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New AI-Guided Approach Leaves Vegetables Pesticide-Free Farmers from the Salinas, California, US, area gather for a laser weeder demonstration on a lettuce crop. ©Carbon Robotics Imagine a tractor-sized machine that sees the difference between crop and weed, then kills the unwanted plant with a focused beam of light—no herbicide required. That device is already being tested  in New Jersey by Rutgers University scientist Thierry Besançon, an associate professor with the Department of Plant Biology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. According to a Cornell Chronicle   study  and summary , recent multisite field trials across New Jersey and New York found that deep-learning–guided laser weeders matched or outperformed several common herbicides in vegetable plots (peas, beets, and spinach), cutting final weed biomass by about 97% and increasing crop growth in treated plots. The machines combine  high-resolution cameras, artificial intelligence classification, and steerable lasers to target a weed plant’s growing point (meristem) while leaving crops unharmed. Commercial systems such as Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder are already in use on US farms. Adoption considerations include  capital cost and speed. Trials show  the technology excels on many annual broadleaf weeds when treated at early growth stages (cotyledon to two-leaf)—for example, species such as common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album ) and common ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ). By contrast, the systems are less effective on weeds whose growing point (meristem) is protected below ground (as in many grasses) or on species with a prostrate habit such as common purslane ( Portulaca oleracea )—because the laser cannot reliably target the hidden germinating tissue. Additionally, a study  on the perennial grass Elymus repens  (couch grass) shows that while laser treatment can kill above-ground shoots, root/rhizome regrowth may persist, meaning repeat treatments or combined strategies may be required. These findings indicate the best fit for the technology is early-emerging broadleaf weeds in row-cropped vegetables and similar settings. For organic and conventional growers facing rising herbicide resistance and labor constraints, AI-driven laser weeding offers a promising, chemical-free tool—one that Rutgers researchers like Besançon are actively evaluating  in real farm conditions to understand performance, limits, and practical costs. This video  is from a camera fixed to the underside of a laser weeder machine and shows weeds being zapped as the machine rolls along the rows. ©Carbon Robotics

Video of life on a sustainable production set. Hollywood’s carbon footprint is hard to pin down because “Hollywood” —shorthand for the U.S. film and TV industry—is spread across states, studios, and worldwide productions. Moreover, many variables are involved, such as production size (multimillion-dollar blockbusters vs. indie shorts) and location. Below are highlights of what researchers and industry groups have found about the industry’s emissions:   According to a Sustainable Production Alliance  (SPA) report in 2021, a tentpole (very large budget) film averages about 3,370 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent over its production phase, which is, according to TIME ,  the  “equivalent  of powering 656 homes for a year.” Smaller films (with lower budgets) average closer to 391 metric tons CO₂e, according to the Green Production Guide . On big productions, fuel (for lighting rigs, vehicles, generators on location) can account for roughly 48%  of the emissions. Emellie O’Brien, founder and CEO of sustainable production watchdog, Earth Angel, told TIME : “Most sets have a bunch of idling trucks and generators because we are basically a traveling circus. Around 30% of fuel goes just to power massive generators, and a big chunk of the rest to transportation.”  Hollywood has been making efforts to clean up its act. The 2004 action drama  The Day After Tomorrow  made history by focusing on the climate and becoming the first production to offset its 10,000 metric tons of emitted carbon. Earth Angel  estimates that a “single production’s average [environmental] impact” includes 638,291 pounds of waste generated, 74,000 single-use bottles used, 531,577 miles flown, 101,618 gallons of fuel consumed, and 1,049.9 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent emitted. For television, SPA’s data show that a one-hour scripted drama episode emits, on average, 77 metric tons CO₂e.   The Green Production Guide  offers a production toolkit called A Note to Filmmakers that sets out green production principles that include “conserving fuel and energy, avoiding toxins and pollution, saving water, reducing plastics, and preventing landfill waste.”

How Liquid Nanoclay Can Help Turn Sandy Lands into Fertile Farmland By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe* Video  highlighting the recent Liquid Nanoclay collaboration between Desert Control, the University of Arizona, and Oasis Date. The Earth’s massive deserts, and their persistent efforts to keep swallowing up nearby lands, have long been the bane of farmers and agriculture. Desert sands blow away, are impossible to shape, and retain no moisture.   But the barrenness of the deserts may finally be coming to an end. Nanotechnologies are emerging to turn desert sand into a rich, nutritional soil that can be compacted, hold water, and become suitable to grow crops.   These technologies offer hope that the world’s deserts—the second largest land biome after forests—can eventually be made fertile and filled with life.   Desertification Still Spreading The twin problems of soil loss and soil degradation are continuing to impede human and environmental flourishing.   According to the United Nations, 12 million hectares of fertile land are lost to desertification  each year , representing an annual $490 billion loss to the global economy. Researchers further estimate  that 52% of agricultural land today is degraded. Taken together, desertification and soil degradation are linked to increased water consumption—especially in areas where water is already scarce.     Extreme water scarcity is a reality for 4 billion people worldwide  for at least one month of the year , while 30 million acres of US cropland have been abandoned since the 1980s , mostly due to groundwater depletion from pumping and droughts.   Yet, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says feeding Earth’s growing population will demand a 70% increase in food production by 2050 , putting even more pressure on vital water resources.   Agriculture and food production already consume more than 70% of all available freshwater.  “That is not sustainable,” Jason White , director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and an expert on degraded soils, told The Earth & I.   Rejuvenating Desert Sand Addressing these challenges led the founders of Norwegian AgTech startup  and nanotechnology innovator, Desert Control , to explore sustainable ways to “make earth green again” through reenvisioning and exploiting the sponge-like capabilities of desert sand.   Their patented technology, Liquid Nanoclay   (LNC) ,  turns natural minerals and clays into a sprayable liquid that, when applied, introduces these materials to sandy soil. A treatment of Desert Control’s nanotechnology blend  of finely dispersed clay particles and irrigation water can rejuvenate desert soils in just a few hours, with lasting effects of up to five years per treatment. Approximately 4 liters of LNC  mixed with irrigation water is enough to treat a single hectare of land.   The liquid in LNC contains tiny negatively charged clay particles that coat sand grains with an electrical charge that allows substances of an opposing charge—as happens with polar  water molecules—to stick to a sand grain’s surface and increase the likelihood that water will reach plant roots.   This harmonious reaction forms a delicate “snowflake-like” lattice that significantly improves water and nutrient retention while reducing erosion.   LNC is almost as thin as water and is applied directly to the surface of desert sand via irrigation systems that allow it to percolate into the ground to a depth of around 30–60 cm (12–24 inches).  The small particle size allows for easy application of LNC and much greater interaction with sand grains, causing a sandy field’s particles  to stick together and hold moisture and nutrients similar to how rich, dark agricultural soil does. Desert Control video explaining its LNC technology “The innovative aspect of nanotechnology here is that the small particle size enables a stable dispersion, so no settling [occurs],” said White.   Sandy soils have a composition and aggregate structure that are inherently poor at retaining water . “This [LNC] will create a physical environment more conducive to water retention and healthy root growth,” said White. “The technology is sound,” he added.   “Fundamentally, LNC is attempting to address the lack of sustainability of conventional agriculture.”   LNC also promotes the growth of mycorrhizal fungi , which form a symbiotic relationship with crops and other plants, resulting in improved soil nutrient content. Application of LNC can increase crop yields while preserving water resources by up to 50%. “Fundamentally, LNC is attempting to address the lack of sustainability of conventional agriculture,” said White.   Enhancing Water Retention and Crop Growth Water loss is often a problem in modern agricultural ecosystems—too much of the water supplied by conventional irrigation is not absorbed by the plants.   Water losses vary by region, soil type, crop, and irrigation method but can range from about 5% to 70%.  Irrigation of areas with sandy soils, dry climates, and less-developed infrastructure—such as a lack of drip irrigation and soaker hoses—results in greater losses.   LNC is typically applied in these areas. “Essentially, it is trying to increase water retention in sandy soils to promote crop growth, in some cases allowing crop growth in areas where it’s been too dry before,” said White.   LNC thus can serve as a baseline product that significantly increases water use efficiency—and can be used in tandem with “many other nanoscale strategies… to complement overall crop production efficacy,” said White.   For example, nanoscale strategies to increase phosphorus availability or micronutrient use efficiency, along with investigations into more efficient pesticide use, could benefit from partnering with LNC.   Born in the Nile Delta Conceptually, LNC is not a new idea. Instead, it imitates the role that clay played in ancient Egypt’s Nile Delta —before the construction of the Aswan Dam —in restoring resilience to arid lands.   In the 1980s, local farmers began to see declines in productivity in previously flourishing parts of the Nile Delta. Given the area’s legendary reputation for farming, despite its proximity to arid desert , scientists hunted for reasons for the land’s decreased fertility.   They found that the Aswan Dam, built in the 1960s, stopped the downstream flow of key materials for delta soil fertility, thus marking the beginnings of what could be called the nanoclay approach.   Fast-forward 60 years: Following significant research and development, manufacturers, environmentalists, and agriculturists now recognize LNC’s place in the nanotech toolkit.   It has been known for quite some time that adding clay to sandy soil has an effect similar to LNC, but conventional non-nanoscale clays must be added to sandy soil either dry or in water, where they have tended to settle out, making soil improvements a relatively slow process— taking years in some cases .   From the Middle East to the US In partnership with Arizona University and the Yuma County Cooperative Extension,   Desert Control began its first multiyear validation study   of LNC for American soil in 2022. The study focused on LNC’s ability to increase water-holding capacity in sandy soils and examined the transferability of results previously obtained by the firm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Through this project, Desert Control hopes to advance climate-smart agriculture through collaborative action between the US and the Middle East. Video  of the first LNC application in the US. In the following video, Ole Kristian Silvertsen, CEO of Desert Control,   compares  LNC-treated land at its Abu Dhabi–based project (in collaboration with Mawarid and Barari Natural Resources ) to adjacent untreated land, serving as its control reference point.   Irrigation across the two areas is the same; yet, the one without  LNC treatment resembles typical desert sand—it sifts away, does not retain a shape, and holds no moisture.   The video also highlights the growth of Panicum  (in LNC-treated UAE soil) , a type of forage and cereal grass (commonly called panicgrass) that produces tiny flowers, and   alfalfa,  a perennial flowering plant that belongs to the legume family.  Video  introducing Desert Control’s LNC project in the United Arab Emirates. There have been various documented outcomes of LNC in action, demonstrating its real-world impact. Case studies involving field trials in the UAE, Egypt, Norway, and Saudi Arabia appear to be independent, third-party field trials. “That being said, the peer-reviewed literature on this appears quite thin—this will be an important bar to get over,” White noted.   Securing the Future of Agriculture and Food, Sustainably With the rise of nano-enabled farming, LNC is part of a wave of new sustainable developments designed to protect and preserve land. While a bright and prominent one, LNC is but one star in a broader constellation of nanotechnologies in agriculture.      With the rise of nano-enabled farming, LNC is part of a wave of new sustainable developments designed to protect and preserve land.   Today, universities and research laboratories worldwide are pursuing knowledge about nanotechnologies and how they can spur sustainable solutions. In June 2024, researchers, including North Carolina State University’s Khara Grieger , assistant professor and extension specialist, published a paper examining how nanotechnology and nanocarriers can increase production efficiency, crop resilience, and yields. The Ristroph Lab at Purdue University in the US is investigating scalable nanomaterials for agrochemical delivery and agricultural applications.   “There is the whole developing field of nanoscale seed treatment and priming technologies,” said White.   This should provide ample opportunities to advance mechanisms that can bolster food production as well as increase crops’ overall climate resilience.   White would like to see more research regarding food safety. “In terms of human food safety, we should find out if there are nanoclay particles in the plants or in the edible tissues,” he said.   Yet, in general, the problems and challenges faced by agriculture in a changing climate, along with the need to increase food production are enormous, and the solutions offered by nanotechnology, including LNC, appear promising and impactful. “They should be pursued with enthusiasm and intensity,” said White. *Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe  is a freelance journalist and editor. Over the past 10 years, she has reported for a host of publications, exploring the wider world and industries from environmental, scientific, business, legal, and sociological perspectives. Natasha has also been interviewed as an insight provider for research institutes and conferences. Editorial notes Source: Interview with Jason White, Director of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. https://portal.ct.gov/caes/about-caes/staff-biographies/jason-c-white

Bamboo, Palms, Bananas Grow Fast, Boost Biodiversity A bamboo forest. Cucaihn/Pixabay Scientists have recently proposed that towering plants such as bamboo, palms, and bananas deserve a distinct place in climate-resilience thinking. Although they look and act like trees, these species do not grow wider over time—their stems remain essentially the same diameter, and they instead add height, or branch differently. Because of that structural difference, researchers at New York University (NYU) now classify them as “grassy trees.” In a new analysis published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution , lead author Aiyu Zheng and senior author Mingzhen Lu outline how these grassy-tree systems combine the structural form of a tree canopy with the resilience and rapid growth of grasses. Their hybrid nature gives them an important advantage: They can recover quickly after disturbances—fires, storms, harvesting—more so than typical trees. At the same time, they contribute meaningfully to carbon capture, biodiversity, landscape restoration, and local economies. “Their benefits stretch from food and jobs to renewable materials and green energy,” Zheng explains . Good for Land Restoration, Carbon Capture In their study, the NYU team compared 12 major ecosystem types (including, grasslands, savannas, grassy-tree systems, and tree-dominated forests) and found that the grassy-tree ecosystems generally showed higher productivity than grassland systems and carbon-storage capacity intermediate between forests and grasslands. Because these plants are already integrated in many tropical and subtropical communities (for food, housing, and materials), they constitute a practical rather than a purely theoretical nature-based climate solution. In countries like India , for example, promotion of bamboo groves, palm stands, and banana agroforestry could speed land restoration, bolster carbon capture, and strengthen resilient livelihoods. The classification of grassy trees opens a new vista in ecological planning and climate policy. By recognizing these species as a distinct category—rather than treating them simply as “trees” or “grasses”—researchers can now build models and strategies that properly include them. As the authors write , “Our study provides the first global overview of how much carbon grassy trees capture and store … they are abundant, practical, and deeply embedded in tropical cultures.” Given rapid climate change, more frequent extreme weather, and the urgent need for scalable nature-based solutions, grassy trees may emerge as one of the unsung but powerful tools in the toolbox of sustainability. Encouraging their deployment, improving their management, and recognizing their dual identity (trees/grasses) could enhance restoration efforts, support rural economies, and contribute to a more resilient carbon future.

