The need for green spaces in urban areas increases as climate change continues to warm our planet and extreme weather events become more frequent. Human-made structures like dark asphalt roadways, cement sidewalks, and brick buildings absorb heat, contributing to the heat island effect. Trees and plants provide much-needed shade and cool the air through a process called evapotranspiration, which helps […]
For most of human history, natural burial was the only option. Then, in the 20th century, toxin-laden embalming practices and air-polluting cremation methods became mainstream. Today, no matter how sustainably you have lived your life, modern funeral practices ensure that you make one last giant carbon footprint when you die. In many places, regulations require the use of toxic, persistent […]
If environmentally responsible, sustainable business were baseball, my guest Gil Friend would be as familiar a name as Babe Ruth. In 2011, Gil was named to the first class of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) Sustainability Hall of Fame. He is the founder and CEO of Natural Logic, a sustainable business strategy consultancy, and Critical Path Capital, a […]
Reducing travel for business and family visits is one of the most impactful choices we can make to reduce our climate impact. When we travel, we should make it count, but we can’t do that unless we understand the consequences for the environment. In this installment of our Carbon Calculating series, discover how to calculate your carbon emissions for air […]
Sea level rise due to melting glaciers on Greenland and in the Arctic and Antarctic could force the relocation of 267 million people and entire cities located less than 2 meters — 6.5 feet — from today’s waterline by 2100. Oceanographer John Englander has raised the alarm about sea level rise in his books, High Tide on Main Street and […]
Editor’s note: We invited Project Censored to highlight five environmental news stories that should have made headlines. Since its establishment in 1976, Project Censored has tracked pervasive patterns of omission in corporate news coverage, including how the nation’s most prominent news outlets fail to inform the public about systemic social inequalities, consolidation of corporate power, and alternatives to neoliberal economic […]
Earth911 is honoring the 52 years of Earth Day with 52 Actions for the Earth. Each week through Earth Day 2023, we will share an action you can take to invest in the Earth and make your own life more sustainable. The environmental impact of the global textile and fashion industry is so big that EarthDay.org has made sustainable fashion […]
Today’s carbon emitted into the atmosphere adds to the future cost of living through the climate crisis, a concept referred to as the social cost of carbon. To help clarify this abstract idea, we have an idea that lets you help future generations cover the social cost of carbon for the gasoline you use. At some point, governments or private […]
Today’s quote comes from American novelist, poet, and environmental activist Wendell Berry. In his book, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture, he wrote, “The Earth is what we all have in common.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. This poster was originally published on November 5, 2021. Join Our […]
They say home is where the heart is. Unfortunately, many of us live in homes that waste energy and water, contain toxic building products, and have indoor air quality issues. As a result, several third-party certification programs exist to help distinguish green or energy-saving homes. The Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design (LEED) certification program was developed by the U.S. […]