One of the defining features of environmental injustice is that disadvantaged communities often take on a disproportionate share of environmental impacts, despite not being at fault. This unfortunate trend can be seen on a very local level by comparing Trenton and Princeton. Though only a 20-minute drive apart, these two communities have tremendously different levels of privilege and share very different levels of environmental burden. This post will use US Census Data and the EPA’s EJSCREEN – a tool designed to facilitate environmental justice mapping and screening – to explore this trend.
The difference between the number of people of color and the median income in Princeton and Trenton is stark. Some key statistics, including the percentage of Black or African American people, the percent of people of Hispanic or Latino origin, the percent of persons in poverty, and the median family income, have been summarized in the table below.
As seen above, Trenton has more than 8 times a greater Black population than Princeton, and nearly 1/4th the median family income. Unfortunately, it is communities like Trenton that are low income and underrepresented populations which often face the brunt of negative environmental impacts.
EJSCREEN pools publicly available data to explore the intersection of environmental and demographic indicators. Of the program’s 11 environmental indicators, 5 revealed immediately visible differences between Princeton and Trenton. I generated maps to highlight these differences, which can be viewed in full at the end of the document.
In short, Trenton residents face an increased potential for lead exposure, an increased risk of being exposed to an accidental chemical release, higher levels of diesel particulate matter in the air, increased negative impacts of living near highly trafficked roads, and an increased chance of encountering hazardous waste due to proximity to a hazardous waste treatment facility. Additional information on these environmental indicators can be found in the technical documentation for EJSCREEN.
All of the disproportionate environmental burdens mentioned are associated with adverse health effects, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, and more.
Unfortunately, Princeton University is not guiltless when it comes to this environmental justice issue. The waste we produce across campus is sent to the Trenton area landfill, and our tiger transit buses are stored in Trenton overnight without servicing any communities along the way. In this way, we are directly contributing to the disproportionate environmental burden between Princeton and Trenton. To Princeton students, waste magically disappears after it is thrown down a trash chute or collected by Facilities staff. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the people who live near these landfills and must face all associated environmental and health impacts directly – even when it is not their waste.
As the university rapidly develops and expands, it is becoming increasingly urgent to recognize and address our shortcomings when it comes to environmental justice. We should be supporting and uplifting nearby communities – not standing in their way.
There is undoubtedly a long way to go in tackling the disproportionate environmental impacts faced by underrepresented communities. The Office of Sustainability recently released a draft environmental justice framework, which lays out short- and long-term action items for addressing environmental justice issues. The framework also invites feedback from all members of the campus community. This call to action is a start, but we are only at the beginning of a very long road, and making progress will require many different perspectives.
“Demographic Index” is an average of percent minority and percent low incomeThe potential for lead paint exposure is based on the number of occupied housing units built before 1960. Elevated blood lead levels are a known public health concern that can cause neurological damage and more.Closer proximity to Hazardous waste treatment/storage/disposal facilities increases the chances hazardous substances could reach residents through the atmosphere or migrate into groundwater.Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities are those required to file risk management plans because of the potential for release of flammable or explosive substances. An accidental release from such a facility puts nearby resident’s health at risk.Particulate matter from diesel can have adverse health effects if inhaled.Living near highly trafficked roads is related to an increased risk of various adverse health outcomes due to the release of pollutants and loud noise generation.
Welcome back to another edition of Good News Friday! We hope that these positive tidbits will help make your day better and give you a more positive outlook on the future of sustainability.
New EPA head has an ambitious climate agenda: The Senate recently confirmed Michael Regan as the new head of the EPA, making him the first black man to lead the agency and a promising appointee in the eyes of environmental activists. Regan is a former EPA employee with big plans to rebuild the agency in the wake of a new administration. Regan has also had first-hand experience with environmental injustices, having previously lived close to an industrial hog farm. He puts climate change, environmental justice, and water quality on the top of his priority list.
First large-scale offshore wind farm: The interior department recently endorsed a project to build a large-scale wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. This 2.8 billion dollar project would be a huge step forward in the transition to clean energy. It will consist of up to 84 turbines that could generate enough electricity to power about 400,000 homes.
Making paper from wheat straw:A new paper mill in Washington state makes paper not from trees, but from wheat straw, the agricultural residue left over after grain harvesting. Currently, three billion trees per year are used to make paper packaging, so a treeless paper-making process is a promising development for conservation and climate mitigation.
