Vacation sites: Global warming’s next victim

For years, I have planned to go to Australia and explore the coral reefs–and I’ve always joked that I should hurry before they die out.  Not surprisingly, an article in CNN titled “Five places to go before global warming messes them up” says the same thing.  I was a bit surprised to see that New Orleans made this top five list–on closer look, it’s really ANY coastal city.  With melting ice caps and rising sea levels, so many of the thriving metropolises will drown under water–perhaps not in the near future, but eventually. 

 

The other three places to visit were:

• Rocky Mountains: Climate change has effected how many beetles survive each year–and with rising temperatures, we’re dealing with a major infestation that’s destroying all the forests.  
• Alpine Glaciers, Switzerland: We all knew that ice caps would melt across the globe, not just Antarctica, right?  If global warming keeps wreaking havoc, we will lose these glaciers sometime between 2030-2050.
• Amazon rain forest: Yet another place that I’ve wanted to visit.  As deforestation continues to pose a major environmental problem in this region, climate change is making it harder for new trees to grow back.  

Time to bring out the cameras, take a vacation and trek to sites that will likely be destroyed in our lifetimes.  The pessimist (or perhaps realist?) in me thinks we really WILL lose some of these areas despite our efforts to counteract global warming.  I just don’t think we’re doing enough–here’s to hoping I’m wrong.

 

Masdar: the future of green cities

I recently went to a lecture hosted by the World Affairs Council on green buildings and listened to a strong panel of speakers discuss various projects and innovations being made in the green building space.  One project that really struck me was Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.  Yes, the entire city is the project– and it aims to be the first to rely completely on solar energy and renewable sources–quite a feat for the arid desert region where it will be built.

 

The actual area of this city will be about 2.5 square miles, but the potential impact of this project is enormous.  Imagine an entire town the functions–and conducts business–in an environmental way.  The developers are constructing an efficient public transit system and banning cars (and for those who think everyone should just be able to walk, remember this city is being built in a harsh, hot region).  About 80% of the water used in the city will be recycled and reused, and streets will be narrow and shaded, allowing for cool breezes to funnel through.

 

The goal is to have zero carbon emissions–but because so much depends on solar energy (and they’ll need other sources of energy at night), this may be a bit of a stretch initially.  When discussing the project, Andrea Ramage, director, sustainable solutions, CH2M Hill, mentioned that it was interesting to see how the public embraced the project.  There is a lot of enthusiasm and a gusto can-do attitude to make this a reality– testament to how we can save the environment while also being practical.

 

And it’s the attitudes that matters here.  A community needs to be open to the challenge, and willing to invest in a project that’s never been done before.  I’m hoping that after it is completed, people across the globe will be inspired and have a little more understanding of the simple things we can do to be green, and also the larger efforts our own government can make to facilitate greener living.   

 

Sure, Masdar may be a tiny city, but it can offer the world some big and invaluable lessons.

 

Energy Myths

After a long vacation in which I did nothing but eat, play with my nieces and dig for diamonds in a mine (there really is a place like that!), I have quite a few things I want to write about, including an interesting lecture I attended last night on green buildings and the promotion of these projects across the globe.  But to do it justice, I will first need to snap out of my post-Thanksgiving stupor.

 

In the meantime, I wanted to share an article in the Guardian about 10 common energy misconceptions.  With an intro stating: There has never been a more important time to invest in green technologies, yet many of us believe these efforts are doomed to failure. What nonsense, writes Chris Goodall, I think it’s a great piece that lays out some basic concepts on alternative energy, and offers hope for a better future–as long as we invest in the innovations.  Enjoy.

 

Hollywood going green(er)–without preaching

Reuters reported yesterday that network television writers in Hollywood gathered to discuss how they can inject green messages and story lines in their shows.  Recognizing the importance of entertainment as a form of education, looks like the networks are branching out from one-off campaigns or touting celebrity causes (all good things) and making an even greater effort to tackle the environmental crisis we’re facing.

 

Their only rules: “don’t be preachy and don’t compromise [the] show’s entertainment value.”  I couldn’t agree more.  While it’s important to talk about these issues, people don’t need to be talked at, or feel like they’re watching a documentary every time they flip the channel.  But weaving in green messages and characters in fresh plots and stories viewers are already receptive to is a smart way to bring awareness, and make green just a little cooler.

 

Can’t wait to see how these shows turn out and see what types of characters are introduced to primetime.  This news almost makes me want to buy a TV.

 

Starbucks goes further in social responsibility

I’m not a coffee drinker, but today, my hat goes off to Starbucks.  Not only are they serving free coffee to anyone who votes (at times like this I wish I actually liked coffee), but they’ve also used a clever tactic to engage consumers with their brand.  Starbucks enthusiasts can go to http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ and submit any idea they have for the coffee mogul.  Not surprisingly, many have chimed in on the environment….Responding to the demands for more social and environmental awareness, the company announced its new Shared Planet program recently.  According to PSFK, Starbucks senior vice president Michelle Gass posted on her blog the following goals the company wants to reach by 2015 through this initiative:

• Environmental stewardship: 100% of our cups will be reusable or recyclable, and we will significantly reduce our environmental footprint through recycling, energy and water conservation and green construction.
• Ethical sourcing: buy and serve 100% responsibly grown and ethically traded coffee.
• Community involvement: contribute one million community service hours annually.

