As it gets colder outside for many of us, soup is a perfect way to warm up! Instead of choosing meat-based options like chicken soup, however, try opting for something vegetarian-based. This recipe’s main feature, black beans, involve far fewer carbon emissions than meats like beef. It can also be made more sustainable through customizations, like buying dried beans in bulk, which reduces packaging and saves money, or by using in-season/local toppings (in my case, I used Florida avocados!).
Regardless of how you choose to swap out ingredients, this recipe is quick, cheap, and easy to make. Perfect for busy students!
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
2 tsp ground cumin
Red pepper flakes (to taste; begin with ¼ tsp)
2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups vegetable broth
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Optional:
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
Fresh cilantro (to taste)
1 tsp sherry vinegar or 1 Tbsp tablespoons fresh lime juice (to taste)
Optional garnishes: Avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips, etc.
Steps:
Step 1: Prep all of your ingredients. (TIP: If you decide to use fresh cilantro, trimming the leaves is made a bit easier by running the herb through the prongs of a fork to de-stem the plant in bulk. You don’t have to do this, but it goes a bit faster!)
Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery (if desired), carrot and a light sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft (about 10 to 15 minutes).
Step 3: Stir in the garlic, cumin and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
Step 4: Pour in the beans and broth and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, reducing heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, until the broth is flavorful and the beans are very tender, about 30 minutes.
Step 5: Transfer the soup to a stand blender and add in the cilantro, lime juice, and black pepper, if desired. Securely fasten the lid and blend until smooth (keep in mind that the soup will still be hot and steam will escape when you open the lid). Alternatively, use an immersion blender in the soup pot.
Step 6: Return the pureed soup to the pot and add in any additional seasonings to taste. Serve with your choice of toppings (I went with Florida avocado, sriracha, and extra cilantro).
While previous posts have examined environmental racism on a local and national level, this post will take a look at examples of environmental racism on a global scale, particularly as it pertains to climate colonialism, the Paris Agreement, and carbon offsets. According to sociologist Doreen Martinez, Climate Colonialism is “the domination of less-powerful countries and people through initiatives meant to slow the pace of global warming1.” As we’ll see below, climate colonialism can manifest in unexpected ways, hidden within policies meant to protect the environment and promote developmental equity.
The Paris agreement has been a key initiative to address climate justice because it acknowledges the impacts of climate change on human rights: the rights of indigenous peoples, migrants, and others in vulnerable situations, the right to development, and the right to intergenerational equity2. The Agreement also calls for net reductions in carbon emissions and has catalyzed a significant increase in carbon offsets purchases, which reduce net carbon emissions by funding activities that compensate for greenhouse emissions, such as the deployment of carbon sequestration technology and the planting of trees3. In fact, within the last five years, over two million Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) have been purchased as a result of this international environmental policy4.
However, although carbon offsets can effectively reduce net carbon emissions, they actually perpetuate environmental injustice as the majority of the land purchased for carbon offsets is inhabited by indigenous peoples who are evicted by powerful institutions under the Paris Agreement. For example, Norwegian companies buying and conserving forestland for carbon offsets in East Africa have forcefully evicted thousands of Ugandans, Mozambicans, and Tanzanians, exacerbating home, health, and food insecurity1. This side effect of the Paris Agreement is a distressing example of climate colonialism in action. According to Rosemary Lyster, “Given all of the frailties of the Agreement… the Parties have a long way to go in subsequent negotiations before the imperatives of Climate Justice are satisfied2.”
So what can we do to mitigate the perpetuation of inequality through environmental policy? Rather than relying on carbon offsets, we can reduce emissions through personal choices and lifestyle changes. Some examples include reducing meat consumption, using reusables, avoiding flying, buying clothes secondhand, and investing in clean energy. It is also beneficial to support international environmental justice organizations such as Natural Justiceand Friends of the Earth5. When we see deficiencies in global policy, we should call for accountability at a political level, but we can also counter by enacting change at a personal level.
The previous post discussed environmental justice through the lens of local New Jersey policy. This post zooms out to look at how the United States government and other national organizations have addressed Environmental Justice (EJ) issues. The two main pieces of federal legislation addressing EJ are the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Executive Order (E.O.) 12898
NEPA was signed into law on January 1st, 1970, and requires agencies to go through an evaluation process to determine the environmental, social, and economic impacts of their actions and involve affected communities in the evaluation2. This act specifically calls for the federal government to prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA) which look at federal legislation and projects to evaluate the environmental impacts and potential alternatives and solutions to harmful impacts. Citizens can participate in these assessments during the scoping process through public meetings, workshops, hearings, and other means1.
This act is bolstered by E.O. 12898 which was ordered by former President Bill Clinton on February 16th, 1994. This act is also addressed as “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations”5. The purpose of the executive order was to focus more attention on environmental and health conditions that resulted from federal actions to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all communities. This order directs federal agencies to make a plan to address environmental injustice, promote non-discrimination in federal health and environmental programs, and provide information and participation opportunities to low-income and marginalized communities5.
Though these policies have done a lot for communities since they have been enacted4, there is still a lot more work that can be done on the national level to improve conditions for communities affected by environmental racism. There is also a lot that can be done by individuals to hold the government accountable like learning about the environmental impacts of federal agencies, participating in the NEPA process for your community, and voting in local and federal elections to protect and improve laws. Additionally, you can support national environmental justice agencies like Earth Justice6 and Protect NEPA4.
Environmental Justice (EJ) has come to be understood as a fundamental component of any comprehensive response to the environmental challenges of our contemporary moment. With the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, it has been foregrounded in conversations about racial justice and other issues around which activists center their work. New Jersey, in particular, has become one of the first state governments to address the needs of marginalized communities and implement environmental justice through legislation.
Before diving in, let’s touch briefly on the concept of environmental justice. What is it exactly, and how can we practice it? According to Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice, a multiracial grassroots organization, EJ is defined as “the values, rules, regulations, behaviors, policies, and decisions that support sustainability, where all people can hold with confidence that their community and natural environment is safe and productive”1.
New Jersey has taken promising but preliminary steps towards realizing that goal. One bill that was passed by the legislature into New Jersey state law on August 27, 2020 expands the purview of the Department of Environmental Protection. The effects of any proposed projects seeking a permit from the department on “overburdened communities” would have to be considered before the project could go forward. The bill defines “overburdened communities” as those with at least 50% of residents being low-income and 40% of residents being racial minorities or having limited English proficiency. Power plants and waste facilities like landfills and sewage treatment plants would have to reckon with the impact they impose on nearby overburdened communities. New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance has expressed support for the bill2,3.
In addition to this most recent effort, the legislature has passed reforms to the state’s learning standards, requiring all students to learn about climate change and the science behind it. There is hope that a more robust education in climate science will raise a generation of leaders and organizers who are both well-informed on the issue of climate change and acknowledge the urgency with which it must be addressed4. There is plenty our generation can do here and now, too. Volunteer with organizations like the Environmental Justice Alliance, lobby your local government to research and implement a climate action plan, and educate yourself on the links between racial justice and environmental justice.
Welcome to the last Good News Friday post of the year! It’s been such a crazy semester, but we hope that this series has been able to brighten your week in a small way. For this week, we will be looking at the world’s seed vaults, a better diet for cows, and the race to save the banana.
Seed vaults stay secure: While this past year has seen disasters such as wars, wildfires, and a pandemic, the global network of plant gene banks has remained resilient. In fact, according to Ola Westegen, an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Life Science, the safe and peaceful transfer of seed samples from Syria, despite the extreme conditions of the Arab Spring, testifies to the effectiveness of the international system of gene banks. Additionally, the world’s largest wild seed conservation project, the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Cows go on a diet: Scientists have discovered a surprising method for curbing methane emissions from livestock. A recent study found that adding a small amount of red seaweed to a cow’s daily feed can reduce the amount of methane production by 98 percent without any adverse effects on the animal’s health. Additionally, growing the seaweed for cow feed could help sequester carbon dioxide and reduce ocean acidification, so it’s a win-win all around.
The race to save the banana: Bananas are the second most popular fruit in the world (after tomatoes), but they are also extremely vulnerable to extinction due to climate change and low genetic diversity. As a result, scientists are trying to find ways to protect the cultivated banana from climate change by discovering ancient, wild banana ancestors in Papua New Guinea. The genetics of these wild varieties can help breeders increase the genetic diversity and resilience of the modern bananas that we know and love.
We hope you’ve been enjoying this series these past few months, and we’ve certainly had a lot of fun writing it. Although this is our last post of the year, we encourage you to keep a lookout for Good News (and not just on Fridays). We’ll see you next year with more optimistic environmental stories to share!
With the holiday season quickly approaching, many people are starting to make their wish lists and buying presents. However, it can be hard to be sustainable, especially with the emphasis on online shopping this year, so I have compiled my favorite tips to help keep gift-giving green.
