Online Course - Climate Change Leadership (Cornell)

Cornell Course Organizations everywhere are racing to plan for the effects of climate change on the global supply chain. These impacts present complex challenges which will only heighten over time — from effects on human health and the food supply to the weather and the water cycle to the economy and transportation. This course provides an overview of climate change science and its impacts on the global food system so you’ll come away better prepared to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on your business and contribute to potential solutions. 

Online Course - Business Sustainability Management (University of Cambridge)

The University of Cambridge 6 week Business Sustainability Management online short course gives students the skills they need to argue the business case for sustainability, develop integrated sustainability strategies, and implement them throughout your sphere of influence. Time requirements are 8-12 hours per week. The weekly modules offer a flexible learning experience. This course is intended for those who want to expand their knowledge of sustainability.

Online Course - Corporate Sustainability Management: Risk, Profit, and Purpose (Yale School of Management)

This 6 week online course from the Yale School of Management offers a flexible education experience. Learning modules require approximately 8–10 hours per week. The program convener is Dr Todd Cort a Lecturer in Sustainability at Yale and faculty co-director at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. Dr Cort is a researcher  who works at the intersection of corporate responsibility and sustainable finance. He also collaborates with investors and fund managers to effectively integrate sustainability into investment strategies. 

End of Year Message and the Top 100 Articles from 2020

Since its inception in 2008, The Green Market Oracle has published 7,731 articles which have been viewed on this site a total of 4,012,438 times.  As this year ends I want to take a moment to thank our readers and let you know that the new year will bring some exciting changes and additions. On January 1, 2021 an upgraded, remodeled version of this site will be launched on a new platform. We will continue to deliver fact-first journalism as well as some added features including a regular podcast.  So thanks again for being with us over the past years and stay tuned for the new additions in what promises to be an eventful year to come. 

Here are the top 100 posts from 2020.They are ranked according to popularity as determined by viewership. The topics of these articles range from the climate related impacts of Covid-19 to fossil fuels and the Trump presidency.

Climate Change and the Record Breaking 2020 Atlantic Storm Season

This year's Atlantic hurricane season was the worst on record and it marks the fifth straight year with above-average storm activity. Each year there are an average of around 12 storms in the Atlantic, in 2020 there was a record breaking 31. This includes 13 hurricanes (twice the normal number) with six of them rated as Category 3 or higher (also twice the normal average). There is little doubt among climate scientists that warmer ocean temperatures are at least partly responsible for the growing number of intense storms. The storm season is starting earlier and generating more rapidly intensifying hurricanes. Attribution science is making it increasingly possible to directly link storms and hurricanes to climate change.

Unprecedented Wildfires in 2020 are Connected to Climate Change

The intense wildfires that raged across the Western U.S., South America, and Australia in 2020 are being attributed to climate change. What makes these fires unprecedented is their size and duration.  There is growing evidence that these increasingly intense fires could eradicate some species of floral and fauna.  Across the American west, fire seasons are now 78 days longer than they were in the 1970s. 

The Psychotherapeutic Benefits of Nature

A growing body of research overwhelmingly supports the view that nature can improve our physical and mental health.  From heart disease to a general sense of well-being, a number of studies confirm that nature offers multiple benefits.  One study found that something as simple as viewing natural scenes lowers heart rates. Exposure to nature has even been shown to decrease mortality  

Webinar - Leadership in Our Time

This 60 minute webinar will take place on Friday January 8, 2021, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm EST. This is part of a new SSF webinar series exploring American leadership. Hosted by the Security and Sustainability Forum (SSF) and George Washington University (GWU), this is the fourth webinar in the Leadership in our Time series.  This session will feature a discussion between Ditte Juul-Jørgensen Atlantic Council Senior Fellow, Ambassador András Simonyi. Mrs. Ditte Juul-Jørgensen took up the position of Director General for Energy of the European Commission (DG ENER) in August 2019. She joined DG ENER from a position as Head of Cabinet for Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager 

Managing Ecological Grief and Anxiety Through Action

How do we manage the psychological repercussions associated with the multiple ecological crises we face? Anyone who follows climate change, environmental degradation, or biodiversity loss, knows how stressful it can be. We live in a geological epoch that is a tragic testament to the devastating impact humans have had on this planet. We are depleting, and poisoning the earth, while endangering entire ecosystems and altering the global climate system.  Facing the fact that this is caused by our way of life can be overwhelming. It can be even more stressful to come to terms with the fact that we are rapidly running out of time to do something about it.

A Green Christmas Carol

This year was difficult to say the least and this season shines light into the darkness of our grief and despair.  However, like the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, the horror we have endured calls us to reflect on how our destructive ways have given birth to this dystopian nightmare. 

If we move forward it will be because we face the shameful environmental neglect of the past, the woeful inadequacy of the present and the hopelessness of a future in which we fail to act. 

A Cautionary Tale about Stranded Assets

Just in time for Christmas a cautionary tale of two power plants is warning investors to be wary of fossil fuels. As predicted by many the evidence is mounted to support the contention that dirty energy is destined to be stranded assets. The closure of coal powerplants all around the world corroborate this prediction. Here are two examples from opposite sides of the world that demonstrate how once dominant coal powered powerplants are being replaced by renewable sources of energy causing investors to lose billions of dollars. 

