1.What’s trending?
Going car-free
Many major cities around the world are banning cars while others are providing free public transport to encourage car free lifestyles.
High pollution levels from transport contribute to the greenhouse effect and a deterioration of the ozone layer. The entire transport sector contributes 14% of all green house gas emissions.
It is estimated that around 3.8 million premature deaths annually are attributed to outdoor (ambient) air pollution. According to World Health Organisation’s (WHO) most recent survey of 4300+ cities worldwide, average particulate air pollution levels in many developing cities can be 4-15 times higher than WHO air quality guideline levels, with only 20% living at levels below this.
Some of this pollution is because there are billions of cars in the world. Although sales of more efficient vehicles, such as battery operated vehicles, are on the rise, it’s not enough to really reduce the ‘smog cloud’ that many cities endure. In addition, around 63% of cars on the road carry only the driver. This means more traffic jams, congestion and high levels of pollution.
Car sharing or car pooling is one way to reduce emissions and pollution, while enjoying the experience of getting to know other ride-sharers. Many companies are encouraging their employees to take public transport or car share. Sharing transport is good for the planet and people with direct benefits for businesses in terms of improved staff well-being and reduced costs.
2.What’s impacting the industry?
It is estimated that urban population will drive a new city to be formed every month that is the equivalent of adding another New York City. Buildings contribute to 6% of global carbon emissions, while the housing sector uses 40% of the planets total resources and represents one third of greenhouse gas emissions. As this is only expected to grow, the sustainability industry will need to step up and deliver huge innovations in materials such as steel, cement, wood and all of the products that support urban living, if this development is to be sustainable.
3.What technology is available right now?
Some of the most interesting green construction materials include transparent wood, utilising potato peels and finding inspiration from a spiders web. Hempcrete, bamboo reinforcements (instead of steel) and recycled plastics may also play a role in future construction. Diversion of plastic from land-fill into new products could play a big role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding plastic from going into landfill and reducing the further accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean. There are also examples of plastic waste being used to build schools for disadvantaged children while at the same time helping to cleaning up playgrounds and play areas.
Instead of mining, extracting, and milling new components, there are many possibilities to utilise exiting materials and transform them into usable construction materials. This possibility also extends to human waste.
4. What are we listening to?
Sustainability Defined
Each episode of their podcast focuses on a single topic that pushes sustainability forward. They explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within their organizational tree, and help their listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
Great starting point or if you want to dig into a topic!
In this episode they cover Climate Advocacy & how you can get involved. Their expert guests, Brady Walkinshaw, CEO of Grist, and Varshini Prakash, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sunrise Movement give ideas for action.
4. What are we watching?
There is no industry more connected to nature than Agriculture. With increasing pressure on all sides it is good to immerse yourself into other worlds such as India so that you can understand the decisions you make, closer to home.
300 million farmers is a whole lot of famers. India is their home, making it the country with the largest number of small-scale food growers in the world. Most of these farmers own less than 2 acres of land and are highly vulnerable to climate change and rising input costs. Increased crop failures and indebtedness are pushing a lot of farmers in India out of farming. But in the Tehri Garwal region of Northern India, farmers continue to farm sustainably using a traditional rain fed farming practice called Baranaja.
Baranaja is a Hindi word comprising of two words – Barah, which means twelve, and Anaja, which means grains. It is a practice of growing twelve or more native crops in a synergistic combination. These crops not only include food grains, but also oil seeds, pulses, vegetables, and spices.
All of the seeds used are indigenous and climate resilient. Only organic manures and fertilizers are used and the practice of mixed farming and crop rotation ensures better soil health. All this helps farmers keep their costs low and harvest bumper crops even during extreme weather conditions. Thanks to ‘Save The Seeds’ movement started by Vijay Jadhari in 1980s, farmers in this region are less susceptible to debt and crop failures.
The concept of Baranaja elucidates how traditional knowledge and organic farming can spell sustainability for millions of small-scale farmers working in climate sensitive communities across the globe.
Quote we are contemplating:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu.