The GREEN MARKET ORACLE

Online Course - Climate Change Leadership (Cornell)

2021-01-03T17:48:00.002-05:00

Cornell Course Organizations everywhere are racing to plan for the effects of climate change on the global supply chain. These impacts present complex challenges which will only heighten over time — from effects on human health and the food supply to the weather and the water cycle to the economy and transportation. This course provides an overview of climate change science and its impacts on the global food system so you’ll come away better prepared to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on your business and contribute to potential solutions.

Organizations everywhere are racing to plan for the effects of climate change on the global supply chain. These impacts present complex challenges which will only heighten over time — from effects on human health and the food supply to the weather and the water cycle to the economy and transportation.

This course provides an overview of climate change science and its impacts on the global food system. In the first part of this course, you will explore the causes of climate change so you can begin to assess how you can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You will also evaluate potential impacts posed by climate change on your industry using relevant, research-based evidence from leading experts. Throughout the program, you will use climate change terminology and be able to accurately introduce it into your organization's daily dialog, culture, planning, and operational decisions.

As your course progresses, you will have the opportunity to analyze risks and opportunities related to the production, transportation, processing, packaging, storage, and sales of your organization's products. Ultimately, you'll come away better prepared to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on your business and contribute to potential solutions.

Key Takeaways

Assess potential impacts posed by climate change on your organization
Incorporate important climate change terminology in daily dialog, culture, planning, and operational decisions
Analyze risks and opportunities related to supply chain and transportation
Define risks and opportunities in the processing, packaging, and storage of products

Who Should Enroll

Organizational decision makers
Managers
Risk and supply chain managers
Activists
Anyone interested in understanding the impacts of climate change and working towards solutions

Click here for more information.

Online Course - Business Sustainability Management (University of Cambridge)

2021-01-03T15:36:00.003-05:00

The University of Cambridge 6 week Business Sustainability Management online short course gives students the skills they need to argue the business case for sustainability, develop integrated sustainability strategies, and implement them throughout your sphere of influence. Time requirements are 8-12 hours per week. The weekly modules offer a flexible learning experience. This course is intended for those who want to expand their knowledge of sustainability.

This course covers sustainability in a board range of organizations, industries and practices; including business, consulting, environmental, social and governance (ESG), and energy sectors. It is also for those who are interested in design and innovation. Whether you are seeking to broaden your skill set with your current role, shift career paths or start a business, this course will will help you to be a sustainability leader.

The Course Convenor is Martin Roberts who is a programme director at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, where he helps companies with a global reach to derive value from embedding innovative approaches to sustainability across their organisation and their supply chains. Roberts has extensive experience working with companies and NGOs on sustainability challenges, with particular expertise in the food, agricultural, utility, tourism and extractive sectors. He has lived in several African countries working with governments and the private sector to tackle the resource challenges of today and the future.

Course outline

Module 1

Sustainability challenges and opportunities

The global state, what needs to change, and how to bridge the sustainability gap through rewiring the economy.

Module 2

The business case and leadership for action

Why sustainability is good for business, and the importance of good leadership in achieving change.

Module 3

Regulatory environment and international policy

Policy instruments, international agreements, and the role of business and civil society in shaping a zero-carbon economy.

Module 4

Production and consumption

The value chain: Implementing business models and processes for sourcing, producing, and consuming sustainably.

Module 5

Design, technology and planning for sustainability

The role of innovative design, planning, and technology in facilitating sustainable business.

Module 6

Communication and marketing

How to effectively communicate sustainability strategies and goals to internal and external stakeholders.

Module 7

Collaboration and partnerships

How businesses can work together with corporate, government, and non-profit actors to bring about large-scale change in the sustainability space.

Module 8

Rewiring your business approach

Learn how to be an effective change agent, overcome barriers to change, obtain networking support, and create a personalised sustainability action plan.

You'll walk away with

1. The confidence to argue the business case for sustainability informed by a comprehensive understanding of the impact of current global economic, social, and environmental pressures.

2. An action plan for integrating sustainability across your organisation’s value chain to ensure long-term value creation.

3. The skills and knowledge to apply design, innovation and leadership competencies within your team or organisation.

4. A certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, validating your expertise in sustainability management.

Click here to access the prospectus.

Online Course - Corporate Sustainability Management: Risk, Profit, and Purpose (Yale School of Management)

2021-01-03T10:58:00.002-05:00

This 6 week online course from the Yale School of Management offers a flexible education experience. Learning modules require approximately 8–10 hours per week. The program convener is Dr Todd Cort a Lecturer in Sustainability at Yale and faculty co-director at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. Dr Cort is a researcher who works at the intersection of corporate responsibility and sustainable finance. He also collaborates with investors and fund managers to effectively integrate sustainability into investment strategies.

Benefits

1. The skills needed to build a robust corporate sustainability strategy that gives your business a competitive advantage.

2. Insights from world-renowned experts and faculty that will help you identify and address sustainability risks and opportunities relevant to your company.

3. A practical guide to the frameworks, standards, and guidelines that can assist you in implementing profitable sustainability strategies.

4. A global network of like-minded professionals (graduates of the program, will gain access to the exclusive Yale School of Management Executive Education Alumni group on LinkedIn).

Program outline

Module 1

The business imperative for sustainability
Appreciate why businesses should be concerned about sustainability.

Module 2

Multi-stakeholder risk assessment
Identify which sustainability risks and opportunities are most material to a business and its stakeholders.

Module 3

Valuing sustainability risks and opportunities
Investigate methods for estimating the monetized value of sustainability risks and opportunities.

Module 4

Integrating sustainability into business strategy
Determine how to address sustainability risks and opportunities from a strategic perspective.

Module 5

Building your sustainability tool kit
Examine existing frameworks, standards, and guidelines that corporate sustainability practitioners can rely on.

Module 6

Implementing a sustainability program
Plan the way forward for implementing a sustainability program.

Click here to view the program prospectus

End of Year Message and the Top 100 Articles from 2020

2020-12-31T07:03:00.001-05:00

Since its inception in 2008, The Green Market Oracle has published 7,731 articles which have been viewed on this site a total of 4,012,438 times. As this year ends I want to take a moment to thank our readers and let you know that the new year will bring some exciting changes and additions. On January 1, 2021 an upgraded, remodeled version of this site will be launched on a new platform. We will continue to deliver fact-first journalism as well as some added features including a regular podcast. So thanks again for being with us over the past years and stay tuned for the new additions in what promises to be an eventful year to come.

Here are the top 100 posts from 2020.They are ranked according to popularity as determined by viewership. The topics of these articles range from the climate related impacts of Covid-19 to fossil fuels and the Trump presidency.

World Environment Day and Covid-19: Making Time for Nature (Published May 9)
We are on the Cusp of the Collapse of Civilization (Published Jul 13)
How Supply Chain Resilience Mitigates Against Risks from Pandemics and Climate Change (Published May 14)
How the Coronavirus Helps Renewable Energy and Hurts Fossil Fuels (Published May 12)
Fifty Shades of Greta (Published on Jan 30)
Gaming the System: Social Media Undermines Climate Action and Threatens Democracy (Published on Feb 18)
Open Letter Warns Us to Stop Wasting Time and Act Now (Published Aug 29)
The Power of Protest: The Achievements of the BLM Movement (Published Jun 23)
Trump's Mishandling of the Coronavirus is a lot like his Climate Denial (Published Mar 11)
Liars and Wildfires: A Tale of Two Idiots (Published Jan 3)
50 Books on Climate Change and Sustainability (Published Sep 3)
Inflection Point: America's Turning Tide (Published Aug 24)
University Installs Innovative Water Battery to Harness Solar Power (Published Sep 1)
COVID-19: A Paradigm Changing Social Tipping Point for Climate Action (Published May 22)
The Forthcoming Economic Collapse Could Save Us From Ourselves (Published Apr 29)
Systemic Racism and Environmental Injustice in Trump's America (Published Jun 1)
Its Now or Never for Climate Action (Published Jul 17)
Trump's Support is Collapsing Because He is on the Wrong Side of History (Published Jul 6)
Energy Job Losses in the US Due to COVID-19 (Published May 18)
The Revolutionary Upside of Covid-19 (Published May 2)
The Deadly Implications of Trump's Cuts to Environmental Protections (Published May 28)
Coronavirus Reduced China's Emissions by 25 Percent (Publishes Feb 24)
The End is Near for Dirty Energy: Fossil Fuels are Being Abandoned by Investors, Insurers and Banks (Published Feb 3)
The End is Nigh for Trump (Published Jun 25)
The Deadly Connection Between Climate Change, COVID-19, Wildfires, Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Published Sep 9)
Trump Guts ESA as Part of his Ongoing War with Nature (Published May 15)
COVID-19 Exposes Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Food Insecurity (Published Apr 25)
Decarbonization Through Electrification Creates Jobs (Published Jun 3)
Oil Crash of 2020 Could Bankrupt Thousands of Fossil Fuel Companies (Published Apr 27)
Trump Ignored COVID-19 Despite Repeated Warnings (Published Apr 18)
Greta is Steadfast Despite Being the Target of Generational Warfare (Published Jan 24)
Corruption in Washington: Money Trail Leads to the Fossil Fuel Industry (Published Jan 27)
Four Lawyers and an Unlawful President (Published Feb 14)
COVID-19 is Driving Down Emissions and Buoying Hope for Climate Action (Published Apr 28)
Republicans, Conservative Groups, Veterans and Donors Opposing Trump's Reelection (Published Aug 1)
Polling Trends: A Growing Number of Americans Support Climate Action (Published May 4)
More Record Breaking Heat (Published Feb 19)
The Sources of Disinformation & Cognitive Biases that Fuel Climate Denial (Published Jul 20)
Combating the Biodiversity Crisis and Living in Harmony with Nature (Published Jan 16)
Hope in the Midst of Despair - A Collection of Environmental Success Stories (Published Jul 8)
The Courts have Stymied the Trump Administration's Agenda (Published Jun 30)
Republicans Controlled by the Fossil Fuel Industry Killing Climate Action (Published May 20)
Cities, Academia and Investors Divesting from Fossil Fuels (Published May 7)
Celebrating the Achievements of Wind Power on Global Wind Day (Published Jun 15)
Thus Saith Greta: Hope is Achieved Through Action (Published Jan 11)
Trump's Environmental Assaults in the Last Six Months (Published Jan 10)
Support for a Green Deal Increasing in the Wake of Covid-19 (Published May 6)
The Coronavirus is Killing Dirty Energy (Published Apr 24)
Polls Suggest that Climate Action could Unite Americans (Published Nov 10)
Negative Emission Technologies are Our Last Hope (Published Jan 8)
Fossil Fuel Powered Politics Driving Trump's War with Nature (Published Jan 22)
Anatomy of a Failed Presidency (Published Oct 29)
Earth Day Special: The Road to Recovery - The Courage to Hope for a Better World (Published Apr 22)
The Heartland Institute's Answer to Greta (Published Feb 28)
COVID-19 Inspires Renewed Interest in Facts and Science (Published Jun 17)
Emission Reductions from the Coronavirus are Being Undermined by Government Subsidies (Published Mar 16)
Coronavirus Augurs Hope for Climate Action (Published Mar 26)
Net Economic Gains from Climate Action (Published Mar 3)
Electric Planes are the Future of Aviation (Published Jun 13)
The Fossil Fuel Industry is Increasing Climate Change Causing Emissions (Published Mar 18)
COVID-19 has Uncovered the Fault Lines of a Broken Civilization (Published Jul 15
Why We Need Carbon Capture and Sequestration (Published Feb 11)
The Coronavirus has Improved the Way We Work (Published May 26)
Joe Biden's September 14th "Climate Arsonist" Speech (Published Sep 16)
GMO's Annual Green School Series (Published Aug 7)
Boycott Culture: Brand Influence During Trump's Presidency and Beyond (Published Dec 8)
The Plague Economy: Inequality and the Preoccupation with Growth (Published Aug 3)
The Facts Call Americans to Vote for Leaders Who Support Science (Published Aug 27)
Biden Leads the Most Climate Friendly Presidential Ticket in the History of the Democratic Party (Published Aug 18)
The Rising Toll of Murdered Environmental Activist (Published Jan 2)
2019 Adds More Data Points to the Constellation of Hot Data (Published Jan 1)
Trump Taps a Leading Fossil Fuel Defender as the DOJ's Chief Environmental Enforcer (Published Feb 17)
The Trump Administration's String of Environmental Losses in Court (Published Feb 6)
Rising Emissions are Exhausting our Carbon Budgets (Published Jan 7)
More Record Breaking Heat (Published Jun 29)
Trump's 2021 Budget Seeks to Slash Funding for Climate Action While Increasing Support for Fossil Fuels (Published Feb 21)
Will We Learn from COVID-19 or Will We Go Back to Business-as-Usual (Published Jun 11)
Scientific American Endorses a Presidential Candidate for the First Time in its 175 Year History (Published Sep 21)
The Fossil Fuel Industry is Financing the Militarization of Police (Published Aug 6)
28 Posts Commemorating the Seminal Efforts of Female Environmentalists (Published Mar 6)
Canada's Climate Action in the Era of COVID-19 (Published Jul 1)
From Covid to Climate How Trump Has Made Everything Worse (Published Sep 14)
Greta Shines the Spotlight on Other Climate Activists (Published Jan 29)
Remembering Some of the Earth Defenders Who Were Killed in 2019 (Published Jan 4)
Amazon Wins with Climate Action and Fails by Silencing Employee's Climate Advocacy (Published Jan 17)
Fact Checking Climate and Environmental Statements in the Vice Presidential Debate (Published Oct 8)
The Sierra Club's Top 20 Cool Schools (Published Oct 25)
Final Presidential Debate: Biden and Trump's Climate Related Remarks (Published Oct 23)
Coronavirus Related Stock Losses in 2 days Equal to the Cost of Climate Adaptation for the Next 10 Years (Published Feb 27)
Energy Endgame: Renewables vs Fossil Fuels (Published Mar 2)
Short Brief on the State of Carbon Capture Research (Published Feb 13)
Trump's at it Again This Time with Funds Earmarked for Climate Mitigation (Published Feb 10)
Canadian Provincial Governments Use Covid-19 to Give Polluters a Pass (Published May 8)
Shame and Sustainability: Changing the Paradigm (Published Jan 28)
Are Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency Enough? (Published Jul 23)
Largest Ever Arctic Oil Spill and Climate Feedback Loops (Published Jun 9)
Trump Uses COVID to Help his Family, Friends and the Fossil Fuel Industry (Published Jul 27)
A Turning Point for Canada as Protestors Diffuse a Massive Carbon Bomb (Published Feb 25)
Zombie Pathogens & Other Climate Concerns Undermining Human Health (Published Mar 20)
Climate, Environment and Sustainability in the Presidential Debate (Published Sep 30)

