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Greta Thunberg sparks surge in sailboat hitchhiking

Jessica Murray

November 15, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Sweden

Greta Thunberg is well-known for leading the youth climate movement, but her habit of using sailboats as a means of transportation is also gaining traction. Facebook groups that help connect sailboat hitchhikers have seen a significant uptick in members as of late, which in turn supports eco-friendly traveling.

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Desertification Is Devouring India. But There's Hope in the Dunes

Rishika Pardikar

November 13, 2019 |

OZY |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Laporiya, Rajasthan

The people of a small village on the edge of the Thar Desert have managed for decades to resist "desertification" -- degradation of arid land to the point that it is uninhabitable -- by storing monsoon waters for use later. The storage device, rectangular plots of land called chaukas, have worked well enough to be copied by dozens of other villages in the area. It is uncertain if this approach can reverse the loss of land, but it is at least holding off the rapid pace of desertification, which risks mass displacements of people as hundreds of millions of acreage is lost.

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Free the Floodplains!

Yen Duong

November 11, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

There is a unique, homegrown local flood buyout program in Charlotte, NC that helps homeowners on floodplains relocate safely and with financial security. This came as a result of the city and county of Charlotte forming a joint storm water utility in the 1990's, which generated money by fixing aging pipes and other storm water needs—funding the local “Quick Buy” program. This gets the aid to the homeowners much quicker than FEMA money does and has since relocated 650 families and saved $25 million in losses.

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Galvanized by disaster

Beth Edwards

November 11, 2019 |

Indiana Environmental Reporter |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Goshen, Indiana

After devastating floods hit the town of Goshen, the small town in Indiana used the experience as an opportunity to work towards disaster preparedness. Focusing not just on what would work best against environmental change and the subsequent severe weather created by it but also what would move the city forward, the mayor has been able to implement a series of changes including partnerships to increase awareness as well as community youth involvement.

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Lake Erie's green monster: Climate change adds pressure to prevent toxic algal blooms

Brian Albrecht

November 10, 2019 |

Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

Toxic green algae has become a prominent threat in Lake Erie, but local farmers are trying to reduce their footprint by limiting agricultural nutrient runoff from manure and fertilizer that is spread on their farm fields. From increasing transparency around agriculture practices to altering how fertilizer is distributed, early signs are showing success with these measures despite there still being a long ways to go.

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From coffee to cosmetics, companies are looking for ways to protect the plants their products are made from

Virginia Gewin

November 08, 2019 |

Ensia |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France

Around the world, companies, especially those that depend on the production of plant-based products, are stepping up their sustainability efforts. In the face of climate change, producers of things like coffee and fragrances are realizing that biodiversity and conservation are crucial to the companies’ success and sustainability. Trusts like Germany’s Crop Trust are becoming key players in this, helping companies develop conservation strategies.

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How four dioceses are actually doing something about the climate crisis

Brian Roewe

November 08, 2019 |

National Catholic Reporter |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Some Catholic churches and dioceses are turning green and are making strides to be environmentally friendly. This article gives examples of churches and dioceses across the country that have done a number of things to be more eco friendly, from converting solar, to planting over 200 trees, to conducting energy audits. Some are doing more theological work, like connecting the environment to Catholic values. "We are beginning to see a change."

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They've managed the forest forever. It's why they're key to the climate change fight

Julia Rosen

November 05, 2019 |

Los Angeles Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Broadback, Quebec

In Northern Quebec, scientists, government officials and researchers have seen the positive environmental effects that stem from giving indigenous groups their land rights back. Because many of these indigenous communities have closely observed and lived within the native forests, they know how to properly care for and coexist with the forest rather than cut it down; the result is a drastic decrease in deforestation as well as the restoration of indigenous land rights.

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Heat waves: How France has cut death toll 90% since 2003

Peter Ford

November 04, 2019 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: France

Chagrined by its lack of planning that contributed to many deaths in a 2003 heat wave, France developed a coordinated national response that in 2019 cut the death toll by 90% despite even higher temperatures. By paying particular attention to vulnerable elderly people living alone, and requiring officials at all levels of government to communicate warnings and advice clearly, the government promoted simple safety measures and awareness of risks in effective ways, including discouraging outdoor recreation and closely monitoring and cooling older residents.

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Restoring Jamaica's lost coral reefs

Christina Larson

November 04, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Jamaica

Coral reefs play a vital role in the ecosystem, but are facing a dire future in many parts of the world. In Jamaica, however, "grassroots-run coral nurseries and fish sanctuaries" have been established over the last decade, which has helped bring reefs in this area back to life.

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