The Dutch province of Friesland is innovating by recycling toilet paper and using it to enhance the safety of asphalt, which is used to pave bicycle paths. Normally, toilet paper is filtered out at wastewater treatment plants and then incinerated, which releases CO2 and destroys the resources contained in the toilet paper. Instead, this project extracts […]
Learning Conservation in Prison
The Sustainability in Prisons Project is partnering with inmates to develop and advance conservation efforts in prisons in the United States. Some of the conservation programs include zero-waste centers, cultivation of native plants to restore local habitats, and breeding threatened pollinator species. These programs engage prisoners and give them opportunities to learn more about conservation, […]
Solar-Powered Gardens in Benin Reduce Poverty & Food Insecurity
The Solar Electric Light Fund is providing solar-powered pumps that combine with drip irrigation systems to women farmers in Benin. These pumps allow women to farm year-round despite the 6-month dry season, and save them from having to haul water by hand for long distances. As a result of the pumps, food production has increased […]
Sweden Incentivizes Repairing instead of Buying
Sweden is implementing tax breaks and refunds on repairs in order to incentivize consumers to repair broken objects rather than replace them. This measure is intended to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions related to consumption. It also will help grow the service industry for home repairs, which may help immigrants without formal education to find […]
Changing the Conversation on Sustainable Development in Canada
Changing the Conversation is an organization in Canada that provides “a civil, open source inter-generational space where Canadians can come together to join or start a conversation around issues that matter to them and their communities.” They hold dialogues on issues such as energy, food security, waste, and rural revitalization. They also provide tools for […]
Transforming Women’s Health with Solar in Zimbabwe
Oxfam International’s Rural Sustainable Energy Development Project has equipped five health clinics in rural Zimbabwe with solar power, providing not just light but also reliable vaccine refrigeration and water pumps. Patients and expectant mothers no longer have to provide their own lighting when visiting the clinics, and clinic staff no longer have to use candles or cell […]
Cityfixer Reports on Multisolving Solutions for Cities
Cityfixer, a part of The Atlantic’s Citylab, is a one-stop shop for reporting on solutions to the problems that plague the world’s cities. It includes ideas, best practices, and experiments by cities around the world in the realms of public transit, energy efficiency, street design, and much more. It is a great resource for practical tips […]
Creating Jobs and Forests in Oaxaca
The Government of Mexico and the World Bank are providing assistance to communities in the Mexican state of Oaxaca to manage their forests sustainably while also using them as a source of employment (link in Spanish). The trees can be cut under certain regulations, and reforestation and sustainable management practices must occur simultaneously. People use the […]
Environment Africa Brings Together Conservation & Sustainable Livelihoods
Environment Africa is an NGO working in Southern Africa on conservation and sustainable development. They use a holistic approach to tackle cross-cutting issues such as sustainable livelihoods, climate change, social justice, biodiversity, and health. For example, one of their projects in Zimbabwe helps the children of AIDS victims by planting gardens and water wells in schools, which allows vulnerable […]
New York’s Clean Energy Fund Will Reduce GHGs and Energy Costs
New York State’s $5 billion Clean Energy Fund aims to both mitigate climate change and lower energy costs for low-income families, many of whom are forced to choose between “heating or eating” in the winter due to high energy costs. The Clean Energy Fund will initiate a design competition to bring down the cost of […]