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The ancient technology getting a second wind

Nick Holland

May 26, 2020 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Costa Rica

Old ships, powered by the wind, are being refurbished to sail small amounts of cargo around the world. While there are only a few hundred still in use, newer ships and sails are being designed and built with new technology to make the vessels more fuel efficient and produce zero emissions. While many of them are in the prototype phase, some of these ships are able to go into smaller ports and harbors that larger vessels can’t reach.

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Alte Sorten erhalten durch Aufessen

Peter Gaschott

May 24, 2020 |

Saarbrücker Zeitung |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Germany

Das deutsche Saatgutverkehrsgesetz schützt nur die faden Tomaten aus dem Supermarkt. Eine Gärtnermeisterin aus dem Saarland züchtet deshalb alte Tomatensorten, die vom Aussterben bedroht sind und verkauft sie mit einem Trick weiter. Denn eigentlich ist das verboten.

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How some Mississippi teens are saving their town from climate change

Rebecca Klein

May 23, 2020 |

The Hechinger Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Duck Hill, Mississippi

Through the Achieving Sustainability Through Education and Economic Development Solutions (ASEEDS) Creek Rangers program, teens and community leaders are raising awareness of the effects of climate change in their small Mississippi town. They’ve fixed their community’s drainage system to help mitigate floods that have impacted the area for years. While some people were skeptical of their efforts, they’ve been able to work with pastors and other people to show how climate change is already impacting them.

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How Big Tech is Reshaping the Power Grid

Jake Bullinger

May 22, 2020 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Lunas, New Mexico

As part of a deal with Facebook to build a data center in New Mexico, an electric utility is investing in renewable energy to power the center. Through power purchase agreements, which are contracts to buy renewable energy, the social media company is accelerating the state’s transition away from fossil fuels. These contracts often come with large tax breaks for companies, but Facebook will help finance $800 million worth of wind and solar installations that can generate 396 megawatts of power. These agreements can also be implemented in other states who are hardest-hit by the decline of coal consumption.

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Chile's greenest town? What Finland can learn from La Pintana

Erika Benke

May 19, 2020 |

BBC |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Chile, La Pintana

The Chilean town of La Pintana recycles and reuses everything in a circular economy which repurposes items that otherwise go to waste. La Pintana has reduced carbon emissions by 80 percent and is committed to minimizing waste despite the high costs of the programs.

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Why This New Jersey Forager Thinks Weeds Are the Future of Food

Brianna Baker

May 19, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Meadows + More is a farm in New Jersey that specializes in edible wild plants and its owner, Tama Matsuoka Wong, seeks to educate people about the important role wild plants could play in future food systems if disasters and climate change were to eradicate plant species. She tends over 200 varieties of wild plants that she sells to top chefs and restaurants and to home cooks. While the community of wild plant enthusiasts is small, her business has received renewed interest during the COVID-19 pandemic as people looked for alternatives to grocery stores.

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In the forests of New Zealand, indigenous Maori and Western scientists work through past injustices to save a threatened species together

Per Liljas

May 19, 2020 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: New Zealand

A native tree species known as the kauri is being threatened by a deadly pathogen in New Zealand, so Western scientists, the government, and the Māori people are working together to stop it. Early tests suggest that chemical signals from other plants might be able to distract the pathogen and slow down the spread of it. However, collaboration between scientists and indigenous people was not easy, but they were able to build trust between each other.

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'Cool pavement' experiments help urban planners find ways to ease rising temperatures

Erin Stone

May 15, 2020 |

AZ Central (The Arizona Republic) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

To combat the effects of rising temperatures due to climate change, Los Angeles piloted an experiment called “cool pavements,” where they coat streets with a light-colored sealant to reflect heat. Researchers are studying how effective this method is at reducing the urban heat island effect. Using a mobile sensor station, they found mixed results: While the surface temperature of the road was cooler, a person could feel warmer on the reflective roads. Figuring out how to balance different heat-mitigating strategies could be helpful as cities like Phoenix figure out how to implement cooling infrastructure.

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Teachable Moments on the Dock

Larry Pynn

May 14, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Galiano Island, British Columbia

A British Columbia project that includes education with regulations is a winning formula for rockfish conservation. Six cameras were placed strategically around the shoreline next to Galiano Island RCAs, and 46 information signs were posted at marinas and docks. The signs provide photos to help identify rockfish, show the boundaries of the RCAs, and offer specifics on the fishing rules. Team members also appear at community events to distribute information on RCAs, explaining how they work and what they are intended to achieve.

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Seed by seed, a women's collective helps reforest Brazil's Xingu River Basin

JoAnna Haugen

May 12, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Xingu River Basin

A group of women, known as the Yarang Women’s Movement, from villages in Brazil collect and sell seeds to nurseries, landowners, and other organizations to replant degraded land by the Xingu River. While this effort has helped reforest the area, a significant amount of land is still degraded and climate change threatens the availability of seeds throughout the year. Yet, “they have found creative ways to survive and adapt to climate change. The Yarang Women’s Movement is an example of resilience,” said someone who has worked with the group.

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