cooltheplanet

Greening the college campus

2008-09-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy summer, and imagine my chagrin when I realized just how much time had flown by since my last blog posting! I was in summer school at Harvard University, studying Energy and Environmental Politics as part of a Master's program in Environmental Management. Fascinating topic - and so transfixing that my blog was sadly neglected!

Spending time at Harvard, however, has raised a multitude of new topics, not least of all being college sustainability initiatives. I knew Harvard was a world-renowned learning institution, but until recently I wasn't aware just how aggressive and forward-thinking the university's sustainability initiatives are. From comprehensive recycling programs and local sourcing of dining hall food, to green building practices and reliance on renewable energy, Harvard is at the forefront of environmental sustainability.

But don't take my word for it - check out the Sustainable Endowments Institute's (http://www.endowmentinstitute.org/sustainability/ ) 2008 Report Card, which gave Harvard an overall A- rating for its efforts. And if you're in the process of selecting a school for your undergraduate or graduate education, check out the report as part of your decision-making process. Our buying decisions should reflect our environmental conservation ideals, and where you attend school is one of the biggest purchasing decisions you can make.

A gift for the person who has everything...and wants to share

2008-06-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

There are endless gift ideas for 'the person who has everything', which inevitably manifest themselves in internet and magazine ads around the major gift-giving seasons. These are usually along the lines of ridiculously frivolous items - monogrammed key fobs and the like - the idea being to notch up the frivolity for those who are already maxed out on luxury items.

Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/) has come up with a concept for those-who-have-it-all and want to give back to those who need a helping hand. With the motto "loans that change lives", Kiva enables individuals to make micro-loans (as small as $25) to entrepreneurs in developing countries who are working to raise themselves out of poverty. As the entrepreneur achieves profitability, he/she pays back the loan, enabling the 'investor' to make another loan. As a gift idea, this couldn't be easier, since Kiva allows gift-givers to purchase on-line gift certificates for micro-loans, send the certificate to a recipient and let them choose a loan 'borrower'. Perfect for last-minute gifts and, of course, for those who have no need for more stuff in their lives.

Kiva represents a trend that I hope will expand in our American mentality, where many of us have so much that we can share with those who have very little. Twenty-five dollars may not seem like a lot, but to a grocery vendor in Rwanda, it can make all the difference in the world.

Now the primary race is getting exciting...

2008-05-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

There's something incredibly exciting happening in the presidential primary right now (aside from the precedent-breaking candidates vying for the Democratic nomination). For the first time since I've been old enough to vote, the Republican and Democratic candidates are trying to out-do each other on the issue of environmental awareness, most specifically global warming.

Typically environmental protection (real environmental protection, that is, not the James Watt variety) has been the bastion of Democrats, with Republican political candidates largely championing the position of protecting corporations from environmental restriction or legislation. Not that Democrats have necessarily done an outstanding job of protecting this country's natural resources, but for the most part they've been the only environmentally-minded game in town.

John McCain has changed that equation in this year's primary by not only promising to address global warming and climate change if elected president, but also to enact mandatory CO2 reductions. If you read the fine print, of course, McCain's global warming mitigation plan is far weaker than either Hillary Clinton's or Barack Obama's (and far less aggressive than that advocated by the scientific and environmentalist community). But the point is that he has a plan, and that's a huge step forward for this country.

Without giving away my political leanings, I still have far more confidence in the Democratic party's commitment to environmental protection, but it gives me enormous hope to know that if McCain takes over the presidency, the cause won't be entirely abandoned. And to this tree-hugger, that's pretty exciting.

Time for a carbon tax?

2008-03-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

At the Rappaport Institute's recent Green Cities event in Boston ( http://www.hks.harvard.edu/rappaport/events/greencities.htm ), the presenters were notable not only for their comprehensive approach to "greening" our cities and urban areas, but also for their advocacy of a carbon tax - in contrast to the more traditional 'cap and trade' approach to carbon emissions - to help mitigate global warming.

The carbon tax rationale is that putting a dollar cost on consumers' CO2 emissions is the most effective way to curb fossil fuel consumption (and reduce global warming emissions). And it's pretty simple: if you choose to purchase an energy-inefficient and/or highly polluting vehicle, for example, then you pay for your choice. It's essentially a version of consumption tax, where you pay for your choices as a consumer - it's your prerogative to make high-emitting choices that will cost you more, or lower-emitting and cost-effective choices. For Americans who tend to balk at any mention of a tax increase, that's a key factor, because the choice to increase your tax burden is entirely yours. In addition, most carbon tax plans include tax credits for consumers who choose lower-emissions-producing goods. And as tax time approaches, that sounds like welcome news to all of us.

