Why Don’t We All Go Green?

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Photo Courtesy of Lynda On Tour. Consumers have thousands of choices in today's markets - why not choose green?

Photo Courtesy of Lynda On Tour.
Consumers have thousands of choices in today’s markets – why not choose green?

Earlier this week, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest comprehensive report evaluating the current and projected impacts of global climate change. At a press conference presenting the report, IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri told New York Times reporters that, “Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change.” The results of the study are incredibly daunting.

This is certainly not the first time the global community has heard about the perils of climate change and the certain devastation it will bring to our societies. That being said, not much has changed for the better in the past few decades in terms of humans’ overall treatment of the environment. While people may be more educated and informed than ever before, there is still a long way to go towards shifting the status quo away from harmful and destructive human actions, and towards sustainability and environmental protection. Continue reading →

Machinations on Machines: Turbines Take the Stand in Politics

This entry was posted in Energy and tagged , , , , , , on by .

The energy market has always been at the forefront of politics, though recent arguments seem like no more than a pissing match between the fossil fuel industry and everyone else. Many decisions have been made not for the overall pros or cons of a particular sector, but based on who can raise more funding—and more hell—in Washington.

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Subsidies, Tax-breaks, and the Obama Administration
obama with turbinesThe Obama administration has made it a point to support and promote renewable energy resources. In 2012, President Obama’s campaign focused on wind energy as a realistic and effective supplier of power for states like Iowa and Colorado, promising to extend a renewable energy production tax credit while he was in office. Now, in 2014, over $14 billion has been granted to wind energy contractors since 2009, either in the form of this production tax credit, or as part of a renewable energy subsidy afforded by Obama’s stimulus package.

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The Truth about Travel: The Dangers of Ecotourism

This entry was posted in Social Issues and tagged , on by .

10091941126_6bb0f1fe80_nJust as with any industry, positive and negative aspects are created. Ecotourism is no exception to this rule. And while ecotourism presents many benefits, including those for the environment and the local economy, ecotourism can also have a negative impact on a community.

An example of this is the prospective new international airport that is going to be built in Costa Rica on the Osa Peninsula. The Osa is home to one of the most concentrated amounts of biodiversity, with 2.5 percent of the world’s biodiversity “in less than a thousandth of a percent of its total surface area,” according to Osa Conservation.

This new airport has the potential to open the doors of the Osa Peninsula to an outpour of travelers. Rather than people flying to San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica, and then taking a small plane to their destinations, travelers will have the ability to fly directly to the Osa where hotels and resorts can pick up guests and take them directly to their getaways. Continue reading →

Climate Change Underwater: Stories from Aquatic National Parks

This entry was posted in Climate Change on by .

Many different environments make up Earth’s ecosystems. Climate change can have strong impacts on both the terrestrial and aquatic spheres. Both freshwater and marine ecosystems are likely to be affected by the ongoing changes due to global warming. Some effects on marine ecosystems include changes in sea level, changes in strength and frequency of coastal storms, water temperatures, abundance of sea ice, and changes in ocean circulation. In terms of national park conservation, certain national parks are composed of mostly aquatic environments. Therefore, increases in temperature, among other factors, can have significant impacts on the park and the wildlife that reside within it. This post will focus on two national parks, Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, and the parks in South Florida including the Everglades. The unique changes that are likely to occur in marine ecosystems can potentially significantly alter these two environments and their inhabitants. Continue reading →

Funding Environmental Education

This entry was posted in Social Issues and tagged , on by .

Putting together the puzzle of EE funding to locate EE resources in cities.

A 1998 paper described EE as a process “in which diverse providers offer pieces of a puzzle.” Different pieces are funded by different sources. Photo courtesy of Clear Matters.

A 1998 paper described EE as a process “in which diverse providers offer pieces of a puzzle.” Different pieces are funded by different sources. Photo courtesy of Clear Matters.

Urban environmental education can increase student motivation, develop citizenship, and provide nature exposure to students who are disconnected with their environments. But how can urban environmental education be funded?

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