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Think You’re Making Good Climate Choices? Take This Mini-Quiz

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Think You’re Making Good Climate Choices? Take This Mini-Quiz

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How good do you think you are at picking the best ways to reduce your emissions? Take this mini-quiz based on the study and see if your guesses fall inside the range of realistic answers.

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Think You’re Making Good Climate Choices? Take This Mini-Quiz (Published 2020)

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Most Americans don’t have the information they need to effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research. You might be one of them.

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Climate Change Is Complex. We’ve Got Answers to Your Questions.

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Climate Change Is Complex. We’ve Got Answers to Your Questions.

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We know. Global warming is daunting. So here’s a place to start: 17 often-asked questions with some straightforward answers.

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Both are accurate, but they mean different things.

You can think of global warming as one type of climate change. The broader term covers changes beyond warmer temperatures, such as shifting rainfall patterns.

President Trump has claimed that scientists stopped referring to global warming and started calling it climate change because "the weather has been so cold" in winter. But the claim is false. Scientists have used both terms for decades.

Two degrees is more significant than it sounds.

As of early 2017, the Earth had warmed by roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (more than 1 degree Celsius) since 1880, when records began at a global scale. The number may sound low, but as an average over the surface of an entire planet, it is actually high, which explains why much of the world's land ice is starting to melt and the oceans are rising at an accelerating pace. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, scientists say, the global warming could ultimately exceed 8 degrees Fahrenheit, which would undermine the planet's capacity to support a large human population.

We've known about it for more than a century. Really.

In the 19th century, scientists discovered that certain gases in the air trap and slow down heat that would otherwise escape to space. Carbon dioxide is a major player; without any of it in the air, the Earth would be a frozen wasteland. The first prediction that the planet would warm as humans released more of the gas was made in 1896. The gas has increased 43 percent above the pre-industrial level so far, and the Earth has warmed by roughly the amount that scientists predicted it would.

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Hard evidence, including studies that use radioactivity to distinguish industrial emissions from natural emissions, shows that the extra gas is coming from human activity. Carbon dioxide levels rose and fell naturally in the long-ago past, but those changes took thousands of years. Geologists say that humans are now pumping the gas into the air much faster than nature has ever done.

In theory, they could be. If the sun were to start putting out more radiation, for instance, that would definitely warm the Earth. But scientists have looked carefully at the natural factors known to influence planetary temperature and found that they are not changing nearly enough. The warming is extremely rapid on the geologic time scale, and no other factor can explain it as well as human emissions of greenhouse gases.

Mostly because of ideology.

Instead of negotiating over climate change policies and trying to make them more market-oriented, some political conservatives have taken the approach of blocking them by trying to undermine the science.

President Trump has sometimes claimed that scientists are engaged in a worldwide hoax to fool the public, or that global warming was invented by China to disable American industry. The climate denialists' arguments have become so strained that even oil and coal companies have distanced themselves publicly, though some still help to finance the campaigns of politicians who espouse such views.

Over the coming 25 or 30 years, scientists say, the climate is likely to gradually warm, with more extreme weather. Coral reefs and other sensitive habitats are already starting to die. Longer term, if emissions rise unchecked, scientists fear climate effects so severe that they might destabilize governments, produce waves of refugees, precipitate the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals in the Earth's history, and melt the polar ice caps, causing the seas to rise high enough to flood most of the world's coastal cities. The emissions that create those risks are happening now, raising deep moral questions for our generation.

Are you rich enough to shield your descendants?

The simple reality is that people are already feeling the effects, whether they know it or not. Because of sea level rise, for instance, some 83,000 more residents of New York and New Jersey were flooded during Hurricane Sandy than would have been the case in a stable climate, scientists have calculated. Tens of thousands of people are already dying in heat waves made worse by global warming. The refugee flows that have destabilized politics around the world have been traced in part to climate change. Of course, as with almost all other social problems, poor people will be hit first and hardest.

The real question is how fast.

The ocean has accelerated and is now rising at a rate of about a foot per century, forcing governments and property owners to spend tens of billions of dollars fighting coastal erosion. But if that rate continued, it would probably be manageable, experts say.

The risk is that the rate will increase still more. Scientists who study the Earth's history say waters could rise by a foot per decade in a worst-case scenario, though that looks unlikely. Many experts believe that even if emissions stopped tomorrow, 15 or 20 feet of sea level rise is already inevitable, enough to flood many cities unless trillions of dollars are spent protecting them. How long it will take is unclear. But if emissions continue apace, the ultimate rise could be 80 or 100 feet.

Scientists have published strong evidence that the warming climate is making heat waves more frequent and intense. It is also causing heavier rainstorms, and coastal flooding is getting worse as the oceans rise because of human emissions. Global warming has intensified droughts in regions like the Middle East, and it may have strengthened a recent drought in California.

In many other cases, though - hurricanes, for example - the linkage to global warming for particular trends is uncertain or disputed. Scientists are gradually improving their understanding as computer analyses of the climate grow more powerful.

Yes, but change is happening too slowly.

Society has put off action for so long that the risks are now severe, scientists say. But as long as there are still unburned fossil fuels in the ground, it is not too late to act. The warming will slow to a potentially manageable pace only when human emissions are reduced to zero. The good news is that they are now falling in many countries as a result of programs like fuel-economy standards for cars, stricter building codes and emissions limits for power plants. But experts say the energy transition needs to speed up drastically to head off the worst effects of climate change.

Virtually every country agreed to limit future emissions.

The landmark deal was reached outside Paris in December 2015. The reductions are voluntary and the pledges do not do enough to head off severe effects. But the agreement is supposed to be reviewed every few years so that countries ramp up their commitments. President Trump announced in 2017 that he would pull the United States out of the deal, though that will take years, and other countries have said they would go forward regardless of American intentions.

Job growth in renewable energy is strong.

The energy sources with the lowest emissions include wind turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric dams and nuclear power stations. Power plants burning natural gas also produce fewer emissions than those burning coal. Converting to these cleaner sources may be somewhat costlier in the short term, but they could ultimately pay for themselves by heading off climate damages and reducing health problems associated with dirty air. And expansion of the market is driving down the costs of renewable energy so fast that it may ultimately beat dirty energy on price alone - it already does in some areas.

The transition to cleaner energy certainly produces losers, like coal companies, but it also creates jobs. The solar industry in the United States now employs more than twice as many people as coal mining.

Both could help clean up the energy system.

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is one of a set of drilling technologies that has helped produce a new abundance of natural gas in the United States and some other countries. Burning gas instead of coal in power plants reduces emissions in the short run, though gas is still a fossil fuel and will have to be phased out in the long run. The fracking itself can also create local pollution.

"Clean coal" is an approach in which the emissions from coal-burning power plants would be captured and pumped underground. It has yet to be proven to work economically, but some experts think it could eventually play a major role.

Sales are still small overall, but they are rising fast.

The cars draw power at night from the electric grid and give off no pollution during the day as they move around town. They are inherently more efficient than gasoline cars and would represent an advance even if the power were generated by burning coal, but they will be far more important as the electric grid itself becomes greener through renewable power. The cars are improving so fast that some countries are already talking about banning the sale of gasoline cars after 2030.

It's just jargon for putting a price on pollution.

The greenhouse gases being released by human activity are often called "carbon emissions" for short. That is because two of the most important gases, carbon dioxide and methane, contain carbon. (Some other pollutants are lumped into the same category, even if they do not actually contain carbon.) When you hear about carbon taxes, carbon trading and so on, these are just shorthand descriptions of methods to put a price on emissions, which economists say is one of the most important steps society could take to limit them.

Start by sharing this with 50 of your friends.

Experts say the problem can only be solved by large-scale, collective action. Entire states and nations have to decide to clean up their energy systems, using every tool available and moving as quickly as they can. So the most important thing you can do is to exercise your rights as a citizen, speaking up and demanding change.

You can also take direct personal action to reduce your carbon footprint in simple ways that will save you money. You can plug leaks in your home insulation to save power, install a smart thermostat, switch to more efficient light bulbs, turn off unused lights, drive fewer miles by consolidating trips or taking public transit, waste less food, and eat less meat.

