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A new generation of leaders understands that individual actions won't fix our environmental problems

David Soll

June 13, 2019 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

The rollout of the Green New Deal signals a changing culture and mindset toward climate change. While many past responses have been on the individual level – not using plastic straws or carrying reusable bags when going to the store – there is a growing call for and understanding of structural changes across the designed systems that are currently harming the environment.

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New York is building a wall to hold back the ocean

Kimberly Mas Diana Budds

June 11, 2019 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Resilient infrastructure is one way to prepare cities for the unpredictable effects of climate change. In Staten Island, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, officials have secured millions in funding to build a seawall, which will prevent coastal erosion and decrease the risk of flooding. Seawells or any type of resilient infrastructure, however, need to be combined with other solutions for the best chance of success.

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Women lead the way in disaster preparedness, recovery in Odisha's Ganjam

Sahana Ghosh

June 03, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Ganjam, Odisha

A group of women in the state of Odisha, India works as the district's disaster responders in an area that has seen a record number of monsoons and other tropical storms. The women, many of whom live in the region's most vulnerable areas, act as ground-level support, evacuators, and trainers when a storm hits.

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Why you want oysters and a salt marsh between you and a hurricane

Anne N. Connor

June 03, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Beaufort, North Carolina

Instead of building hard seawalls to protect communities from hurricanes, some are turning to “living shorelines.” These are made out of crushed rock or oyster shells that are placed offshore in front of a wetland. There are more than 120 of these types of habitats — including in Beaufort, North Carolina — and they have shown that they can absorb 50 percent of wave energy, which can reduce the risk of loss of human life and property from flooding. This might not work for all coastal communities, but living shorelines are cheaper than the traditional seawalls.

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This California Neighborhood Was Built to Survive a Wildfire. And It Worked

Lauren Sommer

June 03, 2019 |

KQED |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

In the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood of California, one neighborhood was designed and built to protect homes from wildfires. Included in the design were certain regulations, like regulating weeds, brush, and mulch, and installing noncombustible siding and roofs. Because of climate change, the strength and frequency of wildfires have increased across the state, prompting residents, firefighting professionals, and legislators to become more resilience- and prevention-oriented.

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Hungry Goats Are on the Front Lines of Wildfire Prevention in Southern California

Aliya Jasmine

May 30, 2019 |

KNBC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

When a Southern California rainy season fuels a boom in non-native grasses, the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Forestry Division deploys herds of goats to munch on what could turn into a wildfire hazard. The goats provide a green alternative to the use of machinery to clear brush. The four-legged crews are more agile on steep slopes and cost less than their human and mechanical substitutes. The fire department limits the use of goats to qualified vendors who must ensure that the grass eaters don't go overboard, eating even native grasses and causing new environmental problems.

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Life After Conflict: Healing the Environmental Wounds of War

Tania Rashid Habib Battah

May 28, 2019 |

Al Jazeera |

Video |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Bangladesh

With the aftermath of conflict often focused on humanitarian crisis, international and local actors are also working to restore damage done to ecosystems. From Rohingya refugees volunteering to make sure endangered elephants can reach their grazing lands – and not destroy the refugee camps – to Lebonese seed banks being recreated to restore biodiversity, the international stage is paying closer attention to the environmental tolls of conflict.

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‘If we don't burn it, nature will': Georgia blazes old fears, leads nation in prescribed fire

Maya Miller Samantha Max

May 28, 2019 |

Southerly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Macon, Georgia

Prescribed fire is a way to protect forest ecosystems by starting fires in a controlled and sustainable way. The practice limits out of control forest fires and promotes the growth of important species. In Georgia, a leader of prescribed fire in the Southeast and the country, successful fire management is hoping to tip forest services nationally in favor of prescribed burn treatment and away from mostly focusing on fire suppression.

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Wildfire escape routes? There's (almost) an app for that.

Krista Langlois

May 23, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Durango, Colorado

Scientists and engineers in Colorado are developing an app that can help firefighters determine the safest routes to safety during wildfires. The app, currently in development, was created with data from another trail and hike tracking app and applied to analyze how long it would take a firefighter – given their unique equipment and uniforms – to escape wildfire.

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How the Mental Health Community Is Bracing for the Impact of Climate Change

Andrea Marks

May 16, 2019 |

Rolling Stone |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Climate change is impacting not just the environment but the way in which humans are able to exist within the altered landscape. As ecosystems shift, storms worsen and loss of homes continues to rise, the mental health industry is looking towards changing traditional practices in order to account for clients presenting with "eco-anxiety and climate grief."

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