Climate Change and the Record Breaking 2020 Atlantic Storm Season

2020-12-30T08:00:00.006-05:00

This year's Atlantic hurricane season was the worst on record and it marks the fifth straight year with above-average storm activity. Each year there are an average of around 12 storms in the Atlantic, in 2020 there was a record breaking 31. This includes 13 hurricanes (twice the normal number) with six of them rated as Category 3 or higher (also twice the normal average). There is little doubt among climate scientists that warmer ocean temperatures are at least partly responsible for the growing number of intense storms. The storm season is starting earlier and generating more rapidly intensifying hurricanes. Attribution science is making it increasingly possible to directly link storms and hurricanes to climate change.

"We are seeing more rain, and more precipitation in general," Richard B. Rood, a professor of meteorology at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, told Inside Climate News. "The other thing we have been seeing is individual events that are more extreme and more precipitation in general." As a result of warming, the atmosphere is holding 7 percent more moisture than it did just five decades ago, Jennifer Francis of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution told Yale Climate Connections. Heavy precipitation events, fueled by the extra moisture, have increased almost 40 percent across the upper Midwest in recent decades, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Such heavy precipitation events are predicted to keep increasing.

Scientist Kevin Trenberth said the 2020 spike in hurricanes is not surprising. "In general, one expects more activity as the climate warms," he said. "This can be manifested in multiple ways: more intense storms, bigger storms, longer-lasting storms, and more storms. Also in general there is increased risk of flooding."

The rate of intensification observed by scientists following hurricane Laura corroborates the evidence connecting storms to climate change, more specifically warming oceans. Laura was the strongest storm to hit Louisiana in a century and a half. The Category 4 hurricane registered wind speeds of 150 mph and caused 28 deaths and at least $12 billion in economic damage. Like hurricanes Eta and Iota which killed 270 people and caused more than $9 billion in damage, Laura intensified rapidly as it neared the coast increasing its destructive power once it made landfall. Laura went from being a Category 1 to a Category 4 in less than 24 hours making it one of the fastest transformations on record in the Gulf of Mexico. The trend towards rapidly intensifying storms is supported by hurricane Maria (which increased wind speed by 80 mph in a 24 hour period) and other recent rapid storms (Harvey, Irma, Florence, Michael, and Dorian).

As reported by the Washington Post, the phenomenon of rapid intensification is happening more frequently in the Atlantic due to global warming. Like many of his peers, NOAA researcher Jim Kossin thinks warm ocean waters are contributing to the rapid intensification of storms. "Our confidence continues to grow that storms have become stronger, and it is linked to climate change and they will continue to get stronger as the world continues to warm," Kossin said. MIT hurricane expert Kerry Emanuel has also warned that we can expect more rapid intensification as the planet warms.

A 2019 study in the journal Nature documented a trend toward more rapidly intensifying hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean between 1982 and 2009, and according to their model global warming is likely the cause. A 2020 study by Kossin and his colleagues further corroborated this point by showing that storms are now more likely to be more intense because of climate change.

Attribution Science Connecting Hurricane Florence to Climate Change
Attribution Science Proves that Climate Change is Deadly

Hurricane Dorian Sets Records
The Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Matthew, Attribution Science and Climate Change (Video)
Growing Levels of GHGs are Warming the Planet and Contributing to Disasters
Hurricane Harvey and the State of Climate Science
Biblical Rains in South Carolina are Consistent with Climate Change
Louisiana Flooding Climate Change and the Politics of Ignorance

Unprecedented Wildfires in 2020 are Connected to Climate Change

2020-12-29T08:39:00.005-05:00

The intense wildfires that raged across the Western U.S., South America, and Australia in 2020 are being attributed to climate change. What makes these fires unprecedented is their size and duration. There is growing evidence that these increasingly intense fires could eradicate some species of floral and fauna. Across the American west, fire seasons are now 78 days longer than they were in the 1970s.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center as of the beginning of December, there have been 52,934 wildfires in the U.S. that have burned 14,905 square miles this year making 2020 the second-largest area burned in the past decade. The 2020 fire season in California was one of the most destructive in recorded history. Five of the six largest wildfires in the state's history happened in 2020. Overall, 9,639 wildfires consumed more than 6,527 square miles this year in the state. The fires killed 33 people and destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures.

Like California, Colorado is suffering from decreased precipitation, increased heat and drought and in 2020 this helped to spawn three of the largest wildfires in the state's history. These long burning fires forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate and they consuming 624,000 acres in the state, killing at least two people, destroying more than 550 structures, and causing around $200 million in damages. "From all recent observations we have of wildlife seasons, this one is off the charts," said Becky Bollinger, assistant state climatologist and drought specialist at Colorado State University. Oregon saw nine people killed and over 4,000 homes destroyed as 1,908 square miles burned in more than 2,000 wildfires.

As reported by Scientific American, a total of 3.2 million hectares or 22 percent of South America's Pantanal region has burned this year. That is an area twice the size of the California's wildfires. The vast floodplain is located in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and it is the world’s largest tropical wetland. This area is home to Indigenous people and a high concentration of rare or endangered species. "It’s apocalyptic," says Luciana Leite, who studies humanity’s relationship with nature at the Federal University of Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. "It is a tragedy of colossal proportions." The Pantanal is facing its worst drought in 47 years and many predict that it will get worse. Climate modelling indicates that the Pantanal could become hotter and drier, with a rise in temperature of up to 7 ºC by the end of the century. Unpublished data from Diele-Vegas suggest that if current trends persist, by 2050 the annual mean temperatures in the Pantanal could increase by 10.5 percent, and the annual volume of rain could decrease by 3 percent. "If climate trends, land-management trends and the current anti-environment politics persist," says Leite, "the Pantanal as we know it will cease to exist."

Australia also suffered through unprecedented wildfires in 2019 and 2020. Increased heat contributed to the burning of more than 93,000 square miles, at least 33 deaths and $7.3 billion worth of damage. Billions of animals were killed or displaced, and the fires may have increased the risk of extinction of some species. A study conducted by the World Weather Attribution group published in March found that climate change made the wildfires at least 30 percent more likely to occur. "Although fires are natural in Australia, they’re now occurring at an unprecedented frequency and intensity in areas that, historically, did not burn."

These fires are due to the interconnection between warmer temperatures, drier vegetation and drought. As quoted by Weather.com, scientist Zeke Hausfather, said climate change is driving the trend of bigger fires. Hausfather explained that "our typical fire today burns about five times more area than it burned in the 1980s." Another climate scientist by the name of Noah Diffenbaugh, said, "With respect to climate change, the area burned in the Western U.S. has increased around tenfold over the past four decades...Careful study shows that about half of that increase in area burned is attributable to long-term warming via the effect of that warming on the fuel aridity." According to research conducted by Diffenbaugh and his colleagues, the frequency of extreme wildfire weather in California has more than doubled in the last four decades.

