7 hopeful climate stories from around the world

http://www.cgdev.org/blog/7-hopeful-climate-stories-around-globe

Jonah Busch

Center for Global Development

20 April 2015

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Evidence continues to build that humans are contributing to a climate change issue that is nothing but bad news for the planet. Hopeful stories from seven countries, including India, Indonesia, and China, show that efforts to combat climate change might finally be working.

Africa's quiet solar revolution

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2015/0125/Africa-s-quiet-solar-revolution

Lorena Galliot

Christian Science Monitor

25 January 2015

Text / Over 3000 Words

Electricity is hard to come by in much of Africa. Now, skipping over the fossil fuel age, solar panels are bringing a cheap form of electricity to the continent.

A Light in India

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/a-light-in-india

David Bornstein

The New York Times

10 January 2011

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Access to electricity in India takes a huge economic, educational, and health-related toll. A small company called Husk Power Systems has created an innovative system that is turning rice husks into electricity and illuminating India’s poorest state.

Bill Gates Can't Build a Toilet

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/opinion/bill-gates-cant-build-a-toilet.html

Jason Kass

The New York Times

18 November 2013

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Ecological toilets that use natural composting to break down waste are simple to construct, waterless and are easy to fix. But as philanthropists are finding, getting these to those that need it most is harder than anticipated.

‘Waste' Fuels Scientists' Efforts

http://www.journalismwithoutwalls.com/kenya2013/?p=635

Dipti Kumar

Michael Ruiz

Ansa Varughese

Journalism Without Walls

3 February 2013

Video / 3-5 Minutes

In order to hunt for the oldest fossils in Africa, scientists needed to produce alternative forms of energy to allow them to live in these desert regions. One such project is the gasifier, which turns discarded doum palm nuts into energy.

Can We Fix the Climate by Being More Like Hawaii?

http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/09/29/Fix-Climate-Hawaii

Geoff Dembicki

The Tyee

29 September 2014

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Amidst a world struggling with smart ways to confront climate change, Hawaii's 2050 Plan for sustainability is working to be a model for the rest of the world. So far, it is on it's way to being a leader in solar energy, with Honolulu having the most "solar panels per capita than any other North American city," and the state is working to produce more food locally, as well.

Climate Change Mitigation's best-kept secret

http://ensia.com/features/climate-change-mitigations-best-kept-secret

Jim Motavalli

Ensia

6 January 2015

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The breakdown of the ozone layer is one of the most well-known effects of climate change. Citizens enact different ways to protect the atmosphere from a build up of methane gas.

Crowdfunding Clean Energy

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/crowd-funding-clean-energy

David Bornstein

The New York Times

6 March 2013

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In Oakland, a company created an online crowdfunding platform that allows users to earn interest by financing clean energy projects and gives people with good social intentions a direct line of action. Across the world, there is a growing movement toward people-powered clean energy.

Green Roofs in Big Cities Bring Relief From Above

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/in-urban-jungles-green-roofs-bring-relief-from-above

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

23 May 2012

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New York City black tar roofs cause a number of environmental problems, including air pollution, heat absorption that raises energy consumption, and storm water runoff in the sewer system. Efforts to turn these old roofs into green spaces cool the buildings, enable the containment of more rainfall, reduce sewer discharge, generate energy, and absorb carbon emissions. New York City has a pilot program offering financial help for green roofs.

How This Teen's Quest to Define 'Sustainability' Changed State Law

http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/10/17/Sustainability-Definition-Changed-Law

Geoff Dembicki

The Tyee

17 October 2014

Text / 1500-3000 Words

Hawaii private school students were taught about ecological sustainability, but public school students were not. After losing a school essay contest about sustainability, a high school student convinced Hawaii’s legislature to pass a resolution requiring that every student learn the meaning of the concept. Due to this student’s advocacy, the state is also piloting a program to install solar panels on its public schools to teach children how to be more self-sustaining.