laws, paired with quick, advanced response, has helped mitigate these issues. Now, urban fires are quite rare in developed cities.