For an explanation and discussion of the merits of carbon taxing vs. cap-and-trade, visit http://www.carbontax.org/

Getting fired up about renewable energy

2008-02-28T07:03:00.001-08:00

Last week I had the good fortune of hearing Bracken Hendricks, co-author of Apollo's Fire, read from his book and talk about the promise of clean energy as a solution to global warming - and to revving up our sagging U.S. economy. At a time when much of the discussion about global warming and climate change involves hand-wringing and doom-and-gloom, Hendricks' message that developing renewable energy solutions will not only help mitigate global warming, but also provide an enormous boost to creating new U.S. jobs and industry, is incredibly refreshing.

The title of Hendricks' (and co-author Jay Inslee's) book draws on the inspiration of President J.F.K.'s Project Apollo effort to reach the moon. Hendricks asserts that we have the technology and the talent to achieve a 'new economy' around sustainable energy (and economic) development, and require only the desire and political will to act on our potential. And as Hendricks points out, we can't afford not to act, with the devastating effects of global warming already in evidence, and with a receding U.S. economy sorely in need of new jobs that can't easily be outsourced to the other side of the globe. As Hendricks frames the argument, a clean-tech, green-color-jobs economy is our most obvious path to an environmentally healthy and promising future.

You can learn more about Apollo's Fire and the authors at http://www.apollosfire.net/. Check it out, read the book and get inspired by the clean energy future.

And while you're at it, learn about the groups who helped sponsored Hendricks' reading at MIT. The Green Roundtable http://www.greenroundtable.org/, Ceres http://www.ceres.org/, Boston Climate Action Network http://massclimateaction.net/index.php?page=boston , the Environmental Leadership Program http://www.elpnet.org/index.php and the Union of Concerned Scientists http://www.ucsusa.org/ will get you excited about the future of clean energy!

Saving the rainforest at home

2008-01-31T14:36:00.000-08:00

Saving the Amazon rainforest is a popular rallying cry for environmentalists, and a cause that's gained wide appeal thanks to the efforts of pop stars, politicians and environmental conservation organizations. In terms of preserving precious ecosystems and mitigating global warming, it's incredibly crucial to stop the devastation of rainforests that harbor untold numbers of species and absorb a significant portion of the world's carbon dioxide.

The missing cry in the fight to save the Amazon rainforest is the lack of recognition - at least among many environmental groups - that while U.S. citizens shake their finger at Brazil and neighboring countries for failing to enforce environmental restrictions and preserve their precious natural resources, we're guilty of the same widespread rainforest devastation in our own country.

In the temperate rainforests of California and the Pacific Northwest, logging companies have for decades raped the land with impunity, leading to massive soil erosion (and frequent landslides), rivers choked in silt and the loss of crucial habitat for endangered species. Clearcutting - the same technique used by soybean farmers in the Brazilian rainforest - continues on a massive scale in this country, without any restriction other than a prohibition of clearcutting on federal lands. Weyerhauser and other logging companies argue for clearcutting as a 'sound' forestry practice, which sounds suspiciously like the Brazilian corporate farmer's justification for leveling thousands of acres of pristine rainforest.

I've watched the devastation practiced in the rainforests of this country for far too long. It's high time we started practicing what we preach (to countries outside our borders) and protect our own precious rainforests. For information about clearcutting, visit http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/fcut.asp, as well as http://www.snowwowl.com/rltreesclearcutting.html for photos of the devastating results.

Reduce, reuse, recycle...or Freecycle

2007-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

In the interests of starting the new year a little lighter and less encumbered by stuff, get in touch with your local Freecycle network. Freecycle is a simple (though somewhat revolutionary, in our new-new-new obsessed society) internet-based concept that allows users to post free items and look for used (free) items they need. Freecycle's stated purpose is to recycle perfectly good items, thereby reducing the amount of thrown-away things that end up in our landfills.

Our household got turned on to Freecycle after my husband attempted unsuccessfully to give away a slightly worn sofa (the result of combining two houses of furniture) using the familiar avenues (charitable organizations, etc.). We were more than a little chagrined to realize that most people simply throw away their unwanted furniture, and thrilled to discover the Freecycle sphere where we found a new home for our old but still usable couch.

It's a curious phenomenon of our easy-credit economy that there seems to be less and less demand for used goods from worthy outfits like Goodwill Industries. I recently tried to donate a set of ski boots and skis - still in good shape and seemingly a great deal for someone new to skiing - at my local Goodwill store, only to find out that they no longer accept ski equipment because "kids won't buy used equipment, they all want new skis". Thank goodness that, if people aren't as eager to buy used stuff, at least they'll take it for free.

Check out http://www.freecycle.org/, and they next time you're tempted to throw out your unwanted stuff, try "Freecycling" it instead.