Thriving in a Threatened Natural World By Julie Peterson* Resilience can be cultivated through self-balancing activities like caring for a beloved pet. iStock Stress and anxiety are common conditions in the world population , international mental health data show. While the exact sources of stress differ around the world, real and perceived dangers—including from weather-related events—can make people feel uneasy and fearful over what the future might hold.   One of the best ways to combat fear and dis-ease is to cultivate resilience in oneself. To many scholars, this means shifting emphasis from “fight or flight” responses to efforts to “balance the system.”   Happily, our relationship with nature can play an integral role in the process.   Defining Resilience Scholars say people use psychological  resistance to survive immediate threats. But when stressors keep coming, the body’s defenses can be pushed into overdrive, eventually depleting its resources and negatively affecting mental and physical health.   For the longer term, recovery from threats and their impacts depends on psychological   resilience .   A 2019 meta-study of resilience defined it as “the ability to maintain one’s orientation toward existential purposes despite enduring adversities and stressful events.”   The American Psychological Association poses another definition: “Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”   Psychological resistance and resilience can be balanced to cope with environmental stressors through a variety of psychological and social processes and resources.   Effects of Chronic Stress   Chronic stress can lead to poor health. iStock When our body perceives threats, it releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare for “fight or flight”—which is helpful when needed. But relentless threats are emotionally draining, and without time to recover, chronic stress can lead to poor health:   The brain may exhibit problems with concentration, memory, anxiety, depression, or sleep. The cardiovascular system  may suffer increased heart rate, high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. The digestive system,  closely linked to the brain, can react with digestive issues and changes in appetite. The immune system  may be weakened, creating openings for bacterial and viral illnesses to take hold and be tough to conquer. The muscles tighten, leading to stiffness, pain, and headaches. Emotions may become irregular, causing irritability, anger, or depression.   Nature and Health The World Health Organization has defined health as a “complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”   Environmental issues consistently linked to impaired health include crowding, noise pollution, and temperature.   It is not just direct physical contact with adverse environmental factors that harms people. Indirect means, such as stress responses to environmental circumstances, can lead to adverse  physical and emotional outcomes. For example, exposure to noise pollution may not harm hearing, but the annoyance it generates may cause long-term stress.   Urbanization has been linked with higher levels of anxiety and depression. On the other side, studies have shown that exposure to nature can benefit human health in myriad ways.   Urbanization has been linked  with higher levels of anxiety and depression. On the other side, studies have shown that exposure to nature can benefit human health in myriad ways.    The mental health benefits  of time in nature include superior attention, memory, and impulse inhibition, along with increased feelings of subjective well-being. An article from UC Davis Health points out that being in nature benefits  our physical bodies with reduced cortisol levels, muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure, and increased vitamin D levels that boost blood cells, bones, and the immune system.   A new scientific approach  called nature-based biopsychosocial resilience theory  (NBRT)—proposed in a study published in Environment International in 2023—states that “nature offers an abundance of resilience-building opportunities which can also reduce risk and help people cope with the inevitable challenges life brings.” The authors recommend an “improved understanding of the many ways in which our own health and well-being is intricately bound up with the health of the planet as a whole.”   Building Better Resilience  Psychological resistance  is a complex defense system that our minds use to protect us from perceived threats, whether real or imagined. But people can take steps to shift from excessive psychological resistance  toward healthy tolerance and resilience . Resilience is also complex. It is a dynamic process that evolves at the intersections of different realms in a person’s life—biological, social, and psychological. The Reality Pathing blog, in a post  titled, “Building Resilience through the Power of Acceptance,” cites the importance of building resilience through acceptance . Acceptance is seeing and embracing reality as it is rather than how it is wished to be. It does not involve giving up or relinquishing power to make changes. It simply leads one to acknowledge whatever circumstances arise without judgment. It is a mindful way to reach a sense of peace amid chaos.   [Acceptance] simply leads one to acknowledge whatever circumstances arise without judgment. It is a mindful way to reach a sense of peace amid chaos.   Numerous actions can boost resilience against environmental stressors.   For Individuals Indoor plants can promote calm. Pexels   When news of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and extreme temperatures feel beyond control, people can focus on small, manageable actions to counteract feelings of helplessness and build a sense of control and purpose. Conserve energy at home, use environmentally friendly transportation, reduce waste, and join local environmental groups. Practice emotional coping by concentrating on what can be done personally rather than becoming overwhelmed by the vastness of a problem. In terms of the invisible environmental toxins and other daily stressors, negative impacts can be immediately reduced by improving air quality at home with air purifiers, ventilation, and plants; avoiding contaminants (pesticides, paint, artificial fragrances); and creating a quiet indoor sanctuary that is free of clutter and incorporates nature elements to promote calm. One’s mental and physical ability to cope with stress—resilience—can only improve with time in nature, ample sleep, regular exercise, mindfulness meditation, and a healthy diet. For Communities Social collaboration can be fostered in communities by involving citizens in efforts to make their area more resilient to environmental threats. By investing in natural infrastructure, such as urban greening and preservation of local ecosystems, individuals’ experience enhances well-being while dangerous environmental events are mitigated. Features such as cool roofs, parking lot shading, and tree planting all make life easier and help to reduce stress from environmental events simply by reducing the likelihood and severity of any potential catastrophes.   Nature-based solutions are especially effective when they are developed in collaboration with community members to enhance community-level social-ecological resilience. Once established at the group level, nature contact also helps individuals cope with chronic stress.   Nature-based solutions are especially effective when they are developed in collaboration with community members to enhance community-level social-ecological resilience.   It has been suggested that resilience is a collection of adaptive resources. These resources can be deployed to help mitigate stress, but they must be restored and maintained through things such as nature contact.   Policies There has been growing interest recently in the potential health and well-being benefits of natural environments, with policies requiring integration of green spaces in developments and protection of natural areas.   In addition, largely due to climate change, there has been recognition that wild settings, such as woodlands or wetlands, can partially mitigate  stressors related to climate change. For example, urban heat is reduced when tree canopies and green spaces are present, and flood risk is diminished when there are ample plant cover and wetlands to absorb rainfall. Banjakiti Forest Park in Bangkok, Thailand. Urban wetlands can help reduce heat and mitigate flooding. Supanut Arunoprayote / Wikimedia Policy can be shaped with climate adaptation in mind by offering resources to implement green measures such as clean energy.   A New Paradigm There is no one factor that differentiates a resilient person from a vulnerable one. Instead, resilience exists thanks to a network of positive experiences and a healthy lifestyle that contribute to a balanced mind–body connection.   According to Souhad Chbeir and  Victor Carrión , writing in the World Journal of Psychiatry , no matter where someone falls on the resilience scale, they can try to move away from attempts to eradicate environmental threats and toward modulating resistance and bolstering repair. This would be a paradigm shift toward increased resilience. The writers say that, instead of an aggressive and reactive mindset of eradication, which promotes grappling with the impossible removal of all environmental threats, people can approach the world with proactive and adaptive methods.   Individuals and communities can increase resilience by focusing on increasing the capacity of ecosystems and societies to withstand and absorb pollution and climate change effects without collapse. For example, instead of thinking about reducing the heat of the entire planet, citizens could plant urban forests to lower temperatures in their city and improve infrastructure design. They could assist local ecosystems to regenerate by working toward ecological engineering and adaptive management. Instead of only fighting against the way nature is right now, collaborating with nature in the local area can help it, and us, become stronger and more adaptable. *Julie Peterson   writes science-based articles about holistic health, environmental issues, and sustainable living from her small farm in Wisconsin.

And So Are Environmental Health Considerations from Waste Tire Recycling   Used tires (foreground) and shredded tires (background). istock     Tire-derived fuel (TDF) is an emerging segment within the broader waste tire management and alternative energy sphere, converting end-of-life tires into high-energy fuel for industrial applications. According to Cognitive Market Research (CMR), the global TDF market is expected to reach US$451.5 million in 2025 and continue expanding through 2033, driven by demand for sustainable fuel sources in sectors like cement manufacturing and utility boilers.  However, the environmental and health impacts of waste tire recycling—including processes that produce TDF—are complex and not fully resolved. A systematic review published in Heliyon underscores significant knowledge gaps in how tire recycling affects ecosystems and human health, especially regarding hazardous chemicals released during recycling and reuse.    Here are key data points about the TDF trend—sourced from the CMR report and the Heliyon review:   Global Market Size (2025): The tire-derived fuel market is projected to reach US$451.5 million in 2025.   Growth Forecast (2025–2033): TDF is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 3.2% from 2025 to 2033 as industries adopt alternative fuels.   Regional Market Shares (2025): North America : about 40% of global revenue (about US$130.94 million). Europe : about 30% of revenue (about US$108.36 million). Asia Pacific (APAC): about 23% of revenue (about US$167.06 million). South America : about 5% (about US$17.16 million).  Middle East & Africa : Small but growing segments (about 2% and about 1%, respectively). Environmental Challenges – Waste Tires Volume: Approximately 1.5 billion tires are manufactured annually, creating significant disposal challenges globally.    Health and Environment – Research Scope: From a pool of 1,275 screened studies, 80 met inclusion criteria in the Heliyon systematic review , highlighting research focus on recycled tire applications and associated impacts.    Chemical Exposure Concerns: Recycled tire products can contain substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals (e.g., zinc), and other additives that may be released into soil, water, or air depending on recycling or reuse contexts.    Application Focus: Nearly half of the reviewed studies (nearly 49%) addressed the use of recycled tires in construction sectors like artificial turf fields, with tire materials repurposed beyond fuel.   Evidence Gaps: The Heliyon review notes limited comprehensive assessments of longterm environmental and human health effects from tire recycling methods, signaling a need for more research to inform policy and best practices.  Sources: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/tire-derived-fuel-market-report https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(25)00289-0

Global Movement Aligns Mindfulness, Ecology, and Climate Healing By Yasmin Prabhudas * Helen Clay, founder of Yoga and Climate Action Network. Photo courtesy of Helen Clay. Yoga began in South Asia about 5,000 years ago. It has grown in popularity, especially in the US, India and China, and today, some 300 million people around the world practice yoga .   Yet the key principles of the tradition may be neglected. Yoga is about living a purposeful life in balance with nature. However, it has evolved into a huge, money-making industry. The yoga market today is worth $370 billion  worldwide, according to Wellness Creative Co., which tracks market trends. US citizens, for example, spend $16 billion  on yoga equipment, classes, and accessories every year, says Goa Yogashala, a respected teacher training school in India.   Some yoga practitioners and centers are determined to keep the attention on yoga’s philosophical roots, which emphasizes each person’s ties to nature and minimizing harm to other living beings.   Yoga Principles Are Eco-friendly Yoga practice and philosophy are outlined in the ancient Sanskrit texts of the Upanisads  and epic poem Bhagavad Gita , but the basis for much thinking is taken from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra , which is believed to date back to the first century CE.   The “eight limbs” of yoga  in the Sutra are guidelines on how to live a meaningful life. They include the Yamas and the Niyamas.   Helen Clay, who lives in Sheffield, UK, has been practicing yoga for 40 years and teaching for 30 years. She says of the Yoga Sutra: “The Yamas and the Niyamas are the first and second of the eight limbs’ arsenal. The postural work, the physical or meditative work […] rests on those first two foundations, which should infuse all yoga.”   Clay has a master’s degree in yoga and meditation and has learned Sanskrit. She established the Yoga and Climate Action Network to explore how yoga goes beyond individual health and well-being and toward planetary health and well-being.   [Clay] established the Yoga and Climate Action Network to explore how yoga goes beyond individual health and well-being and toward planetary health and well-being. “The five Yamas,” Clay explains, “relate to how you behave in relation to other people in the wider world. Ahimsa , which means “nonviolence,” refers to “thought, word, and deed, and it’s like the bedrock of every other aspect he [Patanjali] talks about.” Helen Clay. Photo courtesy of Helen Clay. “ Satya means truth, so […] seeing what is real.” This could mean acknowledging the many concerns about climate change.   Clay continues: “ Asteya is not stealing. […] And brahmacharya […] meant celibacy. And aparigraha is nonhoarding.”   “The idea is that people are subject to anger, desire, lust, […] acquisitiveness, or power, and these restraints are really important to be able to live happily with yourself and within the world.”   The five Niyamas, she explains, are about personal conduct. Saucha is cleanliness and purity but can include not polluting the world. Santosha is about contentment, restraining individuals from overconsumption. Tapas is self-change, and isvara phanidhana means “surrender to the Lord or something bigger”—for example, seeing oneself as part of nature.  “Those qualities […] are a training that has a link to sustainability and climate. If you start from ahimsa , then you’re thinking about your actions in the world,” explains Clay. Commercialization Clay states that, while millions of people practice yoga now, she doesn’t think knowledge about the Yamas and Niyamas is as well-known as it should be.   “People see it as just a physical practice,” she says. “It just becomes part of what you buy. Yoga leggings, yoga clothes, yoga equipment [that] have to be changed to keep up with fashion. It’s just the opposite of what it’s about.” And yoga tourism means “people are flying all over,” which can contribute to pollution.   But it’s challenging to promote the underlying teachings, Clay says. “The philosophy is quite complicated, and if you don't have somebody to explain it to you, it's really difficult to wrap your head around.”   Gaining an Understanding Dr. Vikas Chothe, who cofounded the Swasti Yoga Center  in Pune, India, with his partner, Dr. Shwetambari Chothe, reiterates Clay’s concerns: “There is a great amount of resistance to any academic studies as far as the yoga fraternity is concerned globally because mostly it is considered like a skill set, which can be used for your bread-and-butter living. […] You will find people who are teaching yoga for 20–30 years who themselves are not very well versed or aware about the fundamentals of the texts of yoga.” “The philosophy of yoga wants you to connect with nature.” Chothe’s advice to yoga instructors who want to go green is to gain an understanding of yoga’s scriptural basis. “When you understand, you will start getting answers helping you to connect with nature and the universe. The moment you see why is there a mountain pose, why is there a tree pose, why is there a lion pose—the reason is because the philosophy of yoga wants you to connect with nature.” Green Yoga Dr. Vikas Chothe and Dr. Shwetambari Chothe, cofounders of the Swasti Yoga Center. Photo courtesy of Swasti Yoga Center. The center has been training yoga teachers over the past 10 years. Its green yoga corporate program  teaches instructors how to integrate yoga and align their activities with, for example, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. They also work on their environmental and social governance  by helping employees to reduce their consumption and carbon footprint. The green yoga instructor program  blends traditional yoga training with eco-friendly practices so participants can “lead holistic, sustainable lives and teach others to do the same.” The training covers a person’s food, daily routine, activities, thinking, and work–life balance.   There is also a yoga and sustainability literacy course , promoting the connection between the practice and living an environmentally friendly life. Sustainability Eco-friendly products are available at the center. They include chanting beads made from cow dung, bamboo tissues, biodegradable cups, and upcycled pouches. This helps generate employment locally and recycles waste material. Vegetarian and vegan diets are important too. “If I consume 1 kilogram of meat,” Chothe says, “it takes 80,000 liters [21,000 gallons] of water, because you must have the corn to feed the cattle. So, if I shift to […] a vegetarian meal and consume rice or wheat, that takes 8,000 liters [2,100 gallons] of water. From 80,000 you’re immediately coming down to 8,000.” "If I consume one kilogram of meat, it takes 80,000 liters of water, because you must have the corn to feed the cattle." Yet more water can be saved if rice is replaced with millet  (a grain high in carbohydrate). One kilogram of millet requires only 400 liters (105 gallons) of water, which is especially beneficial in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where water is scarce. While it’s hard to measure the environmental impact of the center’s activities, it shares its “yoga and sustainability toolkit” with more than 4,000 students across 35 countries. Dealing with Climate Anxiety In the forests outside Portland, Oregon, lies Vernonia Springs, the site of the Terra Vida Academy , an “eco-campus” combining yoga with agroforestry , permaculture , and “natural building.” It is set in 28 acres of parkland and has a 1.5-mile nature trail. Yoga at the Terra Vida Academy. Photo courtesy of Jeff Walton Jeff Walton. Photo courtesy of Jeff Walton Founder Jeff Walton says the yoga classes are designed to help people with their mental health when dealing with the world. He himself suffers from climate anxiety. “I believe the yoga we offer—allowing people to be in nature—is the biggest part of the solution because I think we live in such a digital age that they […] are really so disconnected and afraid of nature,” he says. He explains: “The yoga helps them work on their mindfulness while they’re out here and they get that environmental connection.” Participants can also take part in other ecologically beneficial activities, such as hempcrete building courses. Participants can also take part in other ecologically beneficial activities, such as hempcrete  building courses . Hempcrete  is a mix of hemp plant hurd (the plan’s woody inner core), a lime-based binder, and water. Wheelbarrows full of hempcrete. Photo courtesy of Jeff Walton Making a Difference “I believe we cannot have individual health and well-being without planetary health and well-being, and that yoga has much to offer in both respects. This requires extending yoga practice beyond awareness to what the Bhagavad Gita calls ‘skillful action.’ We can all make a positive difference, however small, within our own spheres of influence ... especially when we band together,” Clay says. *Yasmin Prabhudas   is a freelance journalist working mainly for nonprofit organizations, labor unions, the education sector, and government agencies.

