Nov 22, 09
Seattle as North America's First Carbon-Neutral City
Last week, I stood on the stage at Seattle's Town Hall and called on Seattle to become North America's first carbon-neutral city, dropping its per capita climate emissions to nothing by 2030. Since then, I've gotten a whole slew of great emails and calls from people who are thinking that goal through, and have questions. Mostly, folks have been wildly supportive, generally wanting most to know how they can help build the movement to do that. I'm a writer, not an organizer, and I don't have...
The Fire this Time: Copenhagen and the War for the Future
That which is unsustainable cannot go on. Unsustainable things that are propped up too long snap and collapse suddenly. Our way of life is unsustainable. The sooner we transform our economy into one that can generate sustainable prosperity, the better off we’ll be, and with every passing day, the risks of catastrophe grow larger and more certain. We need change now. These shouldn’t be radical statements; they’re all demonstrably true. Yet they cleave right down the middle of what is...
Straight Talk for the Planetary Era: A Trio of Book Reviews
by Edward Wolf Bikes, boats, and bodies align to spell “350” at events in 181 countries, sounding a worldwide call for climate stability. Congress takes halting steps toward passing a law to limit U.S. carbon emissions and advance clean energy. Diplomats from 193 countries prepare to hammer out a global climate treaty in Copenhagen. But few expect this year’s activism, politics, or diplomacy to change the game. The 21st century to-do list keeps growing. What will it take to...
Graphic Series: Earthly Ideas, CCS
Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) is a proposed (and controversial) solution to powerplant pollution that captures carbon from smokestacks and stores those emissions underground. Although some believe this idea would help provide the amount of power currently demanded while reducing pollution, it has others scratching their heads. Many feel confused about the science, as there are are still technical challenges to overcome, and others feel outraged as they believe CCS could be used as...
Alex Steffen at Town Hall Seattle Nov 11 & 12
Greeting Worldchangers, Our two night event at Town Hall Seattle starts tomorrow! We are thrilled to invite you to Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life for an evening with Alex Steffen, Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, Seattle Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn and the Worldchanging Team. Each night, the doors will open at 6:30 pm. Come early and come hungry as Seattle's street food perfectionists from Skillet will be serving up delicious pre-talk snacks outside Town Hall. After a...
Climate Prosperity: Building a Worldwide Clean Economy
As world leaders begin to pack their bags for the Climate Summit in Copenhagen next month, feelings of anxiety may accompany the pressure to hammer out an international agreement to cap carbon emissions to keep our planet from entering a period of climate crisis. A group of people involved in the Climate Prosperity Alliance are working to shift the debate to a more positive and productive goal. Instead of focusing on carbon-reduction strategies and schemes like cap and trade, “clean...
Small Deposits Add Up: Savings, not just loans, factor into microfinance formula
Yak herders in Mongolia may seem like the most unlikely of bank customers. There’s little infrastructure in their largely rural country, making it tough to find a local branch office. But in these sparsely populated steppes, opening a personal savings account is increasingly seen as a first step out of extreme poverty, according to international microfinance leaders. Altan Govii Shiree Cooperative The Altan Govii Shiree cooperative is located in one of southern Mongolia's most scenic...
Transition Towns or Bright Green Cities?
What can any of us do in the face of planetary catastrophe? Staring into the ecological abyss, it's easy to feel small and unimportant. Edward Abbey wrote truly, "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." But it's often hard to see how any actions we might actually take, as individuals, will have any meaningful effect, whatsoever: leaving aside the pablum about small steps and each doing our part, we all know in our hearts that taking out the recycling will not do much to slow the...
Graphic Series: Earthly Ideas, Women's Rights
Not only are women's rights essential to a vibrant society, but they are also essential to a healthy, viable environment. This week's cartoon describes why women's rights and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. Studies show that when given equal access to education and rights over their own bodies, women choose to have fewer children. Overpopulation is a serious issue, with huge implications for problems like climate change. By giving women rights we are investing in what Kim...
How Can Bright Green Cities Thrive Without Capital?
What do you do when things are booming but your credit's dried up? Perhaps you begin to invent new ways of doing business. U.N. Habitat recently released a report showing that the pace of urbanization is increasing, with "200,000 new dwellers flooding into the world cities and towns each day." That's like a new city the size of Seattle, Washington D.C. or Copenhagen springing up every three days. And while it is true that in the Global North, some industrial areas have become home to...
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