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

Text / 800-1500 Words

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.

Aided by the Sea, Israel Overcomes an Old Foe: Drought

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-revolution-in-israel-overcomes-any-threat-of-drought.html#

Isabel Kershner

The New York Times

29 May 2015

Text / 800-1500 Words

Israel has grappled with crippling drought for years. But people have learned to use Mediterranean sea water and recycled wastewater to provide the country with enough water for all its needs.

Amazing New Process Treats Wastewater, Captures Carbon and Makes Renewable Energy

http://www.alternet.org/environment/amazing-new-process-treats-wastewater-captures-carbon-and-producing-renewable-energy

Trent Knoss

Alternet

18 August 2015

Text / Under 800 Words

Cleaning up wastewater can often be a process that harms the environment. But an electrochemical reaction that absorbs more CO2 than it releases while creating renewable energy could transform emission-heavy industries.

As climate changes, cities grapple with big rains

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/02/04/climate-change-infrastructure

Dan Kraker

Minnesota Public Radio

4 February 2015

Radio / 5-15 Minutes

While some parts of the United States struggle with drought, others are faced with more water than they know what to do with. Minnesota reconstructs roads and drainage systems in order to be more prepared for the large amounts of rain fall they have received, largely due to climate change.

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

Text / 1500-3000 Words

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

Text / 800-1500 Words

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

Text / 1500-3000 Words

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.

Clean Water at No Cost? Just Add Carbon Credits

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/clean-water-at-no-cost-just-add-carbon-credits

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

15 November 2010

Text / 1500-3000 Words

The company that manufactures Lifestraw, a water purification device, has found a way to distribute their product to impoverished Kenyan families for free, while still making a profit. In the global carbon credit market, businesses receive carbon credits for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can then be sold to companies who need to offset their carbon emissions, allowing green companies to make a profit off of their small ecological footprint.