The 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan swept away 60,000 cars in the city of Ishinomaki. Residents had a difficult time replacing their cars due to car shortages, lack of parking, and lack of money. …
The UN Poverty-Environment Initiative brings poverty & environment to the forefront of policymaking
The United Nations Poverty-Environment Initiative works in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America to help governments and other stakeholders manage the environment in a way that also improves …
Rwanda Solar Installation Increases Electricity and Jobs
Helping Rwanda move toward its goal of delivering electricity to half the population by 2017, a new 8.5MW solar farm has increased power generation by 6% and added 350 local jobs. The project had an …
New building designs integrate nature for greater efficiency
Many architects, planners, and designers are taking ideas from nature when constructing new buildings, a concept known as biomimicry. For example, a building in Harare, Zimbabwe, uses air channels and …
Energy renovations provide residents comfort and higher home values
Energy upgrades are perhaps the most valuable home upgrade one can make. Money-wise, a recent home remodeling study found that in addition to lower utility bills, attic insulation projects recouped …
Our Power Campaign creates climate jobs and eco-friendly communities
Our Power Campaign is "part of a global struggle for climate justice." They advocate for the end of energy sources that damage human health and ecosystems, and for practicing climate mitigation and …
Light Up Your Life brings clean energy to sports in Peru
A new initiative will bring sustainable, energy-efficient lighting to athletic fields and other community spaces in underserved communities in Peru and other parts of Latin America. "Light Up Your …
Sri Lanka empowers women to protect mangroves
The government of Sri Lanka is helping support a new program to empower women in protecting the mangroves in their country. Mangroves protect against floods, provide important habitats, and can …
Reducing population growth and climate stress through better education of girls
A proactive and cost effective way to address climate change is through girls' education. Better educated women have fewer children, as World Bank data shows the difference between women with 0 and 12 …
Pakistan’s Parliament is 100% Solar-Powered
Earlier this year, Pakistan's legislature became the first in the world to be completely powered by the sun. Not only do the solar panels provide energy to the parliamentary building, they also feed …
Energy efficiency improves women’s lives
The Inter-American Development Bank outlined how energy efficiency in homes is a way to improve the lives of women, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. Because women in this region maintain …
Farming practices improve opportunities for women in Cambodia
A new project led by Penn State focuses on improving the livelihoods of women working in small scale farming in Cambodia. By encouraging gender sensitive sustainable intensification practices, they …