Category: Environment

Climate Action, Eco, Environment September 1, 2020September 3, 2020

How to Make an Eco-Friendly Hero Board With Your Kids!

Washington (GGM) Analysis | September 1, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

Most parents would like their children to become happy and healthy adults. As an eco-conscious parent, you are also aware of the need to provide a safe and viable environment for your children as they grow up. With this in mind, you have been recycling, upcycling, and teaching your children habits that reduce waste. You might be noticing that with talks of the climate crisis all around them, your children might be expressing feelings of being overwhelmed. Afterall, this is a massive issue, and it may leave your young one feeling like it is too big to tackle. Making a Hero Board composed of positive role models who are making headway in combating this crisis is an excellent way to assuage anxious feelings in your child.

Twitter- @FunWritings

First get out a dry erase board or a chalkboard and some chalk. Next, give your child a list of five to ten people to research in a virtual scavenger hunt. These people should all be worthy of being called a Hero for Mother Nature. Ask your child to come up with an eco-friendly fact about each person on the list. Once your child has discovered one thing that each of these individuals is doing for the environment, have a discussion with them. Allow them to explain what they found out, and talk about which people are the most inspiring. Ask your child to pick their top three favorite people from the list, and give them some time to do some more research. On the chalkboard, your child can draw an image of their top three heroes, write down inspirational quotes, and jot down some interesting things that those people are doing to improve the health of the environment.

Here is a list of 10 people you can use to get this process rolling.

・Lise King – Executive Director of United Nations Global Impact

・Leonardo DiCaprio – Actor, producer, and activist

・Greta Thunberg – Child activist and leader in climate change

・Jane Fonda – Actress and activist

・Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – United States Congresswoman

・Sean Mendes – Singer and environmentalist

・Natalie Portman – Actress, Producer, and activist

・Jane Goodall – Research Scientist and activist

・Bernie Sanders – Vermont Senator

・Dr. Gavin Schmidt– Climate Scientist at NASA

Instagram- @leonardodicaprio

For even more fun, use your driveway and some sidewalk chalk, instead of a chalkboard. This activity will give your child the chance to do a little research about all the positive things that are being done to help Mother Earth. It will give you a chance to bond with your child over this important issue. It will also encourage them on their journey, and remind them that they are not alone in their efforts to combat the climate crisis.

Come back every Tuesday for more Eco-Friendly Parenting tips!

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circular economy, Climate Action, Environment, sustainability, Wildlife August 27, 2020August 27, 2020

US Vegan Climate Index Isn’t “Shackled to The Past”

Washington (GGM) Analysis | August 27, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

European investing platform Beyond Investing– no relation to Beyond Meat– celebrated the second ‘birthday’ of its US Vegan Climate Index this summer. As the world’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on veganism and environmentalism, the US Climate Index (VEGAN) should be a ticker on your investor watchlist.

Twitter- @BeyondInvest

The US Climate Index avoids companies and business models that pose a threat to the environment. This means that they do not support animal exploitation or unethical business. In a press release published on June 16, 2020, Beyond Investing reported, “over its two-year live history, VEGAN has outperformed the S&P 500 Index…on a price return basis of 5.93%.” VEGAN outperforming the S&P 500 means big things for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds.

When questioned about the future of ESG investing, Claire Smith, Beyond Investing CEO, shared some poignant thoughts with The Hill Report. “ESG investing will become the primary driver for investment. Investors are holding companies to higher standards and questioning the viability of unethical and polluting business models. It represents the opportunity to invest for the future that you want to see, as opposed to keeping your money shackled to the past.”

Instagram- @beyond_animal

With a boom of awareness of veganism and sustainability in the US, and the success of companies like Beyond Meat and Tesla, new Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) are sure to be popping up. Investors in the US Climate Index can rest assured that each new IPO will be properly screened and vetted before being added to the fund. Smith said that she anticipates “more IPOs of ethical plant-based and cruelty-free food and lifestyle product companies.” She looks forward “to including them in our US Vegan Climate Index as replacements for those damaging companies that fail our screens.” As the demand for ethical investing soars higher, people looking to the stock market should consider the US Vegan Climate Index.

