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Energy Pioneers

Lucie Cejkova

February 17, 2022 |

Transitions Online |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Czech Republic, Litomerice

A Czech city leads the way in alternative energy, saving money and improving the air. In Litomerice, solar panels adorn apartment bulidings and serve as a n example to surrounding areas of how communities and governement can work together to improve air quality, all while saving money.

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Camden, Newark, & Baltimore lead in building equitable access to urban tree canopy

Patrick Dunn

February 02, 2022 |

Planet Detroit |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The push for an increase in urban tree canopies is growing in cities like Camden, Detroit, and Baltimore. A collaboration between community members in those cities and local nonprofits yielded a plan and quick execution. More and more trees are being planted in urban areas to offset the heat-island effect, increase air quality, and decrease the tree equity gap between historically redlined areas and surrounding areas.

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Steel is recycled more than almost anything. Why does it create so much pollution?

Elizabeth McCauley Lilian Manansala Daniel T. Allen

January 25, 2022 |

Business Insider |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Australia

Steel is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, even though lots of it is recycled every year. Recycling steel uses coal too, but an Australian steelmaker is experimenting with alternatives. These alternative include using briquettes made from plastic waste, which is less polluting.

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Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There's Another Way.

Nadia Sussman

December 29, 2021 |

ProPublica |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Brazil

In Brazil, the world's largest producer of sugar cane, industry leaders have found a way to harvest the crop without sugar cane burning. Sugar cane burning is harmful to the environment and nearby residents. After complaints and regulations, producers invested in technology that allows them to cut the cane without burning it. This is a contrast to South Florida, despite producing less sugar cane than Brazil, producers in the state continue the practice.

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Nature's air sensors are growing on your street

Jesse Nichols

December 08, 2021 |

Grist |

Video |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Moss get their nutrients from the air, providing a snapshot of the air quality around them. A team of scientists in Portland seized upon this. In 2013 they sampled moss from over 300 trees in the city. It was cheaper than installing air quality monitors. They found a cluster of pollution in one neighborhood near a glass factory. In Seattle, the practice was replicated, but it was done by youth from the community. The sampling confirming high levels of bad air quality in one neighborhood. In both cities, the samples led to higher air quality standards and stricter enforcement.

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Why you don't hear about the ozone layer anymore

Kimberly Mas Christina Thornell

November 24, 2021 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

In 1987 ozone levels above Antartica had dropped by fifty percent. Scientists convened to discover the cause and found it was being depleted due to a chemical called chloroflourinecarbons commonly found in aerosol cans. In order to tackle the problem, scientists and leaders created public conferences to inform the public. The conferences created public pressure on world leaders to act and eventually led to the "Montreal Protocol," which called for the phasing out of CFC's. By 1989 consumption of CFC's plummeted. The ozone started healing and by 2065 is expected to completely recover.

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Electric school bus helps Latina moms combat air pollution

Prince James Story

October 26, 2021 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

There are about 480,000 school buses in the country, less than one percent of them are electric. Replacing diesel school buses with electric ones would reduce greenhouse emissions by 5.3 million tons a year, it would also be better for students lungs. More than 4 in 10 people in the country live in neighborhoods with unhealthy air. In Arizona, a group of mom's organized and were able to convince the school board to purchase and electric bus. Then, they garnered votes to help pass a bond to purchase the bus.

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Cycling city Kigali sprints to promote smart and green mobility

Aimable Twahirwa

October 21, 2021 |

Rwanda Dispatch |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Kigali

In an effort to go carbon-neutral, city officials in Kigali, Rwanda, are improving bicycling infrastructure and partnering with a green transportation company to implement a bicycle ride sharing program with docking stations across the city.

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Switching to Good Health: Nigeria's Mama Put Turns to LPGAs Use

Ismail Abdulaziz Magdalene Offiong Ukuedojor Yusuf Ummul Idris Attah

September 19, 2021 |

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Abuja

Gas To Health Initiative (GTHI) raises awareness about the dangers of certain cooking methods like kerosene and firewood, due to the air pollution it causes indoors. The organization advocates the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas for cooking and works with food vendors that produce food to make the switch. GTHI works with over 600 vendors, providing a required handling safety workshop and teaching the health and financial benefits of making the switch. Then, it provides the vendors with gas cylinders, industrial single/double burners, and all other equipment needed for safe use.

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Fridge detectives

Jo Mathys Tom Heap

August 31, 2021 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Guatemala

In the first half of this episode, the producers discuss "Tradewaters," an organization that disposes of canisters inside refrigerators. These canisters hold potent greenhouse gases. One 30-pound canister can leak up to 131 tons of Co2, or a year's worth of driving for 54 cars. The organization disposes of thousands of canisters across Central America, Chile, South Africa, and India. The practice of disposing of these canisters saves between one to two percent of global Co2 emissions, according to estimates.

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