Plant a flower for the bees

2007-11-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard about the devastating - and to most scientists and beekeepers, mystifying - widespread disappearance of bees across the U.S. landscape. It's devastating for us humans because our crops and food sources rely on bees for pollination. In spite of our best efforts to control the earth, we still haven't figured out a way to mimic one of nature's most essential function - pollination. The loss of bees could potentially shut down our fruit and vegetable industries, yet nobody is quite sure how to stop this phenomenon.

While scientists scratch their heads, Burt's Bees is doing their part to help the bees on a grassroots level. While I wouldn't ordinarily endorse any corporation, what Burt's Bees is offering is free, so I feel ethically justified in this case. Burt's will ship you a free packet of wildflower seeds to plant in your garden and help feed the bees.

One theory about the massive bee disappearance is that we've so eradicated their natural environment that they can't survive...or they've simply given up in disgust and moved on to a healthier territory outside the U.S. In any case, wildflowers will beautify your garden, attract butterflies and bees, and bring a little bit of nature to your corner. Don't worry, the bees won't sting as long as you're kind to them...and whatever you do, keep the lawn chemicals away from your new flower patch.

Visit http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SeedUserInfo?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1 and sign up for your free flower seeds. I can hear the bees buzzing with anticipation already!

Saving the earth one random act of kindness at a time

2007-11-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Today brought to mind an oft-quoted phrase about the value of practicing random acts of kindness and senseless beauty. The timely reminder came from Indigo, a beautiful deep black (hence her moniker) horse who's been rescued by my friend Rhonda from a large-animal shelter in Massachusetts. Because Indigo has never been trained to be ridden, she's not considered 'adoptable' by most would-be horse owners, a situation that doesn't bode well for animals in an overcrowded and cash-strapped shelter environment. So my friend Rhonda, a horse trainer by trade, is giving Indigo shelter and training to make her adoptable, and a new lease on life.

In the context of global warming, or the loss of vital habitats, or the black-market trade in endangered species, saving one horse may not seem significant. But for me it's a lesson about the value of a single act of kindness toward the earth and its creatures. Because it places value not on the current consumer-spending index or the machinations of warring political candidates, but on simply committing an act of kindness towards an innocent creature.

This could be our best hope for rescuing the planet from the devastation of global warming and environmental exploitation. If everyone started practicing a single act of kindness towards the planet every day - deciding to trade in the SUV for a fuel-efficient car, turning down the heat to save fossil-fuels and carbon output, switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and not spreading chemicals on the lawn - imagine the possibilities. We just might have a chance of saving the planet - and ourselves in the process.

To find out how you can practice random acts of kindness towards the animal kingdom, and Indigo's friends at the animal shelter, check out (http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=acac_NevinsHomepage).

Green living in action

2007-10-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend I stopped by one of the houses on the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's (http://www.nesea.org/) Green Buildings Open House tour, featuring homes around New England that are putting green living into practice. The unseasonably warm day seemed apropos for the purpose of the tour, which was to highlight how photovoltaic technology (i.e., solar power), geo-thermal, wind power and other renewable technologies can reduce a homeowner's carbon footprint, while shaving dollars off the household budget.

The owners of the house I toured in North Andover, Massachusetts had taken the opportunity of renovating their two-centuries-plus year old house to replace the heating and electric generation systems with the newest, greenest technology. This including a bank of solar cells to generate household electricity and a geothermal heating system (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html). It was a great example of the dollars-and-cents practicality of choosing the most long term cost-effective and greenest solution when replacing household systems.

This weekend's tour was a testament to the fact that green living is not theoretical, and it's not just for environmentalists who are trying to live sustainably - it's for anyone who wants to wean themselves off of the instability of our current energy system (i.e., middle-east oil sources), and save money in the process. Which means green buildings are for everyone. Check out the resources on the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's web page, and I guarantee it will get you thinking differently about your next home renovation!

Buying a car isn't just a personal choice anymore

2007-09-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

I was at a technology conference last week in Boston, the high point of which was attending a Toyota Prius 'tear-down'. That's techno-geeky-speak for taking something apart and showing the audience the nitty-gritty that makes it work. In this case, CalCars (http://www.calcars.org), a non-profit group from California, was showing off - and discussing the engineering behind - their conversion of a Toyota Prius to plug-in mode. This is pretty cool, and you can check out the amazingly simple engineering behind the conversion on Cal Car's web site, but the point of this blog isn't so much the technological magic as the implications behind it.

The purpose of creating a hybrid that can recharge its batteries by plugging in to a home electrical wall socket is to give the car longer battery life by using a more powerful cell, and to minimize the overall carbon emissions (the reason our climate is in turmoil) of recharging it by plugging into the electrical grid (for an explanation of this concept, visit (http://www.calcars.org/faq.html#1). But in the words of the engineer from Cal Cars who presented the converted Prius' "guts" and the rationale behind its engineering, the project is also about the social and environmental implications of our driving choices. And that's a fundamental shift in our consumer-driven American mentality.