This time of year puts a lot of pressure on people to spend money to show that they care. As a result, we can end up spending too much money buying gifts simply for the sake of getting them. My biggest reminder is that you don’t have to buy someone a present to show that you love them. However, if you would like to give gifts, start by writing down who you want to give something to. This helps you keep track of any purchases and curb impulse spending.
Step 2: Picking Gifts
Here are some tips to figure out how to give something while staying eco-friendly! First, try and look for experience gifts rather than material gifts. You don’t want to buy something that someone is going to end up throwing away eventually, so try to buy gifts that can be experienced or used for a long time. This is how we can keep a sustainability mindset when we shop, which is thinking about what happens to presents after they have been gifted (Be sure to check out our Black Friday IG post to learn more about keeping a sustainability mindset). Here are some great experiential gift ideas:
Gift cards!
Subscriptions to music services or a workout program
A donation in their name
Virtual classes (cooking, dancing, music lessons, etc.)
National park passes
A custom playlist
Tickets to a (virtual for now) concert or adventure
Your favorite recipe and the ingredients (so you can make it together)
Making your own gifts is also a great idea. Whether it’s food, something sentimental, or a piece of artwork you know they would like, a homemade gift can be thoughtful and uses less packaging.
If you do decide that you want to buy something material, here are some ideas to keep in mind:
Find gifts that can be used frequently and for a long time! I try to avoid things that have a niche use or are of low quality.
Shop locally, BIPOC owned! This will reduce your footprint as well as show support for your community. Also, buying secondhand will make sure that no new items are being manufactured.
Find ethically made items. Look for things that are Fairtrade, organic, recycled, zero-waste, or carbon neutral. This might take a little bit of research. Also, be careful of packaging that says it’s “eco-friendly” or “green,” because products can say this without actually making sustainable decisions (aka as a marketing ploy also known as “greenwashing”).
Items with a charity aspect can be a good alternative to those without. For instance, if your purchase also donates money to planting trees or a non-profit. Be careful with these products though! You could technically donate to that charity or to plant trees without shipping a product, so make sure that it is something they will use.
Buy reusable replacements to typical single-use products! A lot of household products are designed to be used once and thrown away (think plastic wrap, plastic utensils, napkins, paper towels, Ziploc bags, makeup wipes), so this type of gift can actually save them money in the long run! Finding items that are refillable is also a good idea. Some services now allow you to order items and then send back the containers when you are done.
Step 3: Wrapping your Gifts
Every year, America alone goes through millions of pounds of wrapping paper, more than enough to cover nearly 6,000 NFL football fields! Luckily, swapping out your wrapping paper is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste this season. Considering that the paper is designed to be ripped off and discarded, you’re also going to be saving a ton of money on new rolls each year. However, remember to use up what you already have! This goes for gifts too. If you receive reusable or eco-friendly versions of items, finish up the rest of what you’ve got before opening new products. Throwing them away now defeats the purpose of having reusables!
First, try using paper other than wrapping paper, such as newspapers or the brown paper that comes with packaging. Bonus points for the vintage look (and the recyclability)!
Continue that aesthetic by opting for string, twine, or ribbon instead of tape. Tape is just plastic with glue on it, so trying to limit how much you use is a good idea because it is not recyclable.
In the same vein, make sure that you take off any tape you do use from wrapping paper that is recyclable. Remember that not all wrapping paper is recyclable! If it has glitter on it or doesn’t crumple, throw that in the trash! If you use other sources like packing paper or newspaper, try to remove any tape before you put that in the recycling bin.
However, the best way to present your presents is to not use paper at all! I love wrapping gifts in things like clothes, blankets, or scarves. Not only does this look cute, but no waste is produced! You can also use boxes that you already have, such as shoe boxes, online shopping boxes, or clean food containers (and reuse again and again)!
I hope you found some new tips that you love, and remember that any steps you take will help. Happy holidays, Tigers!
Welcome to our post-Dean’s Date Good News Friday! If finals are making things seem a little bleak, here’s some positive news to get you through the week:
Image Credit: Princeton University Facilities Organization via sustain.princeton.edu
1. Princeton University Expands Solar Power: In April 2019, Princeton released a Sustainability Action Plan with the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2046. This week, the university came one step closer to that goal by announcing it would install eight new solar array projects. These panels are in addition to the solar field near campus that has been in operation for nearly a decade. The new projects are expected to triple the generating capacity of Princeton University’s solar farms from 5.5% to 19% of campus electricity use.
