Brian Handwerk
The UN’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative aims to drive economic development, improve living conditions, and protect the planet by meeting growing energy demands with renewable, environmentally responsible sources. Will Rio+20 be someday seen as the launchpad for these accomplishments or simply another missed opportunity? UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon touted the new program at…
Nepal’s soaring, snowy mountain peaks are a source of awe. They’re also a source of clean, life-altering power to the people who live in their shadows. The small Himalayan nation is promoting micro-hydro plants at the village level to produce renewable electricity, and green jobs, for citizens living far off the country’s limited power…
The U.S. renewable energy industry may be heading towards a “clean tech cliff.” Three-quarters of the government incentive funds that have helped drive tremendous growth in industries like solar and wind are set to expire between now and 2014. For good or ill, the political decisions made between now and then will define a…
The market for organic food and drink is estimated at U.S.$50 billion and growing by IFOAM, the global organization of organic trade. While much of that product demand originates in wealthy developed nations, it creates opportunity for developing countries like Uganda to build a sustainable export business that protects natural resources while boosting the economy through the creation of long-term green jobs.
There are a lot of fish in the sea. But their numbers are no match for growing human appetites and the ultra-efficient fisheries that have sprung up to feed our hunger. A shift towards “blue job” fisheries is urgently needed, experts say, if the oceans are to nourish future generations as they have in…
We’ve written before about the benefits of green jobs, so you may be wondering, “How do I get one?” It’s true the green jobs sector is growing, but there are also a few challenges that need to be overcome to accelerate growth. These include: It’s the Economy In tough economic times there’s simply a…
Green jobs are a hot topic in an era of high unemployment. But defining exactly what green jobs are, how they can be created, and how they benefit the economy and environment presents quite a challenge. The Obama administration made green jobs an early focus and set a goal of creating some 5 million…
In the developing world green jobs can have a double-barreled impact; providing work and wages while tapping renewable energy technology to deliver “developed nation” services to people who desperately need them. These twin benefits are converging in Bangladesh, where female entrepreneurs are gaining economic independence as solar power contractors and providing life-changing electricity to…
At Growing Green Jobs, we recently looked at some of the hottest eco-friendly positions. Now, we take a look at some surprising green jobs that might not immediately come to mind, but can also help you do well by doing good. Green Financial Planners Financial professionals are often associated with a different type of…
There’s been a lot of talk about green jobs over the past few years. Not all the hype has panned out, but there has also been real progress. The following are some of the hottest green jobs around: Solar Professionals The power of the sun is growing green jobs for installers, salespeople, and entrepreneurs…
Spy Satellites, Google Earth Now Guarding World’s Great Ancient Sites
Posted by Brian Handwerk on September 9, 2011 Conservationists are using spy satellites, cutting-edge computer technology, and an expert human network to build an “early warning system” for some of the planet’s greatest—and most threatened—archaeological sites.
Changing Climate a Hot Topic Among Himalayan Villagers, Study Finds
Posted by Brian Handwerk on September 9, 2011 Warmer temperatures, variable monsoons, and other signs of climate change are a hot topic of conversation among many Himalayan villagers, according to scientific sampling of climate change perception among local peoples.
Photographer Julie Larsen Maher: Behind the Scenes at a Zoo Near You, and in Wild Habitats Worldwide
Posted by Brian Handwerk on September 2, 2011 Julie Larsen Maher is staff photographer for the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where her images serve as a “visual voice” for five New York-area wildlife parks and the WCS’s conservation field work in more than 60 countries around the world. She spoke with National Geographic News about the fun and frustration of working…
Pacific Islanders Use Stars to Sail Canoes From New Zealand to California
Posted by Brian Handwerk on August 31, 2011 Pacific sailors concerned about the great ocean’s future recently charted a course towards future healing by reaching back to the incredible voyages of their ancestors. Sailors on the Pacific Voyagers project steered a fleet of traditional Polynesian sailing canoes or vaka from New Zealand to San Francisco—guided only by the stars that once helped…
How Many People Does it Take to Impregnate an Elephant?
Posted by Brian Handwerk on August 5, 2011 How many humans does it take to impregnate an elephant? Earlier this summer a crowd gathered at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo to help Chai, a 32-year-old Asian elephant, conceive a calf. Specialists from across the country were involved, but Chai’s male mate was noticeably absent. Only the bull’s sperm made the trip to the West Coast, while the potential papa remained hundreds of miles away in New Mexico’s Alburquerque Biological Park Zoo.