Both Hausfather and Diffenbaugh expect that this trend will continue and unless we curtail GHG emissions the situation will get much worse. There is increasing scientific consensus that wildfires could trigger a collapse of existing flora, making these areas even more susceptible to fires, and causing permanent ecosystem changes.

The Psychotherapeutic Benefits of Nature

2020-12-28T06:47:00.007-05:00

A growing body of research overwhelmingly supports the view that nature can improve our physical and mental health. From heart disease to a general sense of well-being, a number of studies confirm that nature offers multiple benefits. One study found that something as simple as viewing natural scenes lowers heart rates. Exposure to nature has even been shown to decrease mortality

Reductions in cortisol levels may be a salient pathway contributing to improved physical wellbeing. As documented in a Japanese study, exposure to nature reduced cortisol levels and contributed to overall physical health. High levels of cortisol are linked to a wide range of ailments (fatigue, irritability, headaches, intestinal problems, anxiety, depression, weight gain, increased blood pressure, low libido, erectile dysfunction, problems with ovulation or menstrual periods, difficulty recovering from exercise and poor sleep).

Numerous studies indicate that simply spending time in nature can help humans psychologically. One study found that nature can help people better manage their stress, grief and depression. In addition to a more positive outlook, the same study revealed that exposure to nature can contribute to cognitive gains in the form of improved memory. Another study showed that exposure to nature results in faster stress reduction. Survey data reveals that spending at least two hours in nature per week is strongly correlated with self-reports of being in good health or having high wellbeing. Another study have found that nature can restore focus.

A 2019 study reveals that living close to nature can protect us against mental illness. Researchers from the University of Berlin and Boston University conducted a meta-analysis of dozens of studies and they found that you’re more likely to suffer from anxiety, psychosis, PTSD, schizophrenia, paranoia, addiction and mood disorders if you live in a big city rather than in an environment surrounded by nature.

A Danish study found that living in a major city for the first 15 years of life more than doubled the risk for schizophrenia. Their research concluded that greater access to green space (trees and vegetation), and blue space (water) is associated with less depression and improved mental well being.

Another Danish study found that kids who grow up surrounded by nature are happier and become happier adults. Even when the researchers controlled for variables like socioeconomic status and family history, kids that grow up in nature were shown to be 55 percent less likely to develop a mental illness later in life. The study also found that the more time kids spend in nature the better their mental health. Kids appear to benefit from any type of exposure to nature, this includes everything from wilderness areas to urban green spaces.

Stanford research reports that being awed by nature can effect our perception of time and help people to overcome mental fatigue, as well as make us more altruistic and less materialistic. A Business Insider article, indicated that viewing nature or being bathed in natural light can improve productivity and NBC reported on a German study that found that even something as simple as seeing the color green can spur creativity. Even the sounds and smells of nature may be able to help us to regulate stress.

As reported in Green Child Magazine, brain research reveals that being in nature reduces frontal lobe activity (frontal lobe activity is related to the characteristics of depressive patients, including functional abnormalities, emotional adjustments, and cognitive controls). Nature also increases alpha wave which is associated with a calm, but alert state. David Strayer, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Utah, found that just three days of nature immersion can "reboot an overstimulated brains to help us reclaim our cognitive abilities and emotional equilibrium".

Related
Managing Ecological Anxiety and Grief

Learning in Nature Benefits Children and Teachers
School Program that Gets Kids out in Nature
The Value of Green Spaces to Psychological and Societal Health
Video - Research Shows that Nature is Good for Mental Health
The Value of Green Spaces to Psychological and Societal Health
The Pearl in the Oyster - Leveraging the Climate Crisis for Human and Planetary Health
Teaching Kids in Nature May be our Best Hope for the Future
Video - Research Shows that Nature is Good for Mental Health
The Value of Green Spaces to Psychological and Societal Health

Webinar - Leadership in Our Time

2020-12-27T13:28:00.001-05:00

This 60 minute webinar will take place on Friday January 8, 2021, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm EST. This is part of a new SSF webinar series exploring American leadership. Hosted by the Security and Sustainability Forum (SSF) and George Washington University (GWU), this is the fourth webinar in the Leadership in our Time series. This session will feature a discussion between Ditte Juul-Jørgensen Atlantic Council Senior Fellow, Ambassador András Simonyi. Mrs. Ditte Juul-Jørgensen took up the position of Director General for Energy of the European Commission (DG ENER) in August 2019. She joined DG ENER from a position as Head of Cabinet for Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager

Ms. Juul Jørgensen has 27 years of experience in the European Commission. Before serving as Head of Cabinet, she was Director of Legal Affairs and Trade in Goods in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade at the World Trade Organization, where she managed European Union policy and negotiations at the WTO and involvement in dispute settlement and trade in goods.

Ms. Juul Jørgensen and Amb. Simonyi will discuss the EU’s Energy Union after the adoption of the European Green Deal with the EU’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and the contribution of the Next Generation EU recovery plan to the energy transition, as well as EU-US energy cooperation and the role of U.S. LNG in the European energy security.

The webinar will be kicked off by Dr. Thomas LeBlanc, President of George Washington University, the largest institution of higher education in Washington, D.C., and a preeminent academic and research institution.

Click here to register.

Managing Ecological Grief and Anxiety Through Action

2020-12-26T08:37:00.022-05:00

How do we manage the psychological repercussions associated with the multiple ecological crises we face? Anyone who follows climate change, environmental degradation, or biodiversity loss, knows how stressful it can be. We live in a geological epoch that is a tragic testament to the devastating impact humans have had on this planet. We are depleting, and poisoning the earth, while endangering entire ecosystems and altering the global climate system. Facing the fact that this is caused by our way of life can be overwhelming. It can be even more stressful to come to terms with the fact that we are rapidly running out of time to do something about it.

Emotions related to these concerns can augur a cascade of adverse psycho-physiological effects. Research shows that environmental stress is linked to a range of negative mental health impacts, Emotions such as anger, anxiety, distress, depression, despair, and hopelessness can also have adverse impacts on our physical heath. Such sentiments increase cortisol levels which weaken our immune response and contribute to everything from decreased bone density, to spikes in blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.

Pain (anxiety/grief) and paralysis (apathy/denial)

We need to understand our pain and the tools required to manage it. The first thing we need to understand is that pain has two major maladaptive pathways. It can be projected outward in acts of violence or it can be internalized as fear (sometimes called eco-anxiety), and sadness (sometimes called eco-grief). The American Psychological Association first defined eco-anxiety in 2017 and a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change defines eco-grief as: "The grief felt in relation to experienced or anticipated ecological losses, including the loss of species, ecosystems, and meaningful landscapes due to acute or chronic environmental change."

Anxiety and grief are sane responses to our failure to reign in multiple environmental crises. As some have said, "if you're not terrified, you're not paying attention". However, over time, such states of mind can take a toll on our mental and physical health. It is easy to succumb to exhaustion because we cannot maintain the high levels of fear that these crises warrant. People feel overwhelmed by the plethora of reports about an impending collapse. Thus, we see people suffering from what has been called apocalypse fatigue (doomsday fatigue, climate fatigue, environment fatigue and green fatigue).

Fear evolved to help us address threats to our well being. While a certain amount of fear can be motivational, living in a constant states of fear can be debilitating. Fear can lead to avoidance, just as loss, anger, hopelessness, and despair can cause people to be apathetic and fall prey to denial. As explained by eco psychologist Joanna Macy, to avoid paralysis we must first honor the pain we feel rather than ignore it in an effort to stave off negative feelings.

While feelings such as anger, guilt, grief, terror, shame, anxiety, and despair are all legitimate and appropriate reactions to the state of our world, the defenses we erect to deal with these feelings can be maladaptive. When our defenses cause us to deny or disavow reality, they can be considered unhealthy because they prevent us from addressing the cause.

Finding the emotional strength to countenance the crises we face is no easy task. Simply acknowledging and expressing the grief we feel can help us find the strength and manage the strain. To ensure that we do not ignore or belittle our feelings, we must consciously make space for sorrow and give ourselves permission to grieve. Only then can it be channeled in a way that strengthens our resolve and enhances our commitment to defend the biosphere.

Cape Breton University Canada research chair Ashlee Cunsolo Willox argues that in its proper context, pain can build solidarity, support healing, and expand our capacity to act. "Re-casting climate change as the work of mourning means that we can share our losses and encounter them as opportunities for productive and important work," she says. As the late environmental scientist Donella Meadows explained, feelings can be "motors for change."

Agency through Activism and ecological fellowship

Ecological fellowship may be the key to transforming negative emotions into productive catalysts. There is reason to believe that coming together with other like-minded people can help individuals to overcome their feelings of powerlessness. When we align our actions with our principles, we are better able to connect with the planet and all its inhabitants. We need to feel empowered to act and we also need to understand what we can do to make a difference. Empowerment starts with sharing our concerns and working with others on collective action.

US climate activist Bill McKibben argues that the most important thing one can do is to work with others to tackle the climate crisis. We are social creatures; this is rooted in our DNA. Our ability to cooperate is the great strength of our species, and we can leverage this to our collective advantage by fostering social capital in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhoods and our communities.

Cooperative climate activism has been shown to reduce the symptoms of mental illness. Working together also seems to combat the pain of eco-anxiety and eco-grief. As reported in the Independent, Alison Roy, from the Association of Child Psychotherapists, said climate activism helps to counteract powerlessness. Graham Frost, headteacher of Robert Ferguson Primary School in Cumbria, said he has noted that activism made students, "feel more positive. They felt as if they were doing something about it."

Sometimes we need to consult a therapist who may encourage us to accept our pain while helping us to understand the dynamics that fuel our apathy or denial. A new and growing field of eco-psychology is well suited to the task of assisting people who need help managing their response to ecological crises. Ecopsychology sees people as an interconnected part of the web of life and it explores human nature and the human capacity to be good environmental stewards capable of influencing efforts to deal with ecological crises. Part of this approach involves reconnecting people with nature. The assumption is that the absence of nature in our lives causes both physical and emotional harm. Ecopsychologist Joanna Macy has proposed three stages starting with gratitude for the aspects of life and the world that nourish us. The second stage encourages people to take stock of the pain they are experiencing. The third and fourth stages relate to exploring new possibilities and practical actions.

Higher consciousness (hope and love)

To contend with our planetary crises we need thoughtful, responsible people who make ethical decisions and apply higher-order judgment. This may require a higher state of consciousness than the ones that are currently offered by much of contemporary culture. We need to look inwards, perhaps even undergo a spiritual transformation. Sustainability expert Jem Bendell calls this "deep adaptation", a process of deepening our understanding of our relationship to the planet and all its inhabitants.

