Climate Refuge: Where Will You Go?

If temperatures around the globe continue to rise in the face of human-induced climate change as climatologists expect, some of the world’s most populous areas could become uninhabitable. Rising sea levels will flood out coastal areas, while increasing drought will make survival in already arid areas difficult at best. While we may have at least a few decades of runway to prepare ourselves for the worst, advance planners might want to think carefully about where to put down roots now. Where will be your climate refuge?

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What is the Great Green Wall of China?

Dear EarthTalk: What is the Great Green Wall of China? —Jacob Williston, Tempe, AZ Unlike the Great Wall of China, a 5,000-mile fortification dating back to the 7th century BC that separates northern China from the Mongolian steppe, the Great Green Wall of China — otherwise known as the Three-North Shelter Forest Program — is […]

How Can Teachers Integrate Sustainability Into Their Curricula?

Dear EarthTalk: What resources are out there for helping teachers integrate sustainability topics into their curricula?    — Melinda Zullo, Toronto, ON   Teaching our kids about sustainability and green living is one of the most important things we can do to safeguard the future of humanity and the planet we inhabit. The North American Association for […]

Should I Recycle My Old Disposable Batteries?

Dear EarthTalk: Can I throw my old disposable batteries in the trash or is there a way to recycle them?    — Jennifer Brandstrom, Chicago, IL   Truth be told, those old used up disposable alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, etc.) aren’t the environmental menace they used to be before the federal government mandated taking out […]

Is Our Tundra In Trouble?

Dear EarthTalk: How much of a threat does climate change pose to the tundra ecosystems of the far north? — Seamus Hall, via EarthTalk.org The tundra biome is among the coldest of the planet’s ecosystems. Its harsh climate means that plant life is unable to grow more than a few centimeters above the ground. The name ‘tundra’ […]

Environmental Justice Anyone?

Dear EarthTalk: What can communities do to keep polluters out of their neighborhoods? — Wendell Bovey, Los Angeles, CA   It’s unfair that communities which are less organized and less wealthy often shoulder the burden of hosting polluters like landfills, incinerators and power plants. “Frequently, these facilities end up in the places that put up the least […]

Can we really get off coal by 2050?

Dear EarthTalk: How does the Rocky Mountain Institute think we can get off of oil and coal by 2050 and save money in the process? — James Greenville, Redding, CT Colorado-based sustainability think-tank Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) was founded in 1982 by American physicist and environmentalist Amory Lovins to research and promote market-based solutions to our energy […]

Should men be worried about environmental exposures too?

Dear EarthTalk: We often see and read reports about environmental threats to women’s health, but aren’t there also concerns about which men should be especially vigilant? — Jay Walsh, Boston, MA   Indeed, women aren’t the only ones who should be worried about environmental threats. A recently released report (“Men’s Health: What You Don’t Know Might Hurt […]

Backyard Firepit Smoke: A Health Hazard?

Backyard firepits provide a nice ambience but neighbors wonder whether the wood smoke is compromising their air quality especially as they leave windows open during the warmer months.

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