This story was originally published by Reasons to be Cheerful
Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at [email protected].
Soak it in
Copenhagen is getting spongier to handle future flooding, with hundreds of nature-based and engineered flood mitigation projects either completed or underway. As Yale Environment 360 reports in a story shared by RTBC Editorial Director Rebecca Worby, the plan first came about after a massive storm inundated the Danish capital in 2011.
If the term “sponge city” rings a bell, you may have heard it here first: Contributing Editor Peter Yeung wrote for RTBC about sponge cities in China, where the term was coined, back in 2023.
Becca says:
One cool thing about Copenhagen’s approach: Many of the projects are designed to be social and experiential, such as collection basins that double as skate parks and amphitheaters.
Net gains
Here at RTBC, we love stories about simple solutions to big problems. A great example, shared this week by Contributing Editor Geetanjali Krishna from the Gates Foundation: The humble, low-tech mosquito net, treated with newly developed insecticides, prevented approximately 13 million malaria cases from 2019 to 2022, saving an estimated 25,000 lives.
Geetanjali says:
I’ve often been laughed at for using mosquito nets, but for me they’re a fantastic alternative to using chemical repellents and pesticides during the mosquito season. In 2023, the World Health Organization recommended dual-treated bed nets to fight malaria. Although mine is not insecticide treated, the net has always worked for me, and after reading this report, I’ll sleep even better tonight!
What else we’re reading
A long-awaited rule to protect workers from heat stress moves forward, even under Trump — shared by Executive Editor Will Doig from Grist
Take a Ride On New York City’s Future Train Line — shared by Rebecca Worby from the New York Times
The End of Lead — shared by Will Doig from Works in Progress
In other news…
Geetanjali Krishna created an easy read version — that is, presented in a simplified, accessible format — of her recent story about TV Bra, the Norwegian news show created by and for people with disabilities.
Check out the original story here and the easy read version here.
The post What We’re Reading: Copenhagen Is Becoming a ‘Sponge City’ appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.