Reflections on the attributes required for environmental responsibility are not new, nor are the psychological impacts of environmental decline. Henry George’s 1883 work Social Problems suggested that we need responsible and conscientious citizenship (a higher conscience, a keener sense of justice, a warmer brotherhood, a wider, loftier, truer public spirit). In 1992 Phyllis Windle pointed out that many ecologists were suffering from what could be called "disenfranchised grief".

Former UN climate chief Cristiana Figueres has argued the only way we can save the planet is with relentless, stubborn optimism. This may be true as hope is an important driver of action. It bridges the uncertainty and moves us to work towards the creation of a better future. Hope is often contingent on what we can gain. Thus, we must be able to articulate a vison of a possible future in which we help restore the Earth’s biodiversity, protect nature and preserve the beauty of this planet.

Love may be the most powerful impetus to act and it is also an effective way to combat eco-anxiety and eco-grief. As we endeavor to make life livable for future generations we realize that we are striving to right the wrongs of this world because we care about something bigger than ourselves. Astrophysicist turned climate scientist Peter Kalmus underwent this type of transformation. In a piece for the LA Times, Kalmus offered a deeply personal account of his journey in which he explained: "My love for my son made his future mine. This love expanded to include all the life on this planet, this marvelous spaceship" Kalmus wrote, "I felt a sense of responsibility to do something".

We overcome paralysis by accepting our anxiety and our grief. In the process we connect with others and discover the audacity to hope for transformative change. As we learn to live with our pain and our uncertainty, we find the hope to keep going because we are motivated by love for our fellow humans and for all of creation.

A Green Christmas Carol

2020-12-24T06:37:00.016-05:00

This year was difficult to say the least and this season shines light into the darkness of our grief and despair. However, like the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, the horror we have endured calls us to reflect on how our destructive ways have given birth to this dystopian nightmare.

If we move forward it will be because we face the shameful environmental neglect of the past, the woeful inadequacy of the present and the hopelessness of a future in which we fail to act.

The ghost of the past

We have ignored a plethora of scientific evidence warning us of dire consequences if we fail to slash our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution we have been steadily increasing climate warming GHGs. The wanton burning of fossil fuels, new agricultural methods, chemical manufacturing and production processes have all contributed to unprecedented pollution that is poisoning our air and our water. The hundreds of billions of tons of GHGs we have spewed into the atmosphere is destroying our biosphere.

Fossil fuels are the primary cause of the crises we face, not only because of the pollution they generate or the impact on our climate, but due to the industry's pervasive campaigns of deceit and disinformation. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has a long history of denial and disinformation that includes undermining good science. The disinformation efforts of fossil fuel companies include denying children access to a science based education. They use their tremendous wealth to buy politicians and political outcomes. Their half century long history of lies and disinformation have led some to conclude that they should be tried for crimes against humanity.

The steady increase in atmospheric GHGs is driving ever increasing extreme weather events. According to the NGO Germanwatch, from 1994 to 2013, there were more than 15,000 extreme weather events that caused 2.2 trillion in damages and killed at least 530,000 people. In the U.S. extreme weather killed more than 2,000 people in 2014. A study published in Cardiovascular Research states that pollution from fossil fuels killed 3.6 million people in 2015.

The ghost of the present

Both US President Donald Trump and the Republican party pander to the fossil fuel industry and the president's fossil fuel powered politics have pushed us to the precipice of a climate catastrophe. In the last four years this one term president has made almost everything worse, In a failed bid to win reelection he engaged in voter suppression and when this failed he attempted to stage a coup.. In his final days he is doubling down on efforts to dismantle democracy and undermine the republic from within. Just a couple of days before Christmas he callously sabotaged a bipartisan stimulus bill that would have given much needed relief to Americans.

This is a commander-and-chief who is a super spreader of disinformation and climate denial. With the assistance of social media Trump has become the world's leading purveyor of racism, division, and hate. His barrage of environmental insults include the gutting of the Endangered Species Act as part of what can be described as a war on nature. He even hired an anti-environmental crusader as the lead environmental enforcer in the DOJ. He has cozied up to like minded climate destroyers including Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Now the world is being ravaged by a global pandemic and Trump's cuts to environmental protections have exacerbated this crisis. By initially denying the existence of the virus, then mishandling the response he is responsible for massively increasing infection rates. The United States now has the highest death toll in the world. All this suffering and death has worsened an ongoing economic collapse.

In addition to the pandemic we are facing a biodiversity crisis and a climate crisis. After four years of failed leadership in the United States it is becoming ever more clear that the failure to reign-in emissions is warming the planet and contributing to more severe extreme weather events.

As this year comes to an end rising emissions are exhausting our carbon budgets. The fossil fuel industry continues to be the primary source of emissions and governments around the world continue to subsidize this climate destroying source of energy.

Each year climate change costs the global economy at least $1.2 trillion and air pollution from fossil fuels is becoming ever more deadly. Between three hundred and sixty five thousand and 5 million people now die each year due to air pollution from fossil fuel.

The ghost of the future

By 2030, climate change could kill one hundred million people. We could witness a rise of CO2 up to 1000 ppm and this will cause the Earth’s average temperature to increase by as much as 11 degrees over the next century. Even a 3ºC will destroy much of the planet’s agricultural food production capacity, which will result in widespread starvation. Agricultural shortfalls will be further exacerbated by ocean acidification, which is another corollary of rising levels of atmospheric CO2. Ocean acidification will worsen damage to coral and phytoplankton, which could cause a breakdown in the ocean food chains on which more than one billion people depend.

Many eco-systems will be lost and sea ice will disappear as will glaciers. This could contribute to a sea-level rise of up to 10 meters. Extreme weather events will put more than a billion people at risk killing millions and causing trillions of dollars in damage.

Wildfires which are already ravaging forests will get worse triggering a dangerous feedback loop that will cause them to switch from being carbon sinks to being carbon emitters.. Remaining forests will be weakened and they could be infested by destructive insects like the Pine Beetle that proliferate in a warmer world.

The combination of these events will create hundreds of millions of refugees. Warming temperatures, biodegradation and increasing global population will increase the strain on the Earth’s limited resources and hasten the spread of a variety of diseases far worse than COVID-19. A steady stream of scientific studies warn us of impeding catastrophe as we teeter on the cusp of tipping points that could auger the collapse of civilization.

Dawn of a new hope

Not all is lost, there is still time to avert catastrophe. We have a vaccine that promises to stem the scourge of death and isolation and most importantly the worst presidency in the history of the republic is coming to an end. Americans have rejected Trump and voted for a new president who will bring common sense, decency, compassion and humanity back to the world's most powerful office.

President-elect Joe Biden will be the most climate forward president in the history of the nation and his is Building Back Better stimulus recovery plan will tackle climate change head-on. Unlike his predecessor, Biden will craft policy informed by science and his running mate Kamala Harris will lead the most diverse administration the country has ever seen.

History shows us that moments of great upheaval have reduced emissions and Covid-19 is not an exception. Such times can also augur momentous social, political and economic changes. Thus, this tragedy is also a moment of great possibility. Covid-19 has exposed rampant inequality and our ongoing preoccupation with growth far exceeds the limitations of planetary resources. The pandemic has revealed fault lines that have helped America to arrive at an inflection point. Most Americans now see the importance of science and the need for science-based leadership.

What we do in the next few years is crucial. Our humanity is at stake and the fate of future generations is in the balance. This struggle will define us. While it could show that we are better than what we have been, if we fail to meet these challenges we will have consigned life on this planet to a fate worse than our nightmares.

We do not have time to dither, as reviewed in an open letter from Greta Thunberg and her colleagues if we are to have any hope we must act and we must act now. It is still too early to tell but the combination of Trump's narcistic cruelty and Covid-19 may serve as a paradigm changing tipping point.

We can learn how to discern truth from falsehood, we can combat disinformation and end the war on reality. We can heal the divisions and come together around climate action.

We have reason to be hopeful that we can build a better world. Its now or never, we can seize the moment and make history or we can continue with our harmful ways and augur ruin on a planetary scale.

A Cautionary Tale about Stranded Assets

2020-12-21T07:58:00.012-05:00

Just in time for Christmas a cautionary tale of two power plants is warning investors to be wary of fossil fuels. As predicted by many the evidence is mounted to support the contention that dirty energy is destined to be stranded assets. The closure of coal powerplants all around the world corroborate this prediction. Here are two examples from opposite sides of the world that demonstrate how once dominant coal powered powerplants are being replaced by renewable sources of energy causing investors to lose billions of dollars.

The imposing smoke stacks that towered 775 feet above Arizona's Navajo Generating Station dominated the landscape, but on the morning of Friday December 18th these monuments to the Anthropocene came crashing down. The plant was the largest coal powered energy facility west of the Mississippi River. It was demolished as part of Arizona's transition to renewable energy. The Grand Canyon state is transitioning away from fossil fuels with the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The state's two largest utilities (Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power) are abandoning all of their coal assets and working toward 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2023. Arizona's energy transition is timed to benefit from president-elect Joe Biden's Building Back Better recovery plan.

Despite Trump's promise to keep them open, more than 50 coal powered power plants have closed since 2016 and in 2020 power companies announced that they will be closing and additional 13 coal power plants. Perhaps the best example of the costs associated with stranded assets is in Australia. As illustrated by unprecedented wildfires, Aussies have been hit hard by global warming. For years pundits have been warning of the dangers of stranded assets down under. Now it appears these predictions are coming true.

Australia's newest coal-fired power station has just been written off as worthless. In what has been described as a "classic example" of changing energy dynamics, the investors who own the Bluewaters power plant in Collie, south of Perth just lost $1.2 billion. As reported by Daniel Mercer in an ABC News story, the Japanese investors that own the Bluewaters plant have written down the value of the asset to zero. Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo purchased Bluewaters in a joint venture with Japanese firm Kansai. Both companies are believed to have written off their equity stakes. The reason cited for shuttering the station is competition from renewable energy led by solar.

Simon Nicholas, told ABC News, this as, "an absolutely classic example of what we're likely to see going forward across Australia and around the world." Nicholas is an energy finance analyst at IEEFA, and citing the declining costs of renewables he said the decision highlights the changes we are seeing in the energy industry. He predicts that the "dramatic shift" toward renewable energy means that other coal-fired plants will follow suit. In many places in the world it is already cheaper to build and run renewable energy projects than it is to build and run coal fired power plants. "So, the long-term future for coal-fired power plants is looking fairly grim," Nichols said.

It is not only coal, the oil and gas industry will also face increasingly stiff competition from clean energy sources. The transition away from fossil fuels to renewables is already well underway. This energy transition is due in part to cities, academia and investors who are ditching fossil fuels as part of a growing divestment movement. This is also corroborated by the spate of national decarbonization pledges made at the recent UN Ambition Summit. Once we factor the environmental costs of dirty energy, it is game over for oil and gas.

The signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 signaled the end of fossil fuels and presaged the stranding of assets. Despite a brief reprieve for fossil fuels under the Trump administration, the low carbon economy is set to dominate the global agenda going forward. The writing is on the wall and investors have been warned.

Climate Action Must Include Efforts to End Fossil Fuels
Tackling Climate Change by Riding the Fossil Fuel Industry into the Ground
Market Forces are Killing the Fossil Fuel Industry
Oil is a Bad Investment
Curbing Fossil Fuels
The Risks Associated with Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets
The Fossil Fuel Industry has Reason to be Nervous
Fossil Fuel Divestment and Stranded Assets
Infographic - Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets

Financial Losses Associated with Fossil Fuels

Webinar - Transition Pathway Initiative: Transportation Report

2020-12-20T09:32:00.000-05:00

This Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) webinar will take place on Thursday, 21 January 2021, 15:00 - 16:00 GMT. Highlights from the TPI's latest Transportation Report will be broadcast on BrightTALK and it will feature important information on the airline, auto industries as well as international shipping. This webinar will provide the audience with an introduction to the TPI and their methodology. The TPI will discuss the results from their report and give the audience an opportunity to ask the researchers questions.

To register for this webinar click here.

What Aviation Efficiency can Teach us about the Power of Small Gestures

2020-12-18T08:14:00.005-05:00

It is entirely appropriate that big ticket efforts to reduce global warming causing greenhouse gas emissions are at the center of global climate efforts, however, there is also a need for small gestures. Such actions can make a big difference if repeated often. Governments (nations and subnational), public companies and private organizations all have a critical role to play and so do individuals. Efficiency in the aviation industry is a good illustration of how seemingly small efforts can make a difference. Something as simple as painting a plane with a light color can have a major impact. White paint is lighter than black paint because it has less pigment. Dark paint can add the equivalent weight of 8 passengersé Painting an airplane white also decreases heat and increases durability.

Even something as simple as changing paper stock on airplanes can add up to major reductions in fuel use and concomitant emissions. In 2018 United Airlines switched to lighter paper for their inflight magazines. This action reduced the weight by only 1 ounce but when applied across the fleet United Airlines saved 170,000 gallons of fuel worth almost $300,0000. Japan's Nippon airlines has encouraged travelers to urinate before boarding and according to their calculations this will reduce weight and decrease carbon emissions by 5 tons per month.

The efficiency of the aviation industry has doubled in the last quarter century. According to the IEA the fuel intensity of new commercial jet aircraft fell an average 1.3 percent per year between 1968 and 2014. A recent Virgin Airline study showed that with careful planning we can make air travel more efficient and decrease fossil fuel use by as much as 30 percent.

All of these efforts are laudable but they are nowhere near enough. We will need to do much more if we are to keep temperatures from surpassing the upper threshold limit (1.5-2C above preindustrial norms). While we should make air travel more efficient, these efforts should not obscure the reality that we must find alternatives to fossil fuel powered jet propulsion. The transportation sector is a major source of emissions and air travel is one of the most significant single contributor to climate change. Although it is no easy feat we need to decarbonize through electrification. The point is that efficiency in the context of traditional air travel is grossly inadequate. We need alternative technologies (eg electrification, hydrogen, airships etc) all of which could benefit from efficiency initiatives such as the weight reduction efforts reviewed above.

Efficiency efforts also apply to individual lifestyle changes. We can personally cut our carbon footprints through simple gestures like turning down heating and cooling, and such actions can have a major impact when they are repeated often enough. However, these gestures are only meaningful in conjunction with large scale actions that have global impact. As climate scientist Michael Mann explained, trying to shift responsibility to individual small actions without addressing major sources of emissions is the new face of climate denial.

Once again small gestures are nowhere near enough to curb global warming, but they are an important and necessary adjunct to the larger more dramatic efforts like replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources of power or finding alternatives to traditional aviation.

Eliminating Fossil Fuels Centerstage at the UN Climate Ambition Summit

2020-12-16T08:35:00.006-05:00

On the fifth anniversary of the historic COP21 meeting world leaders came together to discuss the the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement. The agenda for the Climate Ambition Summit included finalizing the 300 page draft known as the Paris rulebook which defines how countries tally and report their emissions reduction efforts. Many of the leaders who came together for this virtual event acknowledged the need to increase renewables and end fossil fuels to keep temperatures from surpassing the upper threshold limit (1.5-2.0 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms).

Just ahead of the UN Summit more than 100 countries (responsible for two-thirds of the world’s greenhouse gas) announced plans to cut their emissions to "net zero" by 2050. To realize this ambition nations will have to eliminate their use of fossil fuels.

While eradicating fossil fuel use has already been announced in Europe and elsewhere, there were some surprising announcements at the Summit including one from Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Knan who said his country will not approve any any new coal-fired power generation projects. Instead new energy projects in Pakistan will come from hydroelectric power. According to Khan by 2030, 60 percent of all energy produced in the country will come from clean energy sources including renewables and almost one third of all vehicles in the country will be powered by electricity. Pakistan currently has 18 wind power projects generating 937MW of electricity and six solar projects generating 418MW. It is worth noting that despite contributing less than 1 percent of global emissions, Pakistan is the 5th most climate vulnerable nation on Earth. Last year alone there were 152 climate related events that killed 500 people and contributed to more than $3.7 billion in losses.

In his address to the Summit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that he will focus on reducing India's emissions and increasing forest cover in the country. Modi said India is heading towards fulfilling its commitments by increasing the nation's use of clean and renewable sources of energy. He pointed out that India has seen its solar capacity grow from 2.63 GigaWatts in 2014 to 36 GigaWatts in 2020. Modi also said that the country has reduced its emission by 21 percent compared to 2005 levels.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promoted the value of science in his address at the Summit saying, "together we can use scientific advances to protect our entire planet, our biosphere against a challenge far worse, far more destructive even than coronavirus". He specifically pointed out the need to reduce emissions and radically cut dependence on fossil fuels as well as reform agricultural practices. He touted the UK's 43 percent reduction in emissions and virtual elimination of coal. He referenced his Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and the job creation potential of the low carbon economy as part of national efforts to recover from the COVID-19 downturn. Johnson said he wants to turn the UK into a wind energy superpower while increasing support for solar, hydro and hydrogen. He also intends to replace all combustion engines by electric in the next decade and make the UK more efficiency through building retrofits, green transport, nature protections and the implementation of carbon capture capture technologies. He vowed to move away from supporting drilling and mining for hydrocarbons and he pledged £11.6 billion towards green technology and global decarbonization. Johnson concluded by saying that the UK will reduce emissions 66 percent compared to 1990 levels over the next decade.

Even Israel has promised to stop using fossil fuels by 2050. In his Summit speech Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Israel is totally committed to a successful transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy by 2050." Israel joins many countries around the world that have committed to eliminating fossil fuel use by 2050. Austria, Sweden and California have vowed to do so even sooner.

It is clear that eradicating fossil fuels is key to keeping temperatures from surpassing the upper threshold temperature limit. This means we must decarbonize the energy and transportation sectors, in addition to substantial changes to infrastructure, industry, agriculture and waste treatment.

The End is Near for Dirty Energy: Fossil Fuels are Being Abandoned by Investors, Insurers and Banks

Ending Fossil Fuels is Necessary but it Won't be Easy
The Fossil Fuel Industry is Dying
Corruption in Washington: The Money Trail Leads to the Fossil Fuel Industry

Republicans are the Leading Purveyors of the Fossil Fuel Industry's Climate Denial
Climate Action Must Include Efforts to End Fossil Fuels
Tackling Climate Change by Riding the Fossil Fuel Industry into the Ground
Market Forces are Killing the Fossil Fuel Industry
Oil is a Bad Investment
Curbing Fossil Fuels
The Risks Associated with Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets
The Fossil Fuel Industry has Reason to be Nervous
Fossil Fuel Divestment and Stranded Assets
Infographic - Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets

American Courts are Defending Democracy and the Environment

2020-12-14T08:09:00.011-05:00

Despite unprecedented challenges, America's legal system has held. In recent weeks the courts have repeatedly defended democracy and in the last four years they have overturned a wide range of environmental assaults. The stacking of the Supreme Court with conservative justices did not prevent the highest court in the land from rebuffing baseless accusations of voter fraud. Dozens of lower court rulings have also denied lawsuits designed to overturn election results. Trump and his allies are currently 1 for 59 in their legal efforts to subvert democracy. The Supreme Court denied Texas' petition to invalidate election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This doomed effort was supported by 106 congressional Republicans and 18 state attorneys general. On December 11, all 7 justices unanimously denied relief citing a lack of standing (ie the failure to demonstrate their case).

On December 8 the Supreme Court rejected a Republican lawsuit that sought to reverse Pennsylvania’s certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Without comment the court dismissed the case and refused to call into question the certification process. On December 15, Wisconsin's Supreme Court threw out Trump's latest attempt to overturn his electoral defeat.

The courts impartiality is a credit to a legal system that is the last bulwark against a demagogue doggedly pursuing authoritarian power. In 2018 after Trump called a judge who ruled against him an "Obama judge," Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement which read: "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them." In 2019 Roberts wrote, "We should celebrate our strong and independent judiciary, a key source of national unity and stability," adding, "we should also remember that justice is not inevitable."

The courts have ruled against a wide range of environmental insults emanating from the Trump administration's policies and their dismantling of environmental protections. There have been several rulings on fossil fuel projects in recent months. On December 7 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected the Trump administration's approval of the Liberty offshore oil-drilling project in federal Arctic waters. The legal challenge to defend Alaska's coast along the Beaufort Sea was mounted by a coalition of groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace, and Pacific Environment. In its ruling the court cited climate concerns and the failure to adequately analyze the impact on polar bears under the Endangered Species Act.

The courts have issued a series of legal setbacks to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which oversees fossil fuel development on public lands. Judges have applied the law which clearly states the BLM cannot ignore climate concerns in its bid to open public lands to fossil fuel extraction. In November the BLM's leasing plans where stymied when a federal court judge ruled that the agency failed to disclose the climate impacts related to the leasing of more than 300,000 acres in Wyoming for oil and gas extraction. In a 2019 ruling the same judge ruled that the agency’s initial analysis of drilling was inadequate.

On September 25 a federal judge in Montana ousted BLM Acting Director William Perry Pendley from that post. The action was in response to a lawsuit filed by Montana Governor Steve Bullock who argued its illegal for Pendley to continue because he had never been confirmed by the Senate. Like many Trump appointees Pendley is an attorney who has spent much of his career opposing the agency he briefly oversaw.

On June 16, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., settled the decades-long fight to protect the Badger-Two Medicine region near Glacier National Park in Montana. The ruling upholds the cancellation of the last remaining federal oil and gas lease in the area.

