Global Ideas | Deutsche Welle: Recent Episodes
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50 stories, 5 continents, 1 theme: showcasing passionate people and innovative projects from around the world aimed at combating climate change.
Ghana's cocoa production is in decline, with aging cocoa trees and poor agricultural practices exacerbated by drought. But a Dutch NGO is helping to revitalize the sector.
The hallig islands in the Wadden Sea are used to flooding events. The local population is used to their land being swallowed by the sea. But in recent years, they've experienced terrifying storms.
Golden monkeys can only be found in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. As their habitat is shrinking rapidly, a company's new stove could help preserve the forests where the monkeys live.
If you want to have light in rural Uganda, kerosene lamps are the method of choice. But these lamps are dangerous, unhealthy and contribute to climate change. In the last couple of year, more and more people save money to buy a solar power kit.
For more than a millennium, Mexicans have been drinking pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented agave juice. Its popularity has dropped in recent decades, but pulque seems to be making a comeback - which also has benefits for the environment.
Cocoa is Ghana's main cash crop. After the Ivory Coast, the West-African country is the second largest cocoa exporter in the world. But the trees are sick.
Millions of people living along the Rio Magdalena are feeling the sting of climate change, as fish stocks — and the river itself — dries up. But they're taking action to preserve their unique landscape and way of life.
For centuries, the people of the Peruvian Andes have used their forests only as a source for fire wood. Now the mountains are almost completely deforested. An annual tree-planting ceremony shall bring back the green to the Andes.
African wild dogs are one of the most threatened carnivores in Africa. There are only a few thousand left. In Zimbabwe the Save Valley is one of the last protected areas for these animals.
The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is sinking by up to 25 centimeters every year. Urban planners try to prevent the worst. But walls alone do not help against the floods. In the Tongkol settlement, people are now take action.
Jordan goes to great lengths to get water to its people. In the dry country that requires a lot of power and the water still doesn't always reach its destination. New technology could be the solution.
The Kalunga live in remote settlements in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Brazil. These people of African origin whose ancestors were slaves still live in poverty, usually off-grid. The NGO Litro de Luz is introducing them to solar power.
In South Africa, one third of food is thrown away, even though there are millions in need. And although food rotting on rubbish dumps damages the climate. Now there are solutions.
The former Soviet Republic of Moldova – one of the poorest countries in Europe – relies heavily on Russia for its energy needs. A German NGO is helping increase the country’s energy efficiency, starting with the residential sector.
Soil is second only to the ocean in the service it provides as a CO2 store. When in the ground, carbon enriches the soil and is good for the climate, but misuse of land has already led to the loss of large stores.
The Raika people have been herding camels in Rajasthan for centuries. But their traditional way of life is now under threat. A German NGO is helping Raika sustain their livelihood.
If we want to stop climate change, we have to cut carbon emissions. That much is clear. Yet the Philippines still rely heavily on coal power plants. And the government plans on building many more. Environmentalists are trying stop that - and the Catholic church has joined the fight.
The Caribbean coast is awash with tons of foul-smelling seaweed, causing problems for the environment and tourism. Could a protective barrier in the sea help? That's one of the solutions being proposed.
China wants bicycles to once again be the main way to get around. Rental bikes are already a lucrative business in the country. Many entrepreneurs are trying to cash in, but the impacts aren't always green.
The air quality in Hanoi will leave you breathless, and not in a good way. Now the city is actively tackling the problem, banning scooters and motorcycles by 2030. It's also investing heavily in public transport.
The Dominican Republic has a refuse problem. Most trash is neither sorted nor recycled. In San Cristóbal, people have already started the cleanup. And young adults are taught how to properly separate trash and to compost organic waste.
South Arica’s Kruger Park is a heaven for animals and plants alike. But more then one million rural people live on it’s borders. This has put strong pressure onto the area’s medicinal plants. Many species are on the brink of extinction. To turn the tide, Park management is working closely with scientistos and traditional healers to find a sustainable solution.
