Gleaning, the simple process of gathering surplus produce from farm fields and even residential backyards, puts food on plates and keeps it out of landfills. It seems like the perfect solution to food shortages, and the people who run gleaning programs across the United States are universally agreed on one point: We have plenty of food in this country to feed everybody, if only we can stop wasting it.

“There will always be excess in the fields,” says Shawn Peterson, director of the Association of Gleaning Organizations. “We could do a far better job of managing it.”

How gleaning can help address food insecurity

In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration identified that over 38 million Americans were food insecure, meaning they did not have an adequate amount of food on a daily basis to meet their basic nutritional needs. At the same time, 21 percent of food ends up in landfills, where that rotting food generates harmful methane gases that accelerate climate change. And as the Covid-19 pandemic fed unemployment in 2020, some 60 million Americans turned to food assistance programs for help, twice as many as in the previous year, but inequitable distribution meant that many communities—particularly in rural areas and among communities of color—still went without.

“There are plenty of fruits and vegetables to go around,” says Nkemdilim Nwosu, director of communications at Food Forward, a Southern California nonprofit that addresses food insecurity and food waste in multiple ways, including gleaning surplus fruit, such as citrus and avocados, from private properties, public parks, and orchards. “The issue is about providing equal access to healthy foods.” 

Gleaning allows organizations like Food Forward to address hunger by focusing on sustainability, building connections between farmers, distributors, and local communities, and directly impacting hungry people in senior centers, veterans’ homes, day care facilities, assisted living, and homeless shelters.

Those connections are invaluable, notes Lisa Ousley, executive director of After The Harvest in Kansas City, Missouri. The nonprofit had already been operating since 2014 when the pandemic hit, primarily focused on working with large commercial growers around the country to get donations of truckloads of already-harvested B-grade fruits and vegetables—millions of pounds of completely edible produce that doesn’t meet USDA standards, such as cucumbers that are more than seven inches long, misshapen bell peppers, or limes that are the wrong shade of green. Gleaning was a much smaller part of their efforts, but it all added up to keeping perfectly good food out of the waste stream and into the hands of those who needed it most. 

But with the onset of Covid-19, Ousley saw a surprising problem as a result of the USDA’s Farmers To Families Food Box program, which was created in the spring of 2020 to address disruptions to the food supply chain by purchasing fresh food directly from producers and delivering it to food banks. “Kansas City was suddenly flooded with free produce,” Ousley says, “but it wasn’t being distributed equitably. That food box program ended up driving our gleaning expansion so that we could focus on our local community and get food to those who desperately needed it.”

Gleaning programs like the one at After The Harvest tend to be volunteer-heavy. People in the community, from retirees to college students, head out to the fields when a farmer has excess produce that needs to be harvested, such as a crop of zucchini that has been pock-marked by a hail storm and can’t be sold at market; in a few hours, those volunteers harvest hundreds of pounds of produce for distribution to food banks and other local agencies. One specialized group of volunteers at After The Harvest is known as the VEG (Vegetable Emergency Gleaning) Squad, responds to farmers on short notice when, for instance, a forecast for a sudden hard frost threatens a tomato crop. The recent acquisition of a refrigerated truck has made it easier for Ousley’s gleaners to get even more produce out into the local community while it’s still fresh—another important step in keeping gleaned fruits and vegetables out of landfills.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, gleaning is one of many strategies being implemented toward “zero waste” goals, including at Community Food Rescue, where they now have six to eight gleans at local farms each year. Program director Cheryl Kollin says, “Food rescue is not the solution to establishing food security or rectifying the waste stream issue, but it is a great solution to the reality that a farmer’s life is hard. They have to hedge their bets against weather conditions, crop failure, and labor shortages—and, in a good year, they might have more than they can sell.”

If that leftover produce isn’t gleaned, then many farmers simply till it over to fertilize the field for the next planting season. However, there can also be crops, often overlooked, that are valuable to immigrant and indigenous communities and worth gathering, says Kollin. One such crop was recently identified by the nonprofit Red Wiggler Community Farm, which called Kollin to ask for gleaning volunteers to harvest the leaves from sweet potatoes—a prized ingredient in recipes across Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific.

“It’s a very labor-intensive process,” say Kollin, “because you have to separate the leaves from the stems, but harvesting them means that we are providing an ingredient that members of the local community value while keeping that crop out of the landfill at the same time.” 

Gleaning is typically referred to as very reactive, because it is often necessitated by a sudden need to gather produce before it rots. However, more organizations are understanding that being intentional can benefit the populations they serve and reduce food waste at the same time, meaning that some gleaners are getting into farming the land themselves. Boston Area Gleaners, which distributed over eight million pounds of food in 2020 alone, is one such group: they recently purchased farmland in Acton, Massachusetts, allowing them to be more proactive in the planning of their food distribution and how they impact the waste stream.

Paul Franceschi, outreach coordinator for Boston Area Gleaners, is excited about how this venture allows them to provide greater food options beyond typical regional staples to their community. “We have feedback from our partners already in some of the crops they’d like to see more of,” says Franceschi, “including a bigger variety of cultural crops that aren’t always available in the emergency food system. We’re getting set to plant okra and collards in the fields soon, among other crops.”

In an ideal world, everyone would have access to nutritious food and far less of it would be wasted. Gleaning advocates know these are big, complex issues to solve.

The Association of Gleaning Organizations noted in its 2020 annual report that it is estimated by the World Wildlife Fund that 10 billion pounds of produce grown globally is never harvested, while one in seven people is experiencing food insecurity at the same time. That wasted food represents 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, almost quadruple that created by the airline industry.

“Hunger is not a production problem,” says director Peterson, “it’s a distribution problem. We have far too much food and a pressing issue of climate change. Gleaning offers a way to empower local communities to use that excess and have a real impact on people and the environment.”

The views expressed in opinion pieces are those of the author(s) and do not represent the policy or position of LIVEKINDLY.

Today we need this magical wisdom more than ever. Climate change continues to weaken and deplete food systems around the world, threatening the most vulnerable communities. Without a just and equitable resolution to the climate crisis, food insecurity will grow and those on the frontlines, most often Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income people, will suffer most. Climate Justice is our superpower—a weapon against both the climate crisis and racism.

How climate change and racism are linked

Tackling the climate crisis, and its consequential food insecurity, requires that we center race in both the discussion and the solutions. The IPCC report directs us to look specifically at Africa, Asia, and Central and South America as regions that will suffer greatly without a response that addresses social inequities and restoration of natural resources. It further specifies that the vulnerability of people to climate change varies by certain factors including, but not limited to, colonialism and marginalization. Talking about the effects of colonialism without talking about race is akin to referring to the Civil War as just a disagreement between states. When the direct metric of race is excluded we fail to directly address the cause of a problem and risk missing groups of people that should rightly benefit from a solution. We cannot do anti-racist work in any arena, including climate change, if the elements of race are disguised, devalued, and ignored.

BIPOC communities have always led climate action

And so, we look back to the original sustainability superheroes. Black, Brown, and Ingenious Americans have a lived experience of survival in the harshest environmental, mental, and physical conditions and are prime to provide innovative ideas that not only reduce food disparity but also anchor climate justice in food systems around the world. 

Indigenous environmental advocate Nemonte Nenquimo of the Ecuadorian Waorani tribe has long practiced the protection of lands while highlighting the nourishing and medicinal relationship between people and forest. She stated, 

“Our ancestral knowledge as Indigenous peoples has enormous value for the rest of the world,” she says. “But it is under grave threat and quickly disappearing. When this wisdom is lost, humanity becomes weaker, and nature is destroyed even faster.” 

A similar relationship exists among the Gullah Geechee people off the coast of the Carolinas. Sitting on the front lines of rising sea levels, floods, and extreme weather events, the island people sustained themselves with the knowledge brought with them from their native countries and respect for nature. And the best climate scientists in the world know this to be true. IPCC Working Group II Co-chair Debra Roberts says, “By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate-resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.”

Anti-racist work will yield climate solutions

Everyone’s work begins with abandoning the stereotypes and dispelling the myths. There is historic intersectionality of climate and environmental issues with equity and social justice issues that can be addressed. Tackling food disparity is a good place to start. These are not two separate issues but instead, two ends of a knot tangled by a history of systemic oppression and racism that overlaps food security and climate. Compassion and action for the planet cannot exist without compassion and action for all the people on it, especially the underserved and marginalized. And so perhaps the biggest myth of all to unpack and deconstruct is tied to the historic love-hate relationship between Black Americans and agriculture.  

Dispelling myths about race, food, and environmentalism

In the Black community, eating greens and vegetables has always been part of the staple diet. In 2016 the Pew Research Center found that Black Americans are more likely to identify as vegetarian or vegan compared to all other Americans. A third of Black Americans are cutting back on their meat intake versus one-fifth of white Americans. And while the United States remains at the top of meat-consuming nations in the world, among the Black American populace who are reducing their meat intake, the reasons most listed are to “improve health” and “the environment.” In 2020, Vegan enthusiast and Tiktok sensation Tabitha Brown, completely revised her role to become an overwhelmingly successful social media influencer with bacon-flavored carrots. Something about the soothing way she sprinkled garlic powder on carrots with such love that it just sounded like an incantation of the ancestors saying, “thank you for remembering the old ways…we are pleased.” 

Marketing teams took note and now even Kentucky Fried Chicken has a plant-based chicken option. Still, mainstream veganism, similar to mainstream environmentalism, is largely considered as being founded, maintained, and grown by white people. In fact, Black experts with lived experience can be a trusted voice to other Black people when it comes to a food lifestyle that is not only germane to Black history, culture, and future existence but is also central to understanding the climate crisis. So often, these voices are excluded and even disenfranchised from participating in the conversation. In 2014, the vegan food site, Thug Kitchen, faced well-founded accusations of cultural overstep. At face value, it appeared to be a Black American vegan space, full of Black American vernacular, ideas, and community. In reality, it was run by a white couple that used Black American terminology to gain an audience. Real and authentic Black vegan food experts described the debacle as a cultural food appropriation. As one expert put it, people rarely go to the second page of the Google search. 

Communities of color are disenfranchised from sustainability

If you peek through the lens of the American period of enslavement, one can begin to understand why it’s difficult for Black Americans to embody the words, “Eat more vegetables because it’s good for the planet.” It ignores our existing cultural affiliation with plant-based living and does not account for post-Civil War systemic barriers that prevented us from doing the very things we were told are good for the environment and our bodies. Most stinging is the self-inflicted victimization it presents to us, assuming that the economic and environmental position with which we find ourselves is of our own doing. How can I plant a garden in the backyard when years of systemic racist housing policies have prevented me from owning the property where the yard sits? If I am able to plant a garden, how do I keep it watered when the water source isn’t fit to drink? Mapping Inequality—a collaborative effort of the University of Richmond, Virginia Tech, The University of Maryland, and John Hopkins University–outlines a clear picture of the communities subject to discrimination yet fall victim to the growing effects of climate change.  It is victim-blaming at its worst, accusing and chastising the abused for not having sense enough to do something so obviously good for all of humanity when in fact, we’ve been well aware of the benefits but have been blocked from access to do the work. Our superpowers are ignored. The ability to bring solutions and justice is cast aside due to the construct of race and the inherent oppression it creates.

The feeling not only breed resentment but also creates yet another barrier to overcome if we are to tackle the looming climate crisis. “We” did not all poison the planet equally so why are “we” being told that “we” must change our lifestyle to accommodate something we had little part in screwing up? The very reason we’re eating what we eat is born from the traumas of slavery and the plain “old school” magic our ancestors were able to accomplish with what was given to us and the cultural accommodations made to adjust to what we had. It becomes very difficult for a person of color to resonate with white, mainstream, environmentally moved, vegan supporters of “cruelty-free” eating for the sake of the planet in the future, when at times, these same people do not exhibit the same sense of compassion for the hunger, suffering, and cruelty of minority people by the police in the here and now.  Understanding these racial-based dynamics are crucial to deploying and empowering minority communities to recover just solutions that work.  

Climate justice is a global effort

But there is a middle ground where justice and anti-racism working together has the potential for tremendous and expedient benefits if everyone is willing to listen. That middle ground is called climate justice and it is spreading. FoodPrint is a program that not only helps people understand the footprint of what they eat but also the connection between social justice, climate change, and food production. And more importantly—why it matters. Footprint Farms in Jackson, Mississippi, helps eradicate food deserts through urban farming to entrepreneurship. The shift is happening as all environmental leaders, regardless of race, class, or creed; recognize the short time left to take bold implementable actions on climate that can innovate and balance our food systems before time runs out. We all have access to climate justice as a powerful weapon to fight climate change.

Broadly adapted from the chapter entitled, “The Cultural Appropriation of Collard Greens” in Heather Toney’s forthcoming book, Before the Street Lights Come On: Black America’s Call for Climate Solutions, forthcoming from BroadLeaf Publishing April, 2023

The views expressed in opinion pieces are those of the author(s) and do not represent the policy or position of LIVEKINDLY.

Senator Marty Klyne reintroduced Bill S-241, also known as the Jane Goodall Act, in the Senate on March 22. If passed, the bill would ban new captivity of a number of wild animals—including bears, wolves, and big cats. This would effectively end the use of exotic animals in roadside zoos, giving wild animals some legal protections in a court of law. It would also phase out elephant captivity throughout the country.

The proposed bill—which is supported by anthropologist and conservationist Jane Goodall—was originally introduced by Senator Murray Sinclair back in 2020. However, the bill died after Sinclair retired from the Senate in 2021.

“Today is an important day for animals. So many of them are in desperate need of our help and the Jane Goodall Act establishes protection and support for animals under human care,” Goodall said. 