Taking one or two fewer plane rides per year can save as much in emissions as all the other actions combined. If you want to be at the cutting edge, you can look at buying an electric or hybrid car or putting solar panels on your roof. If your state has a competitive electricity market, you may be able to buy 100 percent green power.

Leading corporations, including large manufacturers like carmakers, are starting to demand clean energy for their operations. You can pay attention to company policies, support the companies taking the lead, and let the others know you expect them to do better.

These personal steps may be small in the scheme of things, but they can raise your own consciousness about the problem - and the awareness of the people around you. In fact, discussing this issue with your friends and family is one of the most meaningful things you can do.

Produced by Gray Beltran and Rumsey Taylor.

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united nations framework convention on climate change

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Climate Change Is Complex. We've Got Answers to Your Questions.

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Both are accurate, but they mean different things. You can think of global warming as one type of climate change. The broader term covers changes beyond warmer temperatures, such as shifting rainfall patterns. President Trump has claimed that scientists stopped referring to global warming and started calling it climate change because "the weather has been so cold" in winter.

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World's richest 1% cause double CO2 emissions of poorest 50%, says Oxfam

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World's richest 1% cause double CO2 emissions of poorest 50%, says Oxfam

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Charity says world’s fast-shrinking carbon budget should be used to improve lot of poorest

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The wealthiest 1% of the world's population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the poorer half of the world from 1990 to 2015, according to new research.

Carbon dioxide emissions rose by 60% over the 25-year period, but the increase in emissions from the richest 1% was three times greater than the increase in emissions from the poorest half.

The report, compiled by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute, warned that rampant overconsumption and the rich world's addiction to high-carbon transport are exhausting the world's "carbon budget".

Such a concentration of carbon emissions in the hands of the rich means that despite taking the world to the brink of climate catastrophe, through burning fossil fuels, we have still failed to improve the lives of billions, said Tim Gore, head of policy, advocacy and research at Oxfam International.

"The global carbon budget has been squandered to expand the consumption of the already rich, rather than to improve humanity," he told the Guardian. "A finite amount of carbon can be added to the atmosphere if we want to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. We need to ensure that carbon is used for the best."

The richest 10% of the global population, comprising about 630 million people, were responsible for about 52% of global emissions over the 25-year period, the study showed.

Globally, the richest 10% are those with incomes above about $35,000 (£27,000) a year, and the richest 1% are people earning more than about $100,000.

Quick Guide
Extreme heat has become more common in recent years

* Temperatures stayed over 34C for six consecutive days last week in the UK, the longest such run since comparable records began in the 1960s

* Spring was the sunniest on record in the UK, even as millions of people were stuck indoors by lockdown. There were more hours of sunshine than in any year since the series began in 1929, and May was the driest in more than a century

* February was the UK's wettest ever, with 202.1mm of rainfall as storms battered the country

* July was unusually wet and cool

* In April, meteorologists forecast that 2020 would be the world's hottest year since records began

* Last year was Europe's hottest on record, with 11 of the 12 hottest years on record having occurred in the past two decades

* Siberia has experienced temperatures more than 10C above average this summer, in an Arctic heatwave that has alarmed scientists

* Last summer, Arctic sea ice was at its second lowest extent on record. This year may surpass records, and recent research suggests Arctic sea ice is on track to disappear in summer by 2035

* Antarctica hit a record high of 20.75C in February, recorded on Seymour Island by Brazilian scientists, at the close of its summer

* The last decade was the earth's hottest on record

Carbon dioxide emissions accumulate in the atmosphere, causing heating, and temperature rises of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels would cause widespread harm to natural systems. That accumulation gives the world a finite carbon budget of how much carbon dioxide it is safe to produce, which scientists warn will be exhausted within a decade at current rates.

If left unchecked, in the next decade the carbon emissions of the world's richest 10% would be enough to raise levels above the point likely to increase temperatures by 1.5C, even if the whole of the rest of the world cut their emissions to zero immediately, according to Monday's report.

Oxfam argues that continuing to allow the rich world to emit vastly more than those in poverty is unfair. While the world moves towards renewable energy and phases out fossil fuels, any emissions that continue to be necessary during the transition would be better used in trying to improve poor people's access to basic amenities.

"The best possible, morally defensible purpose is for all humanity to live a decent life, but [the carbon budget] has been used up by the already rich, in getting richer," said Gore.

He pointed to transport as one of the key drivers of growth in emissions, with people in rich countries showing an increasing tendency to drive high-emitting cars, such as SUVs, and take more flights. Oxfam wants more taxes on high-carbon luxuries, such as a frequent-flyer levy, to funnel investment into low-carbon alternatives and improving the lot of the poor.

"This isn't about people who have one family holiday a year, but people who are taking long-haul flights every month - it's a fairly small group of people," said Gore.

While the coronavirus crisis caused a temporary dip in emissions, the overall impact on the carbon budget is likely to be negligible, according to Gore, as emissions have rebounded after lockdowns around the world. However, the experience of dealing with the pandemic should make people more aware of the need to try to avert future catastrophe, he said.

Caroline Lucas, the Green party MP, said: "This is a stark illustration of the deep injustice at the heart of the climate crisis. Those who are so much more exposed and vulnerable to its impacts have done least to contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing it. The UK has a moral responsibility here, not only because of its disproportionately high historic emissions, but as hosts of next year's critical UN climate summit. We need to go further and faster in reaching net zero."

World governments are meeting virtually for the 75th UN general assembly this week, with the climate crisis high on the agenda. Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, is expected to set out his vision for the next UN climate summit, called Cop26 and to be convened in Glasgow in November 2021, after the coronavirus crisis forced a year's delay to the event.

As host nation, the UK government is being urged to set out its plans for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, a target enshrined in law last year, but for which there are still few national policies.

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World's richest 1% cause double CO2 emissions of poorest 50%, says Oxfam

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The wealthiest 1% of the world's population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the poorer half of the world from 1990 to 2015, according to new research.

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The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet.

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The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet.

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Some parts of modern life are, at this point, widely known to cause environmental harm - flying overseas, using disposable plastic items, and even driving to and from work, for example. But when it comes to our clothes, the impacts are less obvious.

As consumers worldwide buy more clothes, the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking a toll on the environment. On average, people bought 60% more garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams.

What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year. And washing some types of clothes sends thousands of bits of plastic into the ocean.

Here are the most significant impacts fast fashion has on the planet.

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The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet.

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Some parts of modern life are, at this point, widely known to cause environmental harm - flying overseas, using disposable plastic items, and even driving to and from work, for example. But when it comes to our clothes, the impacts are less obvious.

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What 'net-zero carbon' really means for cities

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What 'net-zero carbon' really means for cities

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A city historically known for its lethal 20th-Century smogs has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – how will London get there?

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London, like the rest of the UK, is committed to becoming net-zero carbon by 2050. That means greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be dramatically slashed and any remaining emissions offset, neutralising environmental impact and slowing climate change. But how does a city choked with traffic and packed full of carbon-emitting processes and structures - from fossil fuel-generated energy to steel skyscrapers - reach such a goal? And exactly how different would the urban environment look if it were net-zero?

If London's population continues to rapidly grow - by 2050 it may be home to more than 11 million people - and the climate crisis accelerates, the challenge will only become more urgent. Transport, energy infrastructure, waste, new construction and existing architecture, all need to be take steps to achieve carbon neutrality.
Transport
In the UK, transport is the largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, damaging both the environment and public health. When we imagine the city of the future, novelties like flying cars may come to mind - but a decarbonised future for transport might mean no cars at all. Realistically, it's about shifting the ratio of transport modes. At last count in 2018, 37% of trips in London were made by car or motorcycle, 36% of trips by public transport and 2.6% by bicycle (the rest were walked or described as "other"). In order to achieve a net-zero city, and reduce toxic air pollution, the proportion of trips made by car would need to drastically reduce.

Efforts such as London's congestion charge, its Ultra Low Emission Zone and the UK's plan to ban all new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 are the first steps towards achieving this. In London's current environment plan, local zero-emission zones will be introduced in 2025, which will then be expanded until they extend citywide.

But this could simply result in a city full of ultra-low-emission vehicles. Even if all cars were replaced with electric models, this wouldn't be a catch-all solution. While emission-free at the point of use, electric cars still create some carbon emissions due to manufacturing and maintenance impacts. They also still contribute to congested roads. According to the London Cycling Campaign, in order to get to net zero by 2050, we would need nearly a 60% reduction in car mileage, even if all cars were low emission, by 2035.
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The UK government's recent De-Carbonising Transport report outlines a strategy for reducing overall car use, promoting the "natural first choice" to be public transport and emissions-free modes of travel like walking and cycling. This was further supported by measures to support active travel during the coronavirus pandemic: a £2bn ($2.6bn) national grant, and in London, temporary cycling lanes and car-free zones, some of which could become permanent. But in the long term, alternatives to the car - cycling and public transport specifically - have to be appealing, accessible, convenient and affordable to convince people to use them.

Although much more sustainable than fuel-powered cars, public transport could still be greener. London buses on average emit 73.6g of CO2 per passenger km, according to Transport for London (TfL) data. Figures for the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway, for instance, are 55g and 47.1g respectively. In efforts to improve the situation, mayor Sadiq Khan has promised the city's bus fleet will have zero emissions by 2037 and that the London Underground will be powered fully by zero-carbon sources by 2030.

Cycling, however, is completely emission-free at the point of use. "We need a mass shift to cycling, public transport and car clubs/sharing if we are to achieve both a zero-carbon London by 2030 and improve public health," says London Cycling Campaign's chief executive Ashok Sinha. But in order to accommodate more cycling, safe and widespread infrastructure is vital. "London needs a high-density, city-wide cycling network. This will involve a combination of extensive cycling infrastructure, as exemplified by the Netherlands, and low-traffic neighbourhoods - places where local traffic only is permitted."
Buildings
The built environment is responsible for around 40% of the UK's total carbon footprint, according to the UK Green Building Council - and is another aspect of the city that needs to be rethought to achieve net-zero status.

Reducing buildings' carbon emissions means looking at the choice of materials and construction methods as well as energy efficiency. Architects are increasingly paying attention to the "embodied carbon" of a building. This can comprise the carbon emissions of extracting, processing, manufacturing, packaging and transporting the materials used, as well as construction on site, maintenance over lifespan and what happens after the building is demolished.

Peter Clegg, architect and co-founder of British firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, has long been committed to low-carbon architecture. In 2019, Clegg's practice undertook a research project studying the embodied carbon of common building materials. Analysing the amount of carbon emitted per cubic metre of each material, the project demonstrated that glass and steel were among the materials with the highest carbon impact, while more sustainable, low-carbon options include brick, stone and cross-laminated timber (CLT) - especially if they are locally sourced.

Steel, for instance - which is often used for building skyscrapers - is responsible for at least 7% of global CO2 emissions, releasing 12.2 tonnes of CO2 per cubic metre used, in part due to the heating process involved in making it. Concrete produces 550kg (1,200lb) CO2 per cubic metre used, but its main ingredient, cement, is responsible for about 8% of global CO2 emissions due to its widespread use as cities rapidly develop.

Timber has much lower embodied carbon, however, and CLT is actually a carbon negative material (sequestering more carbon than it emits). CLT is made from trees grown for around 40 years in a managed forest before being harvested, cut and pressed together with adhesive. The trees absorb and sequester carbon as they grow, so that CLT effectively absorbs 600kg (1,300lb) CO2 per cubic metre. CLT is also strong enough to be used structurally, with quick construction and reduced waste. (Read more about timber buildings as a solution to climate change)

"In terms of design, the main aim is to reduce the use of concrete and work more with timber," says Linda Thiel, London studio director of Swedish practice White Arkitekter. "In Sweden, we would typically work with timber construction where we are delivering buildings of up to 20 storeys. But the change in legislation in the UK has precluded this."

UK restrictions on the use of timber in high-rise buildings were implemented following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, even though timber was not part of the building's design. Suggestions the ban may now be extended further have led to a campaign outlining the importance of structural timber in tackling the climate crisis, and its relative safety in a fire.

White Arkitekter has committed to reaching net zero in its projects by 2030. The practice is currently delivering a Climate Innovation District in Leeds, which includes 516 low-energy homes in a cycle- and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood with climate-resilient green and open spaces. "By integrating natural materials such as timber frames and the latest technology, the neighbourhood's climate footprint is greatly reduced," explains Thiel. The timber-framed design approach stores 23 tonnes of carbon for each house and saves 88 tonnes of emitted CO2 compared with building an equivalent masonry house.

Beyond simply building anew, however, architecture has to embrace reuse and retrofitting to get to net zero. No matter how streamlined the process of construction, it will always emit carbon, especially if demolition is involved. "Low-carbon architecture is completely aligned with the idea of retaining and upgrading our existing built heritage," says Peter Clegg. "The future of architecture lies in green retrofit projects - perhaps not as sexy as new buildings, but far more environmentally significant."

Low-carbon design of buildings can also go hand in hand with features that help mitigate the existing impacts of climate change, such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Green roofs and walls - which sequester carbon dioxide, reducing air pollution - also help insulate buildings, reducing energy demand, as well as absorb stormwater, reducing flood risk.

Improving energy efficiency in buildings is vital. This means designing to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, cool and light them. Robust insulation plays a big role, as do airtight doors and windows, LED lighting, minimised glazing and carefully planned orientation.
Power
How we get and use our energy both depletes natural resources and emits GHG. Heating, for instance, accounts for over a third of the UK's GHG emissions. But the transition from burning coal and gas to renewable, low-carbon energy sources - such as solar, hydroelectric, wind and geothermal - has already begun.

Local energy can also significantly cut emissions. Instead of relying on the gas or electricity grids, with power generated in stations outside of London, energy is generated and supplied locally, such as through solar panels or district heating networks.

District heating - in which heat is generated in a centralised location and distributed locally through a system of insulated pipes - can use fossil fuels, but are increasingly using renewable, low-carbon sources. London, at last count in 2013, had 920 district heating networks - and more are being developed.

The transition to local energy networks often requires having energy centres within the city. The new Bunhill 2 Energy Centre in Islington expands an existing district heating network. Created on the site of a Tube ventilation shaft, it uses waste heat from the Northern Line to sustainably heat buildings in the neighbourhood. Designed by Cullinan Studio, it stands out with a copper-hued, intricately patterned metal exterior. Another district heating network centre, the Greenwich Peninsula Low-Carbon Energy Centre, is also celebrated in the cityscape, featuring an eye-catching, geometric, silver flue tower designed by British artist Conrad Shawcross.

The Greenwich Peninsula Low-Carbon Energy Centre acts as a district heating hub in south-east London (Credit: CF Møller Architects/Mark Hadden)

Repowering London, an organisation founded by Afsheen Kabir Rashid, works in partnership with communities to create local, renewable energy networks. "We want to scale community energy across London and empower local residents, community groups and businesses to take action on climate change," says Rashid. Repowering's existing eight energy co-ops across London have installed 532 kW of solar panels that will save 2,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions over their lifetime. "Our achievements to date are modest, but imagine what we can achieve if there was strong local and national government support with stable and enabling energy policies alongside financial support," says Rashid.
Waste
When transported, incinerated or decaying in landfill, waste is another large source of carbon emissions, representing a throwaway economy dominated by the constant production of new single-use items.

London produces seven million tonnes of waste each year, 41% of which is recycled. The current mayor's target is to reduce food and associated packaging waste by 50% by 2030, including through funding new water fountains to help Londoners cut down on single-use plastic bottles. His vision also promises to recycle 65% of waste by 2030, and ensure that no biodegradable or recyclable waste will be sent to landfill by 2026. Non-recyclable waste would then be converted into renewable energy that would be used to heat and power homes.

But it's not just the use of items that needs to be reduced. As the climate changes, and global population soars, natural resources will continue to become ever scarcer. Managing and storing surface water - through features such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, green roofs and rainwater harvesting - can help make our use of water more efficient. Urban food farms can help feed local, growing populations without depleting resources or relying on GHG-emitting transportation.
People
So what does this all look like, in terms of London's landscape? On its streets, we'd see far fewer cars - with those that remain likely to be both electric and shared. More space would be given over to pedestrians, bikes, emission-free micromobility and greenery. Fully segregated bus lanes could help to make buses more efficient, and a greater coverage of light, electric rail could provide increased public transport capacity with relatively low environmental impact.

