Benjamin Felser

River Guardian in Tamil Nadu: Community activists are restoring one of the most important rivers in southeastern India. Historically a lifeline for a province already struggling with water scarcity, the Thamirabarani River has suffered from untreated industrial waste, domestic sewage, and solid waste pollution. Local fishers note the drastic declines and extirpation of kendai carp, cod, catfish, and conger eel, the latter known to clean rivers by eating algae and other debris. Launched in 2021, Nellai Neervalam is building a public water database while supporting community biodiversity monitoring, restoration, and engineering projects. The organization has mobilized communities to de-silt over 100 water bodies, construct embankments and establish waste-water treatment facilities. While thousands have joined the cause, activists stress the need for the government to address its own waste management lapses. Despite the challenges, dedicated activists, researchers, and volunteers haven't given up working to regenerate this beloved river.

 Amy Boyer

Individual climate actions contribute to transforming systems: Grist Journal recently wrapped up their Looking Forward series on doing just that, from climate-friendly ways to mark personal milestones to grassroots disaster relief work that builds climate resilience. Two discussions especially resonated with me. First is the Environmental Voter Project, a nonpartisan effort that identifies inactive voters concerned about the environment and encourages them to get their ballots cast in elections from local to presidential. I volunteered with them in 2020, helping people in several states make voting plans. Says Nathaniel Stinnett, the founder, "Maybe the climate movement doesn’t have a persuasion problem as much as we have a turnout problem." Second is the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. "Find the work that you are good at, that needs doing, and that brings you joy and satisfaction...be in the heart of your Venn diagram, where these three circles overlap, for as many minutes of your life as you can." There's even a template to fill out-- and that, dear reader, is why I contribute to this newsletter.  

 Claire Krummenacher

Solutions to extreme global heat go local: As July temperatures are poised to be the hottest ever recorded globally, cities increasingly rely on local solutions to help their citizens adapt to extreme heat. In Spain, the southern city of Sevilla launched the world's first rating and naming system for heat waves with levels that trigger tailored public services and emergency responses (last year, five other cities adopted similar pilot programs for their specific needs). Meanwhile, in the United States, Phoenix established a government office dedicated solely to heat solutions (the first of its kind in the country) that has distributed cooling supplies and expanded the network of hydration stations and public cooling centers. There are plans to double the city's tree cover, lay down heat-reflective pavement, and build shady vegetative corridors in the near future-- you can read more about using nature to cool urban neighborhoods in our Nature of Cities Nexus. And California is considering a bill that would require electric vehicles to be equipped with bidirectional charging, enabling them to feed energy back to the grid and help prevent power outages during heat waves. 

 Scott Hannan

Rescuing heirloom seeds to ensure biodiversity in food production:  In response to the ecological threats of industrial agriculture, farmers, gardeners, plant breeders, chefs, and home cooks are rising up to save rare and heirloom seeds and ensure a future of biodiversity in our culinary crops. The Scatterseed Project, featured in the documentary “Seed: The Untold Story”, aims to preserve not only the health and continuity of crop diversity but cultural diversity as well, as our seeds and gardens connect us all to our horticultural heritage. The Culinary Breeding Network, out of Oregon, works to build connections between seed savers, farmers, and cooks in an effort to educate and preserve biodiversity and strengthen the quality of the food we eat. One of their projects, the Gusto Italiano Project, works to discover and save rare cool-weather crops from northern Italy that are at risk of being forgotten and no longer grown. Seed the Future, the annual event of the Seed Savers Exchange that took place last week is an excellent way to connect with the movement. As Will Bonsall, director of Scatterseed, put it, “Genetic diversity is the hedge between us and global famine.”

 Courtney White

Cooling homes regeneratively: With record-setting heat waves hitting three continents this month, air-conditioning use has risen significantly, which negatively impacts climate, a cycle likely to continue in decades to come.  While the Chinese government has ramped up coal production to meet electricity demands, Singapore has put its goal of phasing out coal by 2050 high on the agenda. Yet there are a variety of traditional methods to cool homes and other buildings, as this Bloomberg article highlights. Earth-sheltering and covering structures with living plants are organic ways to decrease interior temperatures. The Moroccan riad incorporates fountains and pools in courtyards for their cooling effect. In China, an ancient design called a ‘skywell’ uses wind to cool buildings. Roofs can be built using passive cooling technology with materials that reflect and radiate heat energy, like this high-tech white paint. This Dezeen article lists ten principles for creating cool places in hot weather. See more ideas at our Buildings Nexus.

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