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. She told me that whales eat plastic and then they get really sick and die. I said yes, it’s so sad. She agreed and proceeded to tell me all about Earth Day and why it’s… read more
“A natural solution to the climate disaster” from an open letter by activists
An open letter calling for mass reforestation and restoring ecosystems was published by The Guardian earlier this month. Natural climate solutions We are writing to champion a thrilling but neglected approach to averting climate chaos while defending the living world: natural climate solutions. This means drawing carbon dioxide out of… read more
Can today’s renewable energy sources power the future?
You’ve probably read renewable energy will power the future, but it’s still only about 17% of total electricity generation in the US. Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are still 63%. Wind is about 7%, and solar is only about 2% in the US. We have a long… read more
Economists’ Letter Recommends a Carbon Tax and Dividends
A statement 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. The recommendations “By correcting a well-known market failure, a carbon tax will send a powerful price signal that harnesses… 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. Below are some of the most difficult environmental problems that… 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
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 everything
And the Nobel prize goes to… William Nordhaus “for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis” earlier this month. The long-run macroeconomic analysis part is pretty dry, but his book, “Carbon Casino” is well written. There’s been a lot of news this month about climate change and carbon pricing, so I… 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
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
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… 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
H&M: Leading The Sustainable Fashion Movement In a Fast Fashion World
When I was 14, H&M was the most exciting store in the world. I spent my summers in Sweden in a town too small for a chain like H&M. But one day each summer my grandmother and I would drive to the big city, Halmstad, to shop at H&M. She… read more
A Brief Timeline of the Environmental Movement
I was searching my phone for pictures of Natural Bridges State Park when I realized the word “state park” pulls up hundreds of photos my hubby and I have taken. I searched for “national parks” and “state beaches,” and there were hundreds more. Going through old pictures, and compiling this… read more
Can We Replace Old Traditions With Low-Emissions?
As a kid, I spent every summer at my grandmother’s beach house in Sweden. With my aunt and uncle and cousins, it was a tight squeeze in that two and a half bedroom house. Not exactly my idea of vacation now, but piling into tiny beach homes is a Swedish… read more