Thinking about our choice of automobile - or our choice of any consumer product - in terms of its implications for the rest of the world goes something like this: the car I drive, how much fuel it uses and how much CO2 and other pollutants it spews, impacts you, impacts the planet your children will inherit, and the environment children on the other side of the globe will inherit. For a long time many of us have been living a 'bubble mentality' that says, "as long as my little bubble of existence is protected, as long as I can afford to gas up my SUV, that's all I need to worry about." But of course, that's not how it works. Because our children and grandchildren (and their grandchildren) will be stuck with the state of the planet we create right now, and that starts with the car we choose. So the next time you're shopping for a new car, or thinking about ditching the gas-guzzling one in your driveway, do something good for your kids and the planet. Think about making the choice that will leave them - and the rest of the kids and animals - a happy, healthy planet.

Make the best choice...or at least the better choice

2007-09-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Environmentalists and sustainability advocates tend to advise consumers to "buy organic" when doing their food shopping. The idea is that organically produced food is more environmentally sustainable, since it eschews the use of pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified plants. The problem with telling people that the only right choice is the organic choice is many-fold.

First, if you've compared prices at your local supermarket, organic fruits, produce, meat and dairy tend to be more expensive than their commercially produced counterparts. The reasons for this could fill a dozen blog postings, but suffice it say that not everyone can afford to pay for organic milk or humanely raised free-range chicken. Furthermore, organic food isn't necessarily the most sustainable choice if it's trucked from the other side of the country. It may discourage pesticide use, but will do nothing to reduce your carbon footprint.

So what's a cash-strapped and environmentally conscious consumer to do? The better choice - compared to buying commercially produced, pesticide-laden food trucked from three thousand miles away - is to buy local. Many supermarket chains have started stocking fruit and produce from local farms, so keep an eye out at your local store. If you have the time, stop by one of the increasingly numerous farm stands featuring fruit and produce local to your town. You'll be supporting the local economy, in most cases paying less than supermarket prices, and you'll get a fresher, more nutritious product.

The idea of living a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle is to make better choices. Locally produced organic food is the best choice, but if that's not accessible to you, start making the better choice of locally grown food. You - and the planet - will be thrilled with the change!

Business is not our enemy

2007-08-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

I can't lay claim to the idea that climate change and global warming need to be marketed to the public just like any other product (see my June 1st posting at http://cooltheplanet.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-his-may-27-th-posting-on-green.html), but lately I've been struck by how resistant some environmentally-minded grassroots organizations are to this concept.

There seem to be two camps in the environmental conservation/sustainability movement - those who've adopted a traditional business model of marketing and promoting their organization's ideals, while setting measurable, quantifiable goals to meet their objectives, and those who view business as the enemy, and adoption of any business-like practices as tantamount to joining forces with the dark side and abandoning their planet-saving ideals.

As a marcomm consultant with a bevy of corporate business experience, I've encountered a surprising amount of skepticism when I pitch my 'here's how to market your ideas to the public' scheme to some conservation organizations. It seems to be a mixture of suspicion and a knee-jerk reaction to anything that smacks of corporate thinking.

And this, in my mind, is a fatal mistake. Because the most effective way to spread any message in this country - whether it's convincing consumers to buy an enormous, gas-guzzling automobile or persuading them to do the opposite - is to use the existing (and incredibly powerful) marketing machinery. After all, if American marketing could convince millions of consumers to buy rocks as pets, then it can be used to persuade consumers to reduce their carbon footprint and live a more sustainable lifestyle. It's just a matter of successfully crafting and marketing the right message.

Business isn't the enemy of environmental conservation. It may seem like a strange bed-fellow, but once we learn how to use it, we'll leap light-years ahead in our efforts to combat global warming.

The high cost of dirty energy

2007-08-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm in Oregon this week, three thousand (and some odd) miles from home, but following with the rest of the country the saga of the miners trapped in Utah's Crandall Canyon Coal mine. These catastrophes are nothing new, and little seems to change - as far as mining practices, safety measures or working conditions - no matter how many lives are lost in the pursuit of cheap coal to feed our quest for cheap energy. It almost seems the country's become inured to the tragic consequences of our coal mining industry, accepting the human loss since as the inevitable price of easy-to-produce electricity since, for most of us, it's far removed from our daily existence.

We don't have to accept the high cost - in human lives and environmental devastation - of feeding our thirst for energy. After all, that's the cost of non-renewable (and in the case of coal, very dirty) energy. Wind, solar, or wave-harnessing power don't carry these exhorbitant costs. Yet in this country, the most formidable obstacle to installing wind farms to harness a (nearly) free source of energy is the all-too-familiar NIMBY (not in my back yard!) phenomenon. It rings vociferously along the shores of Cape Cod, where ocean-front property owners protest that the proposed Cape Wind farm will ruin their view, impede pleasure boats and generally destroy the local tourist economy. None of these arguments are legitimate, of course, since they're really just a rationalization for residents who don't want a wind farm in their "back yard". Hmm, I don't recall hearing quite so much kvetching the last time an oil tanker spilled goo on the Cape Cod shoreline....