Perhaps there would be fewer rubbish bins and more recycling hubs, with water fountains on street corners and a series of beacon-like, low-carbon energy centres becoming local landmarks. Instead of tall, steel and glass buildings and low-rise, spaced-out houses, we might see a city which is dense yet medium-rise - to accommodate a growing population without sprawling into the countryside - with buildings made of brick, stone and wood, their rooftops and surrounding spaces hosting solar panels, greenery and vegetable gardens.

Ultimately, though, so many of the changes needed would not be immediately visible - and a lot of the work means enhancing the city that already exists. When we think of a future, cleaner, greener London, we might envisage high-profile, statement green architecture. But the reality of the necessary changes will be far more systemic, like pedestrianised streets, cycle superhighways and an absence of fossil-fuel powered cars.

Achieving the net-zero city has to involve everyone. If a dramatic change to lifestyles is needed, then steps have to be taken to make that convenient, accessible and affordable for all. "We know technological fixes are not good enough by themselves - and we need to bring people with us if we want to sustain the behaviours of a low-carbon lifestyle," says Repowering's Rashid. "Empowered citizens are essential to achieving net zero and creating a climate-resilient London."

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What 'net-zero carbon' really means for cities

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A city historically known for its lethal 20th-Century smogs has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 - how will London get there?

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Why You Shouldn't Dry Your Clothes On High Heat & How To Dry Best

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Why You Shouldn't Dry Your Clothes On High Heat & How To Dry Best

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The way we care for our clothes matters—both for the clothing itself and the planet.

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Dryers obviously require a lot of electricity (you can check the wattage of yours on its label). But not only does the dryer use a ton of energy, but the clothing damaged while inside can also release microfibers into the environment.

" Microfibers are damaging to the environment," Blackburn says, "both from natural and synthetic fibers. We have found that mechanical action is the primary driver of microfiber release, so dry for the shortest time possible and make sure the drum is filled to recommend capacity so that the garments don't cascade in the dryer." Plus, he adds, this will help maintain the quality of whatever you're washing for longer.

To save energy and extend the life of your clothing, consider air drying when you can. (Air drying also works wonders as a DIY humidifier when you need it!)

And when you do have to use the dryer, one hack I've found helpful is throwing a dry bath towel in with the wet clothes. It absorbs excess moisture, you take it out after five or so minutes, and your clothes should dry much faster afterward.

From saving energy to limiting microfibers in the environment, to preserving your clothes, drying optimally is an important consideration to make. When in doubt, air dry! But when you can't, know you've definitely got ways to dry effectively.

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Why You Shouldn't Dry Your Clothes On High Heat & How To Dry Best

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Dryers obviously require a lot of electricity (you can check the wattage of yours on its label). But not only does the dryer use a ton of energy, but the clothing damaged while inside can also release microfibers into the environment. " Microfibers are damaging to the environment," Blackburn says, "both from natural and synthetic fibers.

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Planetary ‘safety net’ could halt wildlife loss and slow climate breakdown

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Planetary ‘safety net’ could halt wildlife loss and slow climate breakdown

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Researchers have drawn up a blueprint of areas that need additional conservation to stem biodiversity and climate crises

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World leaders are preparing to join a key summit on biodiversity being hosted in New York amid mounting evidence that governments are failing to halt the unprecedented loss of species around the world.

Earlier this month, a UN report revealed that the international community had failed to fully achieve any of the 20 biodiversity targets agreed in 2010.

But scientists at the environmental research organisation Resolve have drawn up a blueprint for a planetary "safety net" of protected areas they say could help halt catastrophic biodiversity loss.

Lead author Eric Dinerstein told the Guardian that the analysis, published in Science Advances, pulled together the most widely used global datasets of biodiversity features to identify areas that require additional conservation attention.

"We wanted to cover everything from those species with the narrowest ranges - like the Udzungwa partridge, only found in a specific mountain range in Tanzania - to phenomena like the caribou migration in the Canadian tundra which happen over vast areas. Because all of that is biodiversity."

Earlier this year the UN presented a draft plan to protect 30% of lands and oceans by 2030, which will provide the backbone to an agreement on nature to be finalised in Kunming, China, in 2021.

The move was welcomed by environmental campaigners and wildlife experts, although some said that the 30% number reflected what was politically feasible rather than what the science recommended.

"It is a floor, not a ceiling," said Brian O'Donnell, director of the Campaign for Nature. "This is an interim goal, and we strongly support the science put forward by the authors of the Global Safety Net and other scientists who are showing we ultimately need even more ambitious targets."

"All the science to date shows that we need far more land and sea under conservation than 30%," said Dr James Watson, director of conservation science at the Wildlife Conservation Society and professor at the University of Queensland. "So I think [the 30% target] must be seen as a bare minimum and couldn't be justified as evidence-based."

Watson said the proposal for a safety net spanning 50% of all lands was far bolder, but added: "There must be more of a complete focus on retaining the last intact ecosystems on the planet if this plan is to succeed."

Global conservation issues have taken on renewed urgency since the Covid-19 outbreak, with a number of reports suggesting that increased human contact with wildlife is linked to a heightened risk of disease "spillover".

The authors of the global safety net paper believe that protecting the most biodiverse ecosystems could lower the risk of deadly viruses jumping from wildlife to humans.

"We know that when humans come in greater contact with tropical forest interiors, for example, we greatly increase the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans," Dinerstein said.

Asked whether he thought that the international community would adopt more ambitious biodiversity targets in the near future, Dinerstein was cautiously optimistic.

"It probably won't be the UN that's going to do this, because they don't move quickly," he said. "I suspect it's going to be a combination of climate and biodiversity scientists, indigenous leaders and the Greta Thunbergs of the world that rally civil society. It's going to be young people that are going to address these existential threats to civilisation that their elders just can't seem to wrap their heads around. But I think the rest of civil society will come along and we'll get there."

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Planetary 'safety net' could halt wildlife loss and slow climate breakdown

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World leaders are preparing to join a key summit on biodiversity being hosted in New York amid mounting evidence that governments are failing to halt the unprecedented loss of species around the world. Earlier this month, a UN report revealed that the international community had failed to fully achieve any of the 20 biodiversity targets agreed in 2010.

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This is what a zero-emissions city looks like

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This is what a zero-emissions city looks like

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Oslo has an ambitious goal to cut emissions by 95% by 2030. Here’s how it will do it.

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It's one of several changes that the city is making to reach an ambitious goal: By 2030, the city's government plans for it to be essentially a zero-emissions city, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 95% compared to 2009, something that city leaders see as necessary to meet the world's climate goals. "It's still possible to combat climate change in alignment with the Paris agreement," says Hilde Solli, a senior advisor in the city's climate agency, which released a new climate strategy earlier this summer. Cities like Oslo, she says, have a key role to play, because the majority of the world's emissions come from cities.

Norway already runs on renewable electricity, so Oslo has some advantages. But it will still have to radically change. Transportation accounts for roughly half of the city's direct emissions; one part of the strategy is to make it more appealing to walk, bike, or take public transit than to drive, and to make sure that the cars left on the road are electric. A large part of this involves tolls on cars entering the city, which give the city more money to pay for new projects. "We have an ambitious cycle strategy," says Solli. "We make it cheaper and more attractive to travel by public transport by financing parts of it with public money, and through the toll ring. The toll ring in Oslo makes is more expensive to drive, makes it more expensive to choose a [gas] or diesel car than an electric car, and it finances public transport and bike lanes." As car traffic falls, it's also safer to walk or bike: The city had no pedestrian or cyclist deaths in 2019. In Portland, Oregon, with roughly the same population and similar traffic safety goals, 49 people were killed by cars in the same year.

Oslo now has dozens of electric buses and is transitioning to electric ferries; by 2028, all public transportation will be zero-emissions. DHL and Norway Post, the national mail service, have already started testing electric cargo bikes to deliver packages. (Cargo bikes have the second advantage of making it easier to move through traffic, so it's possible to make more deliveries in the same amount of time.) Every car on the road will be required to be electric by the end of the decade. Nearly a quarter of the cars passing the toll ring into the city are already electric, and 60% of new cars sold are electric, with sales spurred by policies like a national exemption on taxes and cheaper parking rates inside Oslo. At the Port of Oslo-a major port that now aims to be the first zero-emissions port in the world-ships will be able to plug in and run on electricity while they sit at the shore.

