The Waggle
Issue 84 Standing Together in the Face of Crisis
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Firefighters spray water on burning structures to contain the rapid spread of the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California.
Wildfire Image / Alamy Stock PhotoTime for Solidarity & Healing | Rajiv Joshi
Our hearts go out to those being impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, including our contributing editors based in California (who are thankfully safe).
From extreme weather events to deepening inequality and collapsing trust, these crises are not isolated—they are symptoms of a larger challenge. The systems we’ve built are now threatening our common future. As we approach the midpoint of this Decisive Decade, we must come together to find common ground and act with urgency.
This means listening to the best minds and voices: scientists, young leaders, responsible companies, and wise elders who have guided humanity for generations. It also means standing in solidarity with communities experiencing the harsh realities of our environmental crisis, including those in Southern California. These fires are a stark reminder of the increasing “whiplash” weather patterns fueled by rising greenhouse gas emissions—patterns that amplify risks like wildfires, floods, and droughts.
In the coming weeks, the communities affected by the fires in Southern California will need significant support. At the same time, we must address the root causes of these crises while ensuring that those impacted—especially in vulnerable regions—receive the help they urgently need. Around the world, those who are most affected are often the least equipped to recover. As we think of families and friends in LA, here are some ways you can help.
When unprecedented crises arise, it’s easy to feel helpless. That’s why it’s essential to stay connected to the solutions and the actions we can take together. At Project Regeneration, we’re committed to helping you discover pathways to action grounded in optimism, hope, and collective courage. Thank you for being part of this movement and for helping spread the word.
From extreme weather events to deepening inequality and collapsing trust, these crises are not isolated—they are symptoms of a larger challenge. The systems we’ve built are now threatening our common future. As we approach the midpoint of this Decisive Decade, we must come together to find common ground and act with urgency.
This means listening to the best minds and voices: scientists, young leaders, responsible companies, and wise elders who have guided humanity for generations. It also means standing in solidarity with communities experiencing the harsh realities of our environmental crisis, including those in Southern California. These fires are a stark reminder of the increasing “whiplash” weather patterns fueled by rising greenhouse gas emissions—patterns that amplify risks like wildfires, floods, and droughts.
In the coming weeks, the communities affected by the fires in Southern California will need significant support. At the same time, we must address the root causes of these crises while ensuring that those impacted—especially in vulnerable regions—receive the help they urgently need. Around the world, those who are most affected are often the least equipped to recover. As we think of families and friends in LA, here are some ways you can help.
When unprecedented crises arise, it’s easy to feel helpless. That’s why it’s essential to stay connected to the solutions and the actions we can take together. At Project Regeneration, we’re committed to helping you discover pathways to action grounded in optimism, hope, and collective courage. Thank you for being part of this movement and for helping spread the word.
The Underwater Oases of Sri Lankan Shipwrecks | Jonathan Hawken
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Thermopylae Sierra Shipwreck near the Colombo coastline, Sri Lanka. (2 mins.)
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Though much of what humans drop into the ocean is demonstrably harmful, and shipwrecks can be tragic events both on human and environmental scales, some have transformed into vibrant ecosystems. These ocean life hotspots create unique and complex microclimates, driving dive tourism to countries such as Sri Lanka, where these archeological treasures can be explored. Some wrecks there, such as the Thermopylae Sierra, a 155-meter-long cargo ship, are even more biologically abundant than nearby coral reefs. This finding led to a study of how these wrecks serve marine habitat regeneration, creating abundant food sources and discouraging bottom trawling. Even discarded buses and train compartments have found their way into the ocean. While they do create hospitable habitats, the materials may not be suitable for long-term use– further study and experiment may prove fruitful. Get some finer details of this story from Malaka Rodrigo via Mongabay, and check out our Coral Reefs Nexus and Marine Protected Areas Nexus.
Tribal Voices Honored with National Monuments | Amy Boyer
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The desert tortoise, seen here excitedly about to eat a dandelion flower, will gain additional protection through the creation of the Chuckwalla National Monument.
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In the final days of his presidency, President Biden is bringing the US 848,000 acres closer to the 30x30 nature targets with the designation of two National Monuments in California: Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands. The grassroots efforts to designate these monuments also call for Tribal co-stewardship of these environmentally and culturally essential areas. The Chuckwalla National Monument is supported by seven local Tribes and conserves culturally important sites and trail systems. It protects threatened species, such as the desert tortoise, while maintaining important renewable energy corridors. It also contributes to the larger Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor, which preserves land along the Colorado River from Utah through Nevada to California. In Northern California, the obsidian mountains, pure lakes, and life-giving springs of Sáttítla Highlands are considered healing by numerous Tribes, including Pit River, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, and Wintu. The designation follows decades of action by the Pit River Tribe and allies to protect the area and the aquifer it feeds, which provides water to much of California. To learn more, see the Land Protection Nexus.
Trinidad's Upcycled, Climate Resilient Homes | Claire Inciong Krummenacher
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Maleah gives us a quick tour of her tiny house, “The Honey Hex,” which she and her husband are constructing using natural building principles that they teach at Wa Samaki Ecosystems. (4 mins.)
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Cement production is currently responsible for eight percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. It accounts for seventy percent of the emissions from producing concrete, the most widely-used building material in the world. In Trinidad, however, a new project called Wa Samaki Ecosystems aims to replace concrete construction with an architectural style that blends traditional climate-adapted Caribbean architecture with sustainable materials such as repurposed grass, clay, and discarded materials. For instance, Trinidadian houses were traditionally raised off the ground to circulate cool air during the dry season and protect from flooding in the wet season, a technique Wa Samaki Ecosystems now incorporates into their designs. The designs also include clay walls that resist sweltering temperatures via evaporative cooling, with recycled tires and plastic waste providing structural support while decreasing landfill waste and methane pollution. In addition, the Wa Samaki team uses vetiver grass to improve the stability of the clay walls and treat leachate from chemicals in the soil. With heat records being broken across the Caribbean, Wa Samaki Ecosystems’ architecture could be key to improving the quality of life for residents as well as decreasing emissions from buildings. To learn more, see Buildings Nexus.
Future-proof Offshore Drilling Ban? | Juliana Birnbaum
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Offshore oil rig at Huntington Beach, California.
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In an eleventh-hour move, President Biden protected 625 million acres from offshore oil and gas drilling across United States coastal waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, Northern Bering Sea, and eastern Gulf of Mexico. Biden may be trying to cement his legacy on climate change and conservation in his last weeks in office, building on areas where there has been bipartisan support historically. Although the incoming President-elect has indicated he may challenge the decision, the action has no expiration date and may be difficult to reverse. It was taken under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, giving the government authority over offshore resources. Environmental groups celebrated the announcement, stating that the ban safeguards marine wildlife and coastal communities from future oil spills. However, the ban had one glaring omission: it didn’t include the western Gulf of Mexico, where the US extracts most of its offshore oil. Despite this, Joseph Gordon, conservation nonprofit Oceana’s campaign director for climate and energy, called it an “epic ocean victory!”
England Announces Grants to Reduce Food Waste | Scott Hannan
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Carrots & potatoes discarded during processing for retail sale in Burscough, Lancashire, UK.
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It is estimated that one-third of global food intended for human consumption is either lost or wasted, amounting to over one billion tonnes of food per year. One governmental organization in England, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), started the year by announcing a £15 million fund to support NGOs that redistribute food that would otherwise be thrown away. Much of the food wasted in England is unsold produce from the country's farms. While most farmers would rather it was eaten by people, charities that redistribute unsold produce lack the means to collect food from the farms and get it to those who need it. The fund will be allocated in £20,000 grants to redistribution services, farms, food banks, homeless shelters, and other hunger-fighting organizations across England. The redistribution of surplus food has been gaining momentum in the UK, with almost 200,000 tonnes of food redistributed last year. Valued at £764 million, this surplus has the potential to provide 450 million meals across the country. England’s recently established Circular Economy Taskforce, tasked with creating a roadmap for England’s transition to a circular economy, has announced its support of the program. Learn more with our Circularity Nexus.
Beacon of Hope for Nature and Climate | George Biesmans
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Roz Savage MP has selected the Climate and Nature Bill as her private member’s bill choice—and it now has the chance to go all the way. (2 mins.)
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The establishment of a Climate and Nature Citizens Assembly to shape the UK’s environmental policy? This is just one of the things that would happen if the landmark Climate and Nature Bill (CAN) makes it through the UK Parliament on January 24th. The Bill, co-written by scientists, would also oblige the government to put nature on a clear path to recovery by 2030 and to cut GHG emissions to zero in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement. It currently has the backing of 216 lawmakers from across the political landscape, while faith leaders, trade union chiefs, and hundreds of organizations have also put their support behind it. Far from being mere words on paper, should it pass, the minister in charge would have a legal duty to implement a strategy to achieve those goals within 12 months of it becoming law. In the words of one of its supporters, MP Roz Savage, the Bill isn’t “just a piece of legislation but a manifesto for our planet’s future” and a “beacon of hope for us all.” As nature and climate action flails globally, opportunities like these at the national level remind us that momentum is building and that we can play our part. If you live in the UK, write to your MP to get them to go to Parliament on January 24th and vote for the Bill.
Take Action on Nexus
Find out how to advocate for the recognition, respect, and enfranchisement of Indigenous Peoples through direct agreements ensuring formal stewardship of their nations’ ancestral territories in our Indigenous Sovereignty Nexus.
Photo Credits
1. Wildfire Image / Alamy Stock Photo
2. Yuval Helfman / Alamy Stock Photo
3. Chad Ehlers / Alamy Stock Photo
4. EnVogue_Photo / Alamy Stock Photo
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