Environment Posts
Scientists Share Tyler Prize for Protecting Forests and Oceans
Jane Lubchenco and Madhav Gadgil, scientists working on land and in oceans, have spent their careers identifying solutions that protect our planet’s biodiversity and some of our most at-risk environments. They are this year's Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement laureates.
Meet the 2015 Heinz Award Recipients
Established to honor the memory of the late U.S. Senator John Heinz, the Awards celebrate extraordinary achievements of individuals in areas of great importance to him: Arts and Humanities; the Environment; Human Condition; Public Policy; and Technology, the Economy and Employment.
Honduran Indigenous Leader Wins Goldman Environmental Prize
Berta Cáceres is not like most people. Her close friends and colleagues carry around a eulogy for her, even though she is very much alive and just won the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize.
Africa’s First “Water Fund” Offers Hope for Nairobi Residents
The Tana River is critical to the Kenyan economy, serving 9.3 million people. It provides 95 percent of Nairobi’s water and half of Kenya’s hydropower-generated electricity. However, it is troubled by soil erosion and falling reserves, which translate into higher costs for utility companies and businesses at a time of rapidly rising water demand. Enter Africa's first-ever "Water Fund" led by The Nature Conservancy and the publication of the business case for the fund.
Your Italian Leather Shoes Are Killing the Rainforest
Could your Italian leather shoes be to blame for deforestation in the Amazon? The answer is yes. A new report found that stretches of forest the size of a football (soccer) field were illegally cleared every 120 seconds between 2000 and 2012 to supply consumers in Europe with palm oil, beef, soy and leather.
Can a List Save the World’s Forests?
Did you know that more than 50 percent of products on grocery store shelves contain ingredients—from palm oil to soy—that likely contributed to the destruction of rainforests? Fortunately, dozens of companies—from Kellogg’s to Mars, Inc.—have recently made pledges to remove forest destruction from the supply chains of their products.
The State of Rights and Resources
In 2014, we saw a number of studies showing that when Indigenous Peoples and local communities have control of their land and the natural resources the land contains, they do the best job of keeping those resources—including tropical forests and fresh water supplies, for example—intact. But often times, governments claim control of the land and the disposition of its resources.
Conversations in Development: Guardians of the Forest, Protectors of the Climate
Tropical forests are critical to the future of the planet. They harbor millions of species of plants and animals, and, as natural storers of carbon, they play a key role in combating climate change. They are also home to millions of indigenous people, who have protected the forests and their resources for thousands of years.
Looking in Switzerland for the Answers to Financial Risk in Economic Development
When you look at mining, logging, and large-scale agriculture in the developing world, an unfortunate set of numbers leap out. Because these industries need land that is mostly inhabited, contested ownership of rural, forest, and dryland areas directly affects the livelihoods of more than two billion people.
Believe in Science? Look No Farther Than Your iPhone
We recently worked with The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement celebrating their 40th Anniversary with a panel discussion on the future of the environment. The panel discussion, moderated by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, sparked a fascinating discussion that ranged from the lessons learned in dealing with Quaaludes (yes, you read that correctly) to climate change, energy, agriculture, biodiversity and the public’s acceptance of science.