Construction is another source of emissions, and the city is working with the construction industry on a shift from diesel equipment to electric. A network of construction companies has set their own climate goals, and the city also uses public procurement to help shift the market. "Municipal construction projects represent as much as 20% of the total construction market in Oslo, so the city itself has considerable market power," says Solli. "We now have common tender criteria for all municipal projects that reward zero-emission construction equipment in all tender competitions. Giving these kinds of incentives to roughly 20% of the market will contribute to shifting the whole market." The city is also partnering with other cities to generate demand for new, zero-emissions construction equipment.

Buildings will have to become more efficient and run on more local energy, including installing solar panels on roofs and creating heat from sources like the local sewage system, waste incineration, and data centers. At local incineration plants, the city plans to capture and store CO2 emissions, while also working to reduce overall waste.

Though the city's goal focuses on the emissions that happen directly within the city itself, it's also beginning to tackle the problem of emissions baked into products made elsewhere and sent to Oslo. When the city buys products, it looks at the carbon footprint; it's also working to educate citizens to do the same, and to reduce consumption overall. "The city has measures to facilitate increased sharing, reuse, and repairs," Solli says.

In the forests and moors surrounding the city, the government plans to protect the capacity of nature to store CO2, increasing the amount of carbon stored there by 2030. It's also working on ways to make the city more resilient to climate change that is already happening-green roofs and other green spaces, for example, can help absorb rain in the torrential storms that are becoming more common.

None of this is easy. "The biggest challenge is that it is such a [large] shift, and we still do not have all the answers to how to achieve our goals," Solli says. "Therefore, we work continuously together with other stakeholders to develop our policies and measures. It is also a challenge that not only requires technology development but also wide-ranging societal changes." Some of the work is also constrained by what is happening nationally. Still, the government expects to reach the goal. A handful of other cities is also moving quickly, such as Copenhagen, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2025. In the U.S., cities are moving much slower: Boston, for example, plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.

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This is what a zero-emissions city looks like

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It's one of several changes that the city is making to reach an ambitious goal: By 2030, the city's government plans for it to be essentially a zero-emissions city, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 95% compared to 2009, something that city leaders see as necessary to meet the world's climate goals.

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El deshielo llevará al Ártico hacia un nuevo clima

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El deshielo llevará al Ártico hacia un nuevo clima

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Un nuevo estudio científico determina que en este lugar en cambio de hielo y nieve ya se evidencian mar abierto y lluvias más permanentes. El calentamiento global es el causante de los cambios en las condiciones climáticas de esta área del Polo Norte.

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Deshielo por calentamiento global lleva al Ártico a un nuevo clima | Mundo hoy

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Un nuevo estudio científico determina que en este lugar en cambio de hielo y nieve ya se evidencian mar abierto y lluvias más permanentes. El calentamiento global es el causante de los cambios en las condiciones climáticas de esta área del Polo Norte.

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El deshielo llevará al Ártico hacia un nuevo clima

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Un nuevo estudio científico determina que en este lugar en cambio de hielo y nieve ya se evidencian mar abierto y lluvias más permanentes. El calentamiento global es el causante de los cambios en las condiciones climáticas de esta área del Polo Norte.

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Closing Canadian fisheries would help rebuild stocks and lead to economic gains: study

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Closing Canadian fisheries would help rebuild stocks and lead to economic gains: study

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Analysis shows temporarily stopping fishing would lead to gains of up to 10 times above the status quo after 30 years

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At least a quarter of major fish stocks in Canada are in decline, but efforts to rebuild them - such as closing fisheries or setting catch limits - are often met with strong opposition due to negative socioeconomic effects. Now a new study by University of British Columbia researchers shows the short-term financial pain can lead to long-term gain - and that pain can be eased by providing fishers with social and economic assistance.

The study, published in the September 2020 issue of Ocean & Coastal Management , found the most optimistic rebuilding scenario would lead to economic gains of up to 10 times above the status quo after 30 years for five of the six studied species. The analysis also found the gains would continue to climb over 50 and 100 years.

"If you look at societal, national or provincial problems, the struggle between the short term and the long term is huge. Most of us think of today, today, today," co-author and professor of bioeconomics Rashid Sumaila said in an interview.

Sumaila said the First Nations concept of creating sustainability over multiple generations inspired his work.

"We shouldn't discount the fish of our grandchildren."

Rebuilding would result in gains for Pacific herring, losses for yelloweye rockfish

In the study, the researchers looked at six Canadian fish stocks - Pacific and Atlantic herring, Atlantic cod, Atlantic redfish, west coast Vancouver Island chinook and Vancouver Island yelloweye rockfish - under six scenarios.

The species were selected for their role in commercial and recreational fisheries as well as their importance to First Nations. Apart from Pacific herring, they are all in decline, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (However, groups such as Pacific Wild claim there is insufficient data to say Pacific herring is not in decline .)

The researchers considered if the fisheries were closed or if a low level of catch was permitted and if the fish had fast, slow or expected biological responses. The length of the closures and restriction periods depended on the species and speed of recovery, ranging from a few years to several decades. The researchers then projected the catch for each stock under each scenario for 30, 50 and 100 years and calculated the net benefit.

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The study showed that in most cases, closing a fishery would result in higher economic gains than setting low-catch limits. While closing a fishery leads to higher economic losses at the outset than reducing the catch, when the species rebounds fishers can resume harvesting at higher levels than they could if the fishery was left open to a low catch.

The Pacific herring fishery showed significant gains in every scenario. Costs associated with fishing for herring are extremely high, so any increase in the population will correspondingly increase profits.

Chinook, on the other hand, saw negligible economic gains or losses under the different scenarios because the species is slow to rebound and the fishery fetches an estimated $57.5 million per year. Closing the chinook fishery, even for just a few years, means those losses would have to be made up by increased harvests as the population rebuilds.

"If you leave nature alone, nature will come back ... except if you destroy it completely."

Rockfish showed losses under all of the scenarios. This is because the species has a significantly longer life cycle - about 18 years - than the other species studied. But Sumaila said that "given enough time and patience," rockfish could recover enough to yield a positive economic benefit.

"When you have slow recovery, economists will tell you it's not worthwhile. I really struggle with this," he said. "If you leave nature alone, nature will come back ... except if you destroy it completely."

Sumaila points to the Norwegian spring spawning herring. In the 1980s, he said the fish population was reduced to "almost zero," despite a 1970 moratorium being placed on harvesting the species during the spawning season. It took over 20 years for the population to begin to bounce back and now, 50 years later, the fishery is thriving once again.

Conservation scientist Michael Price said it's hard to get people to look far into the future but agrees it's necessary. "You do need to look at these longer timeframes."

Price is now studying salmon populations in Wet'suwet'en territory in northwest B.C., incorporating economics into the study in hopes it will have more impact with decision-makers. He said applying economic analysis to a conservation issue is "a step in the right direction."

Economic modelling isn't without limitations, Sumaila admitted, adding that there could be additional losses not accounted for, such as the loss of processing facilities and markets for species that aren't harvested.

Fish stocks in urgent need of rebuilding

The six species in the study are all vitally important for supporting socioeconomic well-being in Canadian Pacific and Atlantic communities, according to the authors. The three Pacific fish species are particularly important as they play a key role in the social, cultural and food practices of First Nations.

The importance of starting to rebuild Canadian fisheries now can't be overstated, Price said.

"We're having a hard time making a dramatic shift and saying enough is enough," he said. "It's almost like we're waiting for the final blow to make that call. And then what else are you going to do except say there's no fishing because there's no fish?"

Fisheries and Oceans Canada slow to implement rebuilding plans

According to the federal agency's 2018 Fisheries Sustainability Survey, only 58 of 177 major stocks assessed were at healthy levels.

In an emailed statement, the federal agency told The Narwhal its focus is on rebuilding stocks for the 19 species listed as critical on the s urvey, including Pacific and Atlantic herring, Atlantic cod and yelloweye rockfish.

Since the 2018 survey, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has completed rebuilding plans for six species, and a further two have improved to the point where they are no longer in the critical zone.

