A healthy ocean means healthy humans. We depend on the ocean for such fundamental conditions of life as climate regulation, food, and even oxygen (for every second breath you take, thank the oceans’ plankton), but our misuse of single-use plastics is harming our waterways, killing marine life, and releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. Brian Yurasits, a self-described “marine scientist-surfer-fisherman […]
All too often, we hear about oil spills and toxic waste sites polluting the environment. Although very concerning, we can at least pinpoint the source where these pollutants originate. However, that is not the case for nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution happens when rain or snowmelt carries pollutants to waterways or into the ground and comes from diffuse […]
Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, joins Earth911’s Mitch Ratcliffe to talk about his new book, Urgent: Save Our Ocean to Survive Climate Change. He calls on readers to take action to reduce their environmental impact and through protest. A controversial figure in the environmental movement because of his willingness to engage in direct action, Paul […]
Did you know that 91% of the plastic produced has never been recycled? Yet calls to eliminate single-use plastics lost their force in the initial panic of the pandemic and the rush to secure personal protective equipment (PPE). As we get ready to end our second year of COVID-19, we have learned a lot, yet it is still common to […]
Watching butterflies and birds or spotting a rabbit contribute as much to enjoyment of the summer garden as the plants themselves. When winter comes, we often forget about the garden and the wildlife that loves it. But while we are cozy indoors, the animals we enjoyed watching all summer are still out there trying to survive. How can you make […]
Are you doing enough to keep your environmental footprint small? There may still be room for improvement. You can easily make a difference just by making minor adjustments to your daily habits. For example, did you know that something as simple as skipping the dishwasher’s drying cycle can reduce your energy consumption by 15 to 50 percent? The following infographic […]
The Atlas of Disappearing Places, a new book by Christina Conklin and Marina Psaros, is a catalog of the coastal, island, and deep ocean locations around the world most at risk during the climate crisis. It also forecasts how humanity, including individuals, governments, and businesses, can collaborate to restore the planet. Christina Conklin, co-author of The Atlas of Disappearing Places, […]
You do your best to live lightly on the planet, but some greenhouse gas emissions are inevitable. When you have already become as energy-efficient as you can, and the energy you use is as sustainable as you can get it, you turn to carbon offsets. The final step in the hierarchy towards achieving net-zero energy, carbon offsets are still among […]
Watershed. It’s a common enough word, but are you familiar with yours? No matter where you live, your home is in a watershed. And the health of that watershed affects you, your community, and the rest of the planet. Our choices and actions can impact the land a world away. We write on paper that was made from trees cut […]