Dear EarthTalk: What’s the idea behind the recent launch of the American Climate Corps? ~ Paula B., Corpus Christi, TX
The American Climate Corps (ACC) marks a significant step in the U.S.’s approach to climate change. It aims to engage young Americans in conservation and climate resilience projects, contributing to both ecological protection and job creation. The ACC reflects the administration’s broader climate policies, which prioritize moving to a clean energy economy and addressing the impacts of climate change.
The ACC’s main purpose is to mobilize a new workforce to combat climate change and preserve natural resources. It aims to provide training and job opportunities in sectors like renewable energy, conservation and climate resilience. By engaging young people in meaningful work, the ACC seeks to build a diverse workforce equipped with the skills needed to support the nation’s transition to a sustainable economy. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s climate agenda, which emphasizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing environmental justice and promoting economic growth through green jobs.
The ACC is designed to be inclusive and comprehensive, engaging young Americans from varied backgrounds, including those from underserved communities. It includes a range of projects like restoring wetlands, improving energy efficiency in buildings and developing clean energy infrastructure. Partakers will receive training and mentorship, preparing them for careers in the burgeoning green economy. This hands-on experience is intended to empower the next generation of climate leaders and innovators.
Funding for the ACC comes from a mix of federal resources and partnerships with state and local governments, non-profit organizations and private companies. It leverages existing frameworks and collaborates with agencies like AmeriCorps to streamline operations and maximize impact. This collaborative approach ensures that the ACC can draw on a wide range of expertise and resources, enhancing effectiveness and reach.
The anticipated impact of the ACC is significant both ecologically and socially. It is expected to make substantial contributions to conservation, greenhouse gas reduction and communities, addressing social inequities by providing job opportunities and skills training to marginalized communities. ACC’s long-term vision is to create a sustainable, resilient society capable of addressing climate change challenges.
The ACC offers an exciting opportunity for young Americans to get involved in the fight against climate change while gaining valuable skills and contributing to their communities. If you are passionate about the environment and eager to make a difference, consider joining the ACC or supporting its initiatives in your local area. You can also get involved by advocating for climate action, volunteering with environmental organizations, or participating in local conservation projects.
MORE INFORMATION: https://americorps.gov/newsroom/press-release/biden-harris-administration-announces-major-steps-stand-landmark-american; https://www.acc.gov/
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Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called “Internet of Animals” project all about and how does it aim to help the conservation cause? ~ Beatrice U., Rampa, ID
In the early 2000s, animal behavior specialist Martin Wikelski was reflecting on the value of monitoring wildlife, which had already been the bulk of his work for decades. Be it through putting GPS chips on birds to understand their migration patterns, or placing radio collars on coyotes to follow their movements through urban areas, it was undeniable that using technology to monitor the movements and physiology of wildlife species was the best way to learn more about their behaviors and habitats.
However, Wikelski knew from experience that monitoring animals had limitations. Only the largest mammals and birds could be monitored due to the large size of GPS technology, and the energy needed to complete monitoring projects was monumental. In an effort to make monitoring more viable on larger scales, Wikelski came up with the idea for an “Internet of Animals”: A satellite system that would continuously receive monitoring data from GPS chips placed on animals around the world.
Wikelski soon founded the International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space (ICARUS) program to bolster his efforts in monitoring smaller creatures. The idea was to develop a chip that was small enough to be placed on more than half of the mammalian species living on Earth, around 40 percent of all birds, and hundreds of reptilian species. These chips would collect temperature, location and accelerometer data and promptly send the data up to a network of low orbit satellites in Earth’s atmosphere called “CubeSats”, which would in turn send the signals to “Movebank”, an online public database. (Accelerometers are used to measure sedentary time, physical activity, physical activity energy expenditure, and sleep-related behaviors.) After decades of development and design, the technology has now been testing the project on smaller scales for more than half a decade.
If ICARUS succeeds in launching a sustainable, broad-scale version of the “internet of animals”, the benefits the project would bring to environmental research are nearly infinite. For starters, getting more consistent insight into animals’ behaviors and biology could help scientists understand the main threats to wildlife and their habitats to better conserve them.
Additionally, information on meteorology and climate could be provided by creatures that are especially sensitive to inclement weather and temperature changes; for example, elephant seals already provide more than 80 percent of our sea surface temperature data. And that’s to say nothing of the potential discoveries that could be made in biology and zoology to further inform our understanding of the climate crisis and conservation.
There are still many challenges that must be overcome before the internet of animals goes online. The GPS chips need to be reliable enough to give accurate data for months or years without malfunctioning, or else the project will not be physically or financially sustainable. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a device the size of a nickel. However, with the project already in testing, and financial backing being provided by NASA and several national governments, it may not be long before Wikelski’s dream becomes a reality.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.icarus.mpg.de/en
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Dear EarthTalk: Is plywood a viable sustainable material for furniture and home building? ~ P.K.
Plywood is a manufactured composite material consisting of multiple wooden sheets layered on top of one another and glued together. To assess its sustainability, one needs to assess that of its constituent parts, both the wood sheets and the glue in between them. Scientists utilize Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of the material from production, transportation and utilization to end of life. By observing the carbon footprint in each part of the material’s lifetime, we can then gain a holistic understanding of the true net carbon footprint of a material.
Using LCA, a research group from the Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute analyzed the carbon footprint of plywood across its lifetime. The group concluded that plywood can be a carbon-negative material (removes carbon from the atmosphere) as its wooden material absorbs carbon given that it is not incinerated. In fact, the entire process of production and transportation of plywood produces fewer carbon emissions than the amount of carbon it contains, thus making it carbon-negative.
However, the environmental impact of the glue in plywood is not as clear cut. Countless types of glues can be used in the production of plywood, with each differing in their environmental impact. Glues can be categorized into two groups: those containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde and those that do not. Formaldehyde is a harmful substance released as a gas during the lifetime of the glue. Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can cause a plethora of human d and animal health problems. Thus, plywood is only safe for the environment when it is produced with glues not containing VOCs. However, when produced with safe glues, plywood is highly safe for the environment. Compared to aluminum, plastic and concrete, plywood is crowned as the most sustainable material.
So, plywood is a green material, but is it good for making furniture or for home construction? Plywood is cheaper, more durable and more flexible than solid wood, making it a versatile material for many furniture-making applications. Manufactured in thin large sheets, plywood is perfect for assembling into shelving, tables and beds. Plywood can also be an excellent material for home construction because of its ease of working and its dimensional stability. Because plywood comes in pre-processed sheets, it can be used at the construction site easily without further processing. Moreover, plywood is dimensionally stable, meaning it tends to maintain its structure over time, making it a great material for areas in need of structural rigidity. So, in home construction, plywood can be found commonly used to construct floors, walls and roofs to provide the home with excellent structural support.
To an environmentally conscious consumer, plywood serves as a great carbon-negative alternative to materials like plastic, aluminum and solid wood. However, it is imperative to make sure the plywood you purchase is produced in a way that is produced responsibly. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization that certifies wood that is sustainably harvested. When purchasing plywood, ensure it is FSC certified and that it contains no added formaldehyde.
MORE INFORMATION: https://moef.gov.in/moef/about-the-ministry/organisations-institutions/autonomous-organisations/indian-plywood-industries-research-and-training-institute/; https://fsc.org/
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