Essays, Miscellaneous
A New Vision for Transportation
As the U.S. auto manufacturing industry slows to a halt, the evidence seems clear that car-centered transportation models are economically and environmentally unsustainable systems. However, the downfall of the traditional car industry presents us with exciting opportunities to re-envision cost effective transportation systems that move people on-time and provide economic growth opportunities while also minimizing [...]
Seeking Refuge from Melting Ice Sheets
Recent studies estimate that the IPCC’s projections of an 18 to 59 centimeter rise in sea level due to the melting of the Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets is well within the range of possibilities during this century. In fact, a study conducted by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment estimates that a sea level rise [...]
Corporations are integral components to a sustainable future.
The goal of this post is to make the point that corporations are one of our greatest assets in moving towards a sustainable future. There are two points that I propose to support this point. 1. Corporations represent a remarkable platform for the industrial capacity that is required to create the materials necessary for renewable [...]
Copenhagen 2009: Will see a new mechanism for reductions & development?
2009 is a critical milestone in the arena of international efforts to address climate change. With the upcoming UNFCCC negotiations, it is crucial that we now evaluate the efficacy of the 1992 agreements made through the Kyoto Protocol. Assessing the efficacy of the Kyoto agreements is a critical need in order to inform the design [...]
Positive signs of collaboration between the US & China leading up to December climate talk in Copenhagen.
Thank you Richard Nixon. I’d like to begin this post by thanking Richard Nixon for creating the historic opportunity for the US to work with China on the two most critical global issues challenging our world today: Economy and the Environment. Although current US – China relations have opportunities for improvement, Nixon laid the groundwork [...]
Biomimicry: Nature as a mentor, measure and model
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n77BfxnVlyc&hl=en&fs=1] One can not help but learn about biomimicry and be amazed by the incredible examples of the strength of a spider’s silk, the lotus flower’s self-cleaning abilities and the manufacturing process of an abalone shell. However, I think that the real “wow” factor of biomimicry lies in the aspect of nature as a mentor [...]
A Pocket Guide to Natural Capitalism
Perhaps, “Natural Capitalism” should have been titled, “Natural Capitalism: The Sustainability Revolution.” Here’s why: Although some businesses already employ the principles of natural capitalism, this concept for the most part is an entirely new way of thinking about commerce and industry. What natural capitalism calls for is a remarkable shift in the dominant paradigm. Natural [...]
Thoughts on "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows
After reading “Thinking in Systems“, I was most interested in Meadows’ identification and description of the twelve leverage points in a system where she feels small shifts can lead to a large change in the behavior of the system. I focused on this chapter because Meadows’ presentation of leverage points felt to be the portion [...]
Review of, "The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift ."
Summary The field of sustainability and the on-going adoption of sustainable business practices among global markets is a complicated web of interactions and relationships. There lies a deep history in how this way of thinking has evolved and there is much to do in terms of making sustainability a principle of how our world operates. [...]
Why is it important for companies to voluntarily evaluate their energy footprints?
Identifying cost savings opportunities, ensuring long-term competitiveness, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are all benefits of evaluating a company’s energy usage. In order to identify the cost savings opportunities that investing in energy efficiencies provide, a company must first analyze the energy flows and consumption patterns of electricity and gas. Efficiency strategies are typically low-risk, [...]
