However, the promotion of vegetation and flora in densely populated cities is by no means a new strategy. Some of the first implementations of urban forestry to improve the climate and health issues were back in the 1960s in North America. Throughout the years, these have been more greatly embedded in government policies and programs, which now seek to take advantage of them as natural ways to adapt to climate change. Here are some of the ways urban forestry has proven to be a climate success around the world:

Reduced urban heat island effect

Research from the European Commission found that implementing tree coverage had a noticeable positive impact on overall temperatures. In the study of 93 cities around Europe, the EC discovered that even increasing tree coverage by 30% would lower temperatures on average by 0.4°C, with a maximum effect of a 5.9°C decrease in some areas. These implementations have the potential of avoiding 2,644 premature deaths, and around 40% of deaths attributable to urban heat island (UHI) effects.

Flood protection

As increasing ocean levels become more of an issue in areas such as the east coast of the US, states like Florida are having to adapt to using urban forestry unique to its geographical topography to improve defense systems. The forestry that is being implemented most in this region is mangroves, shrubs, or trees that grow in coastal saline waters. In times of storm surges or high wind speeds, the complex and random structures of these plants help reduce wave energy and debris movement, phenomena which often put cities like Cape Coral and Tampa at risk. What makes mangroves such an efficient urban forestry is that they are also extremely resilient, with capabilities to thrive in waters with high salinity, temperatures, and low oxygen.

Wildlife protection

In August 2020, the Singapore government announced what it called the Sungei Buloh Park Network. As well as being part of a wider project to plant 1 million trees in Singapore by 2030 to restore the country’s mangrove population, it will also provide a healthy habitat for migratory birds and animals, some of which travel from Russia, Alaska, and Australia. It is also home to a rare and extensive variety of plant species, some of which only remain in the hundreds.

Despite the significant benefit of implementing urban forests in our cities, some economic and logistic complications remain. In a conversation with NBC News, Ian Leahy, Vice President of urban forestry at American Forests pointed out the financial weight of installing a single tree, which on average can cost around $300 just to pull up the concrete. 

Additionally, while trees have a remarkable ability to sustain themselves both in nutrition and water, ecologists have explained that the care and maintenance of forestry, particularly in its seedling stage, is just as important as planting them in the first place; currently, there is not a large enough workforce to be able to keep up with the number of trees which need care. 

rPET to Reduce Resource Dependency

rPET, or recycled polyester, is derived from discarded plastic bottles and other waste materials, thereby promoting a circular economy. By repurposing existing resources, it reduces the accumulation of plastic waste. Moreover, the production of rPET demands a striking 59% less energy than virgin polyester. rPET is a versatile fabric and can be used in various types of clothing. Its moisture-wicking properties make it an ideal choice for sportswear and activewear. Moreover, it is easy to maintain and is machine-washable while retaining shape and color over multiple washes.

Yet, despite its promising environmental benefits, there are concerns about the fabric’s quality and the consistent availability of high-grade materials for rPET production. Issues like contamination, varying quality of input materials, and the limited supply of post-consumer PET bottles pose a challenge in the widespread adoption of rPET in the textile industry.

Certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Textile Exchange Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) play a critical role in validating the use of rPET in clothing. These certifications ensure that the production process adheres to specific sustainability and ethical manufacturing standards, providing consumers with the assurance of responsible practices.

Choosing rPET over virgin polyester significantly diminishes the reliance on new, raw materials and reduces the demand for virgin resources.

How useful are ESG ratings/certificates?

In our fight against climate change, we have seen innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, as well as technologies to improve our efficiencies and reduce emissions. But one sticks out more than the others: ESG ratings. 

These ratings have seen exponential growth, from a few notable organizations providing scores to a record 600+ global institutions as of 2019. According to the Rate the Raters 2023 report, this increasing figure of organizations is resulting in a growing “discontent and confusion” about ratings and how they work. 

The question remains then, are ESG ratings crucial to the future decarbonization of our operations? Before we even attempt to chip away at this question, it is important to understand the idea of ESG and its inception. The term has been used for quite some time but was particularly popularized in 2004, in the UN “Who Cares Wins” report, where one of its first recommendations for companies stated:

“Analysts are asked to better incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in their research where appropriate and to further develop the necessary investment know-how, models and tools in a creative and thoughtful way.”

Naturally, the term has come a long way, particularly as many institutions and companies use it to define what activities they need to make more efficient, as well as what industries to invest in. However, we have also seen large levels of fluidity in the terminology, with organizations defining it and framing it under certain metrics and examples. 