New Study Raises Health Concerns  By Mark Smith* Gum chewing was once the epitome of casual cool . Pexels  For decades, chewing gum was the epitome of casual cool. But a new study has found that those who enjoy gum may be biting off more than they want to chew. A pilot study on microplastics by experts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that a single piece of gum can release hundreds or even thousands of tiny plastic particles into the mouth as it is being chewed.  In their research, the team from UCLA’s Samueli School of Engineering tested 10 popular chewing gum brands, half of which were marked as synthetic and five as “natural.”  As volunteers chewed each piece of gum, the team collected saliva samples at set intervals, then measured the amount and rate of change of released microplastics. The team discovered that, on average, 1 gram of gum released around 100 microplastic fragments, with some gums shedding more than 600 fragments per gram.  With a typical piece of gum weighing between 2 and 6 grams, it means a larger piece could release 3,000 particles. The researchers also found that 92% of microplastic particles are released during the first eight minutes of chewing. Chewing Remains Popular  Humans have been chewing on various saps and natural resins for millennia, but it was only in the post-World War I period that synthetic gum entered widespread use. With a global market totaling around $48 billion this  year alone, chewing gum remains popular. Significant growth is due to sugar-free oral health gums, which help neutralize plaque acid and reduce cavities, plaque, and gingivitis. In fact, “ The American Dental Association endorses chewing sugarfree gum for 20 minutes after meals as an effective way to maintain oral hygiene , ”  notes a recent Technavio market report.   In addition, there is increasing interest in gums that help people stop smoking as well as ones that have infused vitamins, teeth-whitening, or weight-loss properties—or new flavors that “shift”  from fruity to minty tastes. The biggest headaches of the chewing gun industry, according to market reports like Business Research (BR) Insights ,  have been consumer flight from the sugary gums and issues with gum disposal after use. The BR report noted that, according to the European Environmental Agency, “only 15% of consumers dispose of gum properly.” Synthetic and Natural Gums While natural gums use plant-based polymers such as chicle, synthetic alternatives use petroleum-derived plastic bases. Trends and tastes have spurred a partial return to some natural chewing ingredients, but both types remain popular. Chicle oozes from the pod of a sapodilla tree in Panama . Wikimedia  Speaking exclusively to The Earth & I , Professor Sanjay Mohanty, who led the UCLA pilot study, said his team was surprised to find both shed similar levels of microplastics in their experiments. “Surprisingly, we found that synthetic chewing gums released a similar number of microplastics as compared to natural or plant-based gums,” he said.  “Surprisingly, we found that synthetic chewing gums released a similar number of microplastics as compared to natural or plant-based gums.” “The average concentration of microplastics per gram of gum that we studied was 104.0 for synthetics and 95.8 for natural or plant-based gum.” The most abundant polymers for both types of gum were polyolefins, a group of plastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene. Other polymers that appeared in both gum samples included polyethylene terephthalates (known as PET), polyacrylamides, and polystyrenes. As well as being surprised at the findings, the professor said mystery still surrounds the origins of the plastics in the “natural” gums.  “As synthetic gums are made with petrochemical polymers, we went in expecting to see comparatively much less microplastics to the natural gums tested. We do not know what the potential source of those microplastics were, in either type of gum.” One suggestion put forward by the team was that they may have been introduced during production or packaging processes. Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, is one of the world’s leading experts on microplastic pollution, with her work being instrumental in raising global awareness and driving policy changes.  When she read about the UCLA team’s research, she said she was not shocked. She told The Earth & I : “Sadly, I was not surprised at the findings. I was actually interviewed for a documentary called Dark Side of the Chew  back in 2014 in which I was asked about chewing gum.  “Most chewing gums, especially those that dominate the market, use plastics as the base. It is not a surprise that the friction associated with chewing would cause the release of microplastics.” Dr. Sherri Mason, microplastics pollution expert based at Gannon University. Photo provided by Sherri A. Mason Health Concerns Microplastics—defined as plastics measuring less than 5mm in length—are literally everywhere, from oceans to the atmosphere. They do not biodegrade and are shed by everyday products such as food packaging and plastic bottles.  Much of the controversy and concern around them stems from uncertainty. And while scientists have not established any direct effect of microplastics on humans, some studies  have begun to examine the correlation between microplastics in the human body and disease. “Data is connecting various gastrointestinal issues, like IBS and changes in gut microbiomes, with microplastics, Mason said. “Data is connecting various gastrointestinal issues, like IBS and changes in gut microbiomes, with microplastics.” “Any particle of plastic that is smaller than 100 microns, which is basically the width of a human hair, can make their way across the gastrointestinal track into the blood and carried throughout the body.  “Micro-and nano-plastics have been found within organs, like the liver and kidney, as well as having crossed barriers into the brain and across the placenta,” she said. “Their presence is being associated with various lung issues, like asthma and lung cancer, increases in blood plaques leading to heart disease, various neurological disorders, like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as fertility issues.” Professor Mohanty’s team presented the results of their pilot study at the American Chemical Society in San Diego. But he said the gum industry had not been in touch about the findings. The Earth & I  reached out to the International Chewing Gum Association, the global trade body for the industry, to request a comment on the research but did not receive a response. The professor added that he would like to look for even smaller particles.  “Our study could only resolve particles down to about 20 micrometers in diameter, due to limits with the spectroscopy technique we used. So, this study could have missed particles smaller than that.” Professor Sanjay Mohanty, who led the UCLA study. Image courtesy of UCLA The study did not measure toxicity; it only evaluated ingestion risk and found that both types of gum presented similar risks. In general, though, the team said products containing natural or plant-based materials may introduce fewer dissolved chemicals into the human body. Future Study Mason said there was enough data generally to understand there was a “negative impact” of plastics on human health.  But she added, “We needn't catastrophize—this isn't the end of the world as we know it—but we need to make changes now before things get worse.  “We should have a reasonable amount of concern and be pushing for societal changes, like precautionary policies, to reduce our exposure, especially within the agricultural and consumables markets,” she said. *Mark Smith   is a journalist and author from the UK. He has written on subjects ranging from business and technology to world affairs, history, and popular culture for the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, and magazines in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

$80 Billion of New Emissions-Free Reactors to Be Paid For Cooling towers at a nuclear power plant. Mingo123/Pixabay The US government recently announced what it termed an $80 billion “strategic partnership” to accelerate the deployment of nuclear power in support of artificial-intelligence infrastructure. In collaboration with industry players such as Brookfield Asset Management, Westinghouse Electric Company, and Cameco Corporation, the initiative targets the creation of “at least $80 billion of new reactors” in the United States. Brookfield announced the initiative was related to Trump's May 2025 executive order to have 10 "new large reactors with complete design under construction by 2030." Beyond the headline dollar figure, what stands out is the environmental dimension : Nuclear energy offers a proven route to large-scale, low-carbon baseload power—critical for both decarbonizing the grid and meeting rapidly growing demand from AI data centers. Why Nuclear Matters for the Climate Nuclear plants generate electricity with virtually no direct CO₂ emissions during operation—making them an essential complement to renewables when addressing climate change. The US Department of Energy’s nuclear energy deployment framework sets an ambition to deploy 200 GW of new capacity by 2050, including large reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and micro-reactors. SMRs in particular offer advantages : modular factory fabrication, lower upfront costs, siting flexibility, and compatibility with industrial or remote-site power applications. In the context of AI and datacenters—which are projected to consume a growing share of US electricity—the stability and scale of nuclear baseload power enable tech infrastructure to expand without conflicting with decarbonization goals. One analysis notes that major tech firms are turning to nuclear to meet the energy hunger of “hyperscale” AI-datacenter growth. Waste and Reuse   One common concern is radioactive waste. It’s important to note that advanced reactor designs and fast‐neutron technologies promise to recycle nuclear-fuel components, reduce long-term radiotoxicity, and shrink required storage timelines. For instance, fast‐reactor technology  can reuse spent nuclear fuel and generate more fuel than it consumes. While nuclear is not a silver bullet, the current initiative represents a meaningful environmental opportunity. Large-scale zero-carbon power generation, when matched with next-generation reactor technologies and AI-driven infrastructure growth, is increasingly seen as helping to pivot  energy systems toward sustainability rather than lock dependence on fossil-fuel plants. With discipline in deployment, siting, regulation and waste oversight, nuclear power may well become a cornerstone of a climate-resilient energy future.

