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The 'sun king' who built a solar city in China

Alvaro A. Ricciardelli

March 08, 2017 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: China, Dehzou, Shandong

Shandong Province in China is burdened with heavy air pollution due to being a hub of coal mining. To create a cleaner energy system, one man created a "city" entirely powered by solar energy, complete with a "solar museum" and "solar hotel". The buildings are designed to adopt solar panels into its structure, making the "city" not only beneficial to the environmental, but a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece.

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Cable Cars Are Changing the World

Duncan Geere

March 07, 2017 |

How We Get to Next |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Medellín

In what was once a violent neighborhood ruled by drug cartels and fear, prosperity and community are now blossoming in Medellin, thanks to an effective new form of public transportation: cable cars. The gondola system has allowed those neighborhoods on the steep slopes surrounding the city center - those which were not accessible by traditional rail systems and which suffered severe vehicle traffic congestion - to link to the rest of the city, improving job opportunities, access to basic and emergency services, and more.

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Building Better Cities

Russell Beard Juliana Schatz

March 05, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Colombia, Cali, Valle del Cauca

By 2050 the percentage of the world's population living in cities will increase to two-thirds with significant environmental strains. In Colombia, a company called Conceptos Plasticos collects recyclable plastic material, melts it down and moulds it into bricks used to build houses for the local community. Singapore too, is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable urban solutions including vertical farms and living buildings.

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How China is Cleaning its Air

Mukul Devichand

March 05, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: China, Beijing, Jingjinji

Air pollution is a huge problem for China, but surprisingly, the Air Quality Index in several cities is improving because of a variety of experimental projects that are being rolled out and a number of clever pollution solutions from around the country.

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How to Make Public Transportation Safer for Women

Christine Ro

February 08, 2017 |

How We Get to Next |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

From gender-segregated buses in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, to more lighting and staff on Washington, D.C.’s metro system, cities around the world are taking steps to make public transportation safer for women. Some of these methods are contested – especially ones that place the responsibility on women or don’t take into account transgender and genderqueer individuals. Yet, there is a growing body of research suggesting that responding to this problem requires two key elements: a larger, cultural shift regarding harassment and listening to women when they describe what they need.

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Street lights are out but you're still footing the bill; how can we prevent wire thefts?

Maureen Wurtz

February 02, 2017 |

KTUL-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

After chasing street light wire thieves who have left Tulsa streets in the dark, city officials look to Salt Lake City, who solved their city's stealing problems by investing in their infrastructure. SLC officials replaced copper wire, which was easier for thieves to take, with aluminum, buried light boxes, and placed sensors on their street lights to ensure neighborhoods and highways remained safe and well-lit.

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Urban forests increasingly central to planning in poor and rich countries alike

Gregory Scruggs

January 30, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver

Implementing and maintaining healthy urban forests is becoming more popular throughout communities internationally. Results from cities that have moved in this direction not only include an improvement to community and environmental health but also come with an economic valuation in the form of pollution removal, carbon sequestration and stormwater alleviation.

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The costs of growth and change in Nashville

David Plazas

January 29, 2017 |

The Tennessean |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is developing a comprehensive strategy for affordable housing to help address the challenges of rising property prices and gentrification for the city's poor and minorities. The city is helping influence more inclusive growth patterns through financial incentives like the Barnes Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

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In Kansas City, a lesson in transforming closed schools

Kalyn Belsha

January 24, 2017 |

Chicago Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

When public schools close, what can communities do with the buildings? Kansas City hired an urban planner to help repurpose school buildings to better engage the community and enabled non-profits a chance to purchase the old properties. This school reuse excelled from increasing the transparency of the decision-making process and “creative financing.”

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How Mormon Principles and Grassroots Ideals Saved Utah

Colin Woodard

January 18, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

In Salt Lake City, a bipartisan coalition of public and private actors, including members of the business, industrial, religious, political, and civic communities voluntarily came together to pass an ambitious twenty year land use plan. The plan, which conserves water, promotes clean air, and imposes new taxes for new rail lines, was made possible by Envision Utah, a public-private partnership that capitalizes on many Utahns' cultural and religious heritage.

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