Tl;dr

European investing platform Beyond Investing celebrates two years of the US Vegan Climate Index
As the world’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF), US Climate Index (VEGAN) is a ticker to watch
VEGAN has outperformed the S&P 500
CEO, Claire Smith predicts that more IPOs of ethical plant-based and cruelty-free food and lifestyle product companies are on the rise
US Climate Index screens companies to ensure that only ethical businesses are added to the fund

Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment, sustainability August 6, 2020August 14, 2020

Why You Need to Know About the Launch of The Wonderful Wine Co.

Washington (GGM) Analysis | August 6, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

This time last summer, your evening plans may have included slipping on stilettos to meet up with a few friends at a new roof-top bar or rocking your favorite fedora at a neighborhood block party. As Friday quickly approaches, we know swanky bars and big parties are out of the question, but that doesn’t mean you have to let your summer slip away. You can uncork a bottle of wine on your back porch with your neighbor– six feet away, of course– and toast to Mother Nature!

Yes, that’s right; there is a wine that is actually doing something for the environment. In June of 2020, Winc launched a totally vegan and oh so sustainable line of wine. It’s called The Wonderful Wine Co., and people are loving it!

Twitter – @helloboxes

The Wonderful Wine Co. is dedicated to the wellness of the planet and the wellness of its customers. All of the grapes are derived from organic vineyards, and no added chemicals or added sugars are used in the process. Unlike most wine available, The Wonderful Wine Co. is all vegan. This means that the ground-up bone, casein, milk, and fish bladders that sneak their way into your typical Rosé, won’t be found here.

More than simply better for you, this wine is better for the planet. The ingredients, the packaging, how it is shipped, and even the bottle itself are meticulously designed with Mother Nature in mind. Wonderful Wine uses a special lightweight glass bottle that requires 20% less energy and 12% less water in production, which reduces carbon emissions by 27%. They also have reduced landfill contributions and deforestation by eliminating the trash producing polylaminate capsule altogether and using an all-natural biodegradable cork. Additionally, the box the wine is housed in is 100% recyclable and 95% compostable.

With four delicious selections coming from non-GMO vineyards in Argentina, France, and California, there is a delicious and sophisticated option for any occasion. For a sustainable sip of summer, pour yourself a glass of The Limited Edition Orange wine. With notes of citrus and white peach and a touch of honeysuckle, you will know why they call it Wonderful Wine.

Instagram – @blevineproductions

Come back every Thursday to learn more about the role veganism plays in combating climate change!

Tl;dr

Winc launched The Wonderful Wine Co., a vegan and sustainable line of wine
The grapes are derived from organic vineyards
No added chemicals or added sugars are used in the process
Most other wine includes ground-up bone, casein, milk, and fish bladders
Wonderful Wine uses a special lightweight glass bottle that reduces carbon emissions by 27%
They reduced landfill contributions and deforestation by eliminating the polylaminate capsule and using an all-natural biodegradable cork
The box is 100% recyclable and 95% compostable

Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment, sustainability August 5, 2020August 14, 2020

What People Are Saying About Mini Cooper Going Electric— Again

Washington (GGM) Analysis | August 5, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

With all of the Nissan Leafs and Chevy Bolts on the road today, it may seem hard to remember when electric vehicles, EVs, were uncommon. However, only ten years ago, EVs were virtually unattainable to the average person. It was only in 2009 that the first major car manufacturer released over 500 EVs for private use— and no, it was not Tesla. It was BMW’s Mini Cooper!

Though nearly ten thousand people signed up to lease Mini’s original EV– the Mini E– the vehicle was never intended for mass production. In March of 2020, Mini Cooper put more than just their toes in the water, with the release of their first real line of EVs: the Mini Cooper Hardtop SE. Starting at $29,900, this stylish and spunky roadster is one of the most affordable electric cars around.

Instagram – @pepperandgold

According to Car and Driver, the car “has a 32.6-kWh battery pack and a single electric motor that produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque.” It has agile handling, a high-tech interior, and of course, the distinctive Mini aesthetic. Additionally, the SE sports an adjustable regenerative braking system, as well as a state of the art heat-pump that is 75% more efficient than traditional electric designs.

The only real flaw in this adorable Mini is the range. The Mini Cooper SE has 110 miles of electric range, while competitors, like Hyundai or Kia have over 200 miles of range. On a positive note, the SE comes with a 3-prong charging cord that will fit into any standard outlet. In combination with the available at-home wallbox chargers and the increasing availability of public charging stations, this makes range less of an issue. Plus, when using Fast DC Charging Stations, average users get an 80% charge in about 35 minutes.