Environmental and Medicinal Value Helps Power Growing Global Bamboo Market    Towering bamboo forest in South Korea . Wikimedia     As the global bamboo market expands toward an estimated $106.5 billion by 2029, this fast-growing plant is emerging as a powerful ally in climate mitigation, sustainable materials, and traditional health uses.      Long valued in many cultures for food, construction, and crafts, bamboo is increasingly recognized for its environmental and medicinal significance. According to the Bamboo Global Market Report 2025 , the bamboo market is expanding rapidly, driven not only by commercial demand but by rising environmental awareness and investment in more sustainable solutions.      This versatile plant offers ecosystem benefits that help protect soil and water resources and support biodiversity, while certain species and extracts have been used in traditional health practices for digestive support and nutrient provision.        Key environmental and medicinal data follow:      There are 127 genera and over 1,680 species of bamboo worldwide . The primary bamboo-producing nations are China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.   China’s bamboo market is the world’s largest in market share, at 59.3% in 2024. This is helped by favorable climate conditions, inexpensive labor, 5% of China’s total forest area being bamboo, and the presence of over 800 species of bamboo in China.     The global bamboo market is projected to grow from $74.5 billion (2024) to $79.3 billion in 2025, with expectations to reach approximately $106.5 billion by 2029. Growth drivers include versatility in applications (textiles, flooring, packaging, energy) and government support for sustainable resource use.   A properly managed hectare of bamboo can sequester between 10 to 30 tons of CO 2 annually, with a potential to reach 100 tons in optimal conditions. Other estimates suggest up to around 12 tons of carbon per hectare per year in optimal conditions. Compare that with a range of 3–5 tons of CO 2 for a young, growing temperate or tropical forest.    According to IKEA , b amboo’s rapid renewability—some species can grow nearly 1 meter a day—enables frequent harvesting without forest depletion. It can mature for harvest in 3–5 years and capture significant amounts of carbon immediately after planting. Timber, on the other hand, requires 10–30+ years to reach peak sequestration.    Though the world’s forested areas are decreasing dramatically, bamboo forests are growing at a rate of 3% per year .    The global market for bamboo shoots is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2025 to about $4.2 billion by 2035.   According to Food Struct , bamboo shoots (all values are per 100 g raw unless otherwise noted) contain about 27 calories, 2.6 g of protein (about 5–6% daily value), and about 2.2 g (about 8% daily value) of fiber. They are also rich in vitamins (B1, B6) and minerals (copper, manganese) as well as antioxidants.      Bamboo is not a replacement for forests—but it is a carbon ally. For long-term carbon reservoirs, intact and well-managed forests remain essential.      Sources: https://product.sustainability-directory.com/learn/how-much-carbon-dioxide-can-one-hectare-of-bamboo https://www.factmr.com/report/bamboo-shoots-market Food Struct https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5285960 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10647463/

Stopping the Apocalypticism and Letting Market Forces Achieve the Energy Transition By David Dodge* Michael Liebreich speaks to an audience about how the world’s energy grids can transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Courtesy of Michael Liebreich With the election of President Donald Trump, the United States began halting action on climate change and retreating to fossil fuels, leaving some to wonder if the transition from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy is dead . The world’s focus shifted almost overnight from concern about the impacts of climate change to anxiety about the global economy as the US president launched trade wars around the world. Even in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney, known for his work on climate change , began focusing on trade relationships and “nation building” projects that emphasize fossil fuel development. The new framing has led former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and conservative analysts to call for climate resets or a new kind of “climate realism.” Michael Liebreich is an expert in energy transition, host of the Cleaning Up podcast, and founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. In his bid to take control of the “reset” narrative, he’s written two long essays in Bloomberg New Energy Finance: The Pragmatic Climate Reset – Part I and The Pragmatic Climate Reset – Part II . Inclusive, Achievable, Affordable He says it’s time for us to change our approach to climate change to something that’s more inclusive, has achievable goals, and is affordable and pragmatic. In his version of the climate reset, we stop demonizing people; we stop scaring people with hard-to-defend, worst-case scenarios; we end absolutism; and we adopt a plan that is achievable and, above all, affordable. Indeed, climate change does tend to divide people into those who fear end-of-the-world scenarios and those who are simply worried about their jobs and families. Liebreich says the scary, apocalyptic scenarios are too easy to shoot down, and all-or-nothing goals, such as 100% renewable energy and bringing an abrupt end to fossil fuels, are deeply polarizing and neither pragmatic nor affordable. Climate activists have been vociferous, sometimes to the point of demonizing opponents, in their push for a public policy that eliminates the use of fossil fuels. Karola G/Pexels Narrative Wars “You’ve got one narrative, which is promoted heavily from the White House and the US, but also by a lot of players in the fossil fuel industry, that says the transition has failed. Nada, it’s failed, it’s over. Forget it. It was always a foolish dream. It was always childish. Look at fossils. They are 80% of [worldwide energy use] still,” says Liebreich. “The other narrative that is out there and has carried us very far over the last few decades is that there’s a transition. The clean stuff just gets cheaper and cheaper and cheaper, and we will transition fully, and we must transition fully. And it’s incredibly scary if we don’t transition, because—and then fill in the blank of what is the latest scary story.” Liebreich says we need to stop the political discourse that says, “If you don’t agree with the transition, you’re an evil person and you have to have your car and your boiler and your furnace confiscated.” Has the 1.5°C Goal Perished? “Rumors of the death of the transition have been greatly exaggerated,” Liebreich says. “And here’s why. If you believe that the transition is 1.5°, which means net zero globally by 2050, then yes, I’m afraid the transition is dead.” Indeed, in 2024, for the first time, the annual global average temperature was 1.55°C warmer. But Liebreich says the 1.5° goal was problematic from the beginning. In fact, he exclaimed back in 2011, “ Ya basta ” (enough already), in effect saying, “Let’s call an end to the COP process due to its failure to deliver”—COP being the annual Conference of the Parties, which oversees climate negotiations under the 1995 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 2015, Liebreich ate crow when the Paris Accord was forged, which called for a goal of holding climate change to 2°C to avoid the most disastrous impacts. The 2° goal was at least grounded in the possibility of success, but small island nations pushed back hard, with help from Canada’s then–Environment Minister