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Turning Data into Solutions

Michaela Haas

December 07, 2021 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Orange County, California

A Social Progress Index is measuring the quality of life for vulnerable populations through the use of an Equity Map. The detailed analysis looks beyond economic factors to weigh a multitude of factors such as opportunities, public safety, healthcare access, education, and traffic safety, and then uses the data to try and understand “how these indicators interact with each other.” The holistic measure of a community's wellbeing goes beyond economics to see how different places are fully utilizing the resources they do have, helping experts pinpoint success factors and solutions.

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Hundreds of Companies Promised to Help Save Forests. Did They?

Lucy Tompkins

December 02, 2021 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

About 80 percent of tropical deforestation in South America and Southeast Asia is caused by large corporations clear-cutting natural forests to graze cattle or grow crops like cocoa, palm oil, and soybeans that are turned into chocolate, processed food and cosmetics, and animal feed. Ten years ago, some of the largest offenders, including Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Walmart, and Mars, vowed to clean up their act. With a few exceptions, however, their efforts have failed. This article explores what's worked, what hasn't, and why.

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Could Greater Investment in Greening Help Reduce Gun Violence?

Emily Previti Stephanie Marudas

December 02, 2021 |

Kouvenda Media |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The city lot where Sanctuary Farm now grows vegetables that it distributes free to the community once was strewn with trash and drug paraphernalia, hardly a hospitable place for the neighborhood kids who played in it. Now it's a lush garden and safe hangout for kids who help with the gardening, do art projects, or just play. It's similar to a broader Philadelphia program that "cleaned and greened" thousands of lots and made a measurable decline in violence. Sanctuary's impact on crime isn't known for sure, but some neighbors say the farm is a positive influence.

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Tidal energy could be huge – why isn't it?

Aditi Rajagopal

November 26, 2021 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: France

Tidal power is a form of renewable energy that is caused when wind turbines are placed on the sea floor. These powerful turbines harness the power of tides and could capture enough energy to power all the homes in the U.S. Tidal Range Plants have been installed in countries like France, South Korea, Canada, and China. Despite their power, they require a lot of money to install and have mostly been installed in wealthy countries in the Global North.

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New York City Is Building a Wall of Oysters to Fend Off Floods

Julia Hotz

November 19, 2021 |

Bloomberg |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

From New York City to Texas, localities are using oysters to protect themselves from flooding. They are dropping oysters along the coast for baby oysters to grown on, ultimately leading to the creation of wall-like reefs. The oyster reefs mitigate the blow of big waves during hurricanes. A study showed that reef-protected areas dissipated waves and had 54% less erosion. Building oyster reefs form part of a larger movement known as "green infrastructure" to manage the effects of climate change, as opposed to building concrete infrastructure like sea walls and dikes.

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Want to Solve Wildfires and Drought? Leave it to BEAVERS!

Joe Hanson Mimi Schiffman

November 18, 2021 |

PBS |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Oregon

Beavers can be a tool in the fight against climate change. The dams that beavers build have multiple benefits for the environment. Studies show that beaver complexes are greener. They store so much water in the soil and plants that they act like an underground irrigation system. Studies also show that fires in an area with streams without beavers burn three times more intensely that those with beavers. Beaver habits are so successful, that scientist are replicating their damns to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Four ways Mozambique is adapting to the climate crisis

Neha Wadekar

November 01, 2021 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Mozambique

According to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index Mozambique was the fifth country most affected by extreme weather over the past two decades. This article takes an in-depth analysis into four aspects of the country's climate crisis response; early warning systems, flood defense, resettlement sites, and rebuilding houses. The article evaluates both its failures and successes.

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RGGI, behind the rhetoric: What we know about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Rachel McDevitt

September 14, 2021 |

StateImpact Pennsylvania |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

A regional cap-and-trade program in the northeast United States has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and led to overall job gains in the economy. Up to 50 percent of the region’s CO2 reductions are attributable to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program and nine of the states participating report training more than 8,000 workers.

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‘Every man was drinking': how much do bans on alcohol help women in India?

Preeti Jha

September 14, 2021 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bihar

The Bihar, India, state government banned drinking and selling alcohol in 2016 after women in the mostly rural state mounted protests blaming men's alcohol abuse for rampant violence against women. Hundreds of thousands of arrests, carrying severe penalties, resulted from the ban. Previous bans in Bihar and other states failed because of unpopularity and loopholes. This one has some evidence to suggest a 15% decline in drinking, but only a 4% decline in violence, while bootlegging and other crimes have increased. The prohibition protests have spread to other states.

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A shot of recycled water revives a flourishing ecosystem on the Santa Cruz River in Tucson

Ian James

September 08, 2021 |

AZ Central (The Arizona Republic) |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

By rewetting part of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson, the city has been able to revitalize an ecosystem that was once thought to be lost. Through collaboration and research, hundreds of species of creatures have returned to the river. This restoration project could serve as a model for other cities that want to help their desert rivers and sustain wildlife habitats.

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