Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
On this episode, environmental activist and author Bill McKibben joins Nate for a reflection on the last few decades of climate education and movements – and the possibilities and challenges that we’ll face ahead.
A major restoration effort by a coalition of Tribes and government agencies could help imperiled fish and other animals on the Trinity River.
For over a decade, Ana María and David have led their community to restore Mexico’s desert mangroves with dedication, experimentation, and plenty of heart.
There are many aspects to paradigm shift. Several have been described in this Primer. Everyone can expand the adventure and share what we are learning from own experiences. This Primer is exactly that. Add to it. Share it with others!
There is an uncomfortable question here that we all need to answer: how much do we actually care about the climate crisis? Why would negotiators and activists at COP28 invoke such impossible optimism to dispel a sense of defeat?
A national poll, commissioned from market research company Ipsos as part of the report, revealed that just one in four UK adults (26%) believe global average temperatures are likely to, or definitely will, be limited to 1.5°C by 2100.
The real danger of the way CoP28 ended with a ‘positive’ outcome is that it makes it seem as if something has been achieved. Whereas all that has been achieved, after 28 years, is a toothless statement of the obvious: that we need to transition away from fossil fuels.
The climate system has many potential tipping points, such as ice sheets disappearing or dense rainforests becoming significantly drier and more open. It would be very difficult, effectively impossible, to recover these systems once they go beyond a tipping point.
The real contribution of native tribes at this point might be to be more aggressive in showing us exactly what we are losing. Will that make any difference?
Once this sustainability revolution started to take hold, the ‘great sorting’ of deciding what was essential and what was simply voracious desire, reshaped many areas of society. And, so, it was decided to de-commodify food, education and healthcare, in line with a more ecological form of economics, where Nature has a seat at the boardroom table.
President Biden may have trouble making good on the $3 billion pledge given Republican opposition—particularly in the House. Any promises by the administration are somewhat suspect by other nations and climate activists, given the possibility of a second Trump administration.
That we maintain an intellectual model of climate in which the physical blanket is seen but not the living activity below shouldn’t surprise us.