Catherine McKenna. They wanted a goal of 1.5° to avoid disastrous flooding of their nations. In the end, the Paris goal was 2°, with a compromise aspiration of 1.5°, which satisfied the island nations. But soon 1.5° became the rallying cry and the de facto goal of the world, despite no robust evidence that it could be achieved. It would have required the retirement of 45% of the fossil fuel emissions by 2030, which Liebreich says no leaders of petrostates could or would ever do—unless they were OK with economic collapse. The 1.5° goal was an absolute make-or-break goal, driven by the possibility of real and terrible impacts, but was it achievable? This led to 10 years of work on achieving the impossible, which Liebreich says led to all sorts of important innovations and achievements. But as it turns out the premise was prohibitively costly. Analysis suggested 2° was achievable with a carbon price of $225/ton, whereas getting to 1.5° would require a price of $6,050/ton, something that just wasn’t going to happen. The goals and the actions were driven by the very real potential impacts. But the calls for 100% renewable energy, an immediate end to the use of fossil fuels, and hard-to-defend worst-case scenarios were all part of the “absolutism” that was so deeply polarizing. Solar farms, such as this one near the town of Claresholm in southern Alberta, Canada—with sheep foraging between the rows—are rapidly being built in many areas of the world. Photo David Dodge,  GreenEnergyFutures.ca . Dawn of the Pragmatic Energy Transition “Let me say first of all, I want to make it very, very clear: What I’m not advocating for is slowing down,” says Liebreich. Much of the criticism of the energy transition rests on a misunderstanding of what is actually being replaced. As Liebreich argues, critics rely on what he calls the “ primary energy fallacy ”: the assumption that renewables must somehow substitute for today’s vast levels of primary energy use. In reality, primary energy demand is a legacy accounting measure from the fossil-fuel era that includes a tracking of a huge amount of waste—especially heat lost in combustion, power generation, and transport. Clean technologies like LEDs, electric vehicles, and heat pumps deliver the same energy services—light, mobility, and comfort—using far less energy in the first place. When critics cite primary energy figures to claim renewables are too small or the transition too costly, they are counting inefficiency as necessity and mistaking investments in a more efficient system for runaway costs. Liebreich says demand for energy is growing at about 3.3% a year, but that figure does not consider energy efficiency, which translates into a lower required growth rate of just 2%. And, he says, clean energy has already shown its potential for exponential growth: If we just let it grow at say 5% per year, fossil fuels will be squeezed out of the system not by 2050 but by 2065. “I’m just saying that a much more realistic model of the transition is that the clean stuff just grows faster than demand for a very long time,” says Liebreich. Pragmatic Growth of Clean Energy Looks Like This Instead of simply shooting for 100% renewable energy today, Liebreich suggests, a pragmatic climate reset would mean using some natural gas and shooting for 90%–95% instead of 100%. That one small change means the transition could be quick, effective, and affordable. How it works would be simple. Instead of using coal or combined-cycle gas plants , which are quite inflexible and lock localities into very high levels of fossil fuel usage, there would be a pivot to a new technology called flexible gas plants . (Legacy coal and gas power plants have to run constantly, wasting much energy and electricity when the demand for it isn’t there. They have to be kept running because it would take a long time to start them up or shut them down.) Liebreich points to a Finnish company called Wärtsilä Corporation that makes reciprocating (flexible) gas engines that can start and stop quickly, providing lower-emitting gas electricity during brief periods when the sun isn’t shining or the wind not blowing, thus allowing renewable energy to achieve its maximum grid input the rest of the time. Liebreich interviewed Anders Lindberg , the president of Wärtsilä, on Liebreich’s Cleaning Up  podcast. Lindberg used the real-world example of Chile, where wind and solar already generate 75% of the nation’s electricity. The other 25% comes from coal. He said that, if the coal plants were replaced with flexible gas plants, the latter would have to run for much less time than the coal facilities and would still be able to ensure that the grid received an uninterrupted supply of electricity and was kept stable. “You would use it [the flexible gas] 4% of the time. So, you’ve gone from 25% coal to 4% gas. It’s a huge, colossal climate win,” says Liebreich. Liebreich says fugitive natural gas emissions still need to be dealt with, and that he’s not talking about using natural gas for heating buildings, which would produce emissions nearly impossible to avoid. And besides, building heating can and will be done with heat pumps, both geoexchange and air-source heat pumps, which electrify heating very efficiently. Isn’t a Bigger Grid More Expensive? Electricity from renewable energy is following a rapid upward track and is expected to claim an increasingly larger share of the market as the years pass. ©International Energy Agency/CC by 4.0 “Everybody thinks a bigger grid must be more expensive,” says Liebreich. But he calls electrification the “gift that keeps on giving.” As transport is electrified, a massive system of batteries is created, and as heat is electrified, thermal storage results, both which are not grid-funded resources, but on the other hand are extremely useful to the grid and grid resilience. “So, you have this virtuous circle where the more you electrify, the cheaper the electricity gets,” says Liebreich. The cost of the energy transition has been greatly exaggerated, he says. People may spend billions on electric cars, but that’s instead of spending billions on internal combustion vehicles. While it’s true some coal plants are being retired early, much of the so-called costs of the energy transition are actually investments by companies building a new economic future. Sales of electric cars are increasing exponentially, putting inevitable downward pressure on the use of gasoline vehicles. International Energy Agency/CC by 4.0 As Liebreich says, rumors of the death of the energy transition have been greatly exaggerated. Seeking Highest-Probability Pathways A transition that is fast enough to hold climate change to 1.5° may be dead, says Liebreich, but the “transition, like a tortoise, is absolutely not dead.” All clean energy needs to do is maintain an annual growth rate of 5% or more to complete the energy transition—not by 2050, but it is still possible to keep to within about 2° of global warming. This is not, Liebreich maintains, a call for complacency: On the contrary, it’s fighting for a transition using the highest-probability pathways to success. Speaking to the writer, Liebreich says, “You and I are of a certain age. We were never going to see net zero globally, right? Not without medical miracles. … But even if we could live in a world [with a] 95% or 90% or even an 80% clean global economy, I think we could be able to pat ourselves on the back and say, ‘Good job.’” *David Dodge  is an environmental journalist, photojournalist, and the host and producer of GreenEnergyFutures.ca , a series of microdocumentaries on clean energy, transportation, and buildings. He’s worked for newspapers and published magazines and produced more than 350 award-winning EcoFile radio programs on sustainability for CKUA Radio.