The main issue that surrounds this diversified nature of ESG ratings is the lack of comparability due to varying definitions of rating providers. Take a look for yourself: Bloomberg, Refinitiv, and S&P all use a score of 100 to 0, while other competitors like CDP and ISS use A to D-. Given there are thousands of companies to analyze in the market, this incredibly complex network of scoring systems makes it difficult to gauge the overall market and observe which companies are better at meeting certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This creates difficult choices for governments, investors, asset managers, and most importantly consumers in choosing companies that are truly making a positive change.

While difficult to prove on a quantitative level, the abundance of ESG ratings out there represents an increasing phenomenon of the private sector wanting to better contribute towards a greener and decarbonized future. This has also brought to light tools and techniques to help better understand global warming and climate change. There has also been research to show some correlation between ESG ratings and performance. According to an MSCI report in 2021, higher ESG ratings were correlated with improved carbon efficiency, but only in sectors where “climate-change risks and opportunities are highly financially relevant”.

In a Harvard Law forum, Brian Tayan, a researcher at Stanford University, equally suggests ESG may be struggling and not meeting investors’ needs due to the breadth of the subject and the high levels of demand for it:

“Demand for ESG information has in many ways outstripped the ability of suppliers to supply the depth, detail, and accuracy of data required. This is perhaps due to the immense number of factors that plausibly fall under the heading of ESG, the difficulty in measuring ESG factors, and the daunting challenge of determining their impact.”

There is still much work to be done on ESG ratings and certificates, particularly around greenwashing. It is important to note that it should not be seen as a substitute for policy, but has played a key role in bringing attention and capital to sustainability.

Water is becoming an increasingly popular commodity, and fast

Water is what makes this planet so active, diverse, and rich. It is the life force of our ecosystem, supporting the growth of a variety of environments. The United Nations highlights the greater influence and impact of water, stating:

“Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between society and the environment.”

Having what feels like a constant supply, it seems to be an abundant resource. It covers 71% of the earth’s surface, encompassing a range of around 326 million cubic miles. Similarly, our thunderhead clouds are capable of holding two billion pounds of water. 

However, 97% of the earth’s water is found in the oceans, and thus saltwater. Apart from sustaining marine life, this water cannot be used for agricultural or industrial purposes, nor consumed directly. In fact, of the 326 million trillion gallons of water available on the planet, only 3% of it is fresh water. Hard to visualize? Picture this: If the world's water supply were only 26 gallons, our usable water supply of fresh water would be only about half a teaspoon.

It comes as no surprise then that water is attracting the eyes of investors and the world of finance, attracting the status of a commodity within the market. A commodity can be defined as a raw material or an agricultural product that can be bought and sold, at times on an exchange. Back in 2020, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange announced its first-ever futures for water as a commodity, where investors could buy a predetermined price of water that could be used in the future. What was once considered a free and public good has now become worthy of an investment, a signal of what is to come.

In that case, we have to be careful and conservative with how much fresh water we are using. How are we doing on this? Our world consumes, on average, around 4 trillion cubic meters of water every year. The most consuming industries are the agricultural sector at 70% of freshwater, leaving 20% for industrial use and 10% for domestic use. This is putting immense pressure on water supplies, with some regions already suffering from lower levels of water. Below, the map created by the NASA Gravity and Recovery Experiment (GRACE) represents the rates at which all regions on Earth are gaining or losing water.

Yet with technological advancement, there remains hope. Desalination of ocean water remains a key tool for countries faced with unstable water security, specifically in the Middle East. According to scientific research, around 16,000 desalination plants produce nearly 95 million m3/day of desalinated water for human use, of which 48% is produced in the Middle East and North Africa region. Desalination plants produce high emissions and large quantities of brine as a byproduct, but the process is getting increasingly efficient; more organizations are using solar and wind power to desalinate their water, and are finding creative and innovative ways to reuse the brine, such as making sodium hydroxide.

Rethinking Climate Change Accountability

Hello! This is Taarini, and today, I'd like to share something a bit distinct from my usual content in this column. While I've previously discussed informed consumer choices based on sustainable materials and other factors, today, I'd like to offer a more comprehensive view of how these insights relate to the larger context.

