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In the forests of New Zealand, indigenous Maori and Western scientists work through past injustices to save a threatened species together

Per Liljas

May 19, 2020 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: New Zealand

A native tree species known as the kauri is being threatened by a deadly pathogen in New Zealand, so Western scientists, the government, and the Māori people are working together to stop it. Early tests suggest that chemical signals from other plants might be able to distract the pathogen and slow down the spread of it. However, collaboration between scientists and indigenous people was not easy, but they were able to build trust between each other.

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Chile's greenest town? What Finland can learn from La Pintana

Erika Benke

May 19, 2020 |

BBC |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Chile, La Pintana

The Chilean town of La Pintana recycles and reuses everything in a circular economy which repurposes items that otherwise go to waste. La Pintana has reduced carbon emissions by 80 percent and is committed to minimizing waste despite the high costs of the programs.

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'Cool pavement' experiments help urban planners find ways to ease rising temperatures

Erin Stone

May 15, 2020 |

AZ Central (The Arizona Republic) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

To combat the effects of rising temperatures due to climate change, Los Angeles piloted an experiment called “cool pavements,” where they coat streets with a light-colored sealant to reflect heat. Researchers are studying how effective this method is at reducing the urban heat island effect. Using a mobile sensor station, they found mixed results: While the surface temperature of the road was cooler, a person could feel warmer on the reflective roads. Figuring out how to balance different heat-mitigating strategies could be helpful as cities like Phoenix figure out how to implement cooling infrastructure.

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Teachable Moments on the Dock

Larry Pynn

May 14, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Galiano Island, British Columbia

A British Columbia project that includes education with regulations is a winning formula for rockfish conservation. Six cameras were placed strategically around the shoreline next to Galiano Island RCAs, and 46 information signs were posted at marinas and docks. The signs provide photos to help identify rockfish, show the boundaries of the RCAs, and offer specifics on the fishing rules. Team members also appear at community events to distribute information on RCAs, explaining how they work and what they are intended to achieve.

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Seed by seed, a women's collective helps reforest Brazil's Xingu River Basin

JoAnna Haugen

May 12, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Xingu River Basin

A group of women, known as the Yarang Women’s Movement, from villages in Brazil collect and sell seeds to nurseries, landowners, and other organizations to replant degraded land by the Xingu River. While this effort has helped reforest the area, a significant amount of land is still degraded and climate change threatens the availability of seeds throughout the year. Yet, “they have found creative ways to survive and adapt to climate change. The Yarang Women’s Movement is an example of resilience,” said someone who has worked with the group.

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Terrapin Powers Brewery With the Sun, Thanks to Georgia Bill

Stephen Barr Yash Bhika Janani Rammohan Victoria Swyers

May 04, 2020 |

Grady Newsource |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Athens, Georgia

Terrapin Beer Co. is powering their brewery with solar power, approximately 30 percent of the business’ total energy. The brewery partnered with Cherry Street Energy, a third-party solar ownership company, which allows them to rent the solar panels for little upfront cost. However, this arrangement doesn’t allow the brewery to store solar power for future use. These efforts allow the business to rely more on renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint.

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The best trees to reduce air pollution

Vittoria Traverso

May 04, 2020 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Oakville, Ontario

New technology is helping urban planners and developers better identify which trees could help cities reduce air pollution. In Ontario, the city of Oakville adopted a new software that resulted in planners halting the planting of one type of tree after learning it had little benefit on the air quality, while another digital tool designed in London is helping citizens determine which plants help remove particulate matter.

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Appalachian solar advocates continue efforts despite setbacks, pandemic

Elizabeth McGowan

May 04, 2020 |

Energy News Network |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Virginia

A solar workgroup in Virginia is inviting developers to present information on the best ways to build solar and battery storage projects for the region; a new approach they are taking after previous failures in getting solar projects off the ground. Despite a lack of funding and local developers in the area, solar advocates are hopeful that the passage of a new energy law in the Commonwealth could be an economic incentive for commercial-scale solar projects.

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The Business of Burps: Scientists Smell Profit in Cow Emissions

Adam Satariano

May 01, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Lancaster, England

A company called Mootral is studying whether changing a cattle’s diet could make the animals belch and flatulate less methane. They created a food supplement out of compounds from garlic, citrus, and other additives, that in early tests, has shown a decrease in a cow’s emission of the greenhouse gas. If they can get investors on board and scale it to different breeds of cows and in different climates, it could help the agricultural and farming industries to combat climate change.

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Can Genetic Engineering Bring Back the American Chestnut?

Gabriel Popkin

April 30, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Researchers successfully genetically engineered American Chestnut trees to resist the blight that decimated the species. Using a resistance-conferring gene from the wheat plant, the trees are grown in the lab and then can mate with trees in the wild to produce hardier blight-resistant trees. Although there are several regulatory hurdles to clear, and some environmental activists oppose the use of genetic modifications, the group continues to receive substantial grants and the trees have passed years of safety and efficacy tests showing they are safe and can even contribute to a healthy diet for many species.

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