“It is a monumental step forward for animals, people, and the environment,” she added. “I am honoured to lend my name to this world-leading legislation that is supported by a wonderful coalition of government, conservationists, animal welfare groups and accredited zoos.”

Canadian bill tackles the issue of animals in captivity

The new bill would impact wildlife attractions across Canada, estimated to number between 100 and 150. 

Removed from their natural habitats, captive wild animals often suffer physical and emotional issues as a result. Insufficient or unnatural diets and lack of adequate physical activity can cause the animals severe distress and zoochosis, symptoms of which include pacing, head-bobbing, or excessive licking.

If passed, the proposed bill would act as an extension to Canada’s Bill S-203, which was passed in 2019. Spearheaded by Senator Sinclair, the “Free Willy” bill phased out the use of cetaceans like whales and dolphins in captivity.

A number of zoos—which would be exempt from the captivity ban—support Bill S-241, including the Granby Zoo, the Calgary Zoo, and the Toronto Zoo. The former, a zoo in Quebec, has announced its intention to phase out its captive elephants over the next few years.

“Given the fact we have to agree that the elephant standards are getting more and more tough to keep them in zoological institutions, and given the fact the bill is coming and we supported it, we have decided as a group in Granby to transition out,” said the zoo’s CEO, Paul Gosselin.

Since the bill bans elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn imports, Goodall said the bill would help put a stop to illegal wildlife trafficking. It would also create a new distinction for accredited “animal care organizations,” such as aquariums, zoos, and sanctuaries, which would be able to continue caring for wild animals. All other organizations would have to apply for a permit in order to breed wild animals or acquire new ones.

The EU plans to introduce the world’s first carbon dioxide emissions tariff on imported and high-polluting goods to encourage sustainability at home and abroad.

A San Antonio architectural firm has just released plans for a binational park on the US-Mexico border, to be built along the Rio Grande river.

Meanwhile, Rwandan researchers have spotted an ultra-rare bat species with a particularly memorable face, and a team of US-UK scientists found a sweet solution to plastic.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Pigs express their complex feelings through grunts

The good news: A study published earlier this month in the journal Scientific Reports demonstrates how pigs vocalize their thoughts and feelings through the various noises they make. By using artificial intelligence, an international team of researchers developed a translator to interpret the grunts and oinks made by pigs. The algorithm was applied to over 7,000 noises made by 411 different animals from a variety of commercial and artificial settings.

The impact: This study represents a potentially significant step forward for animal welfare. The researchers’ translation algorithm could be turned into an app that would allow farmers direct insight into the welfare of their charges. Some might argue that this type of technology is not required to assess wellbeing based on contextual factors. (For example, it found that play and intimacy prompted positive emotions, while fights and physical pain caused negative ones.) But it still represents a unique study that further reveals the complexities of farm animals’ inner and outer lives.

Did you know? Pigs are sensitive, social, and intelligent animals who make nests for sleeping and huddle together to keep warm. Despite popular opinion, they are quite clean and have designated sleeping, wallowing, and toilet areas. In addition to cooling their skin, rolling in mud helps to clean off parasites. Pigs also dream, sing, and have excellent memories. (They are able to find their way home over long distances and if they find food in one location will remember to check there again in the future.)

How you can help: Learn more about pigs and the issues they face from Compassion in World Farming here. While there are some charities, farms, and shelters that cater specifically to pigs—such as the UK’s Pigs in the Wood or Pigs’ Peace in the US—there is likely a local or regional group rescuing a variety of farm animals near you. Also in the UK, there is the Dean Farm Trust and FRIEND Animal Sanctuary, while US sanctuaries include Animal Place, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and countless others. (Learn more about Dan McKernan, the founder of Michigan’s Barn Sanctuary here.)

The EU is set to introduce the world’s first CO2 tariff

The good news: The EU plans to introduce the world’s first carbon emissions tariff on high-impact imported goods by 2026. The importation tax will affect imports such as steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, and electricity—all potentially high-impact industries that must shift towards sustainability in order to mitigate climate change.

The impact: While the details are yet to be finalized, the tariff will hopefully encourage stronger environmental rules and more sustainable practices overall. The three-year transition phase will begin in 2023, and the details will likely be discussed and approved by the end of the year. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire says that a “sizeable majority” supported the decision.

Did you know? The EU hopes to cut its collective emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels by the end of the decade, which will require further investments in green energy, technology, and sustainable infrastructure. But an import tax would help to create a “level playing field” to prevent the undercutting of EU companies by those operating elsewhere. Le Maire explains: “We’re making the effort to reduce carbon emissions in industry. […] We don’t want these efforts to be of no avail because we import products which contain more carbon.”

How you can help: Learn more about the potential impact of carbon tax from the Center For Climate and Energy Solutions here. Several websites offer a free personal carbon footprint calculator, such as Carbon Footprint, to give you some idea of what your own impact is. Avoiding carbon-intensive transportation, eating more plants (and less meat), and shopping ethically, locally, and minimally, all help to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

The US-Mexico border is getting a binational park

The good news: Overland Partners, a San Antonio-based architecture firm, just released its plans for a US-Mexico binational border park. The park will be built along the Rio Grande river (known south of the border as the Río Bravo del Norte), stretching across 6.3 miles of land along both sides of the water, as reported by Dezeen. It will also connect the cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, just four miles away. (The transborder region is popularly known as “the Two Laredos.”)

The impact: The new project was conceived as a way to restore the area’s ecosystem, celebrate the joint culture of the Two Laredos, and to help revitalize the economy. While the two cities practically operate as one day-to-day—including an essential flow of workers in both directions—US authorities closed the border between March 2020 and November 2021 due to COVID-19, meaning that both cities’ economies took a significant hit.

Did you know? The Rio Grande is at the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the three most biodiverse places in the entire world. Covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern US, the desert is home to over 130 varieties of mammal, 110 freshwater fish, and well over 3,000 plant species, to name just a few of its inhabitants. Its also home to five million people, many of whom are directly reliant on the 172,000 square mile Rio Grande basin. (It provides freshwater to at least 16 million people from both sides of the border.)

The new project will combine ecological conservation with new infrastructure in order to best serve all of the inhabitants of the Two Laredos and the Rio Grande Basin. It will also specifically embrace the idea of two cities living as a single community. It notably runs contrary to the aura of nationalism surrounding the Trump administration which led to the controversial, harmful, and widely derided border wall. 

How you can help: Learn more about conservation in the Rio Grande from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) here and here, or read on to hear more about the catastrophic impact of the border wall on humans, wildlife, and biodiversity here and here. Support the Trust For Public Land and learn about its ongoing projects in the area here. 

Ultra-rare bat species spotted in Rwanda

The good news: Researchers just caught a Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hillorum) in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda. This is the first time that the nocturnal mammal has been seen since 1981. The region, located in southwest Rwanda, is extremely biodiverse and contains the largest remaining piece of woodland in the country. It’s what’s known as an old-growth “cloud forest,” meaning its characterized by canopy-level vapor clouds.

