Around the world there are alarming reports of catastrophic floods; extreme drought and heat conditions; unprecedentedly ferocious wildfires; and reduced harvests. An article in the 9/9/22 issue of Science magazine provides some insight into the global dynamics that underlie these widespread impacts.
Read MoreThe anguish that is gripping our society after the horrific murder of George Floyd, and so many other black and brown people, reveals a rising tide of anger…The underlying causes of systemic racism are connected to the factors driving climate disruption. There is a recognition and readiness for profound, transformational change.
Photo: Crew members aboard the International Space Station take numerous images of the Earth to record the images that provide NASA scientists with data to gain a deeper understanding of our Planet.
Read More… Indigenous communities are disproportionately at higher risk of adverse consequences with global warming of 1.5°C and beyond. … Though indigenous peoples have developed sophisticated knowledge on how to adapt to a changing climate and are known to be very resilient, climate events may now be occurring at a faster rate than they can naturally adapt, as is the case for many living species on Earth. … Indigenous communities are the first to understand and discuss how a changing climate is affecting them. Minerva’s Karl Van Orsdol shares insights from his research with indigenous communities in northern Canada and South Africa.
Read MoreThe house is on fire and we stand idly by, wringing our hands.
UN Congress of Parties (COP) in Madrid ended without sufficient new commitments to meet the target of keeping warming to below 1.5 °C or even 2.0 °C. … Even without strong national leadership from the U.S. President and Congress, what can each of us do? … Regenerative Design is a term to describe this approach to systems improvement that builds human capacity and the capacity of our urban, rural and wilderness resources, as well as creating financial returns, increasing knowledge, social equity and resilience. By taking wise action, we can create meaning and joy in the face of hopelessness and despair.
Read MoreHealer and writer Carolyn North shares her perspective on confronting the global calamities humanity has created and how to live with joy in the meantime.
Read MoreAre you feeling anxious about the climate emergency? Here are some ways to direct that worry into action.
Read MoreAmongst all the scary news that CO2 levels have surpassed 415 ppm, a million species are facing extinction and oceans are being choked by plastic and toxic pollution, there are rays of hope. Individuals, governments and corporations are stepping up to take bolder action.
Read MoreThe recent storms and floods in the Midwest, fires in the west, and the prospect of Sea Level Rise in the Bay Area present opportunities to plan for and invest in rebuilding that is regenerative and resilient.
Read MoreThe Minerva Ventures team regrets to share this sorrowful news. We worked with Joe for many years and appreciated his kind heart, deep knowledge and his passion for the role of transportation in making communities vibrant, equitable and sustainable. The Transportation Choices for Sustainable Communities Research and Policy Institute will strive to carry on his work and honor his memory. Please read on to learn more about his legacy.
Read MoreThe Agreement at COP 24 provided a process for countries that are struggling to meet their emissions goals to get help in getting back on track. When world leaders signed the Paris agreement in 2015, they said they would try to limit the rise in global temperatures to roughly 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels to avoid climate-related disasters like widespread food shortages and mass coral die-offs.
But with global fossil-fuel emissions still rising each year, we are now likely to exceed that temperature threshold in the next 30 to 35 years. Currently, the world is on pace for around 3 degrees Celsius of warming or more by 2100, bringing far higher risks of deadly heat waves, floods, the collapse of polar ice caps and other potential calamities.
Under the auspices of The Rockies Institute, a Canadian NGO, Karl Van Orsdol had the opportunity to present their research on the impacts of climate change on rural and indigenous communities at the UN Action Hub, a circular venue in the heart of the COP 24’s center. The Action Hub was designed to provide a space to showcase and appraise climate action initiatives.
Read MoreClimate change is not just an existential threat. Climate change is fundamentally interfering the way the living and geophysical systems of the planet operate. Therefore, we must transform everything…
Read MoreThe Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco from September 12-14 was a thrilling call to action. Mae Jamison, astronaut, spoke of the fragile beauty of the earth, isolated in space. Read on for some highlights from the week.
Read MoreRecently, Minerva’s Karl Van Orsdol, completed a climate vulnerability assessment project in the town of Kuboes, South Africa. Kuboes (Population 1,000) is an isolated indigenous community of Nama Peoples located in the Northern Cape province which, like Cape Town some 600 km to the south, has been reeling under the affects of a major drought. Click to find out more…
Read MoreUpdate on Karl’s adventures in South Africa 1) to build a rain water collection system at a school which had no permanent water source, and 2) to study the way that rural communities like Kuboes are adapting to the changing climate in South Africa. Click the link to learn more…
Read MoreI never expected to see the picture of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals all over Osaka, Japan this spring…Please read on to find out what is happening over there…
Read MoreSuicide is on the rise throughout the U.S. Can we design communities to reduce isolation and increase connectedness and resilience?
Read MoreHumans must transform how we related to the earth and to one another so that we repair and restore the life support systems of the planet. We are but a thread in the web of life and simply tweaking our behavior to be "less bad" or to gradually reduce carbon emissions will not suffice. We need to take bold actions for restoration, based on an understanding of complex systems. We need to cherish and nurture the Earth systems and resources and not exploit them.
Read MoreTwo new films make the case for nuclear energy solutions for climate change. Read about the new films “The New Fire” and “Pandora’s Promise” and join the debate on nuclear energy. Is it necessary for a renewable energy future, or are the hazards too great? Many climate activists are taking a second look.
Read MoreThe future of self-driving cars and drone deliveries has a dark side. Is there hope for a brighter future?…
Read MoreI used to be an optimist. Then I started listening to climate scientists and looking at data trends that show that the geophysical systems that create the conditions for life and agriculture on the planet have been thoroughly disrupted....
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