This island nation in the Caribbean looks like paradise, but it's often oppressively hot. The air conditioners people usually rely on there are real climate killers. That's why engineers are now encouraging people to install green AC systems.
Rhinos once roamed free on Uganda's savannahs. Until poachers wiped them out. The Rhino Fund wants to reintroduce the animals to the country.
Faye Cuevas used to work for the US military, fighting militants. Poachers often form global networks much like militant groups. Now Faye Cueavas is in Kenya — protecting elephants from poachers.
Because America's second largest tropical forest shrinks by around 30,000 hectares per year, the animals living there are threatened. For several months now, rangers have been using special software to combat this problem.
Slash-and-burn, pesticides, flooding and and landslides: a fatal mixture of bad land management and natural disasters is threatening to ruin the livelihood of the people in the south nepalese region of Kapilvastu.
Dengue fever is a sickness that spreads via mosquitoes faster than any other. Now scientists in Brazil infect mosquitoes with a kind of bacteria that makes them unable to spread dengue.
Dengue fever is a sickness that spreads via mosquitoes faster than any other. And climate change exacerbating the danger, with warmer and more humid conditions boosting mosquito populations.
Orang-Utan-Schulen sind Teil eines Schutzprojektes der Zoologischen Gesellschaft Frankfurt (ZGF). Sie kämpft für den Erhalt der Orang-Utans im Bukit-Tigapuluh-Nationalpark in Sumatra. Ihr Ziel: Der Aufbau einer neuen Population.
Women in a village in Mali were given sheep by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). They were taught to fatten them so they would benefit more from them.That helps them to adapt the climate change.
The cotton-top tamarin is at risk of extinction due to deforestation in its habitat, the Colombian rainforest. The NGO Proyecto Tití is fighting for their survival.
In Serbiens Eichenwäldern graben Hausschweine bei der Nahrungssuche den Waldboden um, der so wieder zu Schwemmland. Eine alte Tradition, von der die Natur profitiert. Doch wie lange wird die noch geben? Denn Hirtennachwuchs gibt es kaum.
In Serbia, Mangalitsa pigs dig up forest floors in search of acorns, helping create fertile alluvial soil. But pig herders are a dying breed. Is the tradition at risk?
Gourmets in China pay crazy prices. One kilo of dried sea cucumber fetches up to 1-thousand US dollars. Breeders in Madagascar earn an extra income while at the same time protect the marine ecosystem.
Southwestern Morocco has a huge industrial parc with more than 400 small and medium sized enterprises. 25,000 people are working in agriculture. The companies produce fruits, fish or argan oil. 90 percent of Morocco's agricultural exports come from here. But climate change is a threat for the firms. An insurance against damages through extreme weather may bring support.
The elephant population in South Africa's Kruger National Park is growing by the year – which is good news. But there’s a problem. The elephants are devouring the park’s precious marula trees. So the park has enlisted some bees to help protect them.
Members of Nepal's lowest castes have few opportunities to change their standing in life. The caste system was officially abolished in the 1960s, but little has changed since then.
In northeastern Colombia water is extremely scarce. People in the La Guajira region send their children to a catholic boarding school where they can eat and drink for free. They have enough water there but it is much too salty. A small desalination plant from Germany may be the solution.
In the Monolian steppe, almost 50 million sheep and goats graze the grass to its roots. A new system is aimed at managing use sustainably so vegetation has time to recover.
An energy cooperative gives solar-powered water heaters to a village in Georgia. This should reduce deforestation, because locals traditionally burn wood for heating.
Weather extremes threaten the livelihood of small farmers and fishermen worldwide. On the Caribbean island of St Lucia, a unique Livelihood Protection Policy provides help. After a heavy storm, the insurance make sure that people get back on their feet.
