“Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) wrote in a new report. The report issued a dire warning about the pace of global warming but acknowledges that humans are making progress toward reversing climate change. “There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable […]
Urban-rural and youth-elder divisions in society represent some of the most difficult challenges to having a robust conversation about how to reduce emissions and waste, what we value as a society, and the path to a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. A just future will be codesigned by all of us to some extent, but we need to reconnect to move from […]
A time-honored autumn pastime for locavores, mushroom hunting encourages people to experience the natural world and eat healthy local food. As wilderness hobbies go, foraging is generally simple and safe. But you there are a few things you need to know before you go if you want to release your inner hobbit responsibly. About Mushrooms Members of the phylogenetic kingdom […]
The Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA) made headlines in January when President Biden signed it into law, but you may wonder why it was necessary. Don’t businesses already donate unsold food? Unfortunately, due to confusing laws and liability concerns, significantly more food is wasted than donated. Food is lost or wasted during every step of the process from farm to […]
Let’s venture into the history of trees, wood, and the axe. Everywhere humans have gone they’ve mowed down trees to make tools, homes, fires, bridges, buildings, and even railroad tracks. Yes, the first railroads often ran on wooden rails, as author John Perlin explains in a new edition of his classic book, A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in […]
If you work out, you are not alone. The 32-billion-dollar U.S. fitness industry includes over 40,000 health and fitness clubs and about 40% of Americans currently have a gym membership. While it’s wonderful news that so many people prioritize their health, our workouts often contribute to carbon emissions. Traveling to a gym by car or other vehicle and exercising there […]
Essential oils are great for humans seeking some natural relief, but they can be harmful to our furry four-legged friends. Cats and dogs have different adverse, often dangerous, reactions to many essential oils. If you use essential oils, it’s important to know which ones can harm your pets and what to do if your pet is accidentally exposed to them. […]
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 […]