Event - Strapline: Assessing and Mitigating Cyber Security Risks on your Assets

2020-12-13T07:21:00.006-05:00

This event will take place on May 6 -7, 2021. Renewable Energy needs a common understanding of cyber threats and mitigation strategies to protect against the internal and external threats which could result in reduced energy production and economic losses.. The lack of standards, insufficient board level understanding of cyber threats, legacy assets and new technology pose important challenges for cyber security professionals Participants at this event will learn about cyber security strategies and recommendations, cyber hygiene, implementation of risk management schemes and regulatory issues.

Cyberattacks on energy companies are becoming more common and the need to protect renewable energy assets from cyber-attacks is of paramount importance in today’s digital era. Cybersecurity poses a serious challenge for renewables operators and the industry is realizing the criticality of cybersecurity in holistic asset resilience. Digital transformation in renewables involves disruptive approaches, new technologies and innovations, and will require new architectures, new business models and thinking around cybersecurity

Through panel discussions and case studies participants can learn how key players in the renewable energy sector have been able to stay resilient, invest in the right technology and convince their stakeholders that cyber security is a high priority concern.

Click here for more information or to register.

Webinar - COVID-19 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2020-12-12T16:45:00.000-05:00

This webinar hosted by the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre in collaboration with the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability explores the effects of the pandemic on greenhouse gas emissions. You can catch up below. This webinar features Simon Langlois-Bertrand and Shadnoosh Pashaei in discussion about energy-related greenhouse gas emissions post-COVID19. Simon Langlois-Bertrand is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and a member of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre at Concordia University, where his research focuses on the geopolitics of the ecological transition and circular economy paradigms. Shadnoush Pashaei Farahani is a recent graduate from the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she has developed a new methodology to assess GHG emissions that can be followed by energy efficiency programs in industry.

Click here to access the webinar.

Online Event - Solar PV Digitalization Forum

2020-12-12T04:10:00.001-05:00

This event will take place on December 10 and 11 2020, Online. This event for anyone interested in solar photovoltaics. It will offer a thorough analysis of digitalization in the solar sector including the latest solar panel design and technology. This solution based forum is designed to increase revenue while reducing operational and maintenance costs and risks through automated data analytics, tools (algorithms, machine learning, and sensors), and artificial intelligence (AI). The forum will explore the technological challenges and solutions.

It will review new business models, market opportunities, innovation, emerging technologies (eg blockchain, drones and cloud computing).and next generation technology. Find out how to uncovering performance losses and gaps and learn more about strategies for improving asset efficiency, and optimizing performance and O&M as well as technical requirements, standards and drivers

It will cover tracking, monitoring, inspecting, evaluating, performance forecasting predictive analytics, prediction failures, risk analysis, predictive maintenance, cyber security, Advanced Control System Software, Digital Twin technology

Speakers

Cegeon Chan, PhD, DNV GL Energy USA, Inc., Director, Wind and Solar Energy Assessments
Constantinos Peonides, Alectris, Commercial Director
David Delaire, MPC Renewable Energies, Managing Director
Antonio Alcaro, aventron, Asset Manager
Aron P. Dobos, Envision Digital, Ltd, Director, Solar Monitoring & Analytics
Tom Tansy, SunSpec Alliance, Chairman
Aleksandra Radwanska, Next Kraftwerke GmbH, International Business Development Manager
Emily Hwang, Yaskawa Solectria Solar, Applications Engineering Manager
Félix Gorintin, INNOSEA, Chief Operating Officer
Ypatios Moysiadis, Greensolver, Group Business Development Director & UK Country Manager
Sean Ratka,International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Associate Programme Officer
Massimiliano Pili, Encavis AG, Head of Engineering & Construction
Simone Minesso, Encavis AG, Technical Operations Manager - Southern EU
Ingmar Kruse, SunSniffer GmbH & Co. KG, CEO
Jeremy Erndt, Bureau Veritas, Director, Power & Utilities
Pierre-Alexandre Metaut, NovaSource Power Services, Global Performance Manager
Debbie Brodt-Giles, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Data Science and Innovation Group Manager
Max Methe, BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH, Head of Finance BayWa r.e. Services
Fernando Casas Garcia, WiseEnergy, Global Head of Technical
Rafael Narezzi, WiseEnergy, CIO
Nicola Waters, PSH Operations, Managing Director
Sebastien McClay, Mott MacDonald, Energy Data Scientist
Amaury Salles, Mott MacDonald, Solar Energy Consultant
Laura Hield-Ryder, E.ON UK, Head of Operations - Solar
Thore Müller, ENGIE Laborelec, Product Manager Cleaning Optimization
Aleksis Schäfer, greentech, Managing Director
Wolfgang Rosenberg, TCO Solar, VP Operations and Maintenance
Peregrine Fraser, Above. Chief Commercial Officer

Click here to find out more or to register

Environmental Impacts of Food Production (Infographic)

2020-12-11T09:04:00.007-05:00

Ominous Trend Revealed in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data

2020-12-10T11:09:00.011-05:00

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are warming the globe and driving climate change. The impacts of these GHGs are not some future concern they are being felt here and now. We need to look no further than the steady stream of record breaking warming. Last month was the warmest November on record, and 2020 is expected to be one of the hottest years on record. Month after month, year after year, and decade after decade we are setting new temperature records that are exacerbating wildfires, droughts and storms.

According to a 2019 study there is currently more CO2 in the atmosphere than there has been in at least 3 million years. This study corroborates other more recent studies which show that we are headed headlong towards catastrophe. There are now more than 410 parts per million, or more than twice the levels that would exist without humans. According to a recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC), global emissions will need to be reduced by half by 2030 if we are to keep temperatures from rising beyond acceptable limits (1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit as agreed to in the Paris Climate Accord).

These concerns are reiterated and amplified in the 2020 Emissions Gap Report. This annual report looks at where we are compared to where we need to be in terms of GHGs (see previous reports 2012, 2018 and 2019). It specifically predicts where the current trajectory will take us by 2030 and compares this to where we need to be to stay within prescribed temperature limits. The 2020 forecast suggests we are on track to exceed these limits by a considerable margin.

GHGs are caused directly and indirectly by human activity especially energy (73%). Other sources of GHGs are agriculture, forestry and land use (18%), waste (3%) and industry (5%)*. Fossil fuel use is a major contributor of GHGs and coal powered power plants especially harmful. Efforts to manage emissions demands major reductions in our use of fossil fuels. A 2019 study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) showed that fossil fuels accounted for almost 70 percent of global energy demand. In 2019, total greenhouse gas emissions reached a new high of 59.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e). Emissions have increased from an average 1.4 percent per year since 2010, to 2.6 percent in 2019. A total of 33.1 billion tons of CO2e were dumped into the atmosphere in 2018 and coal power spewed a record breaking 10 billion tons of carbon into the air in 2019. To have a shot of keeping temperatures within acceptable limits coal use will need to cut fossil fuel use in half and slashed coal use by almost 80 percent by 2030

Rising levels of GHGs have been described as "very worrisome" by Michael Mehling, deputy director of the Center for Energy and Environment Policy Research at MIT. "To me, all this reflects the fact that climate policies around the globe, despite some limited pockets of progress, remain woefully inadequate," Mehling said. Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University succinctly stated, "We are in deep trouble," adding, "The climate consequences are catastrophic. I don't use any word like that very often. But we are headed for disaster."

These observations add to the plethora of research that warns us to act soon if we want to avoid the collapse of civilization. If we are to avert disaster we need to urgently reduce global emissions .The task before us is daunting and any hope of keeping temperatures from breaching the upper temperature threshold limits will require near-term consorted actions of all levels of government, as well as businesses and individuals.

* Our World in Data

Researchers Discover the Most Potent GHG Known to Man
The Dangerous Trajectory of CO2 Growth Since the 1880's
C02 Concentrations are the Highest in 3 Million Years
The Safe Upper Limit of Atmospheric Carbon is 350 PPM
Arctic Monitoring Stations Report High Levels of CO2
Melting Arctic Ice is Releasing Massive Amounts of Methane
Debunking CO2 Myths and The Science of Climate Change
Primer on CO2 and Other GHGs
The Green Economy is the Right Solution for our Troubled Times
Action on Climate Change
The Effects of Global Warming

Boycott Culture and Brand Influence During Trump's Presidency and Beyond

2020-12-08T14:30:00.020-05:00

Brands wield enormous influence over popular culture and whether they are pursuing core social values or trying to preempt boycotts, brands are finding it harder to ignore social, environmental and political issues.

Boycott culture has grown since Donald Trump emerged as a candidate in 2015. Trump has repeatedly used his office to advocate boycotts as have anti-Trump advocates. Earlier this year Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear after company guidelines were leaked that instructed employees to avoid wearing politically affiliated attire including MAGA hats.

Goodyear issued a nuanced statement that read as follows, "we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues".

Trump's attack against Goodyear is but the latest in a long line of proposed boycotts emanating from the Oval Office. Even when he was on the campaign trail in 2016 Trump called for boycotts against Macy’s Inc. and Oreo cookies. Other companies that have been the target of his wrath include GM, Merck, Amazon, and T-Mobile. Trump has also attacked news outlets that share unflattering truths about him, this includes CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, HBO, CNBC, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, Rolling Stone, The Oklahoman, The Dallas Morning News, the Arizona Republic, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, and USA Today. Trump's first salvo of corporate bullying started with his attacks against Boeing, Carrier, and Ford.

Initially corporate America pushed back against Trump. They began building business coalitions that publicly opposed the president's policies. Only three weeks after Trump's inauguration businesses including Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Uber, Reddit, Netflix and Dropbox sued the administration over the Moslem ban. Corporations are also wading into congressional politics. Companies including Land O'Lakes and Purina rescinded their support for Iowa's Republican Representative Steve King due to his racist remarks. In response to public pressure CVS Health, Dow Chemical and Southern Company said they would stop donating to pro Trump organizations

Corporations played a role in the 2018 midterms. Patagonia actively encouraged their employees, patrons and stakeholders to vote with the planet in mind. They directly challenged Trump's decision to eliminate protections for public lands like Bears Ears National Monument in Utah in a campaign titled "The president stole your land". Patagonia is also part of a coalition of companies that filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration designed to protect the monument. The outdoor apparel company even helped to elect Democratic Senate candidates Jacky Rosen in Nevada and Jon Tester in Montana.

However, this early corporate resistance soon gave way to fear as business leaders fell silent. However, in the same way that Republicans will wear the stain of their support for this mendacious presidency, corporate leaders and the brands they represent may also have a hard time finding their way back to some consumers. Consumers are increasingly holding brands accountable. Well known brands like Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc., Starbucks Corp., Nike Inc., Uber Technologies Inc., Under Armour Inc. and Kellogg Co. have all been targeted by or threatened with consumer boycotts.