The fact is, there's some cost to any form of energy we produce, but why not make that cost - to humans and the environment we depend on - as small as possible. I'm guessing the loss of human life doesn't seem like a worthy trade-off to the Utah miners' families, and it shouldn't be an acceptable price to any of us. It's time to rethink the real cost of feeding our energy thirst, and stop accepting the high cost of non-renewable energy.

Time for a nuclear renaissance?

2007-08-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

There's talk these days of nuclear power as a viable alternative to carbon-intensive power production, and part of the solution to finding cleaner, more sustainable forms of energy. Of course, this all depends on your version of "clean", since one of the big challenges of producing nuclear energy is figuring out what the heck to do with all that radioactive waste. But in terms of carbon output, it's far preferable to coal as an energy source, and achieves the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of our energy production.

For anyone who remembers Three Mile Island and the meltdown that inflamed public opposition to nuclear power in this country, the mere suggestion of starting up nuclear power plants - let alone building new ones - can be unconscionable. But even nuclear power's detractors are changing their minds and taking a different view of what constitutes "dangerous" when it comes to our energy sources. Maybe it has something to do with the slightly different world view we have in this country compared to 1979 when the Three Mile Island accident occurred, or the generous nuclear subsidies included in the 2005 Energy Policy Act of 2005, but the tide is starting turn back toward nuclear power as a viable energy source. After all, there's clearly an enormous (environmental and economic) risk to continuing with "business as usual" in terms of how we quench this country's insatiable thirst for energy. We have to start weighing risk with a different perspective than we did in 1979, and nuclear power just may turn out to be one of our safer choices.

For more about the nuclear power renaissance in the U.S., check out David Whitford's July 31st article, "Going Nuclear" in Fortune magazine: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/08/06/100141305/index.htm

WildAid and the race to end animal trafficking

2007-07-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

I was listening the other day to a recording of Handel arias sung by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, the much-lauded contralto who died tragically last year at the height of her singing career. The word 'sublime' barely begins to describe Lieberson's voice, and her untimely death was considered - by music critics and fans alike - an enormous loss to the music world. I was lucky enough to have heard Lieberson perform these same arias live several years before her death, and that made her passing all the more poignant to me. When we know on a personal level how beautiful and valuable something is, we mourn its passing all the more.

So it is with the endangered species and habitats of the world, many of which I've had the tremendous good fortune to see in their wild habitat. Hearing Peter Knights of WildAid (http://www.wildaid.org/eng.asp?CID=1) talk about his impassioned fight to save the world's most threatened species from the devastation of the illegal wildlife trade, I felt personally the tragedy of losing these creatures. Watching a white rhino graze practically touching-distance from me in the wild was not only one of the absolute high points of my life, but also gave me a far more visceral and emotional connection to their survival than seeing them in a photo or zoo visit. And that's an experience I would like everyone to have, to know these wild animals as something real and tangible in their natural environment - not just photos on a calendar or in a magazine, but a beautiful and precious part of our world.

The work of groups like WildAid is absolutely crucial to ensuring that today's endangered animals don't end up as tomorrow's fur coat or medicine potion or high-priced delicacy, and that we'll all have the chance to see these magnificent creatures in the wild. So check out the work WildAid is doing and listen to Peter Knights' interview at http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2006/10/20061006_b_main.asp). And as soon as you can, book your visit for an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild...I guarantee it will be one of the absolute high points of your life too.

Greening the ghetto with Majora Carter

2007-07-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

So last night my husband and I were spending our Saturday evening not out on the town or watching a movie or socializing with friends, but watching presentations from the TED conference in March 2007. Sounds geeky, yes? If you don't know about TED, it's an annual conference bringing together news-makers from technology, entertainment and design to share ideas and effect change. What's incredibly entertaining about this is the enormous cross-section of incredibly influential people who, despite their disparate backgrounds, find common ground in their effort to more fully understand the world and change it for the better. Find out more about TED (and watch the presentations) at http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/5.

The reason the TED conference relates to this blog is not just the presence of such environmental conservation luminaries as Jane Goodall, but the overwhelming message that we can all create positive change to preserve the planet through our actions large and small. And the most inspiring speaker in that respect has to be Majora Carter, who launched an effort to take back the South Bronx waterfront from sludge and environmental degradation, dramatically transforming this after-thought borough in the process. What touched me - and anyone else who wants to change the world but isn't a power-broker with oodles of influence and money - was her message (to paraphrase) that yes, small grassroots efforts are crucial to saving the planet and the natural environment, and we can achieve great things as individuals if we keep focusing on and spreading our message. You have to watch her presentation at http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/view/id/51, because you can't help but be inspired and moved by what she's done, and what she believes she can do. If a woman from the South Bronx can command the same podium as movers and shakers at TED, what's to stop the rest of us?