Twitter – @MyUrbanCar

All in all, people are excited about the style, handling, and affordability of this Zero-Emission car. Pulling up in the Mini Cooper’s newly released SE will not disappoint!

Come back next Wednesday for more EV news!

Tl;dr

In 2009 Mini Cooper released 500 EVs for private use— the Mini E
The Mini E was never intended for mass production
In March of 2020, Mini Cooper released of their first real line of EVs: the Mini Cooper Hardtop SE
The base model starts at $29,900
The SE produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque
The SE has a state of the art heat-pump that is 75% more efficient than traditional electric designs
At home charging and the increase in public charging stations makes the 110 miles of electric range less of an issue

Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment, Nature, Oceans July 27, 2020August 14, 2020

3 Must Haves for New School Year | Eco-Friendly Parenting

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 27, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

As August nears, so do thoughts of sending your children back to school. If it were any other summer, you would be budgeting for clothes, scheduling haircuts, and debating with your kids about why they don’t need the latest Louis Vuitton Supreme sneakers. Instead, due to the global pandemic, you’re reading and re-reading governor briefings and state guidelines for re-opening in the fall and wondering about the efficacy of remote learning.

No doubt, things will be different this school year. Your child may return to school in the fall using a hybrid model, or they might be 100% remote. No matter what avenue is taken, you still need to prepare. As an earth-conscious parent, we know how important it is that your back to school list is sustainable.

We talk about plastic a lot, but one of the biggest offenders of the climate crisis is our paper consumption. According to the Environmental Professionals Network (EPN), each person in the U.S uses 749 lbs of paper per year, resulting in massive deforestation. Adding insult to injury, so much of this paper does not get recycled. Paper waste makes up 26% of landfills, resulting in the production of methane, “greenhouse gas with 23 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide.” Because of this, the reMarkable 2 should be the first item on your shopping list.

This next generation “paper tablet” is wildly versatile. It looks, feels, and even sounds like a pencil and paper, offering your child the creative experience they are used to. It is ultra-lightweight and compact, and all of your child’s notes will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. So, finally, everything will be organized, and nothing will get lost!

Twitter – @Ayo_d10

The next item of the list, of course, is cellphone related. Nowadays, if you have a school-age child, the chances are that they have a mobile device. Without a doubt, they will be looking for a new case for the start of the school year. For this request, consider buying your young one a Pela phone case. Pela cases are nonsynthetic and are Certified Climate Neutral. These stylish accessories are plant-based and made from recycled materials, making them completely biodegradable and compostable! With tons of styles that fit AirPods, iPhones, Samsungs, and Pixel phones, your child will be excited to make this eco-friendly switch.

This last item was definitely not on your back to school list last year: a face mask. Disposing of single-use face masks is posing a real threat to marine life. To combat this dangerous trend, try switching to a reusable mask made from upcycled materials. Lumily is an ethical brand that focuses on sustainability as a part of their business model. They offer a variety of CDC certified reusable masks made from 100% responsibly sourced cotton. An added bonus: Lumily will donate a mask to someone in an underserved or vulnerable community for each mask purchased!

Twitter – @craigtimes

With these three small changes to your back to school shopping, you and your kids can make a big impact on the globe!

Come back every Tuesday for more Eco-Friendly Parenting tips!

Tl:dr

Concerns about COVID-19 will most likely affect the way your child returns to school in the Fall
Try to keep sustainability at the forefront of thought when curating your child’s back to school list
Each person in the U.S uses 749 lbs of paper per year
Paper waste makes up 26% of landfills, resulting in the production of methane
Methane in landfills has 23 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide
Try limiting your family’s paper waste with the purchase of a reMarkable 2
Try replacing plastic phone cases and AirPod cases with a compostable Pela case
Face masks, gloves, and other PPE are posing a major threat to marine life
Purchase a CDC certified reusable Lumily mask, made from 100% responsibly sourced cotton

Climate Action, Climate Change, COVID-19, Environment June 2, 2020August 17, 2020

EV Charging Stations for Curbside Pickup | Solutions

Washington (GGM) Analysis | June 2, 2020

After three months of staying home, and my commitment to keep on keeping on because it truly is much safer at home, I’ve now become passionate about curbside pickup. It’s such a positive and beneficial reason to get out of the house while still maintaining safe distances.

