Essential Tips for Staying Safe on a Hike
Hiking is a wonderful way to connect with nature, enjoy some fresh air, and get a good workout. Few things are more restorative than a nice hike. However, because there are some risks involved, be sure to follow important safety rules. No one wants their day enjoying the great outdoors to end in tragedy. Bring […]
Pacific NW
Are you looking for a Seattle Portrait Photographer?
As a parent, you want to capture every moment of your child’s life. From their first steps to their first day of school, you want to be able to look back on these memories and cherish them forever. While it may be tempting to take these pictures yourself, hiring a professional photographer is always the […]
Tacoma Power’s spacious campgrounds
By Dave Helgeson Editor’s note: The following article is reprinted with permission from the Northwest RVing Blog hosted by MHRV (Manufactured Housing and Recreational Vehicle) Show Association. For information, go to https://northwestrving.com/ Did you know that Tacoma Power operates multiple campgrounds on the lakes behind its hydroelectric dams southwest of Mt. Rainier? The campgrounds are […]
Reptiles need urgent action to survive
Caption: Almost two-thirds of all turtle species known to science are either endangered or recently extinct. Credit: Roddy Scheer Dear EarthTalk: How are reptiles faring these days in the face of climate change and other environmental threats? -- L.M. Smith, Boston, MA Reptiles, like other animals and plants, face growing threats as human influence on the environment increases. Certain reptiles are especially threatened; some 61 percent of turtles are threatened or extinct. Tracking the exact consequences of human activity on reptiles, however, has been difficult as research has primarily focused on mammals and birds, which draw more public attention, although evaluations haveClean energy spurs economic benefits
Caption: While climate change might benefit the economy overall, we would rather not have to deal with it at all. Credit: Pexels.com Dear EarthTalk: Is climate change actually good for the economy, given all the clean-up/restoration jobs severe weather is creating and the employment surges in green energy?– P.B., New Haven, CT Strangely enough, climate change does produce jobs and boost the economy as we struggle to make ourselves more resilient to its ravages. Some would argue that the renewable energy sector owes much of its success to the climate crisis. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, renewable energy
Pet poop pollution upsets nature
Caption: Your pet’s poo and pee might be polluting the local environment more than what’s coming out of tailpipes and smokestacks. Credit: Alotrobo, Pexels.com. Dear EarthTalk: Does all the pet waste American dogs and cats leave behind outside have an effect (positively or negatively) on the environment?-- Mary C., Seattle, WA Dog and cat waste may seem harmless, but the reality is that your pet’s poop can be very problematic for ecosystems where it accumulates. Think of an ecosystem as a closed box. Within that closed box is everything that makes up an ecosystem: the dirt, the bugs, the animals, the plants, the
Seed scarcity linked to climate change
Caption: Tree seed shortages compounded by decades of drought and recent extreme wildfire seasons mean the future of our forests could be in jeopardy. Credit: Yamanaka Tamaki, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that a tree seed shortage is jeopardizing reforestation efforts across the American West following so many bad wildfire seasons in a row? If so, what can everyday people do to help?-- Helen K., Barre, VT Wildfires have been a mainstay on the news of late, and in the United States and across the world we are witnessing fires that are more intense than ever before. With warmer and drierCan we stop sea level rise?
Classic Caption: The question is whether it's too late to do anything about potentially runaway sea level rise. Credit: Roddy Scheer Dear EarthTalk: What are the most recent projections about sea level rise around the world as a result of climate change? And is there any hope of turning back the tide if we rein in emissions as planned under the current iteration of the Paris agreement?-- M. Frey, Milford, CT As temperatures rise around the world, frozen glaciers and sea ice in the poles are melting at unprecedented rates, inundating the world’s oceans with more water. The result has been some sea
Electric drive planes on the horizon
Classic Caption: Eviation's all-electric Alice airplane Israel’s Eviation can fly for an hour on a battery charge with zero emissions. Dear EarthTalk: You hear a lot about electric cars and trucks these days, but has there been any carbon-saving innovation lately in trains and even planes?-- Michael C., Summit, NJ Many environmentalists consider travel an environmental “sin” given the carbon emissions generated by the cars, buses, trains and planes we use to get from Point A to B, but it’s up to each of us to determine how much travel is enough. In the meantime, airplane and train manufacturers and the industries that
Clean energy spurs economic benefits
Caption: While climate change might benefit the economy overall, we would rather not have to deal with it at all. Credit: Pexels.com Dear EarthTalk: Is climate change actually good for the economy, given all the clean-up/restoration jobs severe weather is creating and the employment surges in green energy?– P.B., New Haven, CT Strangely enough, climate […]
Electric drive planes on the horizon
Classic Caption: Eviation’s all-electric Alice airplane Israel’s Eviation can fly for an hour on a battery charge with zero emissions. Dear EarthTalk: You hear a lot about electric cars and trucks these days, but has there been any carbon-saving innovation lately in trains and even planes?— Michael C., Summit, NJ Many environmentalists consider travel an […]
Put rainfall to use with rain barrels
Classic Caption: Elevate your rain barrel for easier access to the spigot for filling containers and to speed water flow with the help of gravity. Photo credit: photo courtesy MelindaMyers.com by Melinda Myers Put rainwater to use in your landscape with the help of rain barrels. This centuries old technique allows you to capture rainfall to […]
China is taking ‘green strides’
Classic Caption: China is giving the world mixed signals about its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and meeting its Paris accord promises. Credit: Sam Lim, Pexels.com. Dear EarthTalk: I’m confused: Is China’s government committed to fighting climate change or just making the problem worse? — Paul J., Austin, TX In the wake of the global […]
Is methane capture from livestock good or bad?
Caption: Newer technology that has farmers and ranchers capturing methane from their livestock waste is better for the planet than not having it. Credit: Mark Stebnicki, Pexels. Dear EarthTalk: Is encouraging dairy farmers and cattle ranchers to capture methane gas from their livestock’s manure good or bad for the planet?— Phil Onorato, Pittsburgh, PA Methane […]