Thanks for reading another trio of positive environmental updates! As always, we hope that we’ve brightened your day and that you come back next week for some more good news. In the meantime, feel free to take a look at previous posts or share some good news with us!
Welcome to the first stop on the Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton! Every week for the rest of the semester, we are going to show you how to eat plant-based in Princeton, NJ. You may think that Planted Plate or an acai bowl are the only way to get in your plant-based fix, but you’d be surprised what the town of Princeton has to offer for all you vegan, vegetarian, sustainability-minded, or simply food curious folks out there! This week, we will be reviewing noodle and pasta dishes from a range of restaurants, each bringing something unique to the table. We are going to give you our take on these restaurants and their plant-based dishes, using metrics like price, taste, and creativity. We hope you’re ready for another EcoReps x Greening Dining collaboration, because it’s going to be a fun ride. And be sure to check back next week as we dive into our international tastings!
Tiger Noodles – Most Variety of Tofu
Price: $
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
My dinner tonight was General Tso’s Tofu with steamed rice and a scallion pancake. I wanted a plant-based entrée that had some protein in it, which limited me to rice with tofu. Still, there were a whopping eight (!) tofu options in total to choose from. Luckily, my (ethnically Chinese) roommate quickly came to my rescue and advised me on General Tso’s and also told me to try the scallion pancake. I was very happy with the tofu: fried to a perfect golden spot between crunchy and chewy, its crust scooped up the sweet, sour, and slightly spicy sauce, leading to mini flavor-explosions in my mouth as I bit into it. The steamed rice served well to balance out the intense flavor of the sauce. As for the scallion pancake, my roommate – a harsh critic of Chinese cuisine – declared it non-authentic, but it still hit all the right dopamine-triggering buttons in my brain by virtue of being fried dough. I would highly recommend Tiger Noodles if you are looking for a wholesome and tasty, yet inexpensive, lunch or dinner experience, and if you are on campus, you get a nice ten-minute walk in! The restaurant does not seem to be very vegan/vegetarian-oriented though, so maybe not the best if tofu or avocado sushi are not your plant-based thing. Still, dinner at Tiger Noodleswas a blast for me, and you should consider coming to support a Princeton business! (I will probably be back to try more varieties of tofu).
Lan Ramen – Most Creative Fries
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
On the first stop of my plant-based food tour, I ate at Lan Ramen. This restaurant has a great location across the intersection from the Princeton Public Library and offers several options for vegan and vegetarian food. Though this week we are trying noodle and pasta restaurants, I actually overlooked the one vegan noodle entree because it’s somewhat buried in the menu. Know that there is the Scallion and Ginger Noodles as a vegan noodle option. Since I didn’t see this option in the moment, I tried the Shanghai bok choy, eggplant fries, and vegetable potstickers.
The bok choy was beautifully fresh and green. It felt like a very healthy meal, being just a few simple ingredients combined with the steamed baby napa. The bok choy with rice and the soy sauce included with the potstickers I ordered was very tasty, but I actually ran out of soy sauce before I finished it all. Know that there’s no protein such as tofu included. If you get this entree, make sure to ask for at least one extra soy sauce container; it brings most of the flavor!
I also tried Lan Ramen’s eggplant fries and crispy potstickers. I had to try the eggplant fries when I saw them on the menu; I’ve had sweet potato fries, green bean fries, and more, but never eggplant fries! The dipping sauce for the fries really made it for me, and once again I ran out just a little before I finished the food. The use of eggplant for fries is very creative, so I commend Lan Ramen for that. I do prefer the sweet potato and green bean fries I’ve tried at other restaurants.
The crispy potstickers were the highlight of my meal. In the container came 5 potstickers with beautiful gold coloring. I ate these with the sauce that came with the fries, and they were delicious. They had baby napa, mushrooms, tofu, and baby bamboo wrapped inside. I loved the look of the inside of them and, paired with the sweet sauce from the eggplant fries, this is the item I would recommend.
