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Camden PowerCorps Recruits Youth to Green the City

Donna Liu

July 02, 2019 |

CivicStory |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Camden, New Jersey

PowerCorps is a program that provides job training for young adults in Camden, New Jersey. It matches participants with opportunities to improve the green infrastructure in the community and is supported by the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority. The ultimate goal is to connect PowerCorps graduates to full-time employment.

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What are nature-based solutions?

Amelia Axelsen

June 21, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Nature-based solutions to climate change involve strategic use of greenery to staunch the negative impacts of climate change broadly, but these solutions also have been proven to increase jobs and contribute to the overall economy. For instance, in Portland, the Green Streets project used trees rather than concrete to absorb excess runoff, helping the city in multiple ways in the process.

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New York is building a wall to hold back the ocean

Kimberly Mas Diana Budds

June 11, 2019 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Resilient infrastructure is one way to prepare cities for the unpredictable effects of climate change. In Staten Island, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, officials have secured millions in funding to build a seawall, which will prevent coastal erosion and decrease the risk of flooding. Seawells or any type of resilient infrastructure, however, need to be combined with other solutions for the best chance of success.

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Making quieter roads

Ben McAllister

May 28, 2019 |

The Naked Scientists |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Scotland, Edinburgh

The bigger the city, the busier the roads, which typically means more noise pollution as well. Because noise can negatively impact sleep and heart health, researchers are turning to promoting noise control engineering and sound barriers in hopes of reducing these adverse effects.

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Termite and ventilation system

Patrick Aryee

May 20, 2019 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Zimbabwe, Harare

Buildings with permeable surfaces increase energy efficiency, mimicking natural structures. In Harare, Zimbabwe, the Eastgate Centre employs methods borrowed from termite mound construction to efficiently regulate the building's temperature. By employing insights that scientists had gained by studying the airflow in termite mounds, the Centre’s architects used materials with a high thermal mass, increased surface area, and maximized ventilation.

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Fish Below Your Feet and Other Solutions for a Living Harbor

Tyee Bridge

May 14, 2019 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Around the world, scientists are eco-engineering urban waterfront areas to encourage marine species diversity. Seattle’s Central Waterfront area was recently enhanced with a textured and angled concrete sea wall to encourage the growth of algae and invertebrates, a built-up seafloor to attract juvenile salmon who like shallow water, and light penetrating glass bricks in the sidewalk, which boost seaweed growth and entice shade-avoidant salmon smolts. The project also enhances the human experience with more pedestrian access, better storm water management, and a new pier park with direct water access.

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Designing the Butterfly-Friendly City

Allison C. Meier

May 13, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

As the monarch butterfly nears endangerment, cities across the US are integrating butterfly-friendly spaces into their urban environments. Such spaces reside in schools, firehouses, parks, and more, and they enable the butterfly to rest, feed, pollinate, and procreate at any stage in their lifecycle. St. Louis in particular already has over 400 monarch gardens and have ample evidence of public support for the projects.

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As floods increase, cities like Detroit are looking to green stormwater infrastructure

Erica Gies

April 16, 2019 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In Detroit, a city with plenty of open space, there is ample opportunity for green stormwater infrastructure to help the city better manage water. The dual goal of decreasing water pollution and better managing flood conditions has already started with the 16 GSI projects in use. A new approach to water drainage fees based on amount of land has incentivized business owners to implement their own stormwater-reducing measures. The city plans to spend $50 million more on these efforts in the next ten years.

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Barcelona's superblocks are a new model for "post-car" urban living

David Roberts

April 11, 2019 |

Vox |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Spain, Barcelona

The implementation of "superblocks," or large areas of urban space dedicated to pedestrian & bike multi-use traffic and the unification of urban and rural living benefits, helped one Spanish city reduce automotive traffic. Now, an urban innovator aims to bring superblocks to Barcelona in an attempt to scale this community-oriented solution.

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The Living Machine: Collier's 24-year water filtration experiment is a success

James Williams

April 03, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

An experimental water treatment plant in Florida has been performing as efficiently as other conventional treatment plants for the last 24 years. Known as the Living Machine of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, it filters 6,000 gallons of wastewater per day and is inspired by how natural wetlands and marshlands filter water. While government officials were skeptical at first, the Living Machine continues to pass monthly inspections, is less costly, and is not as noisy so visitors can enjoy the wildlife in the sanctuary.

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