Avocados have become a staple in many US and global households over the past 30 years. It’s on toast, in sushi, and warming up in a pan as oil. The Mexican fruit has seen a rapid increase in demand, mainly from North American countries, because it’s considered a delicious and nutrient-dense food source.

Stand in front of your wardrobe for a moment and imagine every T-shirt, dress, and pair of jeans tracing its way across the planet after you’re done with it. Most of those garments don’t quietly “disappear” into a donation bin or recycling stream.

As wildfires rage, oceans rise, and extreme weather events strain vulnerable communities worldwide, the question is becoming increasingly urgent: Do people have a universal human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment?

While people may be used to the notions of fishing for food and drilling for oil and gas, another marine resource has increasingly caught the attention of governments and companies: metals and rare-earth minerals.

A pile of discarded smartphones, laptops, and tangled cords might look like trash. In reality, electronic waste (e-waste) is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream.