Dear Eartha, My goal this year is to reduce my carbon footprint by driving less, but it’s not always easy. What tips do you have? The level of convenience that cars provide can deter us from considering other transportation options. If you have access to a personal vehicle your brain is probably on auto-pilot to […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve heard that to avoid the scariest impacts of climate change, we humans need to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Are we doing enough to get there? What would it take to hit that target? As we emerge from the Covid reality of the past year, it’s worth reflecting on the world we’re […]
Dear Eartha, Last year, my neighbor installed solar panels on her roof, and she loves them. I’m interested in solar now, too. How do I get started? When you pause to think about it, solar energy is pretty rad. The most abundant source of energy on Earth, it powers nearly everything around us – growing the […]
Dear Eartha, A few days ago, my neighbor and I were chatting about the wildfires and drought the west has experienced this year. I mentioned that we’ll see more of these disasters because of climate change, and she quickly changed the subject. How can I talk to friends and neighbors about climate change without losing […]
Dear Eartha, Last week, a friend mentioned Earth Overshoot Day. Can you explain what it is? When we hear the word “overshoot” we might associate it with a positive statement – “Wow, you really overshot your goals!” Unfortunately, Earth Overshoot Day is nothing to celebrate. Simply put, Earth Overshoot Day is the date when we […]
Dear Eartha, I know wildfires are a normal part of our mountain ecosystem, but I can’t help but wonder if climate change is making fires worse. Is it? As I write these words, I am breathing a sigh of relief – for the first time in several days, I can clearly see the mountains outside […]
Dear Eartha, during the COVID lock-down, I saw stories about clearer skies, cleaner waterways and our planet getting a break. How do we get back to normal without sacrificing these benefits? As the pandemic continues, we all have the natural desire for things to get “back to normal”. But, in our rush to recover and […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve heard recently about the link between environmental issues and social justice. I don’t fully understand the connection, can you explain? If you’ve ever seen photos of a climate change rally, you might have noticed signs that say things like, “Climate justice is social justice,” or “Environmental justice for all.” Though the connections […]
Dear Eartha, the coronavirus outbreak has given me a lot of anxiety and it’s hard to think about conservation right now. What do you suggest? Have you seen the Building Hope ads in the paper – the ones that remind us that “It’s okay to not be okay?” That’s an important mantra to keep in […]
Dear Eartha, does my fondness for IPAs have an environmental impact? Please don’t tell me I’ll have to forego an après-ski pint (or two) to help save the planet. Last summer, Chicago-based research firm C+R Research did an analysis to determine which U.S. cities have the most craft breweries per capita. With five Colorado cities […]
Dear Eartha, It’s hard to get in the holiday spirit when climate change has got me feeling like a grinch. Do you have any good news to help me go into the New Year with a merrier outlook? Whatever your tradition, the holidays are about hope – hope for the New Year, hope for long […]