" For the remaining priority stocks without rebuilding plans, DFO has specific fishery management measures in place, based on the best available science," the statement said. "These measures will ensure that the limited fishing of the stocks does not compromise their rebuilding."

In advance of the changes to the Fisheries Act, the federal government committed $107 million to support the rebuilding efforts. "To contribute to better managed fisheries, these resources will increase scientific capacity for stock assessment of Canada's fish stocks," the statement said.

This is important because 41 per cent of major fish stocks in Canada are classified as uncertain, which means experts don't know enough about them to gauge whether their populations are healthy or threatened. Without additional scientific data, these species will continue to be harvested, albeit on a cautious basis.

Sumaila hopes people in the fishing sector can use the information from his study to pressure the government to implement the rebuilding plans that have been mandated.

He explained that it can be a hard sell to close an entire fishery for an extended period of time, but new organizations like the B.C.Young Fishermen's Network are willing to listen.

"A lot of young people say, 'Look, we want to be able to fish but in this smart, intelligent, sustainable way.' It meets societal and food needs without wrecking the fisheries."

Social and economic support for fishers key to rebuilding stocks

More than 5,000 fishers - about 12 per cent of all Canadian harvesters - are involved in the six stocks examined in the study and closing fisheries or setting catch limits can have a range of negative effects on them, from wiping out their income to harming their physical and mental health by eliminating an important food source and cultural practice.

Both Price and Sumaila warned that continuing to commercially harvest a declining fishery doesn't ultimately help the fishers in the long term.

"Are we really doing people any favours by helping them limp along?" Price asked. "For salmon, some years there's a commercial fishery, some years there isn't - people are kind of just hanging on life support."

But both also agree there needs to be support for the industry.

To mitigate negative effects, Sumaila suggested the federal government implement economic and social assistance programs to help fishers transition out of fishing or provide them with alternative sources of income during the rebuilding period.

Sumaila said closing a fishery for several years or decades will always be challenging, but the rewards are there waiting. "The ultimate goal is to stop harming the fish and their habitat and their ecosystem so they can regenerate year in and year out."

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Closing Canadian fisheries would help rebuild stocks and lead to economic gains: study | The Narwhal

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At least a quarter of major fish stocks in Canada are in decline, but efforts to rebuild them - such as closing fisheries or setting catch limits - are often met with strong opposition due to negative socioeconomic effects.

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10 Thought-Provoking Podcasts To Inspire Sustainable Living

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10 Thought-Provoking Podcasts To Inspire Sustainable Living

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Make the most of the hours in your commute or travel plans by downloading a few inspirational podcasts. We have compiled a list of our absolute favorites on minimalism, sustainability and living intentionally.

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Inspiring Podcasts For Intentional Living

Make the most of the hours in your commute or travel plans by downloading a few inspirational podcasts. We have compiled a list of our absolute favorites on minimalism, sustainability and living intentionally.

The hosts are fun, witty, and from all over the world. They focus primarily on conscious living and sustainability, and they often invite well-known do-gooders and world-changers on their shows.

Each episode is packed with knowledge and inspiration to fuel your own conscious lifestyle choices. So hit the open road, roll the windows down, and turn up these fierce podcasts while en route to your destination! Be sure to check out our lists of podcasts for mental health and women's health, too.

Noteworthy Episodes | How To Make Remote Learning Work For Your Family

Average Episode Length | 15-60 minutes

Meet Brooke McAlary. She describes herself as "a slow-traveling, gutsy shiraz-appreciating writer who currently lives in the Blue Mountains, outside Sydney, Australia. [She has] two lovely kids, a delightful husband, a dog, and four chickens. [She spends] a lot of time reading, [she loves] practicing yoga and [is] a tragic fan of The Walking Dead (comics and TV show)." She sounds awesome, right? Her podcast, The Slow Home Podcast, is just as incredible.

A show focused on slowing down, simplifying, and focusing on the things that are truly important, this podcast is a breath of fresh air for anyone living in the fast lane. It has also ranked #1 in Health Podcasts on iTunes.

Average Episode Length | 40-50 minutes

in conversations and at conferences about the environment, Marjorie Alexander recognized that she was "one of few women, fewer young people, and often the only woman of color." So Alexander started A Sustainable Mind as a master's thesis project. The podcast, which Alexander hosts and produces, is now home to weekly interviews with the people behind some of today's most impactful start-ups, organizations, and campaigns. The discussions cover everything from microplastics and bamboo to eco-friendly event planning and sustainable intimacy products.

Noteworthy Episodes | Shakaila Forbes-Bell On The Relationship Between Fashion Psychology + Black Lives Matter

Average Episode Length | 30-40 minutes

Conscious Chatter is a podcast committed to discussing sustainable fashion, style, and the global garment supply chain. Hosted by Kestrel Jenkins, a longtime advocate for sustainability and explorer of the ethical fashion space, Conscious Chatter is about cultivating conversation and asking tough questions, such as: Where are my clothes made? What are they made of? And most importantly, who made them?

Listeners can expect to hear from experts and change-makers in the industry, including Marci Zaroff, Javier Goyeneche, and Christy Dawn, among others.

Average Episode Length | 50 minutes

Created by activist, host, and speaker Kristy Drutman, Brown Girl Green addresses the intersections of media, diversity, and environmentalism. Through interviews with leaders and advocates, the conversations focus on inclusion, climate crisis solutions, and more. Listeners can tune in to discussions about how to use personal finance for environmentally conscious spending, as well as how to cultivate joy in a frequently overwhelming world.

Average Episode Length | 45-60 minutes

Hosted by Alex Stuart, the Low Tox Life Podcast is all about our bodies, minds, and souls. With episodes about our sleeping habits, the food we eat, psychological wellness, and toilet paper changing the world (seriously), this podcast covers a variety of informative and intriguing topics. Alex also offers recipes, e-courses, and an e-book on her website.

Average Episode Length | 40 minutes

The Good + Social Podcast is dedicated to exploring the stories behind innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists who are changing their industries for better. Learn about the latest and greatest in the social impact world, and take a look behind the scenes at the creative ways these interviewees are turning the traditional system on its head. Whether you're building a social impact business yourself, or just looking for some creative inspiration from the social good space, this podcast will leave you feeling optimistic about the future.

Average Episode Length | 40 minutes

The Wardrobe Crisis is hosted by Clare Press, a Sydney-based fashion journalist, author, and presenter who was also Vogue's first sustainability editor. Each week, Press interviews designers, climate scientists, activists, and academics about fashion, ethics, social justice, environmental sustainability, and how they all intersect. Former guests include Me Too founder Tarana Burke, actress Rosario Dawson, and the minds behind beloved brands like Patagonia, Allbirds, and Veja.

Average Episode Length | 30 minutes

Hosted by Kaméa Chayne, a leader in the ethical and sustainable living space, Green Dreamer features interviews with other visionaries in the space. Perfect for creatives pursuing more environmentally-conscious work and lifestyles, this podcast will inspire you to start that passion project that's been on your mind. Her guests include The Good Trade's co-founder, AmyAnn Cadwell, and other noteworthy entrepreneurs and influencers like Bea Johnson, Tara Mackey, Agnes Muljadi and more. We love her thoughtful approach to spreading the word about sustainability and are excited to watch this podcast flourish!

Noteworthy Episodes | Minimalist Weddings, Owning Less, Financial Independence

Average Episode Length | 60+ minutes

With an audience of 4 million+ readers and followers, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus can proudly call themselves Masters of Minimalism. In addition to their numerous essays, books, online classes, and documentaries, the duo broadcasts one of the highest-ranking podcasts on all of iTunes, The Minimalists Podcast. Listeners can enjoy honest and compelling episodes about living a minimalist life in relationships, home, self-care, the workplace, and more. With a creative and relational approach to podcasting, this one is a must for us all.

Average Episode Length | 15-30 minutes

This one is for all the green divas and dudes in the world: we have found a podcast specifically for you. The Green Divas, a weekly radio show, is committed to approaching green issues in a humorous and low-stress way. Hosted by the first-ever Green Diva, Megan McWilliams, the podcast covers current events, interviews, green living tips, and environmental concerns, and more.

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10 Thought-Provoking Podcasts To Inspire Sustainable Living

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Make the most of the hours in your commute or travel plans by downloading a few inspirational podcasts. We have compiled a list of our absolute favorites on minimalism, sustainability and living intentionally. The hosts are fun, witty, and from all over the world.

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La superficie helada del Ártico, en su segunda extensión más reducida

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La superficie helada del Ártico, en su segunda extensión más reducida

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La extensión de hielo se pierde a un ritmo del 13,3% por década: la banquisa ocupa ahora 2,5 millones de kilómetros menos que la media

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El hielo marino que cubre el océano Ártico probablemente ha alcanzado ya su extensión mínima anual, cifrada en 3,74 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Esta extensión mínima de hielo es la segunda más reducida en una serie de registros que dura ya 42 años de observaciones por satélite (se inició en 1979). Es un nuevo dato que refuerza la tendencia a la baja a largo plazo en la extensión del hielo en el océano Ártico, según informa el Centro Nacional de Datos de Nieve y Hielo de la Universidad de Colorado Boulder (EE.UU.). El casquete polar marino podría desaparecer prácticamente los veranos dentro de algunos décadas.

La extensión del hielo marino comenzará ahora a aumentar estacionalmente durante el otoño y el invierno.

Una fuerte disminución del hielo marino del Ártico a principios de septiembre redujo la extensión de esta superficie a menos de 4 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Posteriormente, el derretimiento diario comenzó a moderarse, hasta alcanzar una extensión mínima estacional de 3,74 millones de kilómetros cuadrados.

Normalmente, la extensión mínima se alcanza hacia mitad del mes septiembre (entre el 11 al 19 de septiembre.La extensión del hielo comenzará a aumentar durante el otoño y el invierno.

No obstante, no puede descartare que un cambio en los patrones del viento o un período de deshielo al final de la temporada pueda aún hacer que la extensión del hielo baje ligeramente.

El récord de superficie helada más reducida sigue siendo el del año 2012. En comparación con los datos el año 2012, este año hay más hielo en el mar de Beaufort, pero menos en las regiones de Laptev y en el este de Groenlandia.

La superficie de hielo de este año, establecido el 15 de septiembre, superó en 350.000 km2 la extensión mínima récord alcanzada el 17 de septiembre de 2012, pero se sitúa en 2,51 millones de km2 por debajo de la extensión mínima promedio para el período 1981 a 2010, que es equivalente a dos veces y media la superficie de España.

La tendencia general a la baja en la extensión mínima de 1979 a 2020 es del 13,4% por década en relación con el promedio de 1981 a 2010, aunque con un reparto desigual.

No obstante, los valores de extensión mínima en estos 42 años de registro por satélite se pueden dividir en tres períodos de 14 años. Las extensiones mínimas en los últimos 14 años de la serie temporal son las 14 más bajas en toda esta serie.

Los tres períodos muestran una tendencia a la baja.

El período intermedio, de 1993 a 2006, muestra la tendencia descendente más pronunciada del 13,3% por década, en relación con el promedio de 1981 a 2010. El período inicial, de 1979 a 1992, tiene una tendencia a la baja del 6,4% por década, mientras que el período más reciente de baja extensión, de 2007 a 2020, tiene una tendencia a la baja del 4,0 por ciento por década.

Greenpeace advierte que la "rápida desaparición del hielo marino es un indicador más de la crisis climática que tiene consecuencias en todo el planeta y recuerda que, frente a la crisis sanitaria y socioeconómica que estamos viviendo, la lucha contra el cambio climático debe ser una obligación imperativa de los gobiernos".

"Para evitar los peores impactos del cambio climático, solo hay una vía, reducir drásticamente las emisiones de forma urgente a la vez que protegemos y restauramos los ecosistemas", ha declarado Tatiana Nuño, responsable de la campaña de cambio climático de Greenpeace España .

Mientras tanto, en la Antártida, la extensión del hielo marino está ahora muy por encima del promedio y dentro del rango de las diez extensiones de hielo más grandes registradas, lo que subraya su alta variabilidad de un año a otro. El máximo anual de hielo marino antártico suele ocurrir a finales de septiembre o principios de octubre.

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La superficie helada del Ártico, en su segunda extensión más reducida

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El hielo marino que cubre el océano Ártico probablemente ha alcanzado ya su extensión mínima anual, cifrada en 3,74 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Esta extensión mínima de hielo es la segunda más reducida en una serie de registros que dura ya 42 años de observaciones por satélite (se inició en 1979).

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This California Highway Has Just Become the First State Road Made From Recycled Plastic in the US

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This California Highway Has Just Become the First State Road Made From Recycled Plastic in the US

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This may look like just an ordinary stretch of newly-paved road, but it's actually being hailed as the first mile of recycled plastic highway on a state road anywhere in the U.S.

Using more than 150,000 single-use plastic bottles, sustainable landscaping company TechniSoil partnered with state transit officials to repave the one-mile stretch of three-lane road in July.

According to CalTrans (California Department of Transportation), which already has slated the material for use throughout the state, the eco-friendly road formula has been shown to be 2-3 times more durable than traditional asphalt pavement.

RELATED: The Guys Who Sell Ocean Plastic Bracelets Are Closing in on 8 Million Pounds of Waste Pulled From the Sea

Not only is the formula more durable, Technisoil officials say the procedure generates 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than the process currently used by Caltrans.

Typically, the department repaves state highways by tearing up the topmost 3 to 6 inches of asphalt so it can be ground up and mixed with bitumen-a sludge-like binding agent generated by oil refineries. Since this material can only be used as a base for the roadway, however, Caltrans is still forced to import roughly 42 truckloads of hot asphalt in order to finish the road.

By replacing the bitumen with a polymer-based binding agent made from melted plastic bottles, Technisoil's procedure eliminates the need for imported asphalt and guarantees that the road is made out of 100% recycled plastic in a liquid polymer.

MORE: Company Collects 80% of City's Recyclable Plastics and Turns It All into Lumber

Following the historic completion of the pilot project in Butte County, Technisoil told Fast Company that they have already begun working on launching additional plastic road projects across California.

"We're excited about introducing a new sustainable technology and helping pave the way for utilization of recycled plastics throughout the state," said Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal.

"This process is better for the environment because it keeps plastic bottles out of landfills and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels."

Motorists will be traveling later today on a section of Highway 162 that has been repaved using recycled asphalt pavement and liquid plastic made with plastic bottles. Read more at https://t.co/NswIs8f65x @CaltransHQ pic.twitter.com/EasMSu5qcJ
- Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) July 30, 2020

Local efforts

Elsewhere in the country, Dow Chemical used plastic to pave two stretches of local roads in Freeport, Texas last year, using 1,686 pounds of recycled low-density polyethylene plastic. The company had been testing the plastic roads in Asia, but wants to do more in the US.

GNN has reported on efforts in India and the Netherlands to pave with plastic, too.
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This California Highway Has Just Become the First State Road Made From Recycled Plastic in the US

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This may look like just an ordinary stretch of newly-paved road, but it's actually being hailed as the first mile of recycled plastic highway on a state road anywhere in the U.S. Using more than 150,000 single-use plastic bottles, sustainable landscaping company TechniSoil partnered with state transit officials to repave the one-mile stretch of three-lane road in July.

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Zimbabwe Protects Its Iconic Wildlife And Bans Coal Mining in All National Parks

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Zimbabwe Protects Its Iconic Wildlife And Bans Coal Mining in All National Parks

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Zimbabwe has banned exploratory coal mining operations and many small gold mining contracts in all 11 national parks, heralding a massive victory for Zimbabwean wildlife.

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Zimbabwe has banned exploratory coal mining operations and many small gold mining contracts in all 11 national parks, heralding a massive victory for Zimbabwean wildlife.

This is a reverse from an earlier decision to allow two firms belonging to Zimbabwe's Chinese allies to drill and survey for coal in the world-renowned Hwange National Park, home to more than 40,000 elephants and a population of endangered black rhino, as well as leopard and painted dog conservation programs.
RELATED: Abandoned Coal Mines May Soon Be Transformed into Perfectly Efficient Indoor Farms
Concern was raised by environmentalists of "ecological degradation" and a marathon five-year legal effort was mobilized against the government by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) to block the mining rights which had originally been granted in 2015.