Last night I had the great fortune of hanging out in Bertucci’s parking lot for ten minutes while I waited for my delicious, piping hot four cheese ravioli. (I love how hot Italian takeout is. If I make ravioli at home, it’s never the same temperature as that of an Italian restaurant. I’ll speculate it’s the oven.) I felt inspired while I waited and soon began to imagine a dozen EV charging stations under the pretty trees, with cars attached to each one. (This was a particularly beautiful parking lot. Big and spacious with lots of nature.)

Charging stations seem like the perfect solution for mitigating the negatives of safer at home. There are so many incentives that businesses can use to fund the installation of EV charging stations. Installing charging stations that are funded by incentives are a painless way for struggling businesses to create jobs. More charging stations, results in more EV car purchases, which results in even more jobs. More charging stations at restaurants in particular equates to increased curbside pickup. This is so easy, and it all begins with the plethora of available incentives and tax credits and partnership with governors who are hoping that businesses will cut emissions quicker to reach the state targets.

Thank you Bertucci’s. This vision all began with your outdoor sign letting passerbys know you were open for curbside pickup. I immediately pulled in and called from the parking lot. Maybe you can throwback to the 50’s and have rollerbladers deliver meals to the cars the way I’ve seen in movies, and have music blaring in the parking lot for a feel good vibe which will make us order more food and hang out longer.

Let’s DO THIS!🎸

2020, Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment May 21, 2020August 19, 2020

Strategic Solutions During a Crisis | Some Countries Can Multitask

Washington (GGM) Analysis | May 21, 2020

When a country is unified during a crisis, the way we were following 9/11, as well as Hurricane Katrina, and the devastating Tsunami in 2004, then we can all work together to accomplish more. We do this everyday in our homes. We multitask during the pandemic, while maintaining everything we did before the stay home orders.

Beginning in January 2020, there was one huge headline after the next highlighting America’s largest corporations announcing their climate action agenda’s. Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon, pledged $10 Billion to help fight climate change. Microsoft vowed to be carbon neutral by July 1, 2020, carbon negative by 2030, and to eliminate all the carbon it has pushed into the atmosphere since it was founded by 2050.

Other American corporations soon began following their lead. But when covid suddenly struck, climate progress was quickly back-burnered. It doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, it mustn’t be the outcome. If we can all multi-task, so can our corporations.

Effective leadership is strategic thinking, seeking effective opportunities to accomplish two important missions at the same time, especially when they align so perfectly. Corporations are having to rethink many internal processes. If US corporations took the time to weave climate initiatives into the covid planning framework, the United States would land much further ahead than where we are right now as we scan the horizon and process the massive looming climate crisis barreling toward us.

It was exciting to read in The Star, that Canadian President Justin Trudeau announced to Canadian companies, he would provide government covid loans, as soon as each company let the government know what they were “thinking about” climate. Huarray! That’s the way a leader gets climate action done. ✅

2020, Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment May 19, 2020December 10, 2020

Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan

Washington (GGM) Analysis | May 19, 2020

by Noreen Wise With so much division and chaos in the United States right now, and the worrisome feeling that we’re falling behind on the substantial climate action progress we made in 2019, it’s inspiring to learn of a North American city that is all in on climate action forward motion right now, even during covid. Hurray! Ottawa, the Washington DC of Canada, ROCKS!

Ottawa’s “Climate Action Master Plan” is impressive with it’s simple, straightforward mission statement, tangible targets, guiding principles and priority actions laid out in a concise one-pager. This is the ideal recipe for success. And success in carbon reduction was Ottawa’s prologue in creating their Master Plan: 14% cut in the city’s carbon emissions from 2012-2018, and a 36% reduction in carbon emissions by corporations during this time.

“The Climate Change Master Plan is the city’s overarching framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and respond to the current and future effects of climate.” ~City of Ottawa

Ottawa’s Climate Action Master Plan Guiding Principles:

Responsibility – everyone in the community is responsible and needs to lower energy consumption and mitigate risks
Collaboration – all levels of government, all corporations, all citizens, utilities and stakeholders must work together to effect change and develop solutions
Municipal Leadership – the city will take the lead in fostering a joint partnership between corporations and the community
Coordination – the long term agenda must be strategic and harmonized
Equity and Inclusion – all decision-making processes must be equitable and inclusive

Thank you, Ottawa! We’ll just follow your example.🌳

2020, circular economy, Climate Action, Environment, Nature May 11, 2020May 11, 2020

Redesign of Products & Packaging for Zero Waste

Washington (GGM) Analysis | May 11, 2020
by Noreen Wise

With an aggressive goal of zero waste in many personal products and detergents, new sustainability companies are blossoming, offering everyday essentials sold as solids instead of liquids, which can be packaged in paper or even more simply, without any packaging at all. One company in particular has an expansive zero waste product lineup, the Zero Waste Store.