The impact: Now that researchers have confirmed the survival of this rare bat species, they can track its movements using non-invasive acoustic monitoring. It’s likely that the bats are concentrated in a core area. The researchers believe that focusing conservation efforts in the Nyungwe Forest National Park means that the remaining population could be protected.

Did you know? Rhinolophus bats are thought to be critically endangered, but because of their elusiveness, the scientific community knows surprisingly little about the species’ behaviors, habitats, and conservation status. They have a unique appearance, with prominent folds called “nose leaves” occupying the majority of their faces.

“When we caught it, we all just looked at it and said, ‘You look ridiculous. Look how big your nose leaf is,’” said Jon Flanders, the director of endangered species interventions at Bat Conservation International, as per Mongabay. “We feared the species may have already gone extinct.”

How you can help: Learn more about Nyungwe Forest National Park and its work here, and learn more about Rhinolophus bats from Bat Conservation International here. You can also donate to support the NGO’s valuable work directly.) You can also volunteer at or donate to the Bat Conservation Trust, the only UK charity that is solely dedicated to protecting bats. 

Sugar alcohols can be used to make sustainable plastic

The good news: A study produced by a UK-US research team and published in the scientific journal ACS reveals how to improve petrochemical-free sustainable plastics. Whereas many plastic alternatives can be brittle, with limited application, using sugar alcohols can give sustainable alternatives “properties comparable to commercial plastics.”

The impact: The team created two compounds from the sugar alcohol: isoidide and isomannide, which can then be used to create polymers, the basis of many man-made materials. While the two compounds have similar compositions, they can each be used to create a variety of useful and sustainable plastics. For example, the isoidide-based polymer is both stretchy and strong, while the isomannide-based variety behaves like rubber. Between them, they could be used in products ranging from milk cartons to fishing lines and tires to sneaker soles.

Did you know? The science behind this study could also be used to create polymers with completely different properties and characteristics, and potentially can be used in the creation of sustainable materials with “unprecedented mechanical properties.” Traditional plastic is a huge problem. (In fact, in the last Good Climate News we covered the new “Paris Agreement of plastic pollution.”) Around eight million pieces of plastic pollution enter the ocean daily, and in a single week each of us could be eating up to five grams of microplastics via food, water, and even air.

How you can help: Read on and learn about more scientific solutions to plastic pollution here. You can also cut back on your own plastic waste as much as possible by recycling, reusing, and shopping sustainably. (Litter-picking is always a good idea, too.) Learn more about how to Zero Waste your kitchen here, and read about how California’s Mango Materials is producing a sustainable plastic alternative by capturing and using methane here.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

The history of recycling

Modern recycling programs were founded out of concern for the environment. They first began appearing in the US in the 1960s and 1970s, but their history goes back much further than that.

Before the industrial age and mass production, products could not be made as cheaply or rapidly as they can today. As a result, most people practiced recycling in one form or another, though perhaps not in the way we associate most with the word today.

For example, during the 19th century, fast-fashion and the concept of a “throw-away society” did not exist. Most people reused, repaired, and upcycled clothing, household items, and anything else that could be salvaged rather than discarded.

It is also likely that people had a much more direct relationship with the creation and maintenance of their possessions, perhaps understanding more of the work and materials that went into creating them, leading to greater respect for their cost and value.

Rationing and scrap collection during World War II led to increased recycling efforts in the 1940s. Households were encouraged to sort their tin cans and metals, nylon, rubber, and paper to contribute to the war effort. Garbage collection had already begun in the US in the late 19th century, so workers sorted the usable from the unusable on conveyor belts—much like they do today.

However, the 1950s saw the birth of throw-away-culture, and by the 1970s, landfills began to overflow. Some environmentalists began recycling by taking their own sorted waste to private recycling centers themselves.

While admirable, this was deeply inefficient and created its own carbon footprint via each individual’s transportation, and the inconvenience of traveling to recycle items also discouraged many. But in 1980 the addition of curbside recycling in some cities and regions helped to encourage more widespread participation in recycling efforts.

Today, recycling is much more mainstream.

Recycling today

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the disposal of waste to landfills has decreased from 94 percent of the total amount generated (1960) to approximately 52 percent of the amount generated (2017). But proportionally, the US recycles much less of its municipal waste than other wealthy countries.

Analysis by global risk consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft estimates that the US produces around 12 percent of global municipal solid waste. On average, Americans recycle just 35 percent of the total waste produced. This equates to approximately 234 pounds (106.2kg) per person, per year. For many, the lack of convenient access is a major impediment.

However, if you’re able, here are some general tips on how to recycle properly and effectively.

What can be recycled?

A common source of confusion is not knowing exactly what can be recycled, or how. The best way to find out what your local recycling services are is to check with your local municipality. There are also plenty of general guides and other resources available online to help figure out what to do with both everyday and unusual items and materials.

Food recycling company EcoScraps offers a simple overview of recycling rules, boiling it down to three main tenets: recycle all bottles, cans, and paper, keep everything as clean as possible and make sure plastic bags are kept separately.

In the US, there is no national law that refers to recycling services or processes. As a result, state and local governments typically design and operate their own recycling requirements and services.

American businesswoman and lifestyle icon Martha Stewart has a state-by-state guide shared on her website. It even includes contact details for each relevant government body and how to get in touch for further clarification.

Some cities, including San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Seattle, and states, including New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts, have compulsory recycling legislation.

Many proponents of national legislation claim that the reason that the average recycling rate in the US has plateaued at approximately 34 percent is the discrepancies between different state’s recycling infrastructure.

What can’t be recycled?

Some items simply can’t be recycled, no matter where you live. These include plastic-based hygiene products such as floss and disposable razors. Cling film is impossible to recycle, as is the netting used to wrap citrus fruits. The best thing to do is to avoid buying items packaged in these materials, and opt for loose, bulk items instead.

While avoiding plastic bags and similar packaging might seem like an obvious choice, it’s also worth looking into the sustainability of the available alternatives, including the overall environmental cost of recycling them.

For example, while paper may seem like the perfect replacement for plastic, recycling paper-based packaging still has a significant carbon footprint. Also, there is frequently a limit to how many times a material can be recycled.

Recycling is infinitely preferable to landfill. But generally, it’s still better for the environment to swap disposable and single-use packaging of all kinds for long-life reusable alternatives. Canvas bags, textile sandwich wraps, and washable containers are all increasingly commonplace, and far more sustainable in the long run than any single-use items. (Providing you do keep and use them long-term.)

Can fabric and clothing be recycled?

In addition to the increased production and consumption of clothing—around 400 percent in just the last 20 years—the quality of clothes is also deteriorating. This means that their fibers can’t be reused as effectively, and, much like plastic and paper, there is usually a finite number of times that textiles can be recycled at all.

