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Air pollution: New attempts to tackle Cairo's black cloud

Mariam Rizk

March 07, 2017 |

BBC |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Egypt, Cairo

For many years, the city of Cairo has been dealing with dense smog, known as the "black cloud," that covers the city. This air pollution was initially set off by farmers burning surplus crops, but now is the cause of 42% of the nation's air pollution, according to the Egyptian Environment Ministry. Now, the government is taking action to fight against the smog with new programs and fees, aided by the inventions created by members of the Cairo community.

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How China is Cleaning its Air

Mukul Devichand

March 05, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: China, Beijing, Jingjinji

Air pollution is a huge problem for China, but surprisingly, the Air Quality Index in several cities is improving because of a variety of experimental projects that are being rolled out and a number of clever pollution solutions from around the country.

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Building Better Cities

Russell Beard, Juliana Schatz

March 05, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Colombia, Cali, Valle del Cauca

By 2050 the percentage of the world's population living in cities will increase to two-thirds with significant environmental strains. In Colombia, a company called Conceptos Plasticos collects recyclable plastic material, melts it down and moulds it into bricks used to build houses for the local community. Singapore too, is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable urban solutions including vertical farms and living buildings.

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Seeds of Commerce: Saving Native Plants in the Heart of Appalachia

Nancy Averett

March 02, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Asheville, North Carolina

As climate change continues to threaten the survival of native plants species and the health of the eco-systems they support, the North Carolina Arboretum’s Germplasm Repository is taking a clever new approach to the preservation of native plant seeds: pushing to capitalize on their commercial value. Plant physiologists like Joe-Ann McCoy know that the best method for saving many species may also create jobs and boost local economies, when businesses start leveraging the medicinal uses of native plants for products like herbal supplements.

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Is your kid absent more than classmates? School ‘nudge' letters tell parents just how much

Neal Morton

March 02, 2017 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tacoma, Washington

Adapting tactics that have helped persuade homeowners to use less electricity by comparing them to their neighbors, schools in Tacoma and other school districts across the nation are trying to boost student attendance with “nudge” letters. These nudges compare students’ attendance rates with school and district averages. Research has shown that the nudges reduces chronic absenteeism.

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Why Is Finland Able to Fend Off Putin's Information War?

Reid Standish

March 01, 2017 |

Foreign Policy |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Finland

Identifying and combating propaganda is imperative for an informed public to have a sense of identity and make political decisions. In Finland, a “public diplomacy” program is countering Russian propaganda by better understanding how false information spreads.

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How to Fight a Soaring Drug Price: Innovate

Shefali Luthra

February 28, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Milbridge, Maine

Throughout the country, issues of health care exclusivity and rising drug prices are being addressed with creative solutions. Innovating new medicines and medicine deliver systems, such as an alternative EpiPen, is proving to be a helpful way to work around these surging prices.

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M-Pesa: Kenya's mobile money success story turns 10

Kieron Monks

February 24, 2017 |

CNN |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi, Nairobi Area

Ten years ago, Vodafone's Safaricom launched "M-Pesa" a mobile-phone based payment system designed to ease transfer of money in Kenya among individuals and small businesses. With a maximum transaction of 70,000 Kenyan shillings ($675 USD), M-Pesa markets "to the base of the pyramid:" not only has M-Pesa taken root in more than ten other countries, but it counts 18 million active users in Kenya and, through access to a mobile monetary payment system, has lifted 2% of Kenyan households out of extreme poverty.

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Mumbai church turns tonnes of waste flowers to eco-friendly cooking fuel

Akash Sakaria

February 20, 2017 |

Hindustan Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

After seeing prayer flowers wasted week after week, one church in Mumbai, India, implemented a new biologically-sustainable solution. The church now creates its own biogas, reducing waste and creatively producing energy alternatives.

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Look who's helping your clothes make the transition to a warmer world

Laura Routh

February 20, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

The cotton industry is turning to a wide variety of innovations such as remote sensing, water regulation, no-till methods etc. in order to combat the varied and complex impacts climate change is having on it.

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