Personal staples like shampoo and conditioner, and even laundry detergent, have begun capturing consumer attention. Recycling has been a challenge during the stay home orders, resulting in stronger consumer awareness of just how much plastic packaging households toss out daily, and how quickly it accumulates in garages, closets and cars.

I’m very particular in my preferences for personal products like shampoo and conditioner, and have been using one particular brand for many years. In fact, I have a huge crate of empty plastic shampoo and conditioner containers that I have to wash as soon as I have time. The problem is, I’ve become so busy that I never actually do have time. So, the pile keeps growing larger, creating a more daunting task, with no end in sight.

BrightSide-SquareNEWER-400 — Daily conversation focused on how to turn a negative into a positive and land on the bright side. A daily emotional 7 minute vitamin to boost your spirits. Podcast Host, Noreen Wise. Today’s Episode: How developed are your survival instincts? Two key essential traits.

The Zero Waste Store is an online presence with exceptional shipping procedures from a waste perspective:

everything shipped using plastic-free materials
100% water activated paper tape
compostable shipping labels
recycled padded mailers
corn starch packing peanuts
everything 100% biodegradable

There’s no time to waste in confronting plastic waste. Covid has highlighted how imperative it is to be prepared and get out in front of life-impacting crises as quickly as possible. Switching to no waste products during covid, while we’re making so many other changes to our daily routines, is the ideal way to build strong habits during one crisis, that will help alleviate the impact of another crisis.

I can’t wait for my shampoo and conditioner to arrive so I can check it out. ♻️

clean water, Environment March 23, 2020April 27, 2020

Protecting Our Water Supply Now More Than Ever

Washington (GGM) Analysis | March 23, 2020
by Noreen Wise

World Water Day was celebrated across the globe yesterday, Sunday March 22, 2020, and I must confess that I’ve never cared more about clean water than I do right now. In the past month, with coronavirus spreading like wildfire, and the CDC pleading with us to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds, many times a day, my water usage has tripled. When I add in how much more frequently I now do laundry, several times a week to scrub off potential coronavirus germs that I don’t want lying around my home, I’m stunned by how often I think of water.

The moment that pushed me over the edge, however, was when I was out searching for bottled water this week. Nearly every store was sold out. I finally had to pick through a few leftover brands that no one else wanted and found myself hyper-analyzing why no one else wanted them. Why were they left behind? Googling to see where the springs were, so many fears flooded my mind. Was it really clean water, or did the bottling company just turn on a lead lined tap in an old rusty warehouse sitting out by a superfund site that recently flooded after being hit by a water bomb, and I was I going to deeply regret this purchase one day?

There’s already enough to worry about with coronavirus, adding clean water to the list is not something that’s easy to process, yet here I am so concerned that I’m transforming into a clean water advocate / activist on top of being a climate activist. The two seem to go hand in hand.

As a United States Citizen, clean water is something I’ve always taken for granted. I don’t like to admit that. There are certainly many US citizens who don’t have clean water and are forced to suffer the consequences, either by purchasing purified water, or drinking toxic water the many potential health consequences. Sadly, there are several habits we adults have gotten into that we don’t necessarily realize contaminate our clean drinking water supply.

First and foremost, walking our pets on a trail in the forest and not picking up after them (because we don’t think we have to). Guess what? We do have to. Pet droppings are washed into local creeks during heaving rains and land in our reservoirs, contaminating our drinking water. Period. That’s all we need to know. For those who don’t like plastic bags, and I get that, there are long handles pooper shoppers. I spotted a man just the other day with an awesome pooper scooper like the one below. What a simple & easy way to solve a life-threatening problem.

World Water Day is a gentle reminder of how important clean water is for our survival. And since health is on all of our minds right now, and we’re in the midst of changing so many of our daily routines and habits, let’s rise to the challenge and commit to updating our pet maintenance habits as well. No time like the present. Amazon has just hired 100,000 new employees to process the influx of online orders now that we’re housebound.

Let’s GO!