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How Bangladesh is beating the odds on climate disaster deaths

Léopold Salzenstein Rafiqul Islam Montu

December 02, 2021 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh

In 1970 Cyclone Bhola hit Bangladesh. It killed up to 500,000 people. Since then, the country has revamped its emergency disaster preparedness through a multipronged process, reducing its cyclone-related deaths by 100 fold. Now, the country collects weather data from more than 50 weather stations. The data is sent to mitigation committees which dispense the info to people through various methods: radio, text messages, and even doorknocking. The country also has a volunteer program with 76,000 volunteers and increased the number of multi-purpose shelters from 44 in 1970 to 512 in 1991.

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New York City Is Building a Wall of Oysters to Fend Off Floods

Julia Hotz

November 19, 2021 |

Bloomberg |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

From New York City to Texas, localities are using oysters to protect themselves from flooding. They are dropping oysters along the coast for baby oysters to grown on, ultimately leading to the creation of wall-like reefs. The oyster reefs mitigate the blow of big waves during hurricanes. A study showed that reef-protected areas dissipated waves and had 54% less erosion. Building oyster reefs form part of a larger movement known as "green infrastructure" to manage the effects of climate change, as opposed to building concrete infrastructure like sea walls and dikes.

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Four ways Mozambique is adapting to the climate crisis

Neha Wadekar

November 01, 2021 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Mozambique

According to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index Mozambique was the fifth country most affected by extreme weather over the past two decades. This article takes an in-depth analysis into four aspects of the country's climate crisis response; early warning systems, flood defense, resettlement sites, and rebuilding houses. The article evaluates both its failures and successes.

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Women on storm-hit Philippine island lead Indigenous effort to restore mangroves

Keith Anthony S. Fabro

October 07, 2021 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Philippines

When Typhoon Haiyan hit the island of Busuanga in the western Phillipines it brought imminent destruction. It prompted residents, especially the women of the island, to rehabilitate the mangrove forests. Apart from storing high amounts of carbon, mangroves acts as buffers against storms and protect the coast. The indigenous women of the island monitor the growth of the mangroves.

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PA cities have a sewer-system problem. Green infrastructure can help — but comes with its own risks

Madison Goldberg

August 05, 2021 |

StateImpact Pennsylvania |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In many cities, rainwater is drained through "grey infrastructure" things like pipes, streets, etc. In some cities, this system is combined with the sewage system. Rainwater drains into the sewage system, is then cleaned, then emptied into the river. However, with strong storms some sewage systems overflow. A problem that will worsen with climate change. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, rain gardens are one solution to overflowing sewage systems. Cities like Harrisburg are turning to green infrastructure, things like rain gardens, roofs with gardens, and parks, to ease the burden on gray infrastructure.

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Giving Mother Nature a Hand

Zdenka Kovarikova

August 03, 2021 |

Transitions Online |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Czech Republic

Cervene Pecky and Dolany, two small towns in Prague, were able to fix their flooding problems through a process known as land consolidation. Prior to the land consolidation, the towns would get flooded by rainwater. Through land consolidation, property owners are able to redraw property lines. Thanks to the consolidation, the field that emptied into Dolany is now covered in grass, trees, and ditches.

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This Is the First Ecosystem With Its Own Insurance Policy

Oliver Gordon

July 20, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mexico

In Mexico, the Mesoamerican Reef, a 100-mile long coral reef system, the second largest in the word, is insured. The insurance policy is the result of a collaboration between the local government, hotel owners, an international NGO, and an insurance company who saw the value of protecting the reef. After Hurricane Delta, the insurance first kicked in, the insurance paid out $850,000. The money was used to uproot 2,152 coral colonies and close to 14,000 coral fragments. The model could be an example of future moves to insure the environment.

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The force that could redraw the peninsula of India

Kamala Thiagarajan

June 15, 2021 |

BBC |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India

In the South Indian coast, erosion is leading to disappearing beaches. A study found that this erosion was in part due to man-made structures like a harbor that was built in the late 80s, groynes, and seawalls. These structures were interfering with the natural movement of sand. To fix it, they needed a structure that could block waves but also allow sand movement, the solution? An artificial reef. It was installed and some beaches are already seeing the results.

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Indian Cities Prepare for Floods with Predictive Technology

Deepa Padmanaban

June 15, 2021 |

Eos |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: British Indian Ocean Territory

In coastal cities in India, floods have led to hundreds of deaths and millions of people being displaced. To address the issue, scientists had to address a variety of factors: hydrology of the upstream region; river, tidal, and storm surge modeling; and a high-resolution digital elevation map of the city. A group of scientists from 13 research institutes and government organizations looked at all those factors and came up with a real-time flood forecasting system. It generated 800 flood scenarios. When it rains the model predicts the most vulnerable sites.

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How Vancouver is protecting itself from future flooding — with plants

Stefan Labbé

May 27, 2021 |

Pique Newsmagazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

Large cities like Vacounver and Seattle are increasingly leaning towards "green infrastracture," a method of managing stormwater through natural systems like green roofs and rain gardens that absorb rainwater. Cities have traditionally relied on traditional sewage systems, but in the face of climate change, and more intense storms, its proving to be inadequate. Green infrascture lowers flood levels, filters out pollutants in the water, and regulates city temperature. In Seattle, an early adopter of green infrastructure, rain gardens absorbed 1.5 trillion liters of rainwate.

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