Why Protected Areas Must Consider What’s Beneath the Surface
New research published in the journal Nature Sustainability finds that 85% of protected areas with groundwater-dependent ecosystems have groundwatersheds that may be under-protected. The Gist Protected areas are one of the most well-known conservation strategies, with many current global initiatives focused on expanding and strengthening the management of these areas. Protected area management often focuses […]
IPCC Releases “Final Warning” to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach
As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes a final and urgent call for climate action before it’s too late, SBTi Chief Executive Luiz Amaral explains how the initiative is responding to the challenge, and calls for further action from the corporate sector. The planet is at an inflection point when it comes to climate change. The […]
Mackinac Island Ferry will go Electric with Support from EGLE Grant
Funds also will help install electric shore power at Sault Ste. Marie international dock. A $3.06 million award from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Fuel Transformation Program (FTP) Part 2 will support the first-ever conversion of a Mackinac Island passenger ferry to zero-emissions electric power. Star Line, now known as […]
8 Ways the Circular Economy Will Transform how Business is Done
The circular economy produces goods and services that can be seen as superior in more ways than just the minimization of waste. Benefits of a “circular” business model above a “linear” or traditional approach include better customer support, lower costs and greater resilience, among other advantages. Businesses that don’t adopt a circular approach may see […]
Climate Change Preparedness of Great Lakes Communities: Regulatory Permits & Community Planning are Based on Outdated Precipitation Data
The below is taken from the Executive Summary of the report “Climate Change Preparedness of Great Lakes Communities”, an evaluation of whether regulatory permits and community planning efforts are current and aligned to manage climate change-driven increases in rainfall. Changing rainfall amounts across five cities in the Great Lakes region were examined to understand whether […]
We Need a New Playbook for East Palestine and Beyond
It seems inevitable that the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio would quickly become politicized. We don’t have a time machine to reset the clock and start over, but we can understand and learn from the better practices that might’ve been employed, and perhaps use them going forward for East Palestine and all future incidents […]
How can Canada Deploy an Equitable and Reliable EV Charging Network?
Transportation accounts for 24% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada – the most significant source after the oil and gas sector.(1) Decarbonization of the transportation sector will be a key component of Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. As part of this path to decarbonization, the federal government has recently announced the proposed […]
Contextualizing ESG for the Great Lakes Region
What is ESG? How does it differ from CSR? Many organizations are familiar with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) dating back to the early 1980s when the notion of being a good corporate citizen first became mainstream. CSR is focused on a company’s values and how it builds relationships with a broad range of internal and […]
The Meh-conomy & Matterhorn-sized risks: 12 Themes for a Fragmented World
Takeaways from the World Economic Forum 2023 The skies above Davos were unusually cloudy during the World Economic Forum. The annual winter gathering, on the other hand, had unusual bursts of sun. The global meeting of government, business and community leaders—the first in three years—can’t quite be described as optimistic. But after a year marked […]
How can a Circular Economy help Reduce Railways’ Scope 3 Emissions?
Railways must reduce emissions by 6 percent per year to reach Net Zero by 2050. While railways are one of the most energy-efficient ways to move both people and freight, they must still significantly cut their carbon footprint to meet sustainability targets. According to the IEA, railways must reduce their emissions by 6 percent per […]