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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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The social enterprise that takes on ‘Big Air' with data

Laura Joffre

August 05, 2021 |

Pioneers Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: China, Beijing

Smart Air is a social enterprise in Beijing that educates people about clean air and debunks myths about expensive air purifiers marketed by large corporations. Smart Air instead offers effective products at a more affordable price, making clean air more accessible.

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Cooler, Cleaner Megacities, One Rooftop Garden at a Time

Marianne Dhenin

July 08, 2021 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Egypt, Cairo

Organizations in Egypt and Bangladesh are greening their cities by turning rooftops into urban gardens that can grow food, reduce air pollution, and decrease air temperatures. Green Savers in Dhaka has installed more than 5,000 rooftop gardens in the city and Urban Greens in Cairo partners with sponsors to install hydroponic rooftop gardens for families experiencing economic hardship. It’s been a challenge to convince people that the cost to maintain these spaces is worthwhile, but through community outreach efforts, these organizations have seen an increase in interest in installing rooftop gardens.

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State employees work from home when threat of bad air quality looms

Sydney Glenn

June 22, 2021 |

KSTU-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

Although work-from-home was mostly a reaction in response to the pandemic, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the strategy has developed the potential to improve air quality. Most state employees are now required to telework certain days in order to help curb bad air quality days, and are given at least a 48-hour notice. During the pandemic, having close to 9,000 state employees stay home reduced pollution by 40 tons over the course of April 2020 to May 2021.

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Cleaning up Cambodia's kitchens could curb deforestation, climate change

Marissa Carruthers

June 22, 2021 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Cambodia

In Cambodia 2.5 million people use stoves fueled by forest biomass; charcoal and wood. The emissions caused by using biomass are extremely harmful not only to people but also to the environment. The emissions caused by biomass globally are equal to those of the aviation industry. To counter the problem, several organizations and companies are providing alternatives for Cambodian families like electric stoves. One company, Khmer Green Charcoal, created stoves that run on “clean” charcoal made from coconut shells. More than 6,500 households across the country have made the transition.

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