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Multnomah County Trees Are Doing Much More Than We Think

Monica Samayoa Priyanka Runwal

November 01, 2019 |

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Friends of Trees, a nonprofit organization in the Portland area, are not just planting trees because they help combat climate change and improve air quality, but because they also help stop major flooding and avoid erosion. While it can be expensive to maintain the trees and clean up the leaves from storm drains, these trees could prevent millions of gallons of rainfall from flooding neighborhoods as extreme weather events are expected to increase in the future.

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We've Had Terrible Fires. Why Haven't More Homes Burned?

Sharon McNary

October 31, 2019 |

LAist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

In and around Los Angeles, firefighters have been able to better respond to wildfires because of better equipment and more personnel. With more off-road trucks, fire helicopters, fire engines, and a new supercomputer system, the fires of 2019 have had less of an impact than in past years. But without a formal analysis – including one that takes into consideration external factors like socioeconomic status – it’s hard to concretely understand why there’s been less damage.

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Drone Swarms and Gene-Altered Corals Fight Climate Change

Tom Gibson Vicky Feng Leila Hussain

October 29, 2019 |

Bloomberg |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Replanting and replenishing damaged ecosystems is crucial to mitigating further adverse effects of climate change. From the forests of the American Pacific Northwest, to the coral reefs around the globe, startups and scientists are working to increase the resilience of natural systems. DroneSeed, in Seattle, WA, leverages drone technology to increase reforestation efforts. Meanwhile, biologists in Thailand are working to cultivate hardy corals.

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Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids

David Roberts

October 28, 2019 |

Vox |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Localized, distributed energy systems are popping up around California. As the larger electricity system becomes less reliable in the face of wildfires, more individuals are turning to microgrids and solar energy with help from organizations like Clean Coalition and Stone Edge Farm Microgrid. While still happening on a small scale, such energy systems may become more popular as its sustainability in a changing climate shows to be more resilient.

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As fires rage, California refines an important skill: Evacuating

Heather Kelly Scott Wilson Joy Lanzendorfer

October 28, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Rosa, California

With wildfires becoming more and more common, Californians have become improved their evacuation procedures. Alerting residents earlier via cellphone and then ongoing door-to-door notices have made a difference, along with residents trusting the evacuation calls more than before. Notable improvements have been made in hospitals, with staff making arrangements with other hospitals as soon as they receive the evacuation notice.

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Sonoma and Butte counties see natural lessons in wake of megafires

Stephen Nett

October 25, 2019 |

The Press Democrat |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sonoma, California

California’s Sonoma and Butte counties have been taking new approaches to wildfires – rather than preventing them, they’re hoping to support the ecosystem to withstand them and bounce back. This resilience-centered approach includes controlled burns, fuel breaks, cross-organizational collaboration, and educating the public – especially homeowners – about how they can help.

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Grenfell Tower fire - Inequality, racism & the fight for justice

Tom Llewellyn

October 16, 2019 |

Shareable |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, Kensington, Greater London

After a devastating fire in London that took the lives of more than 70 people, the community it impacted most joined together to work through their trauma and raise awareness about economic injustice. From community gardening to organizing events to advocate for justice, many have joined forces to heal from the fire.

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Facing unbearable heat, Qatar has begun to air-condition the outdoors

Steven Mufson

October 16, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Qatar, Doha

In Qatar, where temperatures have reached unbearably high degrees, an engineering professor at Qatar University has designed a way to provide air conditioning to the outdoors. Although the method is arguably not a solution for climate change and could actually have negative impacts, it is successfully allowing people in the country to be able to leave the their homes, which in turn benefits the economy of the country.

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Do California Power Shutoffs Work? Hard to Know, Experts Say

Jonathan J. Cooper Jocelyn Gecker

October 14, 2019 |

Associated Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

As a proactive effort, California’s Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power in the hopes it would prevent wildfires that are often caused by power lines. It took a page from San Diego Gas & Electric who has been doing so for five years, along with increased spending on its weather predicting equipment. While the preventative measures are seemingly impactful, with a lacking comparative alternative, experts question its impact.

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Haiti and the failed promise of US aid

Jacob Kushner

October 11, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Haiti

Since Haiti's catastrophic earthquake in 2010, the US has spent $2.3 billion in aid money that has failed to alleviate poverty or help the impoverished nation recover. Bill Clinton led the global response to Haiti's recovery and focused efforts on bringing international manufacturers to Haiti by building an expensive new port from which multinational corporations would bring in investments and stable jobs, but the project failed to do so. This strategy was a continuation of previous US solutions that have failed to bring economic independence to Haiti and have often had the opposite effect, leaving it worse.

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