In the contemporary approach to sustainability, certain principles play a pivotal role in charting a course toward a more environmentally conscious economy. However, the dialogue concerning climate change has long been overshadowed by an apparent gap between individual responsibility and corporate responsibility. In the current economic framework, a trend has arisen where ecological concerns are often framed as individual responsibilities, which has become a significant barrier to effectively addressing climate change and adapting to it.

The culture of profit-driven markets nurtures the idea of individual responsibility for addressing environmental issues. Within this framework, consumers are persuaded that they are solely responsible for stimulating change through their consumption choices. The pervasive notion that addressing environmental challenges hinges on individual actions serves as a distraction from the bigger picture. Participating in actions like resource conservation, opting for sustainable products, or reducing one's environmental footprint, while admirable, does not offer a holistic solution for addressing the structural aspects of environmental problems. Furthermore, this fallacy disregards the glaring disparities in consumption patterns, often shielding the major contributors to these issues from public scrutiny.

The individualization of environmental problems obscures the essential truth that genuine progress necessitates collective endeavors that transcend individual consumer behavior. Striving for a more sustainable future falls short in addressing the intricate socio-ecological issues at hand, often simplifying them into mere labels and branding while transferring the responsibility of environmental action to consumers. Consequently, it conceals the necessity for more far-reaching reforms, particularly regarding the extent of individual consumption and the activities of corporations.

Addressing environmental challenges demands a profound shift in our understanding of development and economic growth. It necessitates a complete reimagining of our economic system with an emphasis on systemic transformation. The pivotal transition lies in redirecting the environmental narrative from individual responsibility to collective effort. This transformation commences with the recognition that the current form of economic growth perpetuates the status quo.

That's what I wanted to chat about today, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it! I'll be back in the next edition with more comparisons of choices you can make. While I'm away, I recommend reading Green Consumption, Ecolabelling, and Capitalism’s Environmental Limits by Ivan R. Scales who provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between consumer choices, environmental responsibility, and the limitations of our current economic system. Happy reading!

Before we dive deep into this week’s edition, we wanted to share some key takeaways from the 2023 Adaptation Gap Report released earlier this month by the United Nations Environment Programme. The report finds that:

• Climate adaptation progress should be accelerating to compensate for rising climate change impacts, but not enough progress is made.

• It is estimated that developing countries will need US$215 billion to US$387 billion to adapt.

• By investing in mitigation and adaptation now, we can minimize future climate costs.

Now, moving on to the rest of this week’s edition, we have two special articles to share. We explore the upcoming COP28 to be held in Dubai and decisions you can make as consumers when shopping for your next clothing item.

If you read to the very end, we have a prompt you can respond to for a chance to be featured in the next newsletter!

COP28 to be held in Dubai, UAE: What do we expect to see?

Every year as the health of our planet deteriorates, the public and private markets seek to unite forces to tackle the biggest climate issues. Throughout the years, this collective fight has been symbolized by The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP), which has sought to bring to light the most important climate issues and the policies necessary to mitigate and adapt to climate risk. 

The UN climate COP has its roots in what was originally the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. The first official COP however, took place in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, having the main purpose of promoting “the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements”. A climate success from COP1 was also the achievement of creating the ‘Berlin Mandate’, which ensured parties began taking climate change seriously and adopting quantitative objectives and specific deadlines in relation to global warming beyond the year 2000. 

Twenty-eight years later, we find ourselves in the midst of a climate catastrophe. With climate disasters like floods destroying homes and wildlife, as well as droughts decimating crop yields, the need for discussion and resolution has never become more vital. This year’s COP28 is of particular importance, as newer and more implementable solutions will need to be generated to achieve decarbonisation and climate adaptation at a faster rate.  

Beginning November 30, 2023, COP28 is set to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates under the President-Delegate Sultan Al Jaber, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE. The four main priorities which COP28 is focusing on are: fast-track energy; fix climate finance; focus on nature, people, lives and livelihoods; full inclusivity. According to Al Jaber, these broad themes provide a space for “hope, action and solidarity”, but also one in which all stakeholders are heard. More specifically these four categories are spread out over the following climate-related issues:

The reason for which there remains hope in this climate convention is that we have seen progress and positive change come from them. COP events in some cases have proven to create innovative and useful regulations such as the Paris Agreement. This was created in 2015 at COP21, which has the overall objective of keeping global average temperatures below a 1.5°C increase from pre-industrial levels, and well below 2°C. 