2. Scientists Regrow Coral Reefs: Members of the organization Raising Coral Costa Rica are using coral samples to reconstruct damaged reefs. By breaking off coral samples, growing them in a nursery, and then reintroducing them into their natural environment, the scientists can study how corals can be more resistant to climate change while simultaneously reconstructing depleted reefs.
That’s all for this week! Join us next time for another roundup of good news. Until then, take a look at our previous Good News Friday editions and contact us if you have any good news you would like to share!
With the semester quickly coming to an end and the holidays nearly upon us, now is the perfect time to flex your cooking skills and try out some new recipes. If you were looking for culinary inspiration, search no further! The EcoReps have compiled some of their personal favorite sustainable recipes into a “book” below. Please give them a try, and don’t forget to check out our weekly Sustainable Meals for Busy Students posts with Greening Dining!
Breakfast
Cider Pumpkin Waffles: Sure, pumpkin spice might be a bit of an autumn cliché. (But note that it got that way because it is delicious). Spice up your breakfast and make the most of the end of the pumpkin season by making waffles! Find the recipe here.
Pumpkin Muffins:Continuing with the pumpkin spice theme, also try your hand at pumpkin muffins! Adam Wickham notes that this recipe can be adapted to a vegan version by substituting ¼ cup of applesauce for each egg and swapping regular milk with plant-based options. Find the recipe here.
Apple Butter: To make a quick, festive, and delicious seasonal condiment, try apple butter. This recipe is very customizable, so get creative with your spices and flavors! Find the recipe here.
Spiced Pumpkin Butter: Not a huge fan of apples, but still looking for something more interesting than peanut butter to put on toast? Try out pumpkin butter instead! Find the recipe here.
Vegan 3-Bean Chili: For a quick, easy, and one-pot recipe that makes for great leftovers, try one of our EcoReps’ own recipes for vegan chili! Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients
~2 cups (10 oz) of frozen or fresh chopped bell peppers and onions
4 cloves of garlic
2 15 oz cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 15 oz cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 15 oz can kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
1 15 oz can navy or great northern beans (rinsed and drained)
~2 cups (10 oz) frozen corn
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1 ⅓ Tbsp mild chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
Some salt and pepper
Optional:
24 oz can diced green chiles
Instructions
In a pot over medium heat, cook the veggies and garlic for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a tablespoon or so of water at a time as needed to keep the veggies from sticking.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Increase heat to high, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until veggies are tender (about 10 minutes).
Ful Medames: Not in the mood for soup, but still looking for an easy one-pot recipe? Try ful medames, a Middle Eastern bean dip/porridge often served with pita bread. Beans are an excellent source of protein with a far smaller carbon footprint than meat. Find the recipe here.
Baked Tofu: Tofu can be eaten on its own or as part of a larger dish, and it makes for an excellent sustainable meat substitute due to its smaller carbon footprint. Whether you already frequently eat tofu or are just starting to try it, here is one of our EcoReps’ personal recipes to try out!:
Ingredients
1 lb. firm tofu
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp minced garlic (or to taste)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
Black pepper
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Wrap tofu in a dish towel for 10-15 minutes to remove excess water, then slice the tofu into 6-8 pieces lengthwise.
Combine all other ingredients except sesame seeds in a square baking dish.
Tip: You can double the marinade if you want more sauce.
Add tofu to the marinade; turn to coat before sprinkling the top of tofu with sesame seeds.
Bake the tofu on the top shelf of the oven, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
Enjoy! Some serving suggestions include:
Serve the tofu over rice, quinoa, or noodles.
Serve the tofu on a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
(Recipe contributed by: Naomi Frim-Abrams ‘23)
Tofu Stir Fry: Sticking with the tofu theme, try your hand at making some tofu stir fry! It’s easy to customize what vegetables you add in; to be environmentally conscious, tailor your recipe to the vegetables that are in season. Maddy Chong says: “I usually add shredded/chopped carrots, spinach, egg, and edamame, but this would be really good with most veggies.” Find the recipe here.
Sweet Potato, Kale, and Quinoa Bowl: Grain bowls have grown in popularity in recent years as they have gained recognition for being healthy, customizable, and easy to take on-the-go. To make your own healthy and sustainable grain bowl, try Julia Harisay’s recipe:
Ingredients
For the sweet potatoes:
1-2 sweet potatoes
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Several cracks of pepper
Rest of bowl:
1 small bunch curly kale
Cooking spray
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp garlic powder
Juice of ¼ wedge of lemon
Cooked rice or quinoa, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Scrub sweet potatoes and slice them in half lengthwise, then slice each potato widthwise into ½ in pieces.