Michelle and Gilbert Mbeo have set up a fish farm in Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria. The fish they raise in cages in the lake are sold as far away as Nairobi. The project is providing jobs in an area that is suffering as a result of overfishing.
The once mighty Mpanga river in western Uganda has been devastated by human activity. Its waters are polluted, its banks degraded. Environmentalist Edgar Muganzi convinces farmers and school children to help him save it.
Coffee is one of Nicaragua’s most important export goods. At the National Coffee School students learn everything about coffee, from planting to processing and methods of sustainable cultivation. Global market prices are low, and coffee with a sustainability label yields higher prices.
Thailand ist einer der großen Fleischexporteure weltweit – auf Kosten der Umwelt: Futtermaisplantagen laugen die Böden aus und zerstören die Umwelt. Mehr und mehr Bauern Thailand ist einer der großen Fleischexporteure – auf Kosten der Umwelt: Maisplantagen laugen die Böden aus und zerstören Wälder. Bauern schwenken nun auf nachhaltige Abbaumethoden um, die sogar profitabler sein können.
Years of drought have plunged South Africa's Cape into a water crisis. Thirsty invasive shrubs and trees are worsening matters. That's why some are undertaking the mammoth task of clearing the problematic plants.
With some five million holiday-makers visiting Cozumel every year, the Caribbean island has become the main cruise harbor in Mexico. Tourism has a huge impact on the local economy, but is leaving it's marks on the island. The 100,000 inhabitants are now looking for new ways to combine nature conservation and tourism.
Es ist der Kreuzfahrthafen Nummer 1 in Mexiko: das Inselparadies Cozumel. Die rund 5 Millionen Touristen jährlich kommen einer Invasion gleich, denn die Insel hat selbst nur 100.000 Einwohner. So wichtig er auch für die lokale Wirtschaft ist – der Massentourismus hinterlässt Spuren auf der Insel und die Einwohner suchen nach Wegen, Naturschutz und Tourismus zu verbinden.
Uganda's power supply is bad. In many places electricity is so scarce that it is rationed. Some schools are looking for alternative energy sources.
The UN says drought, flooding and heatwaves lower life expectancy for women more than for men. Ndivile Mokoena is a South African climate activist and feminist. She campaigns internationally for gender justice in climate protection policy.
Deforestation, land grabs, exploitation: in the province of Ucayali in Peru, corruption is widespread. International investors have snapped up huge tracts of land using dubious methods that leave local farmers destitute.
What do sharks, rays and plenty of humans have in common? They like the idea of a lobster lunch. Given that fondness, conservationists in Mexico are working to ensure the crustacean is fished sustainably.
Delicacies from the jungle: The indigenous people of the Ecuadorian rainforest live from the biodiversity of the Amazon region. Now, top chefs from the capital Quito have caught onto the tasty possibilities.
Lange haben die Blumenfarmen um den Naivasha-See in Kenia unreguliert Dünger und Pestizide in das Gewässer geleitet. Inzwischen gibt es schärfere Auflagen und die Blumenhersteller haben nach umweltfreundlicheren Alternativen suchen müssen.Dann nutzt auch den Fischern am See.
Die Studenten an Bord des Ocean College-Schiffs haben Wasserproben genommen, um zu verstehen, wie groß das Plastikproblem auf den Weltmeeren ist. Die Ergebnisse sind ernüchternd.
Das kleine vietnamesische Dorf Hoa Binh wird immer häufiger von Stürmen heimgesucht. Die Bewohner haben gemerkt, dass nur ein intaktes Ökosystem die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels lindern und pflanzen Bäume zum Schutz.
Dzanga-Sangha in der Zentralafrikanischen Republik hütet einen Schatz. Hier leben Gorillas und Waldelefanten, die vom Aussterben bedroht sind. Die Parkverwaltung versucht, die Tiere zu schützen - auch vor den Folgen des Bürgerkrieges.