Though I wasn’t able to try these this time, Lan Ramen also has an “Original Cucumber,” and a “Lotus Root Salad” as plant-based appetizers. For entrees, there is the one vegan option I mentioned earlier and a whole list of vegetable options you can view in the ramen and vegetable section of the menu. It is easy to miss the plant-based options outside of the vegetable section as there are many more meat items and there isn’t a mark to signify that something is plant-based. I would really appreciate it if Lan Ramen added some marks to make it easier to signify these options!
Lan Ramen impressed me with the packaging for their rice, putting it in a sturdy brown paper container endorsed by the green restaurant association. All the other dishes, however, came in a mix of plastic and styrofoam, so I’d really like to see this improve. If you do eat here and you’re comfortable dining indoors, I recommend doing so to reduce waste. Also included in my takeout bag were plastic utensils and two sets of chopsticks. If you don’t need disposable utensils, let the restaurant know when ordering online or by phone!
Lan Ramen is located kitty corner to the Princeton Public Library at the intersection of Hulfish and Witherspoon. It’s about a fifteen minute walk from Whitman College. There is indoor seating and takeout, though outdoor seating is temporarily unavailable.
D’Angelo Italian Market – Best Classic Pasta
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
The restaurant is located within the Italian grocery market, which is just a few minute’s walk from Fitzrandolph Gate. From their broad selection of classic pastas, I chose the Pesto Genovese. The sizable portion of penne pasta featured liberal amounts of pesto, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, and was tasty and satisfying! The staff is cordial, seating is available both inside and outside, and the store has a cheery ambiance, with many customers coming and going during lunchtime. Definitely stop by D’Angelo Italian Market if you are craving a great traditional pasta!
Lil Thai Pin- Most Vegan Options
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
I ordered the edamame appetizer, the Vegetable Pad See Lew and the Vegetable Lo Mein Lover. I was super impressed in general with how many vegan/vegetarian options and alternatives there were on this menu! Almost every item has the option of being made vegan and that warms my heart. The edamame appetizer was a classic and for the price, they give you so much! For the entrees, the Vegetable Lo Mein Lover was definitely my favorite of the two. It came with broccoli, onions, and tofu and while the flavor wasn’t overwhelming, it was perfect for a grab and go bite that filled me up. The Pad See Lew came with bok choy, baby corn, and chinese broccoli. Typically, Pad See Lew is one of my favorite dishes to get at thai restaurants, and while I really appreciated the restaurant having an automatic option to leave out the egg, I don’t feel like the dish was packed with strong flavor. The service was super speedy and conveniently located right next to my apartment, and I ordered through the snack pass app which allowed for no waiting time at the restaurant, which is everything I could ask for in COVID times! I really appreciate how conscious Lil Thai Pin is to offer plentiful vegan options, and with its convenience I will definitely be going back!
Purinsu Ramen – Most Likely to Leave Feeling Like You Got Your Money’s Worth
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of access: ★★★★
I tried the Vegetable Wonton-Men, taking the traditional ramen to the next level with the addition of vegetable wontons. This ramen comes in a miso vegetable broth with noodles (obviously), bean sprouts, mushrooms, and scallions. Oh, and don’t forget the vegetable wontons, which for me make this dish worth it. My initial impression was that this wasn’t the most flavorful ramen I’d ever had, but the wontons added that extra kick I was looking for. They also made the dish really filling. I definitely finished my meal feeling like I’d gotten my money’s worth. I also tried the scallion pancake appetizer, which was delicious with the sauce they give you; this definitely fulfilled my fried food craving, but didn’t feel too heavy or oily at all. I would absolutely recommend Purinsu Ramen for some veggie wontons!
Ramen Stop – Most Likely to Fool You Into Thinking You’re Eating Meat
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
I was really excited to see that Ramen Stop offered impossible meat, which I hadn’t seen at a ramen restaurant before. I ordered the Impossible Ramen with vegan miso broth, vegan noodles, impossible meat, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage, and green onions. The impossible meat didn’t disappoint; it added a great umami flavor to the noodles and had a texture that reminded me exactly of real meat. I also really liked the generous amount of vegetables in the ramen, especially the green onions, which were crisp and brought some brightness to the dish. The broth was a little salty for my taste, but it definitely had plenty of flavor. For an appetizer, the edamame tofu nuggets caught my eye and I was curious to see what they would taste like. I was concerned that they’d be soggy after a twenty minute walk back to my dorm, but I was pleasantly surprised to find them still nice and crispy. While the portion size wasn’t huge and the nuggets weren’t very flavorful on their own, I enjoyed them paired with the side of ponzu sauce. Overall, I loved the vegan and vegetarian options at Ramen Stop—they have at least one plant-based dish in every category (ramen, bao, donburi, mazemen) and they use a variety of meat alternatives, including tofu, impossible meat, and edamame. Half of the appetizers are either vegan or vegetarian, so I would especially recommend trying them out! A bit far from campus, but definitely worth a visit.