Modern fabric, in particular, is extremely difficult to recycle. The blended nature of most current, cheaply-produced clothing means that it is difficult to separate into its distinct parts. Globally, just 12 percent of the textiles used to produce clothing is effectively recycled, and the EPA estimates that almost 85 percent of all discarded textiles in the US are either burned or deposited into a landfill.

The average American person is thought to throw out approximately 37 kg (81.5 pounds) of clothes per year. While around £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill in the UK per year, according to British charity the Waste & Resources Action Program (WRAP).

A report by WRAP estimates that the annual footprint of a typical household’s newly bought clothing—plus washing and cleaning—is equivalent in carbon emissions to driving an average car for 6,000 miles or filling 1,000 bathtubs with water.

The most effective way to combat this waste and its impact on the environment is to repair, reuse, and pass on clothing before it has to be recycled into its constituent parts. Looking after clothes and repairing them when they break significantly extends each item’s lifespan.

Buying second-hand

Repairing, reusing, and upcycling clothing can also save you money, particularly if you buy better quality or harder wearing items second-hand. COVID-19 has contributed to a boom in online thrift, vintage, and charity shops. Many people are now also choosing to buy and sell old clothes online via websites such as eBay.

By purchasing second-hand items already within the waste supply chain—and then selling, donating, or recycling them—the reduction of your impact on the environment is twofold. There are a variety of local and national resources online which advise where to pass on your unwanted clothing. Zero Waste lifestyle blog Trash is for Tossers has compiled a list of item-specific organizations.

While the fashion industry is still far from perfect, it has come a long way. Today, many major brands are looking to incorporate sustainable processes into their business models. Thinking about your own role as a consumer—for example, whether you support sustainable brands, shop second hand, or repair and reuse your clothes—contributes to its progress towards a more sustainable future.

The future of recycling in fashion

There are many innovative new trends that aim to minimize waste, particularly in the global fashion industry. This move towards sustainability is one of necessity. In 2018, the clothing sector was responsible for more greenhouse gases than France, the UK, and Germany combined—a huge 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2, and approximately four percent total global emissions.

Even mainstream brands such as H&M—which has previously been criticized for its use of child labor and burning unsold clothes (as recently as 2017), as well as union-busting (2019)—are now attempting to incorporate the idea of a circular economy and sustainable fashion into their business models.

H&M is currently part of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular Initiative, and even launched an in-store clothing recycling system in Stockholm called “Looop.”

Recycling presents a unique challenge to sports brands, many of whom have also received criticism for their labor practices and use of synthetic fibers and microplastics. Several companies, including Nike, Adidas, Vivobarefoot, ON, and Salomon, are working on recycling programs.

Some brands also incorporate recycled materials such as ocean plastic and textile waste into production, others are working on fully recyclable products, and outdoor labels such as Patagonia and North Face are already offering to buy-back used clothing to refurbish, upcycle, and sell it on at a reduced price.

Across the fashion industry as a whole, there is an increased emphasis on switching to sustainable and biodegradable materials such as hemp, bamboo, and even soybeans, in place of high-impact textiles like cotton, synthetic blends, and animal-derived materials.

Why is recycling important?

Overall, the impact of reducing, reusing, and recycling—a mission statement with unknown origins but by 1970s environmentalists—is huge. First and foremost, it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, thereby conserving energy, natural resources, and land.

It also prevents pollution, which impacts both local communities and the world’s natural ecosystems. Finally, recycling creates jobs. The EPA’s 2016 national Recycling Economic Information (REI) Study revealed that recycling created 757,000 jobs and $36.6 billion in wages over the course of a single year.

In general, there is an increased awareness of inefficiency in the production, use, and disposal of some everyday items, and many environmental and social experts suggest a global move from a linear economy to a circular one.

In short, this means keeping resources in use for as long as possible with regular upkeep, then recovering and recycling the component materials at the end of their useful life. Maximum efficiency, and minimal waste—something that we can all strive towards.

If you’re interested in cutting back on your household waste, check out this guide to zero waste kitchen and pantry essentials.

The pledge is part of the city’s new ​​Climate Action Plan, announced on March 13. It aims to fulfill the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The move makes Mumbai—India’s booming financial hub—the first South Asian city to set such a target. 

The pledge also puts Mumbai in a position to achieve carbon neutrality 20 years ahead of India’s national goal. During the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, in Glasgow—India’s ​​prime minister, Narendra Modi, unveiled its plan to cut its carbon emissions to net-zero by 2070.

“Today India is moving forward on the subject of climate with great courage and great ambition,” Modi said during his speech. “For many developing countries, climate change is looming large over their existence. We have to take big steps today to save the world. This is the need of the hour and this will also prove the relevance of this forum.”

India is the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, following China and the US. In 2021, India’s energy-related carbon emissions grew by more than 10 percent. This was mainly due to an increase of coal usage for generating electricity, reports the International Energy Agency.

Mumbai aims to cut carbon emissions

Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan targets the city’s energy, waste, and transportation sectors. 

It includes measures for a zero-landfill waste management plan, increasing green spaces, and building energy-efficient infrastructure. It also outlines a goal of electrifying the city’s public transportation, with an intent of purchasing 2,100 electric buses by 2023.

A 2021 analysis by the World Resources Institute India found that 95 percent of all electricity consumed in Mumbai is based on coal. As a result, the city’s energy sector is responsible for more than 70 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Mumbai will allocate a $6 billion annual budget, including funding from the state of Maharashtra to its plan. In transitioning to a decarbonized economy, Mumbai aims to convert to clean fuels and renewable energy. 

“As promised in August 2021, the city now has a decisive plan for climate action,” Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray wrote on Twitter. “With this strategy in place for collective implementation, we have taken one step closer to safeguarding our future and that of the planet.”

In a first-of-its-kind case, the environmental law charity will argue that the board’s inadequate preparation for net-zero will ultimately harm Shell’s future and the prosperity of its investors. If the lawsuit is successful, this would mean Shell’s 13 directors are in breach of the UK Companies Act, which legally requires leaders to practice reasonable “care, skill, and diligence.”

The court would most likely then force Shell’s board to update their climate and net-zero strategies moving forward. Shell would also have to outline specific, transparent steps to align company operations with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming.

“Shell is seriously exposed to the risks of climate change, yet its climate plan is fundamentally flawed,” explains climate accountability lawyer Paul Benson. “In failing to properly prepare the company for the net-zero transition, Shell’s Board is increasing the company’s vulnerability to climate risk, putting the long-term value of the company in jeopardy.”

The announcement follows Shell’s notable 2021 general meeting, which saw up to 30 percent of shareholders vote against the board members and in favor of a resolution to introduce Paris Agreement-aligned targets for emissions reduction. The company is now facing growing internal and external pressure to do more in the face of worsening climate change.

ClientEarth calls for all supportive shareholders to join its internal litigation and force the Shell board members to recognize and address their lack of action so far.

