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Innovations for Transparency: Disruptive Technology Enters the Carbon Offsetting Space
Carbon offsetting allows a net-positive carbon emitter to pay a net-negative emitter to offset their emissions, by trading carbon credits representing one ton of greenhouse gas. In theory, this system can help the world account for the unavoidable gasses emitted in the transition to a low-carbon economy. But as Kavit Borkhataria at AlliedCrowds explains, in practice, it's hard to confirm if carbon reduction projects are actually delivering the emission reductions they claim. He discusses some tech-fueled innovations that can boost transparency and push the market forward.
- Categories
- Environment, Technology
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In Defense of Palm Oil: Why We Should Be Supporting the Industry’s Move Toward Sustainability – Not Demonizing It
After reading Jim R. Richards’ NextBillion op-ed “The Ecological Disaster of Palm Oil: Why It’s Time to Embrace Climate-Friendly Alternatives,” Robert Hii at CSPO-Watch.com felt compelled to respond. He argues that Richards' critique of the palm oil industry's ecological damage fails to recognize its impact on local economic growth and poverty reduction, and ignores its substantial moves toward sustainability.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Technology
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Optimizing Incremental Building: Why the Answer To Decent, Affordable Housing for All Is Hidden in Plain Sight
The scale of the global housing challenge is enormous, with an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide lacking adequate shelter. As a huge percentage of homebuilders around the world build incrementally, analysts at Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter explore how optimizing the incremental building process could present an effective solution.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
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The Ecological Disaster of Palm Oil: Why It’s Time to Embrace Climate-Friendly Alternatives
Palm oil is in so many products that it’s quite hard to avoid. But as Jim Richards at milkadamia points out, tropical forests are being burned at an alarming rate to produce it, contributing greatly to global deforestation – which generates 15% of the planet’s total carbon emissions. He makes a passionate case for the need to switch to palm oil-free products, and discusses some sustainable alternatives.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment
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Solving the Problem of Renewable Energy Waste: A Circular Economy Approach to Sustainable Batteries
Despite its many benefits, the clean energy revolution has one notable downside: The battery-based storage systems that underpin localised renewable energy have a limited lifespan, contributing to a large and growing e-waste problem. In response, Aceleron set out to develop a more sustainable battery technology. The company's CEO, Amrit Chandan, discusses its impact.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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Risk vs. Resilience: Insuring Sustainable African Cities in the Age of Climate Change
Though COVID-19 dominates the global conversation, climate change continues to have devastating effects. For instance, there were 53 climate-related disasters in Africa in 2018 alone – and these challenges are likely to get worse as the continent urbanizes. Kate Rinehart-Smit and Mia Thom at Cenfri suggest four interventions that can help insurers protect African cities and infrastructure against climate disasters.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
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A Best Practice in the Making? How Dominica is Building the World’s First Climate Resilient Nation
In 2017, Hurricane Maria left unprecedented devastation in the Commonwealth of Dominica, with damages and losses amounting to 226% of the Caribbean nation's GDP. But according to Pepukaye Bardouille and Colin Scaife at the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica, the country has responded with a plan that could serve as an important pilot case for developing resilience in the age of climate change.
- Categories
- Environment
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Saving Your Coffee and Avocado Toast: How Strategic Partnerships Can Build Smallholders’ Resilience to Climate Change
The climate crisis has spawned a new internet trend, as headlines like “America’s Favorite Fruit Could Go Extinct” spark panic in readers. And it’s true that the warming climate could affect the future supply of produce and other foods – but it's creating even more drastic problems for smallholder farmers. Camila Kauer Garcia at Fintrac explores initiatives that are helping farmers become more resilient to climate change, allowing consumers to confidently enjoy their favorite foods.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment