Defining environmental finance is tricky as there's no widely agreed upon definition. Instead, there are a variety of certifications, standards and attributes that can be used to help identify "greener" businesses. Wells Fargo set a goal of providing $30 billion in environmental finance by 2020, and is asking for public feedback on the categories they have established for environmental financing. Today we will talk about the environmental impact of the projects Wells Fargo is currently funding, and what may be on the horizon. Our guests are Wells Fargo’s VP of Environmental Affairs, Stephanie Rico, and VP, Environmental Finance, Dustin Kahler. To give your input, visit:
Wells Fargo Environmental Forum
One of the drawbacks of solar and wind energy is the intermittency of power generation, and the inability of our current electricity grid to handle an inconsistent flow of electrons. If solar and wind power were coupled with large-scale energy storage capacity, this could create the steady flow of electricity that is optimal for our grid. One of the promising technologies for mass energy storage is vanadium flow batteries (VFB’s). Today we’re joined by the CEO of American Vanadium, a Canadian mining company preparing to launch operations to extract vanadium in Nevada. Currently, there is no other source of vanadium in the U.S. Tune in to learn more about vanadium, and why having a domestic supply of this critical element could impact national security.
As Terry Walters writes in the introduction to her book, CLEAN FOOD, “In this country, the topic of food is charged with emotion and controversy…Our produce departments and grocery shelves are lined with…pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, chemical additives…stripping our food of its inherent nutritional value. Behind each glass of milk or piece of meat is an agenda, a lobbyist, a Fortune 500 company, a distribution chain, a processing plant…The further we remove ourselves from the source of our food, the less we are able to maintain physical and emotional balance…The cleaner we eat, the clearer we think, and the better we can embrace good health and nutrition.” Tune in to learn more about how to convert your kitchen into a place where your family is truly nourished.
Today’s guest is Dr. Sarah Janssen, senior scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council's health and environment program. Her work has included research on flame retardants, cosmetics, plastics and plasticizers, breast cancer and threats to adult reproductive health and child development. She is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco where she is conducting clinical research. She completed her M.D. and Ph.D. in molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Illinois, a Masters in Public Health at UC-Berkeley in 2005 and residency training at the University of California, San Francisco.
If you are concerned with your family’s health and the environment you leave to the next generation, then it’s time to consider the impact that factory farming is having on both. Today’s guest has been hailed “the conscience of the food movement” by Time magazine. Gene Baur is the President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary, an organization that is on a mission to protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living. Even if you love steak and cheeseburgers, there are ways you can help minimize the ill effects of factory farms on animals, the environment and your own health. Tune in to learn how to eat in alignment with your values.
Military veterans know what it means to work hard. They have leadership skills, an ability to adapt, team-oriented values, and a desire to continue serving their country. That’s why they expect to find good employment opportunities after leaving the service. They want a job that is well-suited to their skills and interests, and allows them to take care of themselves and their family. But when it comes to finding those jobs, veterans may not know where to start. Veterans Green Jobs can help.
Veterans Green Jobs’ employment program matches veterans’ military experience to the skills needed by green sector employers, links them to training programs to provide them with skills in key subject areas, and connects them with available jobs. Tune in to learn more about VGJ’s work to connect military veterans with meaningful employment opportunities that serve our communities and environment.
Traffic in National Parks during peak season is significant. Americans have long enjoyed packing in to bring their families to visit our national treasurers, and the fondest memories of many generations happen in our National Parks each year. Adding to the long lines of traffic are trucks bringing in something for sale that is already in the park for free – water. In addition, there are trucks heading out of the parks carrying tons of plastic water bottles. Does this make sense? We’ll discuss this issue today with Grace Morris, who is a spokesperson for a campaign to remove plastic water bottles from our National Parks.
Are industrial meat operations to blame for the rise in drug-resistant illnesses and superbugs? How can consumers protect themselves, and what role should the government play in safeguarding our food supply from unhealthy farming practices? Today we are joined by Russ Kremer, a.k.a. the “Pope of Pork”, a recipient of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s 2013 Growing Green Award, and Dr. Jason Newland, Medical Director of Patient Safety and Systems Reliability Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics Kansas City, MO. We will discuss the current state of meat production in America, and what farmers like Russ are doing to create healthier options for consumers.
Traffic in National Parks during peak season is significant. Americans have long enjoyed packing in to bring their families to visit our national treasurers, and the fondest memories of many generations happen in our National Parks each year. Adding to the long lines of traffic are trucks bringing in something for sale that is already in the park for free – water. In addition, there are trucks heading out of the parks carrying tons of plastic water bottles. Does this make sense? We’ll discuss this issue today with Grace Morris, who is a spokesperson for a campaign to remove plastic water bottles from our National Parks.
Currently, the world derives 86 percent of its energy from finite fuels: oil, coal, and natural gas. If we have not already reached peak oil production, we are close to it, meaning that half of planet’s oil supply is already gone. At some point, we will reach peak coal and natural gas production, as well. Renewable energy delivers less than one percent (1%) of the world’s energy supply, and is not being deployed on a scale to replace even a small percentage of the world’s current and projected energy needs for the future. As global population reaches an all-time high, the energy supply needed to feed, clothe, shelter, and provide work for all those individuals is in decline. How does a smart, forward-looking society plan for the inevitable changes inherent in this energy dilemma? Our guest, Richard Heinberg, senior fellow-in-residence at the Post Carbon Institute, will share his views on the matter as we discuss the book, ENERGY: Overdevelopment & the Delusion of Endless Growth.
