Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 77 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

'Ventilation Corridors' Funnel Cool Mountain Air Into Steamy Stuttgart

Michaela Haas

August 12, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Stuttgart

Stuttgart is using a “nature-based response” to climate change by leveraging earth-cooling tools already available in the natural world. The city has created a vast network of ventilation channels – green parkways and corridors of water and trees – designed to funnel cooler breezes into the city at night and naturally lower air temperatures.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Portland is Leaning on Neighborhood Teams to Improve Heat Wave Response

Isabella Garcia

August 02, 2022 |

Portland Mercury |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

The Ground Support Guest Transportation Unit offers a city-run alternative to relying on rideshare and cabs to transport people to cooling shelters by relying on Portland’s Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NET), a volunteer-run neighborhood group that provides services during times of need. During a July 2022 heatwave, the program received 215 ride requests, 138 of which were completed by NET volunteers.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Could This Ancient Farming Technique Be a Climate Solution?

Guia Baggi

July 07, 2022 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Pantelleria, Sicily

An ancient farming technique from an Italian island is being rediscovered as an effective way to to deal with extreme weather events and limited water. These stone terraces have been shown to help the spread of fires, create cooler temperatures and grow local crops. Many of these structures have fallen into disrepair, but organizations are working to show others how this can be a solution to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Charlottesville's 10th & Page has fewer trees and higher temperatures than other residential neighborhoods — and it's not by accident

Charlotte Rene Woods

March 14, 2022 |

Charlottesville Tomorrow |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlottesville, Virginia

Residents are working together to plant trees in order to boost the urban tree canopy in Charlottesville. With increasing global temperatures, a city’s tree canopy impacts how high the temperatures can go. An ambassador program sends teens from door to door to educate residents and convince them to allow trees to be planted on their properties.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Heat wave caused bees to ejaculate to death. Could Styrofoam 'protection' help?

Stefan Labbé

February 26, 2022 |

Times Colonist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Armstrong, British Columbia

As a warming planet continues to affect bee colonies, a bee farmer in Canada is experimenting with different ways to help the bees survive. By using a polystyrene cover, she was able to drop the average temperature in the hive by 3.8 degrees Celsius. While this type of insulation won’t be able to completely protect the colonies, it’s a simple solution that can help them get through extreme temperatures.

Read More
Go to Original Story
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.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The magic greenhouse

Julie Ball

March 09, 2021 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Somalia

A greenhouse that is cooled by seawater and the wind is allowing farmers in Somaliland to grow crops like tomatoes and vegetables despite extreme heat. By creating an environment that is higher in humidity and cooler in temperature, plants don’t need to drink as much water — almost 10 times less water because of the cooling system. There are challenges to scaling the response, but these greenhouses offer farmers the potential to increase their revenue in Africa.

Read More
Go to Original Story
“Power Companies Get Exactly What They Want”: How Texas Repeatedly Failed to Protect Its Power Grid Against Extreme Weather

Vianna Davila Jeremy Schwartz Kiah Collier

February 22, 2021 |

The Texas Tribune |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

After winter storms and freezing temperatures in 2011 and 2014 caused power plants in Texas to shut down, the state’s energy regulators failed to adapt the state’s electric grid for future extreme weather events. Experts say the state’s deregulated energy market, failure to weatherize facilities, and a lack of action from lawmakers to update the power grid caused millions of customers to lose power during the deadly 2021 winter storm.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Texas Freeze: Why the Power Grid Failed

Katherine Blunt Russell Gold

February 19, 2021 |

Wall Street Journal |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

By relying on the market to give energy suppliers' incentives to keep the power going during extreme weather events, a historic cold snap in Texas revealed cracks in the state’s free-market energy system, which left millions powerless during the storm. Critics of the state’s system say “the alphabet soup of Texas energy oversight bodies” led to inaction and there was a lack of preparation from plant owners to ensure that they could continue to operate in extreme heat and cold temperatures.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Heat Waves Kill More People Than Any Other Weather Disaster. These Cities Have A Plan.

Rachel Ramirez

December 01, 2020 |

The Huffington Post |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: India, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

With rising temperatures occurring all over the world, cities are implementing plans to combat heat waves and protect its residents. The city of Ahmedabad in India has been a model for heat resiliency after it created its first heat action plan that centered around “community-focused social measures.” Because of the plan, a 2015 heat wave resulted in fewer than 20 fatalities compared with thousands of deaths in previous years. Other cities like New York City are also participating in heat resiliency efforts aimed at protecting all of its residents.

Read More
Go to Original Story