The hope for this year’s COP is to encourage the acceleration of governments’ decarbonisation plans as well as improving infrastructure for better climate risk mitigation and adaptation. Some of the key goals set this year will be:

• To triple renewable energy output to 11,000 gigawatts

• Doubling of Hydrogen production to 180 M tons per year by 2030

• A focus on supporting “climate-positive development” across the Global South, specifically to provide more climate finance to developing nations to drive transition

• The integration of National Food System Transformation plans into both their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation plans

Acrylic Fiber vs. Merino Wool

November marks a transition into a new season! We know you may be excited to switch your wardrobe out for new gear, but before you purchase your next clothing item, take a moment to look out for the material it is made from.

Check clothing labels for fiber information like “acrylic” or “polyacrylic.” As online buyers, read product descriptions for fabric details, like “made with acrylic.” Garment labels may use symbols; look for a capital “A” in a circle which signifies acrylic. Acrylic fiber feels synthetic, resembling wool but smoother, often soft and slightly shiny.

Although the global acrylic fiber market is predicted to grow from USD 5.27 billion in 2022 to USD 6.83 billion by 2030, acrylic fiber has a negative environmental impact. With growing environmental awareness, it’s a great idea to consider clothing made from alternate materials and to think about the long-term impact of your fashion choices, both in terms of how long your clothes last and their impact when you’re discarding them.

Merino wool is a natural fiber derived from the fine, soft fleece of Merino sheep. It is generally known for its warm, breathable, and moisture-wicking properties; however some considerations do exist.

I have drawn a comparison between two products: one which is produced from 100% acrylic fabric, and the other which is produced from 100% merino wool.

We invite you to reply to this email and share with us any methods you use to compare pieces when shopping for clothing!

On the other hand, the Chipko Andolan was more than just a forest conservation movement. It offered a profound critique of the larger development process, which appeared to emphasize the interests of the urban-industrial complex over people’s local needs. Forest policies that prioritized economic interests and government control over the forests marginalized the local inhabitants. As a result, the movement addressed essential concerns about peasant access to forests and defended the rights of local people, particularly women, to manage and protect their forests. The people in the area were strongly committed to preserving and protecting the forests that have been an integral part of their lives for generations, citing their long-standing cultural and historical ties to the land.

The term “Chipko,” derived from the Hindi word for “embrace” or “hug,” symbolized the movement’s unique commitment to nonviolence. When loggers arrived to cut down trees, local people, mostly women, would embrace the trees, forming a human chain around them to physically prevent the trees from being felled. This gesture of tree hugging became an emblem of the romantic reunion of humans and nature, as well as the nonviolent philosophy of the movement.

This grassroots movement had a major and long-lasting influence on environmental policies in India, contributing to a greater understanding of the need for sustainable forestry approaches and community engagement in forest management. Following the Chipko Movement and other environmental movements in India, significant policy reforms were initiated. The Forest Conservation Act of 1980, India required the central government to authorize any diversion of forestland for non-forest activities. This act was designed to protect environmentally vulnerable regions and preserve forest cover. Importantly, the Chipko Movement emphasized local communities’ traditional ecological knowledge, which has subsequently been incorporated into modern conservation approaches; emphasizing the importance of indigenous wisdom in the preservation and sustainability of natural resources.

This source offers a valuable perspective on the enduring impact of the movement, the strides made in environmental conservation, and the persisting challenges in the region from which the movement arose!

Climate justice not only addresses the environment but also social and political aspects. Postcolonial nations suffer from historical inequalities and injustices, rendering them vulnerable to climate change impacts due to resource depletion and damaged ecosystems. They lack the capacity, funds, and technology to tackle climate-related challenges like extreme weather, rising sea levels, and food shortages. Rectifying this disparity is integral to climate justice. Furthermore, despite contributing less to global greenhouse gas emissions, postcolonial nations bear the consequences of carbon emissions. Prioritizing equitable responsibility distribution is fundamental to climate justice.

Many postcolonial countries are home to indigenous communities who possess traditional knowledge about managing resources sustainably. Integrating this wisdom into our climate strategies is of utmost importance.

Climate justice is all about global solidarity. It underscores the importance of developed nations supporting postcolonial ones in their fight against climate change. This support includes financial help, sharing technology, and building their capacity to tackle climate issues.

In the end, climate justice and postcolonial justice go hand in hand. They both recognize that addressing climate change isn’t just about the environment but also about amending historical injustice, empowering marginalized communities, and building a more fair and sustainable global future. 

Take some time this coming month to read Ramachandra Guha’s The Unquiet Woods: Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalaya. We encourage you to learn about the past and reflect on the intersection of the social, political, and natural world. Remember, knowledge is the first step to meaningful change!

How hemp can make a transformation on your wardrobe and the planet

About 62% of the fibers used in the fashion industry are derived from synthetic materials which are detrimental to the environment. Here's how you can minimize the environmental impact of your shopping habits!

Consider exploring materials like hemp, which can help reduce pollution, minimize microplastic pollution, extend the life of your clothing, and reduce the overall impact your shopping has on the environment!

While there are some concerns regarding the use of hemp, it remains a versatile and environmentally friendly plant from which hemp fibers are derived. These are often blended with other natural fibers like organic cotton or synthetic fibers like polyester to create fabric. These blends are labeled as “viscose". Hemp fabric is not only durable but also biodegradable, unlike synthetic fabric.

Here are a couple of examples of brands that use hemp in their apparel wear. 

Toad&Co is a clothing brand that uses hemp to make their clothes. Their products are moisture-wicking and antimicrobial. The moisture-wicking characteristics of hemp help keep its wearer free of sweat. This function is particularly useful for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and anybody searching for comfortable apparel in hot or humid weather. Moreover, hemp’s inherent antibacterial characteristics can aid in the prevention of odor-causing bacteria growth, decreasing the need for regular washing. This not only saves water and energy but also increases the lifespan of the garments.

Tentree also utilizes hemp in the production of their clothing. Furthermore, they demonstrate a steadfast commitment to responsible material sourcing. On their website, customers can access comprehensive information about their supply chain, which includes details about their manufacturing partners, factories, and the countries from which they procure their materials.

So, next time you're strolling through the mall on a shopping spree, peek at those clothing labels and watch for details about the fabric content! It's a good idea to steer clear of those with lots of synthetic materials and opt for organic fabrics like hemp.

Innovative AI tools and technologies to better understand climate change

Global warming can be difficult to follow. For example, what do the CO2 parts per million (PPM) tell us about the health of our planet? As climate change ravages over countries and regions, the world is relying more on technology to better understand how our ecosystem is changing. 

Below you will find some of the many innovative and interactive technologies being used in the world of sustainability to better visualize and educate on climate change. 

Climate TRACE

Founded in 2020, Climate TRACE is a global non-profit organization that makes it possible to view global greenhouse gas emissions in real time using AI and machine learning technology. The data, composed of information from satellites and ground-based sensors, gives its users a powerful idea of which countries have the highest level of emissions and also which human and industrial activities are producing the most pollution.

En-ROADS

En-ROADS, which stands for “Energy-Rapid Overview and Decision-Support,” is a simulation tool that allows you to explore different climate scenarios based on a variety of factors such as changes in taxes, subsidies, economic growth, energy efficiency, technological innovation, carbon pricing, fuel mix. 

Earth.nullschool.net (CLEAN)

As part of the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network, this project uses forecasts and large data sets to provide real-time visualization maps showing chemical, particulate, air, and ocean qualities. This can highlight more clearly which areas around the world are affected by which specific problems. 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Interactive Atlas

This is an excellent tool for climate scenarios, using a variety of forecast and historical datasets to inform users about the varying consequences of changes in temperatures. You can explore the difference of a world with a +1.5℃ increase all the way up to a +4℃ rise. 

With private markets catching up on the trend of sustainability, we are starting to notice greater investment in green bonds, funds, and indexes, all being used to improve climate practices or mitigate emissions. But among the hubbub of environmental investments and projects lies an unknown but crucial player. Blue finance. 

According to the London School of Economics, one definition of blue finance is where the “proceeds or sustainability-linked loans or bonds direct finance” towards bringing positive change and improvement to what is known as the ocean economy. 

But what is the ocean economy, and what makes it so important? We are all aware that in the world there are many types of economies, ranging from domestic economies to continental economies. The ocean economy is largely unknown however; it provides countless sources of income, from fisheries, to aquaculture as well as globalization through maritime transport. Sources show that the total ocean economy is valued at roughly $1.5 trillion per year, with total asset value being estimated at $24 trillion. This makes it the seventh largest economy in the world, supporting nearly half the population that depends on fish and around 60 million people who depend on it for work. 

As well as being of economic value, our oceans are indispensable with regard to the climate and slowing down climate change by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Statistics from the United Nations show that the ocean provides 50% of the oxygen the planet needs, all while absorbing 25% of all CO2 emissions and capturing 90% of excess heat generated by emissions. This means the oceans act as an important buffer for our fight against climate change, giving us some form of protection. 