Sobering news...and a call to action

2007-07-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Union of Concerned Scientists just released their report on the projected impact of global warming on two key U.S. regions, the California and the Northeast. Check it out at http://www.climatechoices.org/.

The Climate Choices report is sobering, to say the least, considering the long-term (and not-so-long-term) effects of rising temperatures on our environment. If the the wake-up call for most individuals is the negative impact of global warming on their daily comfort-level, then it's arrived in full-force, with blistering temperatures becoming the norm in New England and much of the United States. So we've got the bad news...now what's next? The Union of Concerned Scientists' report offers solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming, which I urge readers to pay close attention to, since they are do-able, achievable approaches to reducing our carbon emissions. And some of them (such as increasing development of renewable energy sources) are of potentially enormous economic benefit, creating jobs and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, putting the lie to the assertion of some conservatives that cutting CO2 emissions equals a loss in productivity and economic growth.

Make sure you don't miss the section of the report about the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative. It's a great example of how states are rallying to address global warming in the absence of federal action...are you listening, Washington D.C.??

The next time you're thirsty, just turn on the tap

2007-07-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

Recently NPR's Day to Day program featured an interview with Charles Fishman about his article "Message in a Bottle" published in Fast Company http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-message-in-a-bottle.html. According to Fishman, today's multi-billion dollar bottled water industry epitomizes the overwhelmingly indulgent nature of American society, "...our demand for instant gratification, our vanity, our token concern for health..." And in terms of the sheer environmental (read, "carbon emissions") impact of eschewing tap water in favor of a chilled plastic bottle which in many cases is, in fact, simply repackaged tap water, I heartily agree with him. And I say this as a former guilty-as-charged bottled water drinker. In my former life as a corporate employee, one of my workplace perks was free bottled water of a certain French moniker, which I greedily consumed while shunning the commonplace (but perfectly healthy) tap water. To my mind, I was a responsible environmentalist because I recycled my empty bottles, being woefully ignorant of the environmental impact of producing the plastic that housed the water, the fuel to ship cases of the stuff to my pampered officemates and myself, etc. . My employer's discontinuation of this thirst-quenching perk ended my bottled water consumption, but I'm pretty sure I'm still working off an enormous karmic debt for my wastefulness.

The salient point of the bottled-water-as-indulgence allegory is that our personal consumer choices have a huge impact on the world around us, even when they seem like harmless decisions. Many of us make wasteful choices innocently, and part of the challenge of mitigating global warming and treading more lightly upon the earth is simply learning about the wider impact of what we do...and what we buy. So the next time you reach for a bottle of water at the market, save yourself a bundle of money and shun the fancy packaging in favor of good, old-fashioned tap water. And save the planet a hefty load of carbon in the process.

Global warming is the hip new cause

2007-06-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's (e)mail brought news from Environment Massachusetts (https://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/) of the upcoming Live Earth concerts on July 7. The event spans 24 hours and seven continents, with performances in China, South Africa, Australia, London, Japan, Brazil and the United States by a slew of well-known musicians. The calibre and profile of the performers makes me think that global warming has become a hip new cause, embraced by the arbiters of trend-making. To top it off, the concerts are being organized by the newly hip Oscar-winner Al Gore. Heck, if the formerly decidedly un-hip Gore can become the flavor du jour, then it follows that his defining cause should become the prominent movement of the moment. Personally, I revel in seeing the exposure (and accolades) visited upon Gore and the cause to mitigate global warming. After all, he's been pushing this issue for decades, and finally people (and politicians) are paying him long-overdue attention.

To quote Malcolm Gladwell's oft-repeated phrase, perhaps the transformation of Gore the too-smart-to-be-elected presidential candidate into Gore the hipster rock-concert organizer represents a tipping point in the global warming cause. It's a problem that's entered the public discourse and come July 7 will leap into the realm of worldwide exposure, aided by Gore and his environmentally-minded band of musicians. Visit the Live Earth web site (http://www.liveearth.org/) for concert locations, and if you can't attend in person, watch the concerts on T.V. ...and join Al Gore's hip new cause.

