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Overfishing isn't the only reason to be concerned about the commercial seafood industry. According to a 2009 United Nations FAO report, abandoned and lost fishing gear accounts for about 10 percent of the trash that collects in the world’s oceans. Discarded nets cause the particular problem of "ghost fishing," whereby they trap fish and other sea animals like turtles, birds, dolphins and......read more
Hallelujah! A baptist church in a neglected Manhattan neighbourhood has entered the urban farming game, with a 1,000 square foot rooftop garden that's producing abundant fruit and veg for the church's busy food pantry. Located in Hell's Kitchen between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Lincoln Tunnel, the Metro Baptist Church is as far removed from rural farm life as it gets. But with......read more
California-based Sungevity (previously) is taking its solar leasing model to the Northeastern states, where high electricity rates and blistering summer temperatures mean massive market potential. To build hype for the expansion, the residential solar company has launched Rolling Rooftop, a bright orange ice pop truck powered by solar panels and bio diesel. The truck, which will begin......read more
Natural, fast-growing rattan is enjoying a sort of renaissance in the design world. Unfortunately, conventional rattan harvesting practices tends to harm tropical forests where it grows. Enter WWF's Sustainable Rattan Project, an EU-funded program for sustainable production and processing of rattan in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia. "Forests with such a wide variety of flora and......read more
In the early '90s, Wisconsin-based Trek Bicycle pioneered the use of carbon fiber in bike frames. The material, though much admired for its strength and weight, is generally understood to be impossible to recycle. Fast forward a couple decades, and the cycling company has launched a full-scale carbon recycling program for all of the scrap carbon fiber generated at its U.S. facilities. "It is......read more
From solar powered troops tents to biofuel warships, sustainability has become an important part of U.S. military strategy over the past couple years. The latest plan may be the Army's most ambitious yet. The Army is aiming for all bases across the country to become net zero by 2030. In other words, all new buildings must have net zero energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. The......read more
Move Your Feet: LA footwear brand Generic Surplus teamed up with Danish fashion label Wood Wood to launch a spring shoe model designed specifically for biking. Made of weather-resistant treated canvas with an overlay toe cap, extra seams and a non-skid rubber for better grip. Nice look. Neon Inuit: A glowing igloo made of recycled water jugs makes a powerful statement on the effects of climate......read more
Believe it or not, Capitol Hill is a hotbed of eco efficiency. The Christmas tree out front of the Capitol is outfitted with energy-saving LED lights. Inside, staffers print with recycled paper and eat with compostable utensils under the glow of eco-friendly CFL lights. Most (but not all) of these green measures can be attributed to Nancy Pelosi's Green the Capitol program, which replaced a......read more
The 2010 midterm election campaigns are in full swing, and Democrats are in jeopardy of losing many seats in both the House and Senate. Many of these positions could be won by candidates supported by the Tea Party, which wants less government and views climate legislation as just another federal power grab. In Indiana, where Democratic Representative Baron P. Hill spoke in defense of his......read more
The local food movement made a very large friend last week, when Wal-Mart announced a sustainable agriculture program that includes a plan to double the amount of locally grown produce sold at its stores by the end of 2015. The company says the goals will enable small- and medium-sized farm owners around the world to increase revenues, improve local economies and reduce their impact on the......read more