According to coverage from the BBC, Zimbabwean Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced that "steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining titles held in national parks," while adding that it was not only coal but gold mining, which was already being carried out along several small rivers, that would also be banned.

Zimbabwe and China maintain close national ties, and the decision is not expected to cause deterioration of relations as both governments understood the sensitivity of the mining operations.
MORE: Rats Are Saving Elephants From Hidden Landmines on Their Migration Routes SHARE The Hopeful Conservation News With Your Friends On Social Media...
A truly momentous victory for conservationists, Zimbabwe has struggled for decades with severe inflation-a figure that stands currently at around 737%, and any Chinese currency received from the mining operations in Hwange would have been extremely useful to the government.

However it was nature that triumphed, and as tourism revenues begin to increase following COVID-19 lockdowns, the value of a pristine national parks system will hopefully prove the more sustainable and profitable investment.

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Zimbabwe Protects Its Iconic Wildlife And Bans Coal Mining in All National Parks

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Chinese coal and gold mining operations in Zimbabwe's national parks have been summarily banned following legal push by environmentalists.

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Happy Listening: 9 of the Best Podcasts on Ethical Fashion

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Happy Listening: 9 of the Best Podcasts on Ethical Fashion

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Podcasts are an entertaining (and often free!) way to stay productive whilst going about your day-to-day business.

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September 30th is International Podcast Day, and we're ready to celebrate. Podcasts are an entertaining (and often free!) way to stay productive whilst going about your day-to-day business. You can listen to one while you're making breakfast, sitting on the train, or even walking the dog. But did you know there are a bunch of great ethical fashion podcasts well worth tuning into?

You might not have the time to do your own research, but luckily we've compiled a list of the best podcasts that you can simply download and listen to wherever, whatever you're doing. Let's get listening!

Kestrel Jenkins, founder of AWEAR World, has a wealth of experience in the ethical fashion industry, working for sustainable companies such as People Tree. Her podcast Conscious Chatter covers fashion, style, and sustainability. She interviews a wide range of fashion industry experts from designers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, to farmers and factory workers. Kestrel talks style and ethics with guests such as:

Andrew Morgan, director of groundbreaking documentary The True Cost (S01 Episode 44)

Safia Minney, founder of People Tree (S01 Episode 08)

Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion (S01 Episode 05)

((DRUM ROLL)) Sandra Capponi, the Co-Founder & Head of Development for Good On You (S02 Episode 54)

Her latest series, The Root, made in collaboration with black indigenous sustainability expert Dominique Drakeford, focuses on the need to decolonise the sustainable fashion agenda, and equitably centres the voices, knowledge, and labour of BIPOC! Tune in on the Conscious Chatter website, subscribe and download for free on Apple Podcasts, or download on Overcast, a free podcast app for iOS. Follow Kestrel on Twitter @kestrelee.

Clare Press is a fashion journalist, former editor-at-large for Marie Claire Australia, and author of several books, including our fave Wardrobe Crisis: How We Went From Sunday Best to Fast Fashion. Now this eco-influencer has hit the airwaves with her ethical fashion podcast also titled Wardrobe Crisis. According to Clare, "this show unzips the real issues that face the industry today, with a focus on ethics, sustainability, consumerism, activism, identity, and creativity." Having only kicked off in 2017, Clare has already spoken with an amazing array of experts, including:

Start listening via the Wardrobe Crisis website or subscribe via Apple Podcasts. Follow Clare on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Run by co-hosts Charles Beckwith, Seth Friedermann, Cathy Schepis, and Lisa-Maria Radano, American Fashion Podcast, which ran from 2014 and has an archive of 200+ episodes, explores current issues in the garment industry. The team also looks at more sustainable and ethical practices in the future of fashion. Featuring a range of designers, retailers, executives, photographers and writers, the ethical fashion podcast holds discussions with fashion bigwigs.

American Fashion Podcast is perfect for anyone-from those wanting to learn more about the ethical fashion industry, to those looking to start a business. Listen on the website or subscribe and download for free on Apple Podcasts! You can follow their conversation on Twitter at @AFPod.

Lorraine Sanders is a long-time fashion journalist whose podcast Spirit of 608 puts a spotlight on women at the forefront of fashion, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and tech. Her weekly episodes are a great resource for people looking to start or expand their own ethical fashion business. Guests discuss a range of challenges they face running businesses and how they manage to overcome them, for example:

Moving from flea markets to a flagship store with Marcia Clarke (Episode 84)

How to launch a fashion tech startup with Sarah Shapiro and Melissa Koerner (Episode 82)

The business of ethical fashion blogging with Sustainably Chic's Natalie Smith (Episode 71)

Listen on the website or subscribe, download for free on Apple Podcasts, or join the convo on Twitter @Spiritof608.

Hosted by Molly Stillman, a long-time lifestyle and fashion blogger, Business With Purpose highlights a number of businesses-from huge international brands, to community non-profits, and everything in between-who all aim to change the world for the better. For instance, Molly interviews:

How to support ethical, fair trade, and small businesses during COVID-19 (Episode 190)

How to get started shopping ethically (Episode 210)

Tune in on Molly's website, subscribe and download on Apple Podcasts, or tune into what Molly has to say on Twitter @stillbeingmolly.

While Alexx Stuart's podcast series Low Tox Life isn't all about fashion, this episode featuring Hannah Parris is a must listen. Hannah is the co-founder of sustainable brand Mighty Good Basics. In this podcast she covers a range of topics, including issues in the garment industry, overcoming challenges in ethical fashion companies, and successful marketing tactics.

Listen via Alexx's website or subscribe and download for free on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow Alex on Twitter for tips on how to live your own 'low tox' life, @Alexx_Stuart.

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly interview show about rad vintage style with guests you'll want to go thrifting with, hosted by Emily Stochl of the Brume & Daisy blog. They chat about style, running a fashion business, sustainability, slow fashion, the stories behind incredible vintage pieces, and why they choose secondhand things first.

The founder of the non-profit-organization Remake, Ayesha Barenblat, talks about fashion as a force for good (S02 Episode 14)

Jenny Welbourn, creator of Wear I Live, a blog which is focused on "what we're wearing, how we're living, and its effect on the planet and its people" (S02 Episode 11)

To follow along with all things #PreLovedPod and otherwise, you can listen on the website and Apple Podcasts.

In Sustainably Influenced, Bianca Foley and Charlotte Williams explore the efforts in making changes to their lifestyles as influencers. As they aim to live more sustainably and consciously, they hope that they can encourage you to make one small change today. They also shed a little light on the many different terms in the sustainability world, and discuss the different aspects of living a conscious lifestyle and how we can do our bit to make a difference.

You can listen to Sustainably Influenced on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Hosted by globally respected speaker, anti-racism educator, and New York Times bestselling author of Me and White Supremacy, Layla F. Saad, Good Ancestor is an interview series with change-makers and culture-shapers exploring what it means to be a good ancestor. In episode 22 Layla speaks with writer, stylist, and consultant, Aja Barber, whose work focuses on the intersections of feminism, colonialism, and race in regards to our clothing and how we choose to consume.

If you're interested in more from Good Ancestor, check them out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

So, what are you waiting for? Time to stop playing Game of Thrones re-runs off your phone on the bus to work. Why not download one of these podcasts and learn more about style ethics and the fashion industry? Happy listening!

P.S. Hungry for more? Check out these great ethical fashion books and documentaries.

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Happy Listening: 9 of the Best Podcasts on Ethical Fashion - Good On You

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September 30th is International Podcast Day, and we're ready to celebrate. Podcasts are an entertaining (and often free!) way to stay productive whilst going about your day-to-day business. You can listen to one while you're making breakfast, sitting on the train, or even walking the dog.

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25 Sustainable Products You Can Easily Incorporate Into Your Life

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25 Sustainable Products You Can Easily Incorporate Into Your Life

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If you're not quite sure where to start, these simple switches will make it a bit easier to go green.

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also, just a note that this list is a good place to start. And if you want to be even more sustainable, bookmark this page and finish all the products you currently have before investing in others that are better for you and the environment.

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25 Sustainable Products You Can Easily Incorporate Into Your Life

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also, just a note that this list is a good place to start. And if you want to be even more sustainable, bookmark this page and finish all the products you currently have before investing in others that are better for you and the environment.