Talk is cheap, but very effective

2007-06-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

This afternoon my husband and I were having lunch at an outdoor cafe, when I started tuning into the conversation next to us. A couple and their teenage daughter were chatting about global warming and the need for government action, and it struck me that while their conversation wasn't particularly noteworthy, what was remarkable was that it was happening at all. A year ago the public discourse was still full of language about the "theory" of global warming and conjecture about whether maybe the rising temperatures were simply the fault of too many gas-emitting sheep. Today global warming (or climate change, depending on the terminology you use and the context) has become an accepted and recognized phenomenon even by certain very high-ranking (and formerly denialist) U.S. politicians. And that's a huge step forward in this country, where one of the biggest agents of change is public discourse itself. It's that curious phenomenon of, "everyone's talking about it, so it must be real", which is the precursor to everyone doing something about the problem. It's no longer just the "tree-huggers" who are talking about global warming, but moms and dads and kids chatting over lunch.

So this is my "tip of the day" for a cheap and easy way to spread the word about global warming: just talk about it. When you hear your neighbor kvetching about the heat, casually remind him that indeed, the temperatures are unseasonably warm because of global warming, which is why you're trying to reduce your carbon footprint...then point him to this blog for more great ideas about doing the same :-) And when your dog-owning friends complain about the ticks invading their pets even in the winter, tell them the ticks never die in New England any more, not with spring-like December days. It's all part of getting people to connect the dots about global warming and think about the not-so-pleasant side effects of heating up our planet. And once the public discourse centers on what's bad about global warming, then we'll all start talking about what we're going to do to mitigate the problem.

And on the topic of global warming vs. climate, visit The Nature Conservancy's climate change site for an explanation: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/. And keep talking about it!

Reducing CO2 by doing nothing...what could be easier?!

2007-06-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Being the first day of summer, it seems fitting to talk about doing nothing, relaxing in the hammock on a warm day and sipping a tall, cool glass of iced tea. Oddly enough, instead of that enticing scenario, I see my neighbors spending the bulk of their free summer days engaged in the national suburban pastime of mowing their lawns. To me, it seems like an onerous task, and in fact, a great deal of grumbling goes on over the backyard fence about this weekly (sometimes twice weekly!) chore. So my enlightened suggestion is just stop doing it - sit back, relax and watch the grass grow for a change. While I realize never mowing the lawn again could be impractical if you aren't ready to develop the only meadow on your street, you can dramatically reduce the time you spend trimming your grass, still have a soft green (and healthier) lawn, and reduce your carbon emissions in the process. A few fast facts:

Shearing your grass to a golf-course height actually creates a breeding grown for insects and disease and helps dry out the roots, inevitably leading to even more time spent scowling at (and trying to remedy) those unsightly brown spots. Letting the grass grow taller will eliminate many of these issues and make your grass softer underfoot. After all, the last thing you want to do is start spreading caustic pesticides to eliminate insects and disease: http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/ReducePesticideUse.html
Gas-powered lawn mower emissions are responsible for an estimated 5% of our annual air pollution output, producing on average (depending on just how big your mower is) about 4.5 pounds of carbon per hour. Check out this tool to calculate your mower's emissions: http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/faq-environment.htm#calculate
Unless you're using an electric or push mower, gassing up to mow the grass is an increasingly expensive proposition, making not mowing one of your easiest money-saving exercises. Using an electric mower is a great emission-saving solution, and there are increasingly good (and competitively priced) options available.

A great alternative to avoid any time spent maintaining your lawn is simply converting the grass over to flower beds, wildflowers or wooded areas. Then you can spend your lazy summer afternoons watching the butterflies and the birds, instead of cutting the grass. So when the weekend rolls around, go set up the hammock, grab a cold glass of whatever suits you, and celebrate by just doing nothing...now that's the way to spend your summer afternoon!

The Earth Charter...bold words and real actions

2007-06-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

My newest "easy thing you can do to help the earth" tip comes from the Earth Charter, who's offering a recycling service for inkjet and laser cartridges and for cell phones. Visit the U.S. site at http://www.eccommunities.org/ECCEcoServices.html for instructions, and to learn more about their recycling initiatives.

If you're not familiar with the Earth Charter, it's a set of principles for creating a sustainable planet, with values and ideals covering issues from environmental conservation to human rights. At first reading, it looks like a broadly sweeping - some might say overly idealistic - set of precepts with no concrete or measurable goals, no "how-to" for nations and individuals to follow to conserve their ecosystems and achieve social equality. But to my mind, the real value of the document is just that - outlining a set of ideals to inform our decision making (about what we buy, what we drive, how we live) on a fundamental level. Because I tend to think that if individuals and society as a whole in this country could embrace the Earth Charter guidelines (rather than the prevailing ideology of consumerism), we'd begin making practical business and consumer choices based on those ideals that would be healthier for all of us. Mitigating the effects of global climate change or preserving the last vestiges of rain forest requires a fundamental shift in thinking from all of us about how we live on this planet, and that's what the Earth Charter offers.

So check out the Earth Charter web site at http://www.earthcharter.org/, read about the charter and the amazing people who drafted it, and find out how the organization is turning ideals into actions. Better yet, join the Earth Charter and embrace a new way of (idealistic) living!