Lawsuits can help hold companies like Shell to account

While Shell maintains that its existing strategy is adequate, experts suggest that it will fall well short of the emissions cuts required. (The company’s net-zero target is 2050, compared to others’ goal of 2030 ahead of the 2050 cutoff for carbon neutrality.) Instead, Shell is currently on track for a 4.4 percent overall increase in emissions by the year 2030.

“Shell’s shareholders need certainty that the company is using their capital effectively in its navigation of the global energy transition and is genuinely pursuing the climate goals that it says it is,” says Benson.

A separate landmark environmental lawsuit against Shell concluded last May. In the “People versus Shell,” a Dutch court ruled that the company is liable for its enormous contributions towards climate change and must significantly reduce its CO2 emissions. This verdict was also a first-of-its-kind, and while Shell still seeks to appeal, many still predict a wave of lawsuits in response to a major fossil fuel producer finally being held accountable.

Shell is one of the 10 most climate-polluting companies in the world and reports annual revenue of over $350 billion. In 2019, the total pay plus bonuses for CEO Ben van Beurden alone came to approximately $22.5 million. (For context, the average US salary for that year was just over $50,000, which Beurden earned 450 times over.)

ClientEarth has emphasized that its lawsuit also reflects the best interests of the company, its employees, and its shareholders. This is because the longer the board delays action on climate change the more suddenly it may have to adjust as the industry and accompanying legislation change.

Read on here to learn more about the importance of environmental law in fighting emissions.

Meanwhile, Australia’s mighty humpback whales are officially no longer on the nation’s endangered species list. And Yellowstone, one of the most famous national parks in the world, just turned 150.

In the UK, a new survey indicates that urban-dwelling hedgehogs are increasing in numbers, thanks to concerted conservation efforts and the prickly mammal’s enduring popularity. Finally, repurposing wind turbine waste could be the next big trend in sustainable construction.

Here’s this week’s good climate news.

Leaders work to address the blight of plastic pollution 

The good news: World leaders met in Nairobi, Kenya, last week at the UN Environment Assembly and agreed to begin work on a legally binding treaty to tackle plastics once and for all. Representatives from 173 different nations have agreed on the resolution, which will cover the “full lifecycle” of plastics, including production, design, and disposal. It has been compared by many to the Paris Climate Agreement, due to both its importance and public frustration on inaction so far. The resolution will also mark the first time that low-paid waste pickers are officially recognized by such legislation, a significant and meaningful development.

The impact: As plastic production continues to increase, and as recycling measures fall short, pollution has become one of the most important environmental issues of the moment. The new treaty is urgently needed, and as with fossil fuels and the climate crisis, humanity must adjust its excessive and unsustainable dependence on plastic. The agreement will be negotiated over the next two years, but United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) director Inger Andersen has warned that participants must keep working on the problem of plastic pollution in the meantime.

Did you know? Around 8 million pieces of plastic pollution reach the ocean per day. It’s in wildlife, the earth, the air, our food, and even in us. But around the world, people are finding ways to prevent plastic waste from becoming pollution. Some companies are turning trash into hard-wearing building blocks, while others are using recycled ocean waste to make litter pickers, both synchronous and effective solutions. Some scientists have even found a way to turn plastic into vanilla flavoring by breaking it down with enzymes.

How you can help: Cutting back on your own plastic waste by purchasing recycled or reusable products can make a huge difference. But plastic is everywhere, from clothing to makeup, and transitioning to zero waste and low-impact products where possible will help minimize your overall footprint. While litter picking may feel like a drop (of plastic) in the ocean, it’s easy to do whether you’ve got five minutes or an afternoon. Organizations like the National Trust and Surfers Against Sewage regularly organize beach cleans, but you can easily organize your own with some friends, trash bags, and thick work gloves. (Be safe.)

Australian humpbacks are no longer endangered

The good news: Australia just removed humpback whales from its endangered species list approximately 60 years after whaling came to an end. Today, the population is estimated to be around 40,000 individuals, up from just 1,500 at the height of the industry. The decision is a welcome success for Australia, where the ecosystem is rapidly reaching a breaking point. (Just last month, the koala was officially declared endangered due to falling numbers.)

The impact: Whales are incredibly important for entire ecosystems, the oceans, and the world itself. They are a keystone species, which means they play an irreplaceable role in their natural environment and prop up countless other species by the very existence. (The health of whales can even be used as a barometer for overall marine health.)

Did you know? Along with other marine animals, like sharks, whales help to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere throughout their lives. So humpbacks, which are one of the huge “great whale” species, sequester an average of 33 tons of CO2 during their lengthy lifespans. They can grow to more than 50 feet in length and weigh in excess of 40 tons, while males create and sing songs that can be heard up to 20 miles away. Whale songs, in general, are widely thought to be one of the most sophisticated forms of all animal communication.

How you can help: The best way for people to help whales is to help reduce their environmental footprint, as global issues like climate change and plastic pollution mean that humpbacks and other marine animals will face growing obstacles in the coming years. Cutting back on seafood will also help reduce your impact on these deep-sea giants, as will being ocean conscious during all trips and travels. Support whale conservation through organizations such as the WDC, the WWF, the Ocean Alliance, and ORCA.

Yellowstone National Park celebrates 150 years

The good news: The US’s iconic Yellowstone National Park turns 150 years old this year, and its inhabitants are thriving. Established as a park in 1882, Yellowstone is located primarily in Wyoming but also reaches into Idaho and Montana. It’s home to nearly 300 bird species, 16 fish, six reptile, five amphibian, and 67 mammal, including bison—a previously endangered, herbivorous ungulate that has inhabited the region since prehistoric times.

The impact: Yellowstone has been home to some of the most notable conservation and rewilding successes, from bison to grey wolves. (At least 95 of the latter currently live in the park itself, with around 528 in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.) As noted by National Park Service director Chuck Sams, Yellowstone’s sesquicentennial is also an opportunity to celebrate the birth of the entire national parks system, both in the US and around the world.

Did you know? While Yellowstone’s many successes are worth celebrating, it’s also important to note that Indigenous peoples have lived on and cared for the region for thousands of years until they were pushed out of the park entirely. There are 27 current Tribes with historic connections to the land now contained within Yellowstone. Many experts, advocates, and activists suggest that returning national parks, conservation areas, and other stolen areas to Native stewardship would represent a combination of environmental and land justice.

How you can help: You can learn more about the rewilding of wolves in Yellowstone here, and check out the NPS’s guide to supporting the network here. Volunteering at, donating to, and sharing your love of national parks all help to make a difference. If visiting Yellowstone, remember to treat the flora, fauna, and trails with care and respect. (You could be walking on tracks through the ecosystem that have existed for thousands of years of human history.)

The UK’s beloved urban hedgehog population is back

The good news: While smaller in size than humpbacks or bison, hedgehogs are a popular visitor in UK gardens. The new State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report describes a stable urban population that shows signs of recovery, thanks in part to everyday conservation efforts like hedgehog highways to link gardens, hedgehog homes, and feeding stations.

