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This dark material: the black alchemy that can arrest carbon emissions

Jessica Murray

November 29, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

Biochar is a form of charcoal that is proving to be quite useful in terms of renewable energy and combatting the climate crisis. From trapping carbon and methane emissions to playing a role in heating homes and feeding cows, some estimates are already showing that biochar has the potential to "offset 1bn tonnes of carbon a year."

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How Peru's potato museum could stave off world food crisis

Dan Collyns

November 29, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Peru, Cusco

Climate change is impacting many crops and farmlands, but potato farmers in the Peruvian Andes are experimenting with genetic strains to diversify potatoes to help safeguard the vegetable for further climate changes. Scientists so far have found some success with one particular varietal and are now working to make it more resistant to temperature changes.

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This Turkish chef is fighting climate change with the help of Syrian refugees

Jennifer Hattam

November 22, 2019 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Mardin

The Turkish organization, Living Soil, Local Seed, is working with Turkish women and Syrian refugees to help rebuild and diversify the local agricultural system that was once thriving. Using local knowledge and surveys, the organization has gathered different varieties of native crops which it then uses to work with local farmers and employ women in order to create more complex ecological systems. In 2019, the program yielded over 400 tons of wheat and has proven to be more financially beneficial to farmers.

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How a new grain could help combat climate change

Megan Thompson Mark Bittman Melanie Saltzman

November 16, 2019 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

Planting perennial grains for human consumption retains more nutrients in the soil, prevents soil erosion, and traps carbon. Farmers and researchers have been working to develop a commercially viable perennial grain, known as Kernza. Today, business pioneers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are finding ways to introduce Kernza into consumer markets, including Kernza beer.

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Greta Thunberg sparks surge in sailboat hitchhiking

Jessica Murray

November 15, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Sweden

Greta Thunberg is well-known for leading the youth climate movement, but her habit of using sailboats as a means of transportation is also gaining traction. Facebook groups that help connect sailboat hitchhikers have seen a significant uptick in members as of late, which in turn supports eco-friendly traveling.

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Desertification Is Devouring India. But There's Hope in the Dunes

Rishika Pardikar

November 13, 2019 |

OZY |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Laporiya, Rajasthan

The people of a small village on the edge of the Thar Desert have managed for decades to resist "desertification" -- degradation of arid land to the point that it is uninhabitable -- by storing monsoon waters for use later. The storage device, rectangular plots of land called chaukas, have worked well enough to be copied by dozens of other villages in the area. It is uncertain if this approach can reverse the loss of land, but it is at least holding off the rapid pace of desertification, which risks mass displacements of people as hundreds of millions of acreage is lost.

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Free the Floodplains!

Yen Duong

November 11, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

There is a unique, homegrown local flood buyout program in Charlotte, NC that helps homeowners on floodplains relocate safely and with financial security. This came as a result of the city and county of Charlotte forming a joint storm water utility in the 1990's, which generated money by fixing aging pipes and other storm water needs—funding the local “Quick Buy” program. This gets the aid to the homeowners much quicker than FEMA money does and has since relocated 650 families and saved $25 million in losses.

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Galvanized by disaster

Beth Edwards

November 11, 2019 |

Indiana Environmental Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Goshen, Indiana

After devastating floods hit the town of Goshen, the small town in Indiana used the experience as an opportunity to work towards disaster preparedness. Focusing not just on what would work best against environmental change and the subsequent severe weather created by it but also what would move the city forward, the mayor has been able to implement a series of changes including partnerships to increase awareness as well as community youth involvement.

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Lake Erie's green monster: Climate change adds pressure to prevent toxic algal blooms

Brian Albrecht

November 10, 2019 |

Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

Toxic green algae has become a prominent threat in Lake Erie, but local farmers are trying to reduce their footprint by limiting agricultural nutrient runoff from manure and fertilizer that is spread on their farm fields. From increasing transparency around agriculture practices to altering how fertilizer is distributed, early signs are showing success with these measures despite there still being a long ways to go.

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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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