Trends such as this will only increase as companies realize the vitality for community engagement–and it will be the responsibility of the greenfluencers to share their vision of a better world, and support those who are making an effort.  We’re entering an era where social responsibility is no longer a luxury, but a growing necessity, and our job as greenfluencers will become increasingly important as we capture more opportunities to work with major corporations to affect positive change.  Starbucks is making a genuine effort in this arena, and I have an optimistic prediction that there will be many others who will follow suit.

Yay for the power of greenfluencers!

 

A Not So Scary Green

Halloween’s this week, and most likely your kids (if you have them) or you (if you still like to dress up) will be in costume on Friday.  I was looking through different websites on being eco-friendly–from using materials you already have for costumes, to advice on using paper-wrapped candy vs. the standard plastics… found two sites here and here that probably offered the most useful tips.  There are some fairly obvious tricks you can use to be more green– reuse or rent costumes, use everyday recyclable items that can embellish your outfit–but I wonder how we can also use this opportunity to celebrate green living with those around us.

 

Now I think it may be a bit much to lecture each unsuspecting kid on the candy hunt about the perils of global warming…but how about using those eco-friendly tips–such as distributing paper-wrapped candy–and let the kids and their parents know WHY you’re choosing to do things a little differently this year.  If you’re going out to a party, why not relish in the fact that you’re using recycled materials for your cute outfit?  Not to be preachy, but the PR girl in me thinks that this is a great time to have fun while also share some of your greener ideas with friends and neighbors…now all I have to figure out is what I want to be for Halloween…

 

Green Schools for a Green Tomorrow

An article in USA Today reports a surge in eco-friendly schools.  Several states require that all new schools be built according to eco-friendly standards, while a few others offer financial incentives to put cities in the green spirit.  These schools offer a day-to-day example of how easy it can be to live sustainably…  

 

Growing up in Boston and riding the T from an early age, I never felt the need for a car– it would have been nice in the bone-chilling New England winters, but I always managed without one.  Granted, I have a deplorable sense of direction, so public transportation has always been a good friend to me, but a big reason that I still don’t own a car is because I’ve never really gotten in the habit of having one.  Being “green” in this way has always been easier because I’ve never felt deprived–instead, I simply made a conscientious choice to continue without something many others have a hard time living without.  It’s always easier to live without something you never had, and even easier when you know your choice will make the world a better place.  

 

Which is why these eco-schools offer hope for our future.  By internalizing sustainable practices and living in an eco-friendly environment, these students are more likely to grow up valuing the planet, and are also more likely to exhibit greener spending habits–which in turn, affect how corporations conduct business.  We should keep a close eye on these schools to see how the students help in environmental endeavors in the future–how will these kids instill sustainable practices once they’re on their own?  We need to work on saving the planet right now, but it’s heartening to know that a crop of tomorrow’s scientists, activists and leaders are engrossed in green values from an early age.

 

Where’s the outrage?

It’s been a week since news reports such as this one came out to highlight an International Union for Conservation of Nature study that states 1 in 4 mammals face the very real risk of extinction.  News like this should merit more than just a couple of headlines, no?  Sure, we are in the midst of a tight election cycle, our economy is plummeting, and nothing else seems quite right in the world these days, but this type of news also has severe catastrophic implications.  Talk about the butterfly effect in full swing!

 

And it’s not just about cute animals dying out–this also impacts our own lives–from the economy to our health and well-being.  So I’m a little disappointed in the lack of awareness about this topic.  More importantly, I would like to hear more about solutions being proposed to tackle this mounting threat. 

 

What can we, the consumers, do about this?  How about leaders around the globe?  Do major corporations have a responsibility to get involved as well?  We need to face the realities and start creating strategies to overcome the catastrophic climate we’ve created.  

 

Yes, I’m still an optimist, and think it IS possible to find a solution or two.  But the time to figure it out is now.  Otherwise, we’ll be running out of options and loosing creatures that have helped us live prosperously for centuries, if not thousands of years.

 

Going Electric

Everyone was abuzz about the new electric car GM recently unveiled last week.  It’s certainly progress, and a testament to how the economy and public demand has brought us up to this point.  With other companies scrambling to create their own fully electricity-generated cars, I’m curious to see how this next wave of sustainable living will take effect.  Will people jump on it?  Or will it take some getting use to?  The pricing of the car will be a huge factor–remember how expensive hybrids used to be when they first came out?  But eventually, they caught on, got cheaper, and have proven to be excellent alternatives to regular cars.  

 

So who will be standing in line waiting to buy the new electric car?  And with the economy in shambles, will people buckle up to buy a newer, pricier vehicle that helps in the long run, or will they settle for something less efficient?  Questions that only time will tell.

 

The Details in Going Green

Here’s a great article in Greenbiz.com about all the details a green company has to think about when marketing and producing its product.  While the author keeps smaller businesses in mind when writing this, this also reflects many of the challenges a large corporation faces–how do you make a sustainable product, mass-produce it, and make a profit in the process?  In fact, I would argue that it may be a little more challenging (logistically speaking) for a large corporation.  

 

But companies like Wal-Mart are setting a gold standard to big-company green practices.  Going green isn’t always easy, as detailed by this article, but we’ve seen plenty of examples where companies have been able to do just that–at least to some extent.  In fact, what I love about the Wal-Mart example is that the company has actually made a profit by going green, saving on energy and packaging costs.  Are most corporations making as drastic efforts to save the planet?  Probably not, though many are starting to make huge shifts in various aspects of their products.  Of course, true to capitalism, the market will cater where there’s a demand–sometimes I wish the process were a bit faster, but I think we’re getting there!