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
This series is also on our Instagram (@tigersgogreen)! To check out the video version of the plant-based food tour, click here.
Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! If the extra short spring break has got you down, we hope that some positive news will help cheer you up.
A push to protect land and oceans: 50 country members of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People recently pledged to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030. The pledge will likely be a headline issue at the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity later this year. The HAC cites the need to avoid a human-driven sixth mass extinction, along with the many economic benefits provided by wildlife preservation, as reasons to prioritize this issue.
Prices for recyclable plastics increase: National average prices for most recycled plastics continued to rise last month, continuing a solid trend of 2021. This increase indicates a higher demand for recycled materials nationally, a positive development that signifies continued growth for recyclables despite China’s refusal to accept most nations’ plastics since 2018 (China had been the world’s biggest recycling market).
Department of Energy revives clean technology loan program: The Biden administration recently announced it would renew a Department of Energy (DOE) loan program designed to boost innovation in sustainable technologies. The initiative, run through the DOE’s Loan Programs Office, would open up as much as $40 billion in loan capacity, to be allocated by the DOE at its discretion. The program previously gave loan guarantees to companies like Tesla, the electric car and renewable energy technology maker.
That’s all for this week! Until next time, check out our previous editions of Good News Friday, thank you to those who submitted news ideas for this week, and contact us if you have any good environmental news to share!
Happy “Spring Break” everyone! Congrats on making it through half of this crazy semester. If you’re feeling drained by exams, essays, p-sets, and/or thesis, we hope that a bit of good environmental news will help lift your spirits.
International Ocean Conservation Agreement: Often, international agreements are determined by major economic powers, who impose their decisions onto smaller nations. However, last December, 14 smaller coastal nations came together to take action and protect their marine ecosystems: Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau, and Portugal. They agreed to sustainably manage their oceans under national jurisdictions by 2025 as well as set aside 30% of the seas as marine protected areas by 2030. You can check out their report here!
Orange Electricity: Seville, Spain is one of Europe’s most important citrus producers, with over 50,000orange trees. These Seville oranges are far too sour to be eaten conventionally, usually used for marmalades and cooking instead. However, Emasesa, the city’s municipal water company, will actually be using the oranges to generate electricity for the city’s water plant. As the oranges ferment, the methane from the process will power the plant’s generator.
Community restores forest into peace park: Stillmeadow Community Fellowship in Baltimore worked together to turn a neglected forest into a space to contemplate and engage with nature. The church has formed partnerships with the US Forest Service, multiple school groups, and environmental non-profits, bringing the community together to conserve, create, and heal. According to Morgan Grove from the US Forest Service, “It’s healing a forest, but we’re going to be healing a community,” he concluded, noting that “there are a lot of people here who suffer from trauma and stress.”
Thanks for reading and have a great spring break, everyone! Check in next week for more positive environmental news and in the meantime, feel free to take a look at previous posts or share some good news with us!
Sometimes, people may have the misconception that environmental justice communities are determined by socio-economic class rather than race. However, according to data collected by researchers, upper-income (app. $180,000+) Black communities in Pennsylvania are twice as likely to live near an existing power plant than the whitest, lower-income neighborhoods. Additionally, 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s power plants are located in neighborhoods with more low income and Black families than the state median. The fact that these facilities are located in Black communities is not an accident — it derives from centuries of racist policies, and it severely affects the quality of life for individuals in these communities.
The two counties in Pennsylvania with the largest African American populations, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County, have the highest risk of asthma in the state, which is largely due to prolonged exposure to high levels of ozone and particulate matter. Within smaller communities in Philadelphia, African Americans endure some of the highest particulate pollution in the country along with the highest rate of childhood asthma hospitalizations.