The impact: Hedgehogs are currently listed on the UK’s red list for mammals as vulnerable to extinction, and their overall population has decreased by a third since the year 2000. According to the new report, rural populations are continuing to fall. This is primarily due to Britain’s shocking habitat destruction and lack of biodiversity, which is affecting hedgehogs’ homes and food. Fortunately, urban efforts to save the animal offer a glimmer of hope.

Did you know? Hedgehogs have been present in the UK for at least half a million years, and the nocturnal critters were voted the nation’s favorite mammal back in 2016. They are nocturnal, which makes accurate population estimates tricky. They’re also called hedgehogs for a reason, thanks to their predilection for undergrowth nests and the pig-like grunting noises they make when foraging.

How you can help: The national “Hedgehog Street” conservation initiative (established over a decade ago by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species) has helped to popularize hedgehog awareness. Many of the same rules for encouraging bugs, pollinators, and other essential wildlife applies to hedgehogs, namely to make your garden as diverse and untidy as possible! The charity has a whole page here dedicated to helping hedgehogs, or you can donate to support their work.

Engineers are upcycling wind turbines into bridges

The good news: There are now two bridges in the world made out of disused wind turbine blades. One was built last year over the Szprotawa River in Poland, and opened at the start of 2022, while another has just been installed in County Cork, Ireland. Reusing the blades as bridges is a promising idea as it keeps the existing materials out of landfills and reduces the impact of new construction projects.

The impact: Wind is an important way of generating renewable energy, but people are still figuring out what to do with the enormous blades once they reach their end of life. (The US is currently removing around 8000 old blades per year, and Europe is taking down nearly 4000.) While other components can be recycled, the blades themselves are made with fiberglass, and the vast majority go to landfills.

Fiberglass is useful due to its strength and durability, but it is not currently recyclable and, when broken up or damaged, its particles can be harmful to human health. However, innovative solutions like the above that repurpose the blades into new materials (or up-and-coming technologies that promise easier recycling) could change this.

Did you know? Wind power is one of the most sustainable and efficient ways to generate renewable energy, and it has become one of the most popular sources of power in the US. In addition to energy generation, the industry also helps to create jobs and supports economic growth in the surrounding areas. Wind power is likely to increase in popularity in the coming years, along with hydro and solar power, both similarly clean sources of energy.

How you can help: Keep up to date with the companies and organizations working on reusing wind turbine blades, such as Re-Wind and ANMET, and advocate for recycling and reuse wherever you can in your life. A circular economy is by far the most sustainable, and as the world changes in response to global warming and other environmental factors, we will have to focus on repairing and valuing what we already have. Building materials, and even wind turbine blades, are no exception.

Looking for more good climate news? Read the previous installments here.

Countries are currently not doing enough to mitigate the problem, and unless action is taken immediately, the climate crisis is likely to spiral out of our control. If this happens, the entire planet will be affected, and no human-inhabited region will be able to escape climate change’s devastating effects.

While much of the above information may sound similar to what was already common knowledge, this latest report (written by 270 researchers from 67 countries) shows the real extent of both the damage done and the further disastrous consequences we can expect.

Governments have not invested enough in necessary adjustments, companies have not halted their harmful practices, and wealthy, western countries have continued much as they did before, albeit with a guilty conscience and veneer of greenwashing. As a result, coastal communities and those in the global south are already experiencing the worst changes.

UN Secretary General António Guterres described the new IPCC report as an “atlas of human suffering,” and a “damning indictment of failed climate leadership.” He added: “the facts are undeniable. This abdication of leadership is criminal. The world’s biggest polluters are guilty of arson of our only home.”

‘Half measures are no longer an option’

This release is one of three updates on the current state of the climate crisis that will make up the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. The first publication, finalized in August of last year, focused on the physical science basis for global warming. (LIVEKINDLY covered that here.)

The most recent installment concentrates on the impact itself, humankind’s vulnerabilities, and areas where adaptation will be essential. The third report, expected in spring, will delve into the potential solutions that may yet help us mitigate the ongoing warming process.

The latest release is dismal, but it’s not without solutions for politicians, businesses, and organizers to act on. While we can all learn from these, it’s important to note that the responsibility lays firmly with governments, legislators, policy-makers, and corporations to help transform society into one that can provide future generations with a liveable existence. 

“Climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks,” says IPCC chair Hoesung Lee. “Half measures are no longer an option.”

4 ways to make climate change less devastating

Transition to renewable energy

One of the best ways to reduce overall warming is and has always been a global transition to renewable energy, as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas is the main cause of climate change.

For context, keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—the threshold set by the Paris Agreement—compared to pre-industrial levels would require the world to eliminate practically all fossil fuel emissions by 2050. But right now, we are on track to reach somewhere between 2 and 3 degrees warming before the end of the century.

This is also not as simple as just switching to electric cars, as EVs will be charged on a grid that is still mostly powered by fossil fuels. In reality, the transition to sustainable energy needs to incorporate every single aspect of production and society.

It’s worth noting here that dealing with climate change simply isn’t going to get any easier than it is right now, and if appropriate action isn’t taken, catastrophes will only worsen in a devastating cascade of knock-on effects. The time for a slow-but-steady move to sustainable energy was 30-plus years ago. Now, we need to make the change as fast as possible.

Prioritize conservation globally

Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems is fundamental to climate resilience. But we are currently in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event, and scientists predict that over one million different species are on track to be eradicated in the coming years.

The majority of world leaders already talk the talk when it comes to conservation, but biodiversity is still falling, deforestation is still happening, and unsustainable practices like bottom trawling, recreational hunting, and factory farming are still harming conservation areas.

Conservation also isn’t just about preserving what’s left. The most important habitats, valuable plant life, and effective carbon sinks—like mangroves, rainforests, and peat moorland—must also be restored to their former glory as soon as possible. Rewilding, replanting, and reforestation efforts are essential in the restoration of nature.

But currently, many mangroves are destroyed to make way for agriculture, Amazon deforestation is at an all-time high, and the UK is comprehensively burning its most valuable carbon-storing moors. It’s past time for a reality check on our treatment of the natural world, and there must be a global shift from exploitation and dominance to protection and restoration.

The transformation of…everything

This idea of adaptation runs throughout the new report, which specifically references short-term versus long-term change. While incremental development represents a step in the right direction, embracing transformative adaptation—dramatic changes to the way we do things—will help us get away from harmful systems and embrace our now-inevitable collective future.

For example, modernizing farming to reduce its impact on the environment can be partnered with making agriculture more resilient to climate risk. The report notes that specific effective adaptation options include “cultivar improvements, agroforestry, community-based adaptation, farm and landscape diversification, and urban agriculture.”

This would address both the problem of continued warming and our future in an already changed world. There will be more heatwaves, worse drought, and countless other adverse impacts that are already far more widespread than previously predicted. (Around 50 percent of the global population currently faces severe water scarcity in some capacity.)

