Courtney White

Seeds of hope: On Earth Day, the Washington Post asked eleven scientists and conservationists from very diverse backgrounds to share ‘seeds of hope’ about the climate crisis, published here. The brief reflections — all of them based in nature and regeneration — were very moving. I found other short, inspiring reflections here. They’re very heartfelt.

 Claire Inciong Krummenacher

Action for Earth Day: In honor of Earth Day, NPR's Life Kit featured an episode centered on finding ways to enjoy nature wherever we are in the world. It includes an interview with Indigenous anthropologist Spirit Brooks, who shares the importance of including Indigenous acknowledgment in our own land appreciation. Another episode focused on how to live more sustainably, acknowledging the limits of individual actions while engaging with their potential to unlock new perspectives and build momentum for a more sustainable future.

 Tim Treuer

This week in electric vehicles: There was a great Twitter thread pushing back on misinformation on the relative lifetime emissions of EVs and gas-powered cars. Then there was this take in the New Republic on how the EPA could reverse De Joy's decision at USPS to lock in a purchase of $11B in gas-powered mail trucks. Of course, all is not rosy with EVs, and according to the CEO of Rivian, we're facing enormous supply chain headaches for battery metals (to say nothing of huge social issues with the existing mining in many places).

 Robert Denney

Energy innovation in Greece: A couple weeks ago, the country inaugurated the largest double-sided solar farm in Europe, which will power 75,000 households. Greece’s energy minister also recently announced that the country is revising its National Energy and Climate Plan to include a goal of adding 3 GW of battery energy storage capacity by 2030, above an earlier target of 1.4 GW. This comes as the country set a new record on April 4, with renewables comprising 68% of the country’s power production mix on that day.

 Paul Hawken

Banks still backing fossil fuels: It’s 2022 and do you know where your money is? Chances are that your bank or investments are fueling the growth and development of fossil fuels. Net Zero commitments made at COP 26 by the world’s major financial institutions are being blown off in light of rising prices for coal, gas and oil. Net zero for the financial sector means zero credibility.

 Juliana Birnbaum

Cities aren’t waiting for Build Back Better: Despite President Biden's Build Back Better climate and social legislation being stalled indefinitely by Senator Joe Manchin III, at least some progressive action on climate is being taken in the U.S. — such as this heat plan in Boston, Massachusetts. The Conference of Mayors put out this press release on Earth Day last Friday listing accomplishments in this realm including a number of transitions to all-electric city vehicles and an independent renewable energy option for San Jose, California.

 Kavya Gopal

Climate storytelling for creatives: I was thrilled to come across the Good Energy Playbook, a guide on climate storytelling for (screen)writers! The collection of how-to resources for creatives includes a primer on the importance of climate storytelling for action, story seeds for climate solutions, and an interview with Sarah Eagle Heart on climate and Indigenous storytelling.

 Emily Jensen

Fossil fuel companies see future in plastics: One of the most unsettling findings in my plastics research was that fossil fuel companies are quietly shifting resources toward plastic production as climate concerns reduce demand for dirty fuels in the transportation and energy sectors (98% of plastics are made of fossil fuels). This recent piece from Yale Environment 360 explores the complexity of this shift in depressed Appalachian towns and elevates leaders like Rep. Sara Innamorato who are pushing for regenerative solutions over doubling down on fossil fuels.

 Amy Boyer

Debunking false ideas of ‘wilderness’: This is a good explainer on how Western ideas of wilderness have imagined lands as free from human (read: Indigenous) influence, research that debunks that idea, and Indigenous work to reshape the discussion. Meanwhile, the White Earth Ojibwe are using a Rights of Nature approach to try to stop the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota.

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