Soon after Trump's inauguration consumers began organizing boycotts of the Trump family brand. Less than a month into the Trump administration Kellogg's withdrew their advertisements on Breitbart News citing their cooperate values. In 2017 the Democratic Coalition Against Trump posted a free "Boycott Trump" app that helped people to avoid the dozens of businesses that are connected to Trump. Retailers like Nordstrom, T. J. Maxx, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus, Belk, Jet, ShopStyle and Kmart dropped the Trump family's clothing lines out of concern that they could be hit by a consumer backlash. Trump even saw his name removed from some prestigious buildings and companies that supported Trump like LL Bean were swamped with complaints.

Some brands oppose Trump because they are seeking reputational benefits, while others are trying to preempt boycotts. For equality focused brands like Nike and Adidas social activism makes sense, while others are more cautious. Each company has to weigh the risks and benefits. Although there are considerable benefits associated with social advocacy., they cannot afford to ignore the fact that 70 million Americans voted for Trump, With median incomes well above state averages, Trump supporters have considerable spending power.

However, there are potentially serious adverse repercussions attached to being associated with the Trump brand just as there are dangers associated with trying to play it safe. Many companies remained silent due to concerns about potential financial impacts associated with speaking out. However, there is reason to believe that these concerns may be overblown. The evidence suggests that Trump's attacks have no significant impact and in some cases they appear to have contributed rather than detracted from some brand's fiscal well-being. His call for a boycott against Goodyear appears to have helped rather than hurt the company (Goodyear's stock values hit a six month high at the end of November and early December). After being attacked by Trump in 2017 Nordstrom's stock also soared. Patagonia is another company that reaped tremendous economic benefits from opposing Trump. This suggests that at least for some, there may be brand value and stockholder benefits associated with challenging malfeasance, even if it comes from the president.

At the end of the day most corporations are beholden to consumers and they are increasingly expecting that the companies they buy from reflect their values. While this cuts both ways, corporate decision makers need to appreciate the stark difference between those that support Trump and those that oppose him. Corporate leaders need to ask themselves where they want to position their brands. Silence in the face of this administration's anti-environment actions and racism is a dangerous strategy. What seems like a shrewd strategy may quickly turn into a failed strategy. Corporate leaders that once feared being labeled an activist brand may find that it is an unavoidable competitive necessity.

As Cone Communications pointed out all the way back in 2013, the failure to adopt CSR risks a consumer boycott. The more recent Weber Shandwick survey suggests that executives have to figure out how to walk the tightrope. Their results show that 41 percent of shoppers and 46 percent of executives say companies should express an opinion or take action on controversial issues. Forty percent of consumers say they regularly or frequently talk about how honest and ethical companies are. Slightly more than a third (34%) of consumers say they’re buying more from companies or brands that share their values. Overall the results suggest that there is an ever growing percentage of consumers who expect companies to take a stand, or at the very least they expect them not to be silent.

As illustrated by Under Armour brands have been punished for supporting Trump. The brand was downgraded by an analyst at Susquehanna International Group after CEO Kevin Plank called Trump a "real asset" to the U.S. DoneGood is advocating a boycott and they have published a comprehensive list of companies associated with Trump.

Business owners donated disproportionately to Trump's reelection bid (compared to Biden) so there are many exposed companies who may need to rethink their political support. Those who support Trump and even those who are trying to straddle the fence need to remember that inaction is an action that could be held against them. Corporate leaders need to understand that the decisions that they make (or fail to make) will stick to their brands long after the political cycle changes.

Although some believe that Trump will be a kingmaker, there is ample evidence to suggest that his brand is already fading and will fade even more once he leaves office. If corporate leaders cannot marshal the courage to do the right thing, then perhaps they can be inspired by the facts. At the very least they need to understand that being obsequious or a sycophant is not a viable strategy. More and more data is emerging that shows taking a stand is not only good for connecting with consumers, it is good for shareholder value. So rather than being a risk, corporate activism is becoming an imperative.

Related

8 Factors Driving Corporate Activism

Corporate Activism and the End of Silence

Corporate Activism in the 2018 Midterms and Beyond

Why Boycotts and Business Leadership Matters More than Ever

The Wave of Corporate Goodness
Why Corporate Sustainability Leaders Must Resist Trump
Corporations Offering Hope this Unhappy Thanksgiving
Corporate Actions that Combat Trump's Climate Ignorance
Sustainability is Not Impervious to Trump
Sharing Sustainability Matters Now More than Ever
Businesses Support Sustainability and Oppose Trump
Business Leaders Advocate for Sustainability and Refute Trump
Corporate America Rejects Trump's Climate Ignorance
Sustainability Leaders Spartacus Moment
Standing Up to Trump is Synonymous with Protecting Your Brand

Online event - Future of Renewables Global 2020 Virtual Conference

2020-12-06T02:40:00.001-05:00

This free virtual conference will take place on December 8-9, 2020. Binging together CEOs, innovators, investors and policymakers in the final push for a clean and sustainable future. Sixty of the most powerful renewable energy leaders will speak to 10,000 virtual attendees to set the stage and chart the path for the global renewable business models of the future. If you want to de-risk your renewables business model and learn how mitigate these challenges,, you cannot afford to miss the strategic solutions and upcoming industry trends.

The Global Green Recovery Starts Here

As the world seeks to rebuild in the wake of the pandemic, one vision has emerged clear, our recovery should be a green one with renewable energy at its core. As governments set about unveiling their grand plans for a sustainable world, the energy industry waits with bated breath to discover what opportunities lie ahead.

Future of Renewables Global will unite policy makers and top thought leadership on one stage and unfurl the green recovery playbook. Shedding light on where the most lucrative opportunities await, whether it be the expansion of infrastructure, the electrification of end use sectors or decarbonising the way we do business. Therefore, charting the path for the energy majors of tomorrow.

The stage is set for energy leaders to steer us into a new world. Opportunity exists to reimagine, recreate and redefine our society in a new and greener image with renewable energy at it’s beating heart.

Speakers

Rafael Mateo, CEO - Energy, Acciona
Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Engie, CEO - North America & Global Renewable Business Line
The RT Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, BEIS Minister of State
Ivor Catto,RES, CEO,
Mary Quaney, Mainstream Renewable Power, CEO
Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE, CEO
Fatih Birol, IEA, Executive Director
Martina Buchhauser, Volvo Car Corporation, Chief Procurement Officer
Demetrios Papathanasiou, World Bank, Global Director for Energy and Extractives

Click here for the full speakers list

Agenda

Policy Transforming Global Energy: Unify the global industry in one clear goal through top down guidance, knock down barriers and ensure green initiatives drive the energy mix

The Green Business Case: Capitalise on the resilient nature of renewables and empower clean energy to become the backbone of our global economy

The Global Energy Transformation: From biomass to battery storage and hydrogen, discover new clean avenues that will build upon the industry pillars - solar and wind. Propelling renewable penetration to new heights

Electrification of End Use Sectors: Take advantage of the global appetite for renewable energy. Manage sector coupling, corporate consumers and spread electrification to the furthest corners of our society

Building the 21st Century Power System: Build the energy system of the 21st century, harness the potential of hybridisation and smarts grids, while leveraging what has been laid down by our forebears

Regional Market Outlooks: Explore Europe, North America, MENA and more through dedicated discussions and presentations highlighting growth projections and clean energy opportunities.

click here for the full agenda or to register.

Why John Kerry is the Right Man to Tackle Climate Change

2020-12-02T07:27:00.009-05:00

John Kerry will serve as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the Biden administration. He has a distinguished track record on climate issues in both the Senate and as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. He was instrumental in securing the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. Under Kerry the US doubled its financial contributions to vulnerable countries impacted by climate change.

In 2016 the Trump administration pulled out of the agreement but President-Elect Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the deal on "day one". Kerry helped to craft Biden's climate agenda which includes a plan that will seek to make the U.S. carbon neutral by 2050. To realize this goal Biden has pledged $2 trillion worth of investments in renewable energy, transportation, and building efficiency.

"America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is," Kerry tweeted. "I’m proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President’s Climate Envoy."

Experience and unity

As Secretary of State he brokered deals with China on emissions and hydrofluorocarbons. Kerry also proved himself when he was at the head of the Arctic Council where he furthered Hilary Clinton's work on short lived climate pollutants (SLCP). He used U.S. leadership of the Council to highlight the connection between melting ice in the Arctic and environmental effects around the globe. He pleaded with Council nations to "do everything we can to prevent worse impacts" pushing the Arctic Council to "do more on climate change."

Republican obstructionism made it difficult to pass legislation during the Obama administration's second term. However polls suggest that climate action may help to unite Americans. In 2016 Kerry said "Climate change shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It isn’t a partisan issue for our military. It isn’t a partisan issue for our intelligence community." He also has the experience to get things done. He has the kind of international reputation that will make it possible for him have credibility when dealing with foreign governments.

Years before the politics of division claimed the White House, Kerry delivered a prescient speech about the importance of unity. In a 2014 speech delivered in Jakarta Indonesia Kerry said:

"And if we come together now, we can not only meet the challenge, we can create jobs and economic growth in every corner of the globe. We can clean up the air, we can improve the health of people, we can have greater security; we can make our neighborhoods healthier places to live; we can help ensure that farmers and fishers can still make a sustainable living and feed our communities; and we can avoid disputes and even entire wars over oil, water, and other limited resources. We can make good on the moral responsibility we all have to leave future generations with a planet that is clean and healthy and sustainable for the future" Kerry said, adding, "we can meet this challenge, the greatest challenge of our generation, and we can create the future that everybody dreams of."

Existential threat

Kerry sees climate change as a priority issue calling it a "life-threatening issue" of national security that risks our way of life. As a Democratic Senator representing the state of Massachusetts, in 2009 he cosponsored a climate bill with Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and less than a year later he drafted another climate bill with and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.). Kerry's climate advocacy earned him a spot among America's Greenest Politicians in 2012.

Environmental organizations lauded his appointment as Secretary of State in 2013. NRDC President Frances Beinecke said, "In nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate, John Kerry has distinguished himself as a champion for action against climate change, an advocate for the international cooperation we need to protect the natural resources of a changing world and a visionary promoter of American jobs in the fast-growing market for clean energy worldwide." Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said, "Now, one of the strongest champions for climate action in the Senate will be our nation’s top climate negotiator. We are excited that he will bring his strong credentials on climate to the critical decisions facing our planet, including increasing access to affordable clean energy options and stopping the expansion of dirty tar sands and coal worldwide.”

In the Jakarta speech he called climate change a "weapon of mass destruction" adding that it was "perhaps the world’s most fearsome weapon of mass destruction." if we continue to go down the same path that we are going down today, the world as we know it will change – and it will change dramatically for the worse.

"The fact is that climate change, if left unchecked, will wipe out many more communities from the face of the earth. And that is unacceptable under any circumstances – but is even more unacceptable because we know what we can do and need to do in order to deal with this challenge....we need a global solution".

