EarthTalk
EarthTalk: Tapping tidal energy
EarthTalk: What’s the latest in tidal energy? —Mary W., New York, NY July 3. Tidal energy—generated from the natural rise and fall of ocean tides—is one of the most predictable forms of renewable energy. Unlike wind or solar, which fluctuate based on weather, tides follow gravitational cycles that are easy to forecast. Despite this reliability […]
EarthTalk: What is Pollinator Month?
What is Pollinator Month all about and how can I participate? —E.T., via email June 27. Every June, people around the world celebrate Pollinator Month. It’s a time to recognize the huge role that bees, butterflies, birds, bats and others play in keeping our environment and food systems going. A big part of that is […]
EarthTalk: How energy companies foil climate activists
Dear EarthTalk: How do oil and gas companies foil efforts by climate activists? —J.L., via email June 13. In recent years, many climate activists have protested against oil and gas companies for their role in exacerbating climate change. Recent examples include the ubiquitous “Just Stop Oil” protests, which have shown up from the Louvre Museum […]
EarthTalk: Who profits the most from global warming?
Dear EarthTalk: Which companies and industry sectors stand to profit the most from global warming? —Jerry M., Largo, FL June 6. According to a report by Swiss Re, a global insurance provider, climate change could erode a total of $23 trillion of global gross domestic product by 2050. But while global warming is a crisis […]
EarthTalk: What is mariculture and why are proponents so bullish?
Dear EarthTalk: What is mariculture and why are proponents so bullish on it as a solution to environmental challenges? —Peter Manchin, Atlanta, GA May 30. Growing demand for seafood adds more pressure to ocean populations. Mariculture has an alternative that can help mitigate environmental challenges and even climate change. This type of aquacultural practice cultivates […]
EarthTalk: Changing climate for climate commitments
Dear EarthTalk: Which U.S.-based Fortune 500 companies are turning their backs on previous climate commitments, and which are forging ahead toward carbon neutrality? – L.J., via email May 16. Many Fortune 500 companies have pledged ambitious climate goals, including net-zero emissions and investing in renewable energy. But while some are making meaningful progress, others are […]
EarthTalk: Why are there so many problems with safe drinking water?
Dear EarthTalk: If we’ve had the Safe Drinking Water Act in effect for 50 years already, why are so many municipalities having problems providing safe drinking water? – Mary Ford, New York, NY April 4. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), enacted in 1974 under President Gerald Ford, established the first comprehensive framework for regulating […]
EarthTalk: Why is wind power suddenly up in the air?
Dear EarthTalk: How is wind power doing in the US? —P.K. via email March 28. Wind energy is the largest single source of renewable energy in the U.S., comprising 10 percent of the nation’s electricity mix. In Iowa and South Dakota, wind provides more than half the electricity. In 2024, U.S. wind electricity generation surpassed […]
EarthTalk: What should we do with old electronics?
Dear EarthTalk: Can we do a better job repurposing outdated technology instead of trashing it? —R.T Smith, via e-mail March 21. The annual production of “e-waste”—electronic products that have reached the end of their useful life and tossed—is rising by 2.6 million tons globally, on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030. While recycling […]
EarthTalk: What about ‘green corridors,’ and how are they useful?
Dear EarthTalk: What are so-called “green corridors” in cities and how do they help mitigate climate change? —Peter Q, Boston, MA March 7. Green corridors, or ecological corridors, are strips of vegetation and natural landscape dispersed throughout a city. From simple, street-lined rows of trees to interconnected networks of parks and pathways, these developments provide […]
