Words are important, but sometimes only a picture will do. Here are the charts and graphs I come back to again and again. Emissions and energy charts Transportation, electricity generation and industry make up 79.2% of emissions in the United States. The global picture looks different. Appliances and electronics make… read more
How Sweden recycles
I kept stumbling on articles proclaiming that Sweden is running out of rubbish so, while in Sweden for the summer, I did a little research. Why are Swedes so good at recycling, and are they really recycling 99% of all their trash? Sweden aims for zero waste Swedes have always… read more
The best Earth Day campaigns to support for maximum impact
A few days ago my six-year-old daughter had a talk with me about Earth Day. Whales eat plastic and then they get sick and die she told me. We agreed that this is a tragedy. She proceeded to tell me all about Earth Day, which she learned about in Kindergarten.… read more
Why activists are calling for mass reforestation as a solution to climate change
An open letter from environmental activists calling for mass reforestation and restoring ecosystems was published by The Guardian in April 2019. This call to action can have a huge impact in the fight against climate change. Drawdown.org outlines how land-use changes can reduce CO2 by 149.6 gigatons, could have a… read more
The simple guide to renewable energy sources
What an amazing world we live in. We can turn on the lights with the flip of a switch. We have the power to run our computers, dishwashers and the heat all at once and we rarely question where that power comes from. But as we become more aware of… read more
Why economists recommend a carbon tax and dividends to slow climate change
A statement posted in the Wall Street Journal signed by 45 leading economists (including former Federal Reserve Chairmen Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Janet Yellen, and Paul Volcker) recommends a carbon tax as the best solution to climate change. Here’s the plan they recommend to slow climate change and pollution and why… read more
The biggest environmental issues we face
Environmental issues and human progress are intimately connected. The incredible progress from the Industrial Revolution gave humanity the best health, wealth and security in world history. It’s also caused irreparable damage to our natural environment. Each environmental issue is connected. These are some of the most difficult environmental issues we… read more
How a small town banned single-use plastics
San Pedro La Laguna, a small town in Guatemala, banned single use plastic in 2016 according to the UN Environment Assembly. Disposable plastic bags and styrofoams were polluting the lake, and the cost of proper disposal was getting too expensive for the city. So they major banned them. Embracing reusable… read more
“Over 120 million people worldwide gained access to electricity in 2017”
This means that less than a billion people worldwide are without access to electricity today. Global goal target 7.1 is universal access to modern energy. The most significant milestone came from India where the president announced all villages have access to electricity as of 2018. “Meanwhile in Africa, Kenya’s access… read more
The Moral Fiber company turns polyester waste into new textiles
“Moral Fiber company has developed a three-step chemical process that can extract polyester from mixed blend materials to create a new yarn, billed as the world’s first textile product made entirely from old clothing. The equipment needed for this transformation can fit into a small shipping container, making it easy… read more
Corona will test biodegradable six-pack rings next year
Corona is trying a plastic-free six-pack ring in Mexico starting in 2019. The rings are made with plant-based biodegradable fibers with a mix of by-product waste and compostable materials. If they are left at the beach or end up in nature instead of a trash can, they will decompose instead… read more
How carbon pricing could simplify sustainable living
There’s been a lot of news this month about climate change and carbon pricing, so I thought I’d take a quick stab at explaining how a carbon tax could slow global warming and simplify the climate change debate. We can look at the climate change solutions as complicated sciency stuff… read more
Good Job America ;)
Bad news first: CO2 emissions increased by 1.4% globally. I hear a glacier cracking in the distance. But wait. Turns out the United States did something good this time. We decreased emissions. “The biggest decline came from the United States, where emissions dropped by 0.5%,” according to the International Energy Agencies… read more
Global Goals
“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” – Kofi Annan “You must know who you are and what you stand for.” I know I am… read more
The Importance of Honeybees
This summer my daughter became fascinated with the buzzing in our front yard. For a few months a year, our drought resistant and mostly native yard is full of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. As my kids have gotten older, I’ve started talking to them about why animals and plants are… read more
Factfulness: A Book Review
“This is data as you have never known it: it is data as therapy. It is understanding as a source of mental peace. Because the world is not as dramatic as it seems.” – Hans Rosling, Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better… read more
DDT: The insecticide that started a revolution
“In nature, nothing exists alone.”― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring DDT saved millions of lives, eradicated malaria in the United States, and started an environmental movement. There’s a lot to this one controversial pesticide. Some paint the picture of a toxic chemical that’s only caused harm. The World Health Organization says it’s still… read more
We Need Sustainable Innovation, Not Just Lifestyle Changes
I am often asked, “Why are you promoting products and not lifestyle changes if you’re an environmentalist? Aren’t those products just green-washing?” This is my opinion Yes, lifestyle changes are important and essential. I eat a lot less meat and drive less now than I did ten years ago. I… read more