-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
I’ve spent enough time around hospitals that I’ve thought about what the carbon footprint is. It can’t be positive. And there have to be possible improvements. At the same time, it’s easy to think “it’s a hospital, the services are too vital to care about the impact.” I definitely understand this perspective and to some … Continue reading
Various nature based solutions are being used and proposed for cities to sequester carbon. These solutions include street trees, permeable pavements, urban green spaces and architecture, habitat preservation, and green buildings. Unfortunately, the contribution of these approaches is relatively small. Studies from the European Union show that these approaches can only sequester about 6.5-8% of … Continue reading
If you have ever stood in the centre of a paved urban paradise where the buildings, roads, and parking lots add to potentially already stifling heat then you know how uncomfortable the urban heat island effect can be. Temperatures in the city, particularly densely built areas with little vegetation can increase the temperature by several … Continue reading
Without question, the designation of public funds for cycling infrastructure is an intense issue with advocates and passion on both sides of the issue. Living in a winter city means the debate is perhaps more impassioned as people argue that too few people cycle in the winter months to make it worthwhile. But what if … Continue reading
We are in an unprecedented fire season in 2023. Warming temperatures and drier conditions caused by climate change are a major reason. But wildfires themselves also contribute to climate change creating a reinforcing feedback loop. And, new research indicates that this might be worse than previously thought. It has been well established that black carbon … Continue reading
I’m a big advocate for interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration. I’ve set up my classes to support this because the reality is that we need people to be thinking about sustainability across many different fields from supply chain to theatre. In addition, it is both natural and social systems that will be impacted by climate change, … Continue reading
Being active is a big part of staying healthy but where you live can impact how active you are. I particularly notice this when I travel. I’ve stayed in places where I could easily walk to a variety of destinations. But other places I have had to navigate a lack of sidewalks, huge highways, and … Continue reading
Having pets can sometimes seem like a conflict for my other sustainability focused lifestyle choices. I eat mostly vegetarian, but I wouldn’t even consider depriving my cats of meat. I don’t use plastic bags, except to pick up my dog’s poop. But the consequences of pets can go a lot further than just their food … Continue reading
I love strawberries, but I’m not much of a gardener. This means that most of my strawberries come from industrial-level agriculture via my local grocery store. I do try to only buy them in season, but some new research indicates potentially negative impacts on the local ecosystem. Tiwari presented their research at a recent conference … Continue reading
Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? Me neither. When it comes to sustainability there is still a long way to go to be inclusive. I’ve had conversations with people with disabilities who are negatively impacted by the loss of bendable plastic straws. Straight straws and no straws are both much harder for … Continue reading
Connecting with Science 