Land - Climate Break

Rerun: How Fungi is Enhancing Soil Carbon Sequestration Underground, with Tegan Nock

Over the past few centuries, the carbon levels in our soils have significantly decreased as a result of agricultural practices exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Despite this loss, stable carbon storage remains crucial for healthy soil and climate resilience. On this week’s Climate Break, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Loam Bio, Tegan Nock explains a new way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground.

Land, Sequestration

Rerun: How Native American Ecology Can Tackle Climate Anxiety, with Dr. Melinda Adams

Climate change has been increasingly affecting psychological health through the form of climate anxiety. As society grows more concerned about the safety of their livelihoods in the face of environmental disasters, Indigenous communities are spearheading a solution: wildfire as soliphilia. We spoke with Dr. Melinda Adams to learn more about the transformation of wildfire from a colonization weapon to a regenerative power.

Climate & Society, Land

Rerun: Regenerating our Ecosystems with Good Fire, with Dr. Melinda Adams

Fears of wildfires grow as more intense and dangerous burnings occur. However, what if there was a need for more wildfires for our environment? We spoke with Dr. Melinda Adams to learn more about the significance of fires in our ecosystems and the practice of cultural burning through Indigenous efforts to restore ecosystems.

Climate & Society, Land

Rerun: Resilience Hotspots: Nature’s Role in Urban Climate Adaptation

Nature-based solutions to climate change, such as “Resilience Hotspots,” can enhance climate resilience by restoring and maintaining pockets of nature, such as wetlands and urban green spaces, to counteract storm surges and urban heat islands. Integrating these natural defenses into urban planning, while emphasizing community equity, not only mitigates climate impacts but also promotes climate justice.

Climate & Society, Climate Justice, Land

Adapting Coffee Production for Climate Resilience, with Catherine Kiwuka

As coffee maintains its status as one of the world’s most popular beverages, the negative environmental impact of coffee bean production and processing continues to grow. This week, we spoke to Catherine Kiwuka about efforts to make coffee cultivation more resilient and sustainable.

Land

Restoring Urban Waterways to Create Climate Resiliency, with Nick Wesley

As cities around the world grew in size, population, and development over the past decades, green spaces receded and ecosystems were damaged. Restoring urban waterways to support habitats threatened by climate change has become a crucial step in sustaining the prosperity of nearby communities. We spoke to Nick Wesley, the executive director of Urban Rivers, an organization installing floating gardens and eco-parks on the Chicago River, about his goal of seeding new, climate resilient habitats for local wildlife.

Climate & Society, Land

Solar Power On Farms, with Byron Kominek

Weather complications have always been a major concern to farmers around the world. Crops’ frequent exposure to freezing temperatures or extreme heat often prevent farms from operating at optimal capacities, with farmers having to devote extra resources in irrigation and sheltering to counter the effects of crop loss. Agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar panels and regenerative agriculture to help maintain crop yields and protect biodiversity while simultaneously increasing solar output, emerges as a promising solution. We invited Byron Kominek, owner and manager of Jack’s Solar Garden in Colorado, to share with us about spearheading sustainability-minded land utilization and agricultural practices.

Energy, Land

Rerun: Sequestering Carbon using Compost and Grasslands, with Whendee Silver

When grassland ecosystems are healthy, they can hold a lot of carbon. But these days, most are degraded. UC Berkeley ecologist Whendee Silver says that by using compost to restore grasslands, we can help local ecosystems and draw down more carbon from the atmosphere at the same time.

Land, Sequestration

Salt Marshes: Ecosystem Powerhouses in Climate Regulation and Biodiversity

Wetlands, especially coastal salt marshes, provide crucial ecosystem services including biodiversity preservation, water regulation, carbon storage, and climate regulation. Human activities have degraded many of these ecosystems, but restoration projects, such as those at Cape Cod National Seashore, aim to rejuvenate affected marshes and restore their vital functions.

Land, Policy, Sequestration

Green Ammonia: Pioneering a Sustainable Future in Food Production

Ammonia, vital for global agriculture, is traditionally produced with significant carbon emissions. Dr. Benjamin Snyder envisions farmers using solar power to create “green ammonia” on-site, reducing greenhouse gases and promoting self-sufficiency.

Energy, Land, Technology