Put the potatoes in an even layer on the lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with oil, syrup, salt, cayenne, and a few cracks of pepper. Rub potatoes well to coat.
Bake the potatoes for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Tear the kale into bite-sized pieces and discard stems. Rinse the kale (do not dry it).
Spray a pan with cooking spray and put it on the stove on medium heat.
Put wet kale in the pan and sprinkle it with sea salt and garlic powder. Stir the kale and cover the pan.
Cook the kale for 3 minutes or until bright green and tender. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Combine sweet potatoes, kale, and quinoa or rice in a bowl and enjoy!
Peanut Noodles: For a filling and easy meal that takes under 15 minutes, try peanut noodles! Combine with the tofu stir fry recipe above for a particularly delicious dish. Find the recipe here.
One way to use less paper is to use more of it, or rather use it more efficiently! We know that sometimes you just have to print something out, so check your settings before you hit “Print.”
Be sure you’re printing double-sided
Make your margins as small as possible to minimize white space on a page
Use PDF editors, like printfriendly.com, to cut out junk from your printouts
Consider printing 2 or more pages per piece of paper
Be selective and print only the pages you need
Use misprinted paper for scratch work
Make Paper Crafts
If you have a misprint or used paper from past semesters you don’t know what to do with, give yourself a fun study break and make paper crafts using these materials.
Here are some ideas of cool creations you can make! For one, you can practice your origami skills, or you can create paper snowflakes to decorate your window if winter is approaching. Color the paper or use it as is, there are so many possibilities – get creative!
Recycle and Compost
You know about the importance of recycling your paper by having proper recycling bins and following your recycler’s guidelines, but that’s not the only way you can give your paper a second life. If you have access to a composting system, or can start up a compost bin for yourself, you can compost your paper as well!
Some compost systems can only handle shredded paper, so check what yours can work with and cut up the paper with a shredder or using a pair of scissors. Likewise, not all paper can be composted, like colored and glossy paper, which might contain some toxic heavy metals, but newsprint and other paper is safe to use as mulch or in compost. In fact, one study revealed that paper had less toxic material than straw or grass!
Pay it Forward
In the U.S., an estimated 640,000 tons of books are sent to the landfill annually. At an assumed average weight of 4 pounds each, that’s approximately 320 million books discarded each year!
If guidelines allow it, donate your books to libraries, resell them online, pass them on to students planning on taking the same class, or organize socially-distanced book swaps with your friends! Conversely, see if you can buy your textbooks second-hand, rent them, or get digital versions!
On average, a college student is assigned about 400 pages of reading per week. In place of printing out those papers, consider using digital tools to read, annotate, and organize them instead! At the simplest level, you can highlight and comment on PDF files with programs such as Mac’s Pages, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat. You can also use digital platforms, like Quizlet or Brainscape, to make personalized online flashcards!
Reusable Scratch Paper
How often do you grab a fresh sheet of paper to use for scratch work only to toss it later that day? To cut down on your paper waste, swap scratch paper for a whiteboard instead! You can use a spare whiteboard lying around your house, a notebook with whiteboard-surface pages, a peel-and-stick sheet of whiteboard surface you can place on a wall or on your desk, or even a laminated white sheet!
Use What You Already Have!
The best way to be sustainable is to make use of what you already have! If you prefer working on paper, be sure to fill up pages as much as possible before getting a clean sheet. Reduce the size of your handwriting, use the backside of a one-sided print out for quick notes, and write with a pencil or an erasable pen to get more than one use of a piece of paper.
Replace Parts, Not the Whole
Not only can you use what you have, but sometimes you can reuse it too! With some objects, you can often replace only the parts you need! For example, if your favorite pen runs out of ink, see if you can replace only its ink cartridge instead of the entire pen unit itself. Not only is this more sustainable, but it can also be less expensive too.
Limit Your E-Waste
Electronic waste (e-waste) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices – smartphones, fridges, you name it – and as of 2019, is one of the fastest growing waste streams on Earth. Not only does e-waste contain harmful chemicals that can end up in our soil, water, and air when improperly disposed, but it can also be illegally exported to countries that don’t have laws on handling/disposing of it. Since remote studying relies heavily on technology, be mindful of your e-waste: consider if you really need to get the most recent laptop or phone model if yours already functions well, or see if you can repair parts of your device instead of purchasing a brand new one. If you do decide to discard a device, look into legitimate channels to go through – for example, big manufacturers like Apple and Best Buy accept e-waste!
