Green Sense Radio

Rob Trice of The Mixing Bowl/Maple Syrup in jeopardy

With the world population continuing to grow, in order to feed everyone, the people who feed the world are in need of connecting with those who are changing the world through technological innovations. The Mixing Bowl works to help make those connections and we’re  joined by Founder Rob Trice.  

 As if climate change affecting coffee, chocolate, possibly wine production wasn’t enough, there’s news that maple syrup could also be in jeopardy.  If current emission trends continue by the end of the century the warm climate will kill the trees that make maple syrup. Ines Ibanez is with the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan and has published research on this possibility. 

Saving polar bears/Environmental Law & Policy Center

Video of a starving polar bear - emaciated and possibly just hours from dying - went viral on social media in recent months and quickly became a symbol of the threat many wildlife populations face because of climate change. Dr. Steven Amstrup has studied polar bears for his entire adult life and currently heads up Polar Bears International.

Attorney Howard Learner is one of the nation's leaders when it comes to environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation. He heads up the Environmental Law & Policy Center and we'd like to dive into a few environmental issues he's been involved with.

Saving National Monuments/Replacing pipes with plants in drainage systems

Millions of acres of public land in Utah are no longer protected, thanks to President Trump late last year reducing the size of both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments in Utah. How much of what is now unprotected land will be stripped away for mining and other purposes? What does this mean for other protected lands in the future? And, how do we protect what could soon become unprotected. We’re joined by Adam Markham, Deputy Director of the Climate and Energy Program for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

 

 

Ingham County, Michigan Drainage Commissioner Patrick Linnemann is internationally known for his drainage projects. They replace pipes with plants, creating wetlands and fountains for public enjoyment.

2017 - the year in green cars/Climate Engine

With a look back on Green Cars for 2017– sales, new technology and other trends inEVs, hybrids and high-mpg cars – we're joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel.

As much of the national conversation over climate change seems tobemainly over whether or not it’s real, anyone and everyone who can get online can use ClimateEngine.org to research all kinds of climate data - current and historic. Here to tell us more is John Abatzoglu with the University of Idaho and co-principle investigator of Climate Engine.

Greening up gift wrap/Redeveloping neighborhoods via food and the arts

Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Years than any other time of year. It adds up 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week. Much of it, from holiday gift wrap that we use once and throw away. Hethyre Baez had the idea to green up gift wrapping with GG Wrap and joins us on Green Sense.

Once-great industrial cities that have deteriorated face unique challenges which are being met by people with the right spirit, attitude, entrepreneurship. And, in the case of El Taco Real in Hammond, Indiana…the right approach to Mexican food! Owner Raymond Garcia is our guest.

Energy from evaporation/Climate change and mental health

We all probably first learned about the cycle of evaporation when we were in grade school. This could be source of energy that rivals  wind and solar power and is, as yet, untapped.  Dr. Ahmet-Hamdi Cavusoglu with Columbia University is one of four researchers who've been looking into this innovation.

We’ve heard a lot about how climate change is having and will continue to have an effect on our physical environment around us and on our own physical bodies. More research is showing how it’ll have an effect on our own mental well being.  Dr. Susan Clayton of Wooster College is one of the authors of a study that looks into how changes in the climate bring about changes in our psychological health.

Greenest cities in America/Treating LF in Haiti

While sustainability and green are part of the national conversation, what matters more is what individual cities have been doing to green up. And, if you check out this new list, how well they’re doing varies widely.  Jill Gonzalez is an analyst with WalletHub which published the new list of the Greenest Cities in America. It includes the 100 largest cities in the US and ranks them.

Next to mental illness, lymphatic filariasis is the leading cause of disability in the world. Many of us have never heard of it, but it is an often overlooked tropical disease. And, food is a way to prevent it. It’s been tried with great success in Haiti thanks to a program with the University of Notre Dame.   We’re joined by James Reimer who’s with the Notre Dame Haiti program.

Steel's environmental edge/Washed Ashore art installation

Steel has been long the material of choice for carmakers. In recent years, aluminum’s been on the rise as they try to make cars lighter in weight. But even more recently, environmental advantages of steel are getting greater notice when it comes to long-term sustainability.  We’re joined by David Anderson from the Steel Market Development Institute.

Art can be a positive way to draw attention to crises. One of them is the global marine crisis and artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi. For the past six years her project Washed Ashore has processed tons of plastic from Pacific beaches to create monumental art to awaken the hearts and minds of people to this problem.   

 

Climate change & coffee production/Nissan Leaf news

Climate change could drastically affect the coffee harvest around the world. A new study written in part by Dr. Taylor Ricketts, director of the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont says that could be the case.

Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive has news on a new all-electric Nissan Leaf all-electric car which is being redesigned for the 2018 model year. He and Robert also have a road test of the hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

World Water Week/Heroic Food

A 40-percent population increase by 2050 means the demand for water used in growing crops and feeding livestock will increase dramatically too. How can we be sure fresh water for food will be available? That and other issues were part of World Water Week which recently wrapped up in Stockholm. Peter McCornick's the Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.

Heroic Food helps men and women returning from military service who can face unemployment, social dislocation, a loss of a sense of purpose and lowered self esteem by preparing them  for careers in sustainable farming, agricultural trades, and food entrepreneurship. Heroic Food director Leora Barish is our guest.

Tom Appel of Consumer Guide Automotive has a road test of the Jeep Compass fuel-saving SUV.