Measures to protect the land against flooding caused by rising sea levels are already being set up, but for some coastal communities, this is too little, too late. Adaptation will also only take us so far, and if temperatures keep rising many parts of the world will be unable to adjust to such a dramatically altered environment. Even if people do adapt where they can, there needs to be a huge increase in infrastructural investment around the world to facilitate this.

Investment in the future, right now

One area that absolutely requires further investment is healthcare. Health systems must be supported in such a way that they are prepared for the problems of the future, from additional zoonotic diseases (a distinct possibility, according to study author Colin J. Carlsson) to heatstroke and dehydration. Even in wealthy countries such as the UK and US, healthcare remains fraught with inequality, and is frequently undermined by politicians and the media.

In general, wealthy nations are both the most responsible for climate change and the most adaptable to it, whereas lower-income nations will require external financial support if they are to prepare for further warming. But the leaders who can provide it have yet to adequately step up. Wealthy nations previously pledged over $100 billion per year by 2020 to help with infrastructure and adaptation abroad, but since the initial promises were made this has fallen short by up to $20 billion.

Climate change has already worsened injustice and inequality worldwide, and will continue to do so unless it is addressed in a meaningful, egalitarian, and globally-minded way. Wherever there are people, there must be new money invested to create infrastructure that supports adaptation. And for many small island nations, who are already among the worst affected, this could even mean large-scale relocation further inland. A heartbreaking and expensive endeavor that deserves international recognition and support.

This is our final chance to avoid the worst of climate change

Throughout the IPCC’s new report, there are descriptions of ongoing and potential calamities, devastation, and inevitable consequences due to a lack of action on climate. We are now right down to the wire, ultimately because governments, companies, and the ultra-wealthy have not done enough with the window of opportunity we previously had. But there is still just enough time to ensure that the very worst predictions don’t come to pass.

Overall, there has been a global focus on the here and now, stopgaps, and short-term solutions that have enabled the western world to continue much as it did before. But a common thread running through all of the above points is the idea that we need to start thinking about the future in a big way, and embracing transformational change.

That means planning ahead in a way that will involve all of us rethinking how we live, how we eat, how our homes are constructed, and how we protect nature. It could potentially mark the end of an era of extreme and decadent excess, replaced by a more holistic attitude to the world around us. Priorities will shift, and governments must anticipate this—and the obstacles we face as a species—rather than holding onto a past that is no longer viable.

Cabrera is dedicated to improving science communication and finding ways to help people emotionally connect with environmental problems. We sat down with the biologist to talk about why the media is a key tool for motivating people, how politicians can step up to protect the ocean, and what inspires her to keep going.

LIVEKINDLY: Growing up away from the beach in Arizona, a lot of your love for the ocean came from the things you had access to, including documentaries like The Cove and Blackfish. You’re not alone: Last year, we saw Seaspiracy inspire many to reduce their fish consumption! Why are documentaries such a powerful tool for influencing consumer behavior?

Carissa Cabrera: Nowadays, alongside social media, documentaries are where most people get their environmental information. They’re so powerful because they’re able to tell a story that evokes emotion, and that’s something that is always removed from science. In documentaries, the topic becomes humanized. I think we saw that with Seaspiracy, and we definitely saw that with The Cove. Yes, there’s the shock factor of learning something you didn’t know. Maybe you’re not pleased with the information you’re hearing. But there’s also this inspiration that happens at the end, when you’re shown the actions and behaviors you could take to help. I absolutely think documentaries are the most powerful tool we have when it comes to helping the planet.

LIVEKINDLY: Your nonprofit, the Conservationist Collective, is working to utilize digital storytelling and media to motivate individuals to do their part for the planet. What sort of projects are you working on right now?

Cabrera: One is our podcast: Sustainability & The Sea. We sit down with people who are working to save the ocean in different areas, and they tell us their story. The goal is to help inspire listeners to find their unique role. We also had a National Geographic grant, which we used to teach kids about the ocean and climate change. We also work with media companies to help get information out there about behaviors that can help save the ocean. I feel like it’s a trailblazing time. The social media world is opening up so much.

LIVEKINDLY: Ocean conservation is personal to people like you but it’s political as well. What action would you like to see governments and politicians actually take? 

Cabrera: We have so many climate solutions in the ocean. People are trying to scale them right now. If we could get governments and elected officials and leaders to prioritize funding, I think we would have an amazing shot at solving a lot of the challenges of climate change. There are so many win-win solutions when it comes to the ocean. Because if you save a species, you’re also preserving the ecosystem and the food chain that the species is a part of. It’s almost like a ripple of waves that ends up helping the rest of the ocean, too.

LIVEKINDLY: What’s an example of somewhere ocean conservation is working really well? Is there a place we can learn from?

Cabrera: There’s a lot of indigenous knowledge about proper management in the ocean that can help solve a lot of challenges. A good example is in Hawaii, we have a monument called Papahānaumokuākea. The government and native Hawaiians are working together to properly manage it. It’s the largest group protected area in the world. And it is thriving. It’s a great case study for things that we can do in other parts of the world too.

LIVEKINDLY: Science is renowned for being male-dominated, do you find there are unique challenges to being a woman in this field?

Cabrera: It can be hard to speak out on these things due to the fear of retaliation or criticism and stuff like that, but it’s universal. What I’ve noticed is that it’s women actually doing the intense work, then it often gets completely rewritten by a man after. But I think that’s something that women can relate to in many different fields. The patriarchy is all around us. I can also never choose what to wear out in the ocean. I need to be able to balance being professional, being functional, working alongside people who I want to take me seriously. We all just wear leggings and rash guards. It’s terrible. It’s not functional. But I don’t want to be hyper-sexualized in a professional setting. I did a women’s workshop and all of them said the same thing. That’s the worst part. 

LIVEKINDLY: How would you like to see marine biology evolve?

Cabrera: When I think about my ideal future for marine biology, I think of more participation from women and from people of color. There’s a lot of inequality. Because of the way that acquired marine biology experience is structured, most of it is unpaid, which is a privilege that most people can’t afford. I would love there to be more equity, more funding.

LIVEKINDLY: It’s clear that preserving and protecting the ocean is your passion in work and in life. But it can’t be easy – marine life is so under threat from fishing, from oil, from plastic pollution. What inspires you to keep going?

Cabrera: I love what I do, but I struggle with knowing how many parts of the planet need helping. Right now, I’m part of a project that is helping to raise financial backing for conservation in Hawaii, because it’s something we really need here. If it passes, it’s probably going to be the proudest moment in my career. But when I think about the moments that have stuck out to me—one time, a sea turtle was hooked, and we got to free it. It was very elaborate and physically exhausting, but I knew that if we didn’t do it, it wasn’t going to survive. Knowing that the reason something is better because of me is the best part of my job.

Find out more about Cabrera and her work with the Conservationist Collective here.