Die Rosa Flussdelfine des Amazonas sind in Gefahr. Wasserkraftwerke blockieren ihre Wege, Quecksilber aus Goldminen gefährdet ihre Organe. Bis heute gibt es kaum Daten zum Zustand der Populationen in der Region. Der WWF will das nun ändern.
Grüne Wiesen, dunkle Wälder, schneebedeckte Vulkane: die Region Los Lagos im Süden Chiles ist Idylle pur. Viele Landwirte produzieren hier auf traditionelle Art. Doch vor allem die Milchbauern kämpfen mit steigenden Wasser- und Energiekosten. Die Initiative "Smart Energy Concepts" versucht den Bauern energieeffiziente Lösungen aufzuzeigen. Einfach ist das nicht, und billig erst recht nicht.
In Mauretanien steigt der Meeresspiegel und Böden versalzen, Landwirtschaft ist an der Küste kaum möglich. Der Nationalpark Diawling hilft den Menschen, zu überleben. Denn hier ist das Ökosystem noch intakt.
Ein Rapper performt im Dorf, und junge Frauen und Männer bringen ihre Ideen ein. In den Dörfern Senegals tut sich etwas - endlich hören auch mal die Älteren zu. In Gesprächsrunden, den sogenannten Dimitra-Clubs, einigen sich alle Bewohner. Etwa auf Maßnahmen, um ihre Böden vor Erosion zu schützen.
Die Flussschildkröte in der peruanischen Region Madre de Dios steht kurz vor dem Aussterben. Die indigene Bevölkerung nutzt Schildkröteneier seit jeher als Proteinquelle. Immerhin ist der Verkauf von Schildkröteneiern jetzt verboten und Naturschützer züchten Nachwuchs.
Açaí-Beeren sind die angesagteste Frucht aus dem Amazonasregenwald. Die gesunden Früchte werden als sogenanntes "Superfood" gehandelt. Doch zunehmend verdrängen Açaí-Monokulturen den Regenwald. Dabei lohnt sich der nachhaltige Anbau auch wirtschaftlich.
Bis 2040 wird sich der weltweite Energiebedarf gegenüber 2015 verdoppelt haben. In West-Uganda, am Fluss Lubilia, entsteht gerade ein neues Laufwasserkraftwerk. Aber es hat für die Menschen dort nicht nur Vorteile.
In Bangladesch sind die Folgen des Klimawandels besonders drastisch. Doch viele dringend benötigte Hilfsgelder versickern durch Korruption und Misswirtschaft.
Mehr als 90 Prozent kaum berührter Regenwald bedeckt das südamerikanische Suriname. Doch der ursprüngliche Wald wird immer kleiner und mit ihm schwindet der Lebensraum zahlreicher Tiere. Besonders betroffen ist das Faultier.
Bangladeschs Dörfer erproben die Zukunft der Energieversorgung. Das Unternehmen Solshare installiert Boxen, die es Nachbarn ermöglicht, untereinander den Strom zu handeln, den sie mit Solarmodulen auf dem Dach erzeugen. Stromüberschuss geht nun nicht mehr verloren.
In Tunesien leiden die Unternehmer unter hohen Energiekosten. Einige Unternehmen versuchen nun, den Stromverbrauch zu senken und selbst Energie zu produzieren. Das tunesische Unternehmen Somocer investiert in Energieeffizienz.
Dass der Klimawandel Demokratie fördern würde, hätten sich in Senegal wohl die wenigsten gedacht. Doch wer wüsste besser, welche Folgen steigende Meeresspiegel oder unregelmäßige Regenfälle auf die Ärmsten haben als die betroffenen Menschen selbst?
Hoher Energieverbrauch, Ressourcenverschwendung und starke Umweltbelastung: Malaysia sagt all dem den Kampf an. Die Regierung unterstützt innovative Firmen mit Finanzhilfen und Steuererleichterungen. Und ein neues Öko-Label soll dafür sorgen, dass die Zukunft Malaysias immer grüner wird.