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To safeguard their future, Pacific Islanders look to the past

Maria Gallucci

January 07, 2020 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Micronesia, Yap

Canoes have long been used to navigate the seas, but navigators in the state of Yap in Micronesia are making modifications to the practice to make it more efficient and climate-thinking forward. The canoes, which run on biodiesel produced from coconuts and come equipped with solar panels, are helping to fill a gap for providing resources to isolated communites and also help decrease the complete reliance on trans-ocean freighters.

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Ii: The greenest town in Europe

Erika Benke

December 24, 2019 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Finland, Ii

The town of Ii, in northern Finland, has cut carbon emissions by 80 percent, hitting the European Union's target 30 years before the deadline. Thanks to collective action in the community, businessmen, children, grandparents, and even the mayor has pitched in. In the process, the town of Ii boosted its local economy.

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How Local Trash Disposal Affects Climate Change

Emily Lanoue Jordan Meaker Taylor Morain Tristen Webb

December 18, 2019 |

Grady Newsource |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Athens, Georgia

With Georgia’s Athens-Clarke county landfill nearing its fill limit, residents, organizations, and the city are taking a multi-pronged approach to reducing waste. A key part of this has been the fact that nearly half of what goes into the landfill can be recycled, and Georgia-based industries like aluminum and carpet manufacturing are willing to buy recyclables. In addition, composting supported by the state has grown in popularity, and universities have taken on recycling education and collection programs.

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Three years of mining, 40 years of taxpayer clean up for river downstream of Vancouver Island copper mine

Andrew Findlay Taylor Roades

December 16, 2019 |

The Narwhal |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

After an abandoned copper mine destroyed the Tsolum River in Canada, it took decades and cross-sector collaboration to reduce acid runoff and bring back fish populations. The government, a restoration society, and even the mining industry worked together to come up with solutions to save the river. Their latest attempt — capping the mine waste with glacial sediment and an asphalt covering — in 2009 succeeded. In 2015, 129,000 pink salmon came back to the river — a record return since fish counts began in 1953.

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The Green Jobs That Could Help Save the Amazon

Esha Chhabra

December 12, 2019 |

Vice |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil

Bia Saldanha works with community members in Brazil to tap trees in the Amazon for rubber as a way to create sustainable income and discourage other practices like cattle farming and logging that has led to deforestation. While the locals were hesitant at first, she worked with the shoe company Veja to pay them more than the market rate. Now, Veja uses about 340 tons of natural rubber annually and works with 10 rubber tapper groups in eight municipalities. "We are not just buying rubber," she says. "We are also paying for forest conservation."

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The landfill where you once dumped your garbage might be a great spot for a solar farm

Bill Trotter

December 10, 2019 |

Bangor Daily News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

Landfills can offer prime real estate for solar potential due to the lack of trees and access to direct sunlight, and Maine is taking advantage of this. Seen as a sustainable renewable energy project, this is just one more method the state is implementing in order to advocate for increased solar power as an environmentally-friendly strategy.

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Can old fridges be recycled to make new ones?

Dougal Shaw

November 29, 2019 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, Telford

A recycling plant in Telford, England has found a way to recycle old refrigerators into new ones using a new technology that preserves the plastic without contamination from the refrigerator coolant. Usually, recycled refrigerator materials can only make simple products, like plant carriers; now, new technology can reduce the waste created from thrown-away fridges.

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When Residents Support Solar—Just ‘Not in My Backyard'

Linda Poon

November 20, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Solar power panels are broadly supported across America, as concern about climate change increases; however, not all supporters want solar power plants in their backyard. Now, companies and local governments work to install these renewable energy sources while informing neighbors and stakeholders of the benefits of these plants.

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The Three Keys to a Thriving Rural Economy

Jake Bullinger

November 08, 2019 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salida, Colorado

As the Mountain West transitions away from mining and other industrial economic drivers, rural cities find their way into successful economies by relying on local entrepreneurial spirit and the surrounding landscape. Businesses like SmartLam in rural Montana rely on local resources - in SmartLam's case, timber - and sustainable, future-oriented strategy to make a ripple in the economy of the rural West.

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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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