Doing more...and making it easy

2007-06-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

In his May 27th posting on The Green Skeptic (http://greenskeptic.blogspot.com/2007/05/global-climate-change-more-is-new-less.html), Scott Edward Anderson commented on Seth Godin's assertion that the real key to getting Americans to change their habits and and address global warming is to make it about doing more rather than doing with less. Given the pervasive "super-sizing" of our entire culture (have you tried to buy a small size popcorn at the movies lately?), I tend to agree. I would add to this, however, that it must also be about making it easy. Let's face it, we're a country of convenience, accustomed to things being accessible and practically effortless (which is where the super-sizing trend started, after all!). On that note, in the coming blogs I'm going to highlight easy, practically-no-effort-at-all changes we can all make that will reduce our carbon output - and even save us money in the process.

You've probably heard about compact fluorescent bulbs by now, particularly if you shop at a certain big-box retailer who prominently displays them in the lightbulb aisle (I don't know this first hand, since I don't shop at said big-box retailer, but I have it on good authority). But if you haven't started replacing your standard incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescents, you may not realize just how easy it is to: 1) save money on your electrical bill while; 2) reducing your carbon output. The New Hampshire Carbon Challenge (http://carbonchallenge.sr.unh.edu/ideaoffsets.jsp) reports that replacing just five of your regular old inefficient lightbulbs with compact fluorescents will save you approximately $70 a year and save the planet 750 pounds of carbon. And that's taking into account the slightly higher cost of the fluorescents, since they last dramatically longer than incandescent bulbs.

And just in case you're thinking "ewww, flickering fluorescent bulbs in my house?", not to worry! I have head-aching memories of fluorescent lights from my days in the corporate world, but that's old technology. The compacts cast a soft, white glow that's easy on the eyes.

So there you go, a change that's simple, saves you money and reduces your carbon output. How easy is that?

Learn how to talk to politicians

2007-05-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

This month you can learn how to talk to presidential candidates...or at least, learn how to talk to them about global warming. The Granite State Conservation Voters Education Fund is sponsoring a volunteer briefing to teach you the "talking points" to use when pressing candidates for action on climate change. Dates for the event at various locations around the state are posted under the "Events" section of this blog. If you plan to attend any of the briefings or would like more information, contact Bruce Clendenning at 603-228-1970 or bruce@voteconservation.org

Once you've learned the finer points of conversing with the candidates, you'll have a plethora of opportunities to use your new skills as the presidential hopefuls flock to the granite state. The Heat is On at http://www.heatison.org/content/index has a useful event search engine to help you find out where the candidates are stumping so you can put the heat on them about global warming policy.

Environmentally friendly minds think alike!

2007-05-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Apparently I'm not the only conservation-minded person who recognized the need for a one-stop-shopping guide to global warming initiatives. Today I've added a link to RealClimate, a new site that serves as a central repository for climate change resources. Since my intention is not to reinvent the wheel, but to disseminate information, I'll be keeping an eye on the RealClimate site for updates to share on this blog. It's a fantastic all-in-one scientific resource, so check it out!

I've also added a link to the blog where I found the RealClimate site, The Green Skeptic, a good source for news and commentary on climate change initiatives.

Tree Huggers Unite!

2007-05-18T14:58:00.001-07:00

I started formulating the idea for this blog while attending a rally in the Northeast for global warming awareness, where several disparate (but like-minded) groups were in attendance, displaying their pamphlets and wares. As I made the rounds of the booths, I asked, "So do you all know each other? Do you have coordinated meetings so you can organize for events like this?". The answer was generally "no", that nobody knew about an organizing web site or central clearing house where grassroots organizations like theirs could learn about each other and join forces. In a movement like this, still very much in its formative stages, it's all about strength in numbers. You can feel very much alone in your efforts, until you find out about all the other people who are trying to effect change as well...and so it goes. So being a communications professional, I thought I could surely solve this communication challenge and devise a way for environmentalists and conservationists to find out about one another, share information and ideas, and join forces. Thus this blog was formed.

In the coming weeks and months, I'll be posting links to web sites for groups who are advocating a less carbon-intensive lifestyle, including those exploring new forms of energy production, organic and sustainable farming, and those involved in the political arena to create legislative change at a local, state or federal level. I will also post information about organizing events and rallies related to global warming and sustainable living, and invite readers to send me their updates for posting on this blog.

And in case you're wondering why I decided to label myself a "Tree Hugger", as a native Californian and former Oregonian (go Ducks!), I'm proud of our legacy of environmental activism . If ever there was a time for activism, the melting glaciers and vanishing rainforests say it's now. After all, it was individual actions that got us into this mess of rapidly rising global temperatures, and only individual actions (with the encouragement of rational government, of course) will mitigate it. So be an activist, reduce your carbon footprint and help cool off the planet...we'll help show you how!