EarthTalk
EarthTalk: What about big banks and the climate?
Dear EarthTalk: How is it that banks play a disproportionately large role in the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and what can we do to reform this? —Philip, C., New York, NY Aug. 19. Banks play a critical role in the global economy. By financing industrial activities and investing in infrastructure projects, banks are at […]
EarthTalk: What’s really going on with tech companies going green?
Dear EarthTalk: Which of the big tech companies are considered the greenest now? – B.P. via email Aug. 9. As global demand for sustainable practices intensifies, the race among major tech companies to adopt green practices has become highly competitive. Many tech giants, including Microsoft, Apple and Google are pursuing demanding sustainability goals. Microsoft has […]
EarthTalk: What’s up with rising sea levels?
Dear EarthTalk: Why is sea level rising more in some regions—like the U.S. Southeast—than others? Is there a way to reduce sea level rise in certain specific locales? – C.T, Tampa, FL Sea level rise is a pressing global issue, exacerbated by climate change. And its impacts are not uniform across the globe; some regions […]
EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species?
Dear EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species? — Vince Dominick, Camden, NJ No doubt the quickly changing climate is already triggering various evolutionary shifts in a wide range of species. And while we can’t be sure just how different wildlife species will adapt (or not), […]
EarthTalk: Michael Bloomberg to the Rescue
Dear EarthTalk: Since when did Michael Bloomberg become a great environmentalist? —Jackie Miller, New York, NY Michael Bloomberg was primarily known as a financier and media tycoon long before he became one of the most beloved mayors in New York City history. But what most people still don’t know about Bloomberg is that he is fast becoming […]
EarthTalk: Was Hurricane Harvey caused by global warming?
Was Hurricane Harvey caused by global warming? The short answer is no. No single hurricane or weather event can be directly linked to the general phenomena known as climate change. “Climate change does not cause things, because climate change is not a causal agent,” writes David Roberts on Vox.com. “‘Climate change’ is a descriptive term […]
EarthTalk: How does Canada’s newly released “Food Guide” differ from the food recommendations offered up by the U.S. government?
Dear EarthTalk: How does Canada’s newly released “Food Guide” differ from the food recommendations offered up by the U.S. government? — J. Wheeler, Albany, NY These days, many countries around the world produce food guidelines periodically to help improve nutrition and encourage healthy lifestyles among their populaces. The most recent update for Americans came in […]
EarthTalk: What exactly is Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and how does it work to train activists?
Dear EarthTalk: What exactly is Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and how does it work to train activists? — Kelly G., Washington, DC The Climate Reality Project (CRP) is a non-profit launched in 2011 by Nobel laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to address climate change following up on the release of […]
EarthTalk: What are some ways companies are using plastic waste from the ocean in their products to take a stand for the environment?
Dear EarthTalk: What are some ways companies are using plastic waste from the ocean in their products to take a stand for the environment? —Simone LaTourneau, Boston, MA A recent study published in the journal Science estimates that there are some 86 million metric tons of plastic in the world’s oceans today—and that every year […]
EarthTalk: Trekking for Change: Vietnam’s Hill Tribes Benefit from Ecotourism
High on a mountain in northern Vietnam, the fertile wealth of forests and paddies belies the poverty of the people who live among them. Most houses are thin screens of wood with mud floors and no doors. Chickens and pigs wander in and out of the kitchens, and outhouses—when they exist—are often positioned directly over […]