Alpine Voices Turn Mountains into Places of Prayer, Joy, and Shared Belonging By Jana Perez-Angelo* Mountains and slopes in the Saas Valley area in southwest Switzerland’s Alps. ©Saastal Tourismus AG At dawn in the German-speaking Alps, the world begins in silence. The sky’s first pink breath brushes the knife-edge peaks, and the crisp air carries only the faint clang of distant cowbells. Then a voice rises, not loud but confident, its notes curling upward like smoke toward the ridgelines. Another voice answers. Soon two or three weave together, a trail-side chorus drifting through the valley. For centuries, this is how Alpine mornings have begun, with song offered to the mountains. It is a gentle reminder that, in these high places, music is as much a part of the ecosystem as snowmelt and wind. It’s truly the case that “the hills are alive with the sound of music,” as Julie Andrews sang in the classic film The Sound of Music . It also shows how communal song, shared walking, and mindful presence can cultivate a population’s love for the Earth and deepen their determination to protect and take care of it. For in the Alps, music is not just heard; it is breathed with the mountains and offered like prayer to the sky. Songs as Reverence, and Reverence as Ecology From the Swiss ranz des vaches  melodies and songs to Austrian yodels  to the German Wanderlieder songs, Alpine hiking and folk-song traditions have long shaped and been shaped by the relationship between people and landscape. Alpine folk songs rarely describe nature from a distance. They speak from within it. Lyrics reference mountain winds as companions, meadows as resting places, streams as teachers whose “lively water shows the way.” One of the best-known Wanderlieder, Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust  ( To Wander Is the Miller's Delight ) revels in the joy of moving water, working millstones, and the delight of wandering outdoors, not as escapism but as a return to one’s rightful element. Four hikers climb a trail on Monte Moro, a mountain in the Alps on the border between Italy and Switzerland. ©Saastal Tourismus AG One of the best-known Wanderlieder is Der fröhliche Wanderer  ( The Happy Wanderer ), which well illustrates the reverential joy of the mountain hiker as he or she bursts with song. The English lyrics run in part as follows: I love to go a-wandering, Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Chorus: Val-deri, Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri, Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. And the concluding verse is: Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die! Oh, may I always laugh and sing, Beneath God’s clear blue sky! Many mountain songs express reverence, not worshiping nature as a deity but honoring it as a gift. They reveal an implicit ecological ethic, gratitude for weather, respect for animals, and awareness of one’s vulnerability. In Kein schöner Land  ( No More Beautiful Country ), singers gather beneath the linden tree, praising the beauty of creation “as God’s grace permits.” The spiritual undertone is clear: Time in nature is sacred, communal, and worthy of blessing. Scholars who study sacred soundscapes, such as those writing in the MDPI journal Religions  (2023), note that mountains inherently create conditions for a sense of the divine: vastness, silence, echo, and light . Alpine songs magnify this. When voices rise amid stone and sky, the sound becomes a kind of offering. Many hikers agree with St. Augustine that to sing is to “ pray twice ” and is a way of aligning breath with sun and air. A Braunvieh cow, wearing the traditional cowbell, in the Engadin valley of the Swiss Alps. Even today, farmers let their cows graze the slopes and valleys of the area. Daniel Schwen/Wikipedia Echoes of Herding Bells The roots of Alpine song lie not in concert halls but in meadows and cattle pastures. Long before hiking became recreation, mountain life demanded constant movement, herding cows to higher pastures, navigating ridges, calling across deep valleys. The ranz des vaches, songs that constituted the traditional Swiss herding cry, were originally melodic signals to guide cows and communicate between herders. Each valley had its own variant, shaped by dialect, terrain, and the acoustics of the cliffs. Research from the Urner Institut Kulturen der Alpen  at the University of Lucerne (Switzerland) shows how deeply these forms are tied to local identity. These calls evolved into melodic expressions recognizable today as early forms of yodeling. Contrary to popular caricature, yodeling is not merely novelty, it is a functional, embodied technique. It shifts rapidly between chest and head voice, allowing sound to jump ridgelines and return as an echo. In this sense, the early Alpine song was a dialogue with the land itself—the singer called, the mountain answered. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Emily Loeffler argues in Mountain Geist ,  these practices had shaped a distinct Alpine musical identity, rooted in movement, seasonal migration, and the rhythms of pastoral life. The mountains were not backdrop but partner, shaping timbre, tempo, and even the physical stance of the singer. When German-speaking Romantic thinkers discovered the Alps, they reimagined wandering as a spiritual and philosophical pursuit. When German-speaking Romantic thinkers discovered the Alps, they reimagined wandering as a spiritual and philosophical pursuit. This merging of pastoral practicality and Romantic idealism birthed the Wanderlieder hiking songs, which celebrated freedom, beauty, and communion with nature. The Shared Ritual of Singing While Hiking While herding shaped early Alpine music, modern hiking culture also plays a vital role. In Germany, the late-19th-century Wandervogel movement —formed of youth critical of industrial life who sought renewal in nature—revived communal singing on trails. They sang ancient folk songs and newly composed Wanderlieder, and harmonized at mountaintop rest stops. Their goal was simple: reconnecting young people like themselves with land, community, and joy. Today, this tradition continues. Walk any popular trail in Bavaria or Tyrol  (Bavaria is a state in southeast Germany and Tyrol a region in northern Italy and western Austria) and you might hear a group pause to sing a familiar refrain. Song keeps rhythm on steep climbs, lightens the pack, and invites camaraderie among strangers. The act of singing together while ascending echoes the communal labor of earlier generations who carried milk, tools, or firewood up the same paths. Music also slows the hiker’s perception, turning a strenuous trek into attentive presence. When you sing, you breathe differently. You notice air quality, slope, and echo. You attune to weather shifts and the quiet underfoot crunch of stone. In this way, Alpine songs make hikers not just observers of nature but participants in its unfolding. Instruments That Carry the Landscape In this video , a Bavarian Volksmusik band plays Oktoberfest polka music with some traditional Alpine instruments: accordion, tuba, and guitar. Certain Alpine instruments  evolved precisely because they resonate with mountain environments. The alphorn , with history and acoustics described in organology.net , stretches as long as 4 meters (13 feet) and sends warm, resonant notes across great distances. Historically used for signaling, its tone is shaped by valley acoustics; many alphorn pieces imitate natural patterns such as bird calls or the slow roll of thunder. The hackbrett (hammered dulcimer) produces a shimmering, water-like sound that mirrors the flow of streams. The accordion  and fiddle , carried easily to mountain huts, became staples of communal music-making. Recordings from Smithsonian Folkways’ Mountain Songs and Yodeling of the Alps reveal how seamlessly these timbres merge with open-air environments. Together with the human voice, especially the yodel, their tones create a soundscape inseparable from the Alps themselves. Alphorn players at the Grindelwald Alphorn Festival, Switzerland. Cristo Vlahos/Wikipedia Reshaping Traditions for a New Generation Far from fading, Alpine song traditions are experiencing renewal. Youth choirs in Austria and Switzerland compete in yodeling festivals. In Bavaria, hiking clubs blend traditional songs with new compositions about environmental stewardship. Tourism boards promote musical trails such as Tyrol’s Strasse der Lieder  (Road of Songs) , where trail markers teach songs that hikers can sing at designated viewpoints. Contemporary musicians fuse folk forms with jazz or electronic textures, introducing Alpine themes to global audiences. Rather than diluting the tradition, these fusions reveal its adaptability. They show that mountain music, like the ecosystems that inspired it, is alive, changing with climate and generational culture. This revival also reflects a wider longing to reconnect with the natural world. Studies in human ecology  note that folk songs encode ecological knowledge and emotional bonds with landscapes. In an era of ecological crisis, Alpine songs feel like reminders of older wisdom, the idea that delight in nature fosters responsibility for nature. Sunset over the Austrian Alps, where the mountains breathe and the world slows down. ©goodfon.com/landscapess Singing as Stewardship Music has always shaped human perceptions. In the Alps, songs teach that mountains are not places to exploit but venues to experience new life. The simple act of singing outdoors makes us better listeners. It encourages humility. When your voice mingles with wind and water, you sense your smallness, yet also you belong. This emotional connection is often what inspires people to protect fragile ecosystems. The Alps face warming temperatures, shrinking glaciers, and increased tourism pressure. Cultural traditions that deepen affection for these landscapes may be vital for their future. Alpine songs endure because they remind us that when we sing outdoors, we participate in a shared liturgy of stone, sky, and community. The mountains become not just landscapes to admire but places of prayer, joy, and belonging, where every step and every note can be an expression of love for the Earth that holds us. *Jana Perez-Angelo  is a Denver-based writer and multidisciplinary creative and digital strategist passionate about brand storytelling and purpose-driven content. Her work has been featured in Relevant Magazine, Medium, and Faithful Life.