However, climate change is reducing the overall value of our blue economy, and quickly. Global warming and the mistreatment of our oceans are weakening their overall strength and resilience. For example, global emissions have increased temperatures significantly via the greenhouse gas effect, which has had detrimental effects on water temperatures and the wildlife in it. Since 1950, coral populations have fallen by 50% through a process known as bleaching, where the warm or acidic conditions of the water stress them and kill them. These are natural species that are capable of absorbing 70 to 90 million tons of CO2 a year. This is just one of the organisms in this blue economy that is struggling.

A way we see blue finance becoming more of a reality and reinvesting in our oceans can be seen in what are known as debt-for-nature swap deals. This is where a country can have its external debt restructured on more favorable terms in return for investing in marine protection or restoration. In 2015, the country of Seychelles had US$21.6 million of external debt restructured by directing funds for marine conservation and climate adaptation, helping to prop up sustainable fisheries as well as reducing the country’s level of debt.

Blue finance and reinvesting in the health of our oceans will be a crucial step towards decarbonizing our future and achieving a newfound balance with nature and the economy. Institutional investors and governments need to address financing in the blue economy just as much as more conventional green investments such as renewable energy.

This week’s announcements

🚞 Sign us for our in-person event in Washington DC with Patagonia on October 7th or October 8th

📸 We're also looking for a volunteer photographer for both days of the Patagonia event

Why language access is the key to climate adaptation and resilience

As climate change becomes a more prominent phenomenon in our day-to-day lives, we are facing an ever increasing number of climate disaster events. Within these past few weeks, earthquakes and flooding in Morocco and Libya have shown us how frequently our planet is exposed to these threats; and these are just two of the many thousands. 

Yet, in a world of rapid technological advancement where we can predict weather events and geological patterns, we still seem to need to ask ourselves the question: In times of natural disasters, why were we not prepared enough? 

In simple terms, communication is something we are not getting right. According to scientific research, educational tools such as language access services, which are currently underdeveloped, can dramatically improve our preparedness for disasters as well as reduce risk of injury and death. 

During times of natural disaster, access to alerts and information have helped move a large quantity of people to safety. However, these alerts are limited to one or two languages, often English. As a result, during some real-life disasters, a lack of understanding and knowledge of English made reaction times of some communities and ethnicities slower, leaving them significantly more vulnerable. 

A recent example of this was in 2021, during Storm Ida, which swept across much of the east coast, including New York City. Of the dozen NYC residents who died, the majority of them were Asian of descent, who had a limited understanding of English. It is possible they did not understand the meteorological warnings in time. 

The benefits of providing language access are not just to mitigate risk, but also as an educational tool for mass cooperation. In the Haiti earthquake of 2010, doctors who flew in to assist with the many injuries were accompanied by volunteers from Translation Without Borders (TWB), which allowed them to teach the local doctors and nurses treatments and therapies in their languages.

To summarize, access to natural disaster information in multiple languages can be useful in joining largely diversified communities, sending out a universally understood message as quickly as possible. This tool can be used in other contexts as well, like sharing climate information in as many languages as possible. This would also provide a space for specialists in multiple domains to join forces and share ideas. This universality in languages is what we strive to achieve here at Climate Cardinals, providing climate information in many languages and translation services for the purpose of education and international cooperation. 

From the Ptera community…

Hi folks! My name is Llana Arreza and I am a Filipino-Canadian environmentalist who recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, where I conducted research in fish physiology aimed at optimizing Atlantic salmon aquaculture systems. My dream is to use this knowledge and my passion for marine conservation to facilitate systemic change through policy. I hope to pursue a Juris Doctor degree and address systemic issues in environmentalism through legal reforms and aim to explore how policy shapes sustainability efforts within various industries!

I’m Tatiana Bicalho, a rising junior at Wake Forest University, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Statistics. I’m the sustainability chair for my Greek chapter, where I focus on reducing clothing waste. Off campus, I’m passionate about sustainable agriculture, spending this summer WWOOFing in Maine, and working at an education-based permaculture farm to introduce young children to nature and instill a love for the environment.

I am Gyanendra Kumar, a professional with more than 10 years of varied experience in consultancy, mentoring, research, education, concrete, and construction. I have proven expertise in sustainability, sustainable product development, green building design and ratings, waste management, and project management.