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  • Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There's Another Way.

    December 29, 2021 |

    ProPublica |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Brazil

    In Brazil, the world's largest producer of sugar cane, industry leaders have found a way to harvest the crop without sugar cane burning. Sugar cane burning is harmful to the environment and nearby residents. After complaints and regulations, producers invested in technology that allows them to cut the cane without burning it. This is a contrast to South Florida, despite producing less sugar cane than Brazil, producers in the state continue the practice.

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  • Nature's air sensors are growing on your street

    December 08, 2021 |

    Grist |

    Video |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

    Moss get their nutrients from the air, providing a snapshot of the air quality around them. A team of scientists in Portland seized upon this. In 2013 they sampled moss from over 300 trees in the city. It was cheaper than installing air quality monitors. They found a cluster of pollution in one neighborhood near a glass factory. In Seattle, the practice was replicated, but it was done by youth from the community. The sampling confirming high levels of bad air quality in one neighborhood. In both cities, the samples led to higher air quality standards and stricter enforcement.

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  • Why you don't hear about the ozone layer anymore

    November 24, 2021 |

    Vox |

    Video |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States

    In 1987 ozone levels above Antartica had dropped by fifty percent. Scientists convened to discover the cause and found it was being depleted due to a chemical called chloroflourinecarbons commonly found in aerosol cans. In order to tackle the problem, scientists and leaders created public conferences to inform the public. The conferences created public pressure on world leaders to act and eventually led to the "Montreal Protocol," which called for the phasing out of CFC's. By 1989 consumption of CFC's plummeted. The ozone started healing and by 2065 is expected to completely recover.

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  • Electric school bus helps Latina moms combat air pollution

    October 26, 2021 |

    Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

    There are about 480,000 school buses in the country, less than one percent of them are electric. Replacing diesel school buses with electric ones would reduce greenhouse emissions by 5.3 million tons a year, it would also be better for students lungs. More than 4 in 10 people in the country live in neighborhoods with unhealthy air. In Arizona, a group of mom's organized and were able to convince the school board to purchase and electric bus. Then, they garnered votes to help pass a bond to purchase the bus.

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  • Cycling city Kigali sprints to promote smart and green mobility

    October 21, 2021 |

    Rwanda Dispatch |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Rwanda, Kigali

    In an effort to go carbon-neutral, city officials in Kigali, Rwanda, are improving bicycling infrastructure and partnering with a green transportation company to implement a bicycle ride sharing program with docking stations across the city.

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  • Switching to Good Health: Nigeria's Mama Put Turns to LPGAs Use

    September 19, 2021 |

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Nigeria, Abuja

    Gas To Health Initiative (GTHI) raises awareness about the dangers of certain cooking methods like kerosene and firewood, due to the air pollution it causes indoors. The organization advocates the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas for cooking and works with food vendors that produce food to make the switch. GTHI works with over 600 vendors, providing a required handling safety workshop and teaching the health and financial benefits of making the switch. Then, it provides the vendors with gas cylinders, industrial single/double burners, and all other equipment needed for safe use.

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  • Fridge detectives

    August 31, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Guatemala

    In the first half of this episode, the producers discuss "Tradewaters," an organization that disposes of canisters inside refrigerators. These canisters hold potent greenhouse gases. One 30-pound canister can leak up to 131 tons of Co2, or a year's worth of driving for 54 cars. The organization disposes of thousands of canisters across Central America, Chile, South Africa, and India. The practice of disposing of these canisters saves between one to two percent of global Co2 emissions, according to estimates.

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  • The social enterprise that takes on ‘Big Air' with data

    August 05, 2021 |

    Pioneers Post |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: China, Beijing

    Smart Air is a social enterprise in Beijing that educates people about clean air and debunks myths about expensive air purifiers marketed by large corporations. Smart Air instead offers effective products at a more affordable price, making clean air more accessible.

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  • Cooler, Cleaner Megacities, One Rooftop Garden at a Time

    July 08, 2021 |

    Yes! Magazine |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Egypt, Cairo

    Organizations in Egypt and Bangladesh are greening their cities by turning rooftops into urban gardens that can grow food, reduce air pollution, and decrease air temperatures. Green Savers in Dhaka has installed more than 5,000 rooftop gardens in the city and Urban Greens in Cairo partners with sponsors to install hydroponic rooftop gardens for families experiencing economic hardship. It’s been a challenge to convince people that the cost to maintain these spaces is worthwhile, but through community outreach efforts, these organizations have seen an increase in interest in installing rooftop gardens.

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  • State employees work from home when threat of bad air quality looms

    June 22, 2021 |

    KSTU-TV |

    Broadcast TV News |

    Under 3 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

    Although work-from-home was mostly a reaction in response to the pandemic, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the strategy has developed the potential to improve air quality. Most state employees are now required to telework certain days in order to help curb bad air quality days, and are given at least a 48-hour notice. During the pandemic, having close to 9,000 state employees stay home reduced pollution by 40 tons over the course of April 2020 to May 2021.

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