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This one surprised me, but it does make sense. A new study by Hawes and colleagues (2024) looked at the emissions of urban agriculture compared to conventional agriculture. There is, not surprisingly, some complexity here but generally speaking the carbon footprint of urban grown produce is six times higher than conventional agriculture. So what causes … Continue reading
I notice a significant difference in my mental health when I bike to work compared to driving or taking transit. I’m more relaxed and more focused. Getting up for a workout when I work from home helps but it is not the same. When I bike, I get exercise, but it is different because I … Continue reading
Walking through an underground parkade, you can feel the heat from all the cars, so perhaps it isn’t surprising that some asked what could be the effects of that heat. Noethen and colleagues (2023) looked at how the underground parking impacted nearby groundwater. The short answer is, underground parkades increase the temperature of groundwater, especially … Continue reading
September 30 was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The day is in recognition of the past and ongoing harm of residential schools. In recognition of the day and to make sure reconciliation is an action I’m aiming to find research this month that features Indigenous knowledges and was carried out by … Continue reading
The short answer is not much. Unfortunately, according to a systematic literature review by Karjalainen and Juhola (2021), the research is really inconsistent in how sustainability is defined and what indicators are used to measure sustainability. There are also issues with diversity and representation and how social and well being factors are considered. Karjalainen and … Continue reading
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
Today’s post is a little different. I’ve been working on a project for just over a year now and yesterday it was officially published. I teach sustainability at a university. I was frustrated that I couldn’t find a good and affordable resource for the intro class. There are resources out there but they are often … 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
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