Dr. Sharelle Barber, an assistant research professor at Drexel University, confirms the origin of these health disparities noting the “striking racial inequalities, especially for Blacks” that are “rooted in structural racism.” Similar patterns are seen in national statistics because, while majority-Black counties account for only 30 percent of the U.S. population, they were the location of 56 percent of COVID-19 deaths.
The wrongs of environmental injustice against communities of color is a serious issue and must be addressed. The racist placement of these power plants reinforces the notion of infrastructural racism that, in this case, could possibly lead to the premature deaths of many. We must work hard to keep our communities safe and healthy, especially during this difficult time riddled with the COVID-19 global pandemic and social injustice.
There is still hope, however. Local advocates and members of grassroots organizations continue to lobby and push for environmental justice reform. See the links below if you are interested in learning more and getting involved!
Tire Giant Partners with Decarbonized Shipping: Michelin, the second-largest tire manufacturer in the world, recently signed a shipping agreement with the French startup NEOLINE. With ships powered by sails instead of fossil fuels, NEOLINE says its product can reduce carbon emissions by 90% per trip compared to normal vessels and eliminate SOx and NOx emissions completely. Under the agreement, the cargo on NEOLINE ships will be at least 50% Michelin products along certain shipping lines, with the first transatlantic line beginning operation in 2023. With global shipping constituting about 2.5% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, actions by large companies represent positive steps towards making global transportation more sustainable.
Phasing Out Australia’s Coal Power: You might have seen one of our earlier Good News Friday editions where we talked about the growth of Australia’s solar power sector; now there is reason to believe that such growth is more promising than initially thought. A recent report by energy consulting groups indicates that predictions of Australia’s future energy grid makeup had underestimated the influx of cheap renewable energy. As a result, up to five of the country’s sixteen remaining coal plants could be unprofitable by 2025. This would represent a substantial shift towards sustainability for the nation despite its relatively weak climate goals.
Expanding Tidal Energy: Long viewed as a promising but difficult-to-harness form of renewable energy, ocean movements may soon be a key feature of the United Kingdom’s energy grid. For years, companies like Orbital Marine Power have been using Scotland’s Orkney archipelago to test scalable tidal energy technologies. Now, the company has indicated it is ready to begin deploying tidal energy turbines and farms this year, which ultimately could produce up to one fifth of the United Kingdom’s energy. Reliable and predictable, tidal power represents one of many paths towards a greener future.
A Buddha bowl is a delicious dish of any grains, protein, vegetables, and dressing of your choosing! These bowls, usually vegan, are highly nutritious and make for a balanced meal. They are also inexpensive and help to reduce food waste by being flexible in their ingredients (for example, I’m using some leftovers!). Plus — these ingredients have a lower carbon footprint and produce can include whatever is locally sourced in your area! It is very simple to assemble and ingredients can be portioned however you’d like.
These are my ingredients for today:
Grains: ¼ cup quinoa flakes
Protein: 1 oz. pumfu, which is soy-free and made with pumpkin seeds!
Veggies (which I’m roasting): 1 cup mix of squash, cauliflower, and carrots
Leafy vegetable: 1 cup spinach
Dressing: homemade chickpea hummus & sesame seeds
Steps:
Step 1: First, I roast my protein and vegetables. I chop up a piece of pumfu and mix it with my cut-up veggies; I toss it with a dash of salt, pepper, and a few drops of oil. I put it all on a tray in a toaster oven at 175 °C (350 °F) for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare your grains: I boil some water in a pot — 2 times as much water as my serving of quinoa — and put in my quinoa flakes at a low boil. Stirring frequently, this only takes about 90 seconds! It’s done once the water has been absorbed and the flakes look puffy and start to bubble.
Step 3: Make the dressing! This is super flexible depending on your taste buds; I used some hummus and sesame seeds, but tahini sauce is also super popular.
Step 4: Lastly, assemble your bowl. Start with the grains in the center and put your roasted protein/veggies around it; drizzle your dressing on top. Yum!
This series is brought to you by student group, Greening Dining
In my climate science class, GEO 202: Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate, we frequently talk about the ways human activity is affecting the planet, with increased carbon emissions, rising temperatures, and shifting atmospheric/oceanic dynamics. It always interests me to understand the positions of those so close to climate research on living a sustainable lifestyle and the current state of their research. This week I interviewed my professor, Graeme MacGilchrist, who is an oceanographer and climate scientist doing his post-doctorate at Princeton in the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences. We discussed his relationship with sustainability and its intersection with his scientific research, specifically surrounding the ocean’s response to climate change.
