Crowdsourcing Sustainability Newsletters
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Big picture of where we stand
Watch out, comin' in hot! Quick high-level reminder and update. We have warmed the world by at least 1°C (1.8°F) so far. We are on pace to reach 3°C to 3.5°C (5.4°F to 6.3°F). The Paris Agreement is our attempt to limit global warming to 1.5°C because of how much...
The importance of elections
Just a quick follow up on last week's What on EARTH?! with a new action today. Importance of Election on Tuesday When it comes to helping reverse global warming, every little bit helps, but not all actions are equal. Voting for climate leaders and, even...
Introduction to Crowdsourcing Sustainability
I just have two things to mention this week because I think it's important you know what to expect so we can stay on the same page. If you're new and want to see what a typical What on EARTH?! email looks like, please do so here. 1. Email frequency I...
Intro to What on EARTH?!
I want to give you a quick intro on how this will work because I could only explain so much in that little sign-up space. My initial thought is to keep these emails brief, fascinating, and generally uplifting - while making sure they stay real. But this idea...
Why So Many Americans Are Silent About the Climate Crisis
Last weekend I had the pleasure of presenting to a class of confirmation students and their parents. As always, I did my best to toe the line of telling the hard truth about the climate crisis while also inspiring action and hope - showing how we're each far more...
2 Ways to Help Companies Level Up Climate Impact
The fact of the matter is that society won't be able to limit warming to 1.5°C or 2°C without strong action from businesses. Thankfully, we all work in these businesses or know someone who does. Therefore, these businesses are in our sphere of influence. We can, and...
The Climate Crisis: Where we stand and what to do about it
The climate crisis is not just another issue. It is an era. This is the main thing people are still totally failing to grasp so let me repeat it: The climate crisis is not just another issue. It is an era. "Climate change and our response to it is going to change the...
Get who’s ready to act now. And go.
Humanity needs to limit warming as much as possible to prevent unimaginable amounts of suffering, death, and potentially even societal collapse. (Haaappy Thursday! ...stick with it - gets better in a bit.) The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to 2°C, with...
“Calling for disruptive changes is not radical, but deeply sane.”
Two reports came out recently that are worth knowing about. It's heavy stuff. 1. The US Military fears "mission failure" in the next 20 years due to climate chaos if urgent reforms aren't made. The Pentagon commissioned report was put together by the US Army, the...
Climate Truth or Dare?
Check out this short, fun, and inspirational video Megan Herbert is a talented illustrator. Back in September, she couldn't make it to the global climate strike. Instead she made a 90-second video and wrote this: "I wasn't able to strike today, which initially bummed...
Why Sustainable Investing is a No-Brainer. And How to do it.
I've written about the fossil fuel divestment trend, how you can personally divest, the story of a brilliant sustainable investor, and how the future of the economy is sustainable. Along the way, I've also been asked by some of you to share what I personally have...
What You Can Do About Climate Change and Imagining the Sustainable Future
Someone in the Crowdsourcing Sustainability community recently went to see the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, speak at MIT on climate justice. She was so moved by Mary's presentation that she sent me the video. And I liked Mary's final message so much...
The Week of Global Climate Action is Almost Here!
Huh? What's going on? The week of global climate action is from Friday, September 20th through Friday, the 27th. This is a chance for people around the world to rise up together and show our leaders and fellow humans that we need climate action NOW. The three...
Make Your Company Sustainable
In last week's newsletter, I wrote to encourage job seekers (college students and existing employees alike) to choose a job in sustainability. Because the future economy will revolve around making everything sustainable. So, if you want to, you can do meaningful work...
How to Organize an Effective Demonstration
The following is an excerpt from George Monbiot's 'Out of the Wreckage'. Published with George's permission, I intend to help spread the wisdom to climate organizations around the world. Here is a small example of something we could do better, as a result of...
Why You Should Get a Job in Sustainability. And How to Begin the Search.
Today's newsletter is to give you a lens through which to imagine the future. And to talk about the work that we will choose to do. I was initially writing this to help college students who are trying to figure out what career path to choose. But the message is...
The Surprising Power of Peacefully Protesting
As we both know, we are living through a critical point in human history - perhaps the most consequential time ever. We all play a role in deciding what the future will look like. As I've mentioned a couple of times now, the experts I talked to said these are the four...
Take a Look at Your Carbon Footprint
Take a Look at Your Carbon Footprint Yawn, I know. But if you're serious or even just curious about minimizing your personal footprint, you need to know what your footprint is in the first place right? That way you can figure out which actions to take that are the...
Sea Level Rise: It’s Probably Worse Than You Think
As you know, this newsletter is usually fairly inspiring. But this one is not (overall). And that's because we really need to talk about sea level rise again. Sorry, but the stakes are insanely high and everyone needs to know about this stuff! That being said, I do...
Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels is Killing Way More People Than You Realize
Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels is Killing Way More People Than You Realize You don't usually see it or hear about it much, but air pollution is killing US citizens at a horrific rate - like having 9/11 happen every single week horrific. 155,000 people die prematurely...
IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C: What You Need to Know
The IPCC's Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C You may have seen some headlines about a big climate change report recently from the IPCC. It's important enough that I read through the 30-page summary and combed over a ton of reactions to it. Below you’ll find...
Cape Town’s Water Crisis
Putting Cape Town's Water Crisis into Perspective A look at the effect on Cape Tonian's day to day lives and the pre-climate change odds of this happening Can you imagine waking up, brushing your teeth, hopping in the shower, and then running out of water for the rest...
Record-Breaking Heat is the New Normal
Record-Breaking Heat is the New Normal 17 of the 18 hottest years on record have occurred since 2001. The 18th was just a few years earlier in 1998. The last four years are the hottest of the bunch. 2018 looks like it will make our last five years the hottest five...
A Climate Poem for 2019: Big Oil’s Lies and How to Respond
I've got something a little different for you this week. On occasion, I dabble with poetry. This one sort of just started pouring out of me the other night when I couldn't fall asleep. The next day I decided some of you may actually enjoy it, so I spent several...
Climate Change in 2019: Where Do We Stand?
Climate Change in 2019: Where Do We Stand? A brief check-up on the biggest issue facing humanity. I thought this would be a good time to do a brief summary of the big picture and where we stand today. Buckle up because it's not pretty and I refuse to sugar-coat it....