Science and the need for urgent action

Unlike most of the senior leadership in the outgoing administration, Kerry values science. He endorsed the findings of the IPCC AR5 summary and strongly encourage action saying, “This is yet another wakeup call: those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire. He cited IPCC data to make the point that fossil fuels are the primary driver of climate change.

In his Jakarta speech he characterized climate change as one of the most serious threats faced by the world saying the science of climate change is "warning us; it’s compelling us to act. And let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind that the science is absolutely certain. It’s something that we understand with absolute assurance of the veracity of that science.'

He also pulled no punches in taking on those who are engaged in disinformation campaigns designed to confuse the public about the need for climate action. "This is about facts. This is about science. The science is unequivocal. And those who refuse to believe it are simply burying their heads in the sand." Kerry said. "I’m talking about big companies that like it the way it is that don’t want to change, and spend a lot of money to keep you and me and everybody from doing what we know we need to do. First and foremost, we should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific fact. Nor should we allow any room for those who think that the costs associated with doing the right thing outweigh the benefits. There are people who say, “Oh, it’s too expensive, we can’t do this.” No. No, folks.

Kerry also understands that there is an ever diminishing window of opportunity to act. In 2015 he acknowledged that governments are not moving fast enough to avert a climate disaster and in the 2014 Jakarta speech he said, "The window of time is still open for us to be able to manage this threat. But the window is closing... We just don’t have time to let a few loud interests groups hijack the climate conversation"

"We certainly should not allow more time to be wasted by those who want to sit around debating whose responsibility it is to deal with this threat, while we come closer and closer to the point of no return," Kerry said in his Jakarta speech. "We just don't have time to let a few loud interest groups hijack the climate conversation," Kerry added.

The economics of action

Kerry understands the risks and the benefits. As Kerry explained, "climate change isn’t only a challenge. It’s not only a burden. It also presents one of the greatest economic opportunities of all time. "Kerry claimed that the economic spinoffs from climate action could "far surpass the tech boom of the 1990s." The climate crisis is, "a multitrillion-dollar market with billions of users worldwide" Kerry said. He has repeatedly indicated that he see renewable energy as an economic powerhouse that can revitalize the US economy. As he explained climate action is, "one of the greatest economic opportunities the world has ever seen" adding "there are opportunities literally everywhere you look."

In his 2013 Senate hearings Kerry responded to a question from Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) saying: "The solution to climate change is energy policy. And, the opportunities of energy policy so vastly outweigh the downsides that you’re expressing concerns about … You want to do business and do it well in America, you have to get into the energy race … I would respectfully say to you that climate change is not something to be feared in response to—the steps to respond to—it’s to be feared if we don’t … I will be a passionate advocate on this not based on ideology but based on facts and science, and I hope to sit with all of you and convince you that this $6 trillion market is worth millions of American jobs and we better go after it."

Before the People's Climate March, Kerry addressed the costs of inaction saying "It doesn't cost more to deal with climate change, it costs more to ignore it," His Jakarta speech outlined the economic benefits of an aggressive global policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions saying, "the worst that can happen to you if you would employ a lot of people in alternative and renewable and clean energy; you would have less hospitalizations, cleaner air, more children with less asthma; and you would create an enormous number of jobs by moving to those new energy possibilities and policies and infrastructure. That’s the worst that can happen to you."

Serious analysts understand that the costs of doing nothing far outweigh the costs of investing in solutions. "You do not need a degree in economics or a graduate degree in business in order to understand that the cost of flooding, the cost of drought, the cost of famine, the cost of health care, the cost of addressing this challenge is simply far less – the costs of addressing this challenge are far less than the costs of doing nothing," Kerry said.

Focus on energy and hope for a better world

He understands that energy is at the center of climate action. "The global energy market is the future. The solution to climate change is energy policy. And this market is poised to be the largest market the world has ever known. Between now and 2035, investment in the energy sector is expected to reach nearly $17 trillion. That’s more than the entire GDP of China and India combined" Kerry said.

"The solution to climate change is as clear as the problem. The solution is making the right choices on energy policy. It’s as simple as that. And with a few smart choices, we can ensure that clean energy is the most attractive investment in the global energy sector. To do this, governments and international financial institutions need to stop providing incentives for the use of energy sources like coal and oil. Instead, we have to make the most of the innovative energy technology that entrepreneurs are developing all over the world....And we have to invest in new technology that will help us bring renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power not only to the communities where those resources are abundant –but to every community and to every country on every continent....You cannot simply factor in the immediate costs of energy needs. You have to factor in the long-term cost of carbon pollution. And they have to factor in the cost of survival. And if they do, then governments will find that the cost of pursuing clean energy now is far cheaper than paying for the consequences of climate change later."

Kerry is not naïve, he knows that there will be resistance, but he also knows that we have the technological capacity to do this, what has been lacking is the political will. Kerry has the political will and so does the administration in which he will serve.

"I am absolutely confident that if we choose to, we will meet this challenge...Human ingenuity has long proven its ability to solve seemingly insurmountable challenges. It is not a lack of ability that is a problem. It is a lack of political resolve that is standing in our way. And I will tell you as somebody who ran for elected office, when you hear from the people, when the people make it clear what they want and what they think they need, then people in politics respond."

In his new role Kerry will be the first person on the National Security Council to focus exclusively on climate change. He understands the global nature of the threat and he will seek global solutions commensurate with that threat. Kerry faces a Herculean challenge but he has the experience to get things done.

Eco-Psychology Course at Saybrook University

2020-11-30T09:46:00.000-05:00

A course at Saybrook University examines the role of humans as part of the web of life. The relatively new area of eco-psychology explores human nature and the human capacity to influence the environmental crisis. Coursework at Saybrook University is founded on humanistic psychology and it relies on the basic values of understanding and improving systems throughout the world.. The solutions, like the world itself, are ever evolving. With our planet changing so drastically over the last hundred years and the future all but in question due to climate change, eco-psychology is more important than ever for clinicians and thinkers alike.

This new field is critical of traditional psychology, which emphasizes the individual self and its capacities for mastery and control and which views the environment as distinct from the self. By contrast, ecological psychology views humans as interconnected with the larger systems of nature and subject to its laws, and by virtue of our conscious awareness to be stewards of our shared planet. As a relatively new field, its foundation is based on ancient perspectives and practices.Version 3

In the TSC 6500 Ecological Psychology course, Laura Turner-Essel, Ph.D., challenges students with the origins of the discipline, along with new research and current conversation. “The course was developed by one of the leaders in the field, Linda Riebel, Ph.D., in response to the ecological crisis,” Dr. Turner-Essel says. “With climate change and a lot of the degradation that we see in our ecosystem, I think it’s important to get back to the roots of what eco-psychology is by looking at how human health and well-being are tied up and interwoven with our planet.”

From texts such as “Ecopsychology: Restoring the earth, healing the mind” to “Therapy in the Face of Climate Change” and “States of Emergency: Trauma and Climate Change,” the course helps students learn about various fields that can help them understand human response and resistance to more sustainable lifestyles and how psychological tools can help to heal the disconnect between people and planet.

“One of the things we discuss is how different clinical treatments and counseling therapies have emerged as people try and reconnect with nature,” Dr. Turner-Essel says. “We work to combine what we know about clinical work, with the awareness that we are actually creatures who are designed to be in close proximity with Earth. We need that connection for our well-being and survival.”

Psychologists and clinicians were not always aware of the connection between ecological problems and the rise of mental health crises; however, many eco-psychologists now believe these are two symptoms of the same problem. In an article written by Saybrook faculty member and leader in the field Dr. Riebel, even the relationship between eating disorders and Earth becomes apparent.

“At the time, people weren’t used to thinking about these things being related, but there’s growing awareness that they are symptoms of the same disease,” Dr. Turner-Essel says. “When we have this mentality of consumption as a way of life, it shows up on all types of levels—Individual, community, institutional, and sociological. Many of our clinical disorders have these societal roots.”

The class is organized around the four tasks of eco-psychology as laid out in one of the field’s founding texts, Radical Ecopsychology: Pyschology in the Service of Life—the psychological, philosophical, practical, and critical/political. In order to explore the many different perspectives within the field, the course relies heavily on reading, with assignments and online discussion boards designed to encourage students to synthesize and connect the different sources.

Humans endanger species, ecosystems, themselves, and even the climate by altering, depleting, and poisoning our planet. Students of sustainability, social transformation, organizational leadership, psychotherapy, consciousness, and spirituality can benefit from looking through an eco-psychological lens. The course serves anyone concerned with how humans created the current environmental crisis and how to resolve it—from clinicians whose clients are physically and emotionally harmed by their absence of connection to their life-supporting habitats, to business managers intending to become more effective green leaders, to advocates for animals, wildlife, environmental preservation, to low-impact lifestyles and local community productivity. In a world that is increasingly unstable, the study of Earth and psychology allows students another way to understand and inspire the world around them.

For more information about Saybrook’s graduate programs, click here.

Source: Cassandra Morrison, Saybrook Forum, Blog

Webinar | Unearth the Possibilities

2020-11-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

This webinar on soil technologies will take place on December 1, 2020, 2:00 PM-3:15 PMET. The Unearth the Possibilities webinar will present on planned research in areas like precision agriculture, in situ and remote sensing technology, waste and water management, resource exploration, and more. It will review the planned research and membership structure of the Center for Soil Dynamics Technology, a proposed NSF Industry-University Collaborative Research Center project.

It will include the principal Investigators from four participating universities (University of Southern California, University of Connecticut, Iowa State University and University of Washington).

We will also talk about the key benefits to industry members in joining this Center. Though the proposed center focuses on soil sensing technology, the possibilities of remote sensing technology research convey benefits to a broad range of industries extending far beyond agriculture and into areas such a IoT, Defense, Resource Exploration, Aerospace and more. This is an informational webinar with an opportunity for Q&A with the speakers at the end. Participation is encouraged.

Who Should Attend

Industry members in fields like Data & Networks, Remote Sensing, Aerospace, IoT, Precision Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation, Security & Defense Logistics, Habitat Construction, Waste & Water Management, Natural Resource Extraction, Chemical Sensing, Construction & Transportation

Agenda Highlights

Discussion of Center research priorities
Benefits of membership
Research expertise

Speakers

Terry Grant, Director, Corporate Relations, University of Washington
Mahta Moghaddam, Co-Director of the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Southern California
Payman Arabshahi, Assoc. Professor & Industry Liaison & Principal Research Scientist at Applied Physics Laboratory, UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Jonathan Claussen, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University
Carmen Gomes, Assoc. Professor, Mechanical Engineering Dept. & Assoc. Dir. of Virtual Reality Applications Centers, Iowa State University
Baikun Li, Professor, Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut

Click here to register.