Image Credit: Graeme MacGilchrist
What does sustainability mean to you? How do you engage with sustainability outside of your scientific work?
If you want to talk about sustainability you need to address the internalized concept of how we live our lives [and contribute to a] society that is thinking about sustainability as a core function in everything that it does. The thing that’s the most worrisome is that the effects of climate change are going to be so unequal. It’s hard to convince somebody who is in a very comfortable situation, […] so you have to tap into something deeper in people which is really about compassion and empathy. Climate justice and climate equity are inseparable from the sustainability effort. I try to be a good community citizen in the sense […] of all the classic ways of trying to limit my broad environmental impact [by] cycling and walking much more than driving.
Could you give a brief overview of your current research? What makes it interesting to you?
I really think about the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle; the amount of carbon that’s in the atmosphere has a significant impact on the […] absorption and retention of energy by the ocean. The ocean is playing this critical role in determining how much carbon stays in the atmosphere as a massive storage unit of carbon. I try to understand through modeling how ocean circulation is playing a role in determining the uptake and storage and movement of carbon, both in terms of future change […] as well as past changes. The reason I like that is that it involves every science that you can imagine.
Image Credit: Graeme MacGilchrist
With what you have seen through your research, what are the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and global temperature rise on the oceans? I did some work early on in my career on ocean acidification, so as we put carbon into the atmosphere it makes the ocean less alkaline, and the impact is felt by calcifying organisms which a lot of the base of the food chain of the ocean is made up of. In terms of the ocean, we’re really moving into the unknown in regard to the ecosystem functioning and the impact in a broad way.
Where do you see the climate in the next few centuries?
I feel like we’re at this particularly fraught moment, where we could go either way. There are some really positive indications the corner is being turned here. I think a lot of genuine conversations are occurring about carbon mutual features, […] climate change, and emissions.
Have you seen the effects of improper waste disposal in person, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? How does that make you feel?
I have not seen the Pacific Garbage Patch and funnily enough, there’s a misconception about it. It’s not all plastic bags sitting on the surface of the ocean. It’s mostly small particles of plastic that have made their way there […] and high concentrations of plastics on the surface of the ocean. I worked on a project very briefly tracking plastic waste from an island called Aldabra in the Indian Ocean […] using ocean currents to do some back trajectories to determine where these particles came from.
Are there any sustainability or climate science resources you know of that you would suggest for readers? There’s a book by […] Alastair McIntosh called Riders on the Storm. I actually ended up being like a science advisor for it. He puts together basically the spiritual keys for addressing the climate crisis.
Image Credit: Alastair McIntosh via alastairmcintosh.com
We’re back again with some hopeful happenings in the environmental sector. This week, we’re looking at rainforest conservation, vertical farming innovations, and agricultural robots.
Biden’s rainforest conservation plan: A bipartisan group of former U.S. officials has formed a group called the Climate Principles. In the wake of the Biden Administration’s campaign pledge to put $20 billion toward the protection of the Amazon rainforest, the Climate Principles group has put together some policy recommendations to help achieve this goal. This plan has four primary goals: attaining conservation funding, keeping the forest in mind in trade agreements, keeping companies accountable for deforestation, and promoting international cooperation around forest conservation.
Affordable housing meets vertical farming: Vertical Forest is a company that plans to build a vertical greenhouse inside an affordable housing development in Westbrook, Maine, with more to follow in Chicago and Philadelphia. While many vertical farms are located in warehouses or other non-residential areas, this project aims to bring healthy, nutritious food and job opportunities to communities that struggle with food security.
Robot team finds and electrocutes weeds: Tom and Dick are a dynamic duo of robots at Lockerly estate in the UK who work together to map and kill weeds on the farm. Tom uses a powerful camera to detect the weeds, and Dick electrocutes them using a “five-pronged death wand” without the use of pesticides. Since their introduction about a year ago (among other sustainable agricultural practices), the farm has reduced its use of pesticides by 41% and fertilizer by 32%.
Thanks for reading, and we hope that these news snippets have brightened your day! Tune in next week for more positive environmental news and in the meantime, feel free to take a look at previous posts or share some good news with us!
