Enviro News and Views: The 8 Most Interesting Environmental and Sustainability Conversations from the Past Month
From spending $1000 to stop climate change to a jigsaw puzzle made of ancient dust: check out this collection of the 8 most interesting environmental and sustainability discussions for this month. We aim to keep you informed, engaged and part of the ongoing scholarly conversations.
1. How should I spend $1,000 to stop climate change?
Umbra answers the question as to how $1,000 is best spent in order to help the environment. This article is full of crucial information as to which organisations are worth funding, and how complicated it can be to rank the climate solutions most worthy of funding. Find out more here.
2. How banks could bail us out of the climate crisis
Banks are beginning to reconsider their massive lending to the fossil fuel industry, in part due to pressure from activists. Bill McKibben explores how banks could, potentially, be one of the solutions to the climate crisis, instead of one of the fuellers of it. Find out how here.
3. A jigsaw puzzle made of ancient dust 
From a South Pacific expedition, a research team brought back an object which can help explain the severe cooling of the last Ice Age. Could an understanding of the composition of dust help to learn more about climate change? Find out here.
4. Climate crisis breaks open generational rifts in US families
Young people are becoming increasingly concerned about their futures due to the increasing threat of climate change, with young activists such as Greta Thunberg leading school walkouts and demanding action. Often however, a sense of despair and outrage among young people over global warming is being met with indifference by their older relatives. Read about the significance of these generational rifts here.
5. The ‘market’ won’t save us from climate disaster. We must rethink our system
Robert Devine explains how the unnatural disaster of climate change is a direct result of the structure of our economic system, making climate change one of the greatest market failures ever seen. Find out about how, by rethinking our systems, we could become forceful citizens.
6. Climate explained: why do humans instinctively reject evidence contrary to their beliefs?
As part of the ‘Climate Explained’ series, this article explores how we can encourage people to change their minds about climate change, the causes of climate change denial and how we might begin to persuade people to believe differently. Read it here.
7. Are animals eating all the human food? 
A question of diet: if humans stopped eating animals, would there be enough grain to feed the world? Umbra explores the pros and cons of a vegan/vegetarian diet, and how significantly dietary decisions impact on our carbon footprint.
8. Racial equality requires environmental justice
Not all communities are affected equally by the consequences of climate change. Numerous studies have proven that “black and brown communities are disproportionately impacted by pollution, including toxic waste sites, air pollution, pesticide exposure, unsafe drinking water, and climate disasters”. Environmental justice is an essential part of the fight towards racial equality. Find out more here.