Webinar - Transition Pathway Initiative: Transportation Report

This Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) webinar will take place on Thursday, 21 January 2021, 15:00 - 16:00 GMT. Highlights from the TPI's latest Transportation Report  will be broadcast on BrightTALK and it will feature important information on the airline, auto industries as well as international shipping.  This webinar will provide the audience with an introduction to the TPI and their methodology. The TPI will discuss the results from their report and give the audience an opportunity to ask the researchers questions.

What Aviation Efficiency can Teach us about the Power of Small Gestures

It is entirely appropriate that big ticket efforts to reduce global warming causing greenhouse gas emissions are at the center of global climate efforts, however, there is also a need for small gestures. Such actions can make a big difference if repeated often. Governments (nations and subnational), public companies and private organizations all have a critical role to play and so do individuals. Efficiency in the aviation industry is a good illustration of how seemingly small efforts can make a difference. Something as simple as painting a plane with a light color can have a major impact. White paint is lighter than black paint because it has less pigment. Dark paint can add the equivalent weight of 8 passengersé  Painting an airplane white also decreases heat and increases durability.

Eliminating Fossil Fuels Centerstage at the UN Climate Ambition Summit

On the fifth anniversary of the historic COP21 meeting world leaders came together to discuss the the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement. The agenda for the Climate Ambition Summit included finalizing the 300 page draft known as the Paris rulebook which defines how countries tally and report their emissions reduction efforts.  Many of the leaders who came together for this virtual event acknowledged the need to increase renewables and end fossil fuels to keep temperatures from surpassing the upper threshold limit (1.5-2.0 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms). 

American Courts are Defending Democracy and the Environment

Despite unprecedented challenges, America's legal system has held. In recent weeks the courts have repeatedly defended democracy and in the last four years they have overturned a wide range of environmental assaults. The stacking of the Supreme Court with conservative justices did not prevent the highest court in the land from rebuffing baseless accusations of voter fraud. Dozens of lower court rulings have also denied lawsuits designed to overturn election results. Trump and his allies are currently 1 for 59 in their legal efforts to subvert democracy. The Supreme Court denied Texas' petition to invalidate election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This doomed effort was supported by 106 congressional Republicans and 18 state attorneys general. On December 11, all 7 justices unanimously denied relief citing a lack of standing (ie the failure to demonstrate their case).

Event - Strapline: Assessing and Mitigating Cyber Security Risks on your Assets

This event will take place on May 6 -7, 2021. Renewable Energy needs a common understanding of cyber threats and mitigation strategies to protect against the internal and external threats which could result in reduced energy production and economic losses.. The lack of standards, insufficient board level understanding of cyber threats, legacy assets and new technology pose important challenges for cyber security professionals Participants at this event will learn about cyber security strategies and recommendations, cyber hygiene, implementation of risk management schemes and regulatory issues.

Webinar - COVID-19 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

This webinar hosted by the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre in collaboration with the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability explores the effects of the pandemic on greenhouse gas emissions. You can catch up below.  This webinar features Simon Langlois-Bertrand and Shadnoosh Pashaei in discussion about energy-related greenhouse gas emissions post-COVID19. Simon Langlois-Bertrand is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and a member of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre at Concordia University, where his research focuses on the geopolitics of the ecological transition and circular economy paradigms. Shadnoush Pashaei Farahani is a recent graduate from the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she has developed a new methodology to assess GHG emissions that can be followed by energy efficiency programs in industry. 

Click here to access the webinar. 

Online Event - Solar PV Digitalization Forum

This event will take place on December 10 and 11 2020, Online. This event for anyone interested in solar photovoltaics.  It will offer a thorough analysis of digitalization in the solar sector including the latest solar panel design and technology. This solution based forum is designed to increase revenue while reducing operational and maintenance costs and risks through automated data analytics, tools (algorithms, machine learning, and sensors), and artificial intelligence (AI). The forum will explore the technological challenges and solutions.  

Environmental Impacts of Food Production (Infographic)

Ominous Trend Revealed in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are warming the globe and driving climate change. The impacts of these GHGs are not some future concern they are being felt here and now.  We need to look no further than the steady stream of record breaking warming. Last month was the warmest November on record, and 2020 is expected to be one of the hottest years on record. Month after month, year after year, and decade after decade we are setting new temperature records that are exacerbating wildfires, droughts and storms.

Boycott Culture and Brand Influence During Trump's Presidency and Beyond

Brands wield enormous influence over popular culture and whether they are pursuing core social values or trying to preempt boycotts, brands are finding it harder to ignore social, environmental and political issues.  

Boycott culture has grown since Donald Trump emerged as a candidate in 2015. Trump has repeatedly used his office to advocate boycotts as have anti-Trump advocates. Earlier this year Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear after company guidelines were leaked that instructed employees to avoid wearing politically affiliated attire including MAGA hats. 

Online event - Future of Renewables Global 2020 Virtual Conference

This free virtual conference will take place on December 8-9, 2020. Binging together CEOs, innovators, investors and policymakers in the final push for a clean and sustainable future. Sixty of the most powerful renewable energy leaders will speak to 10,000 virtual attendees to set the stage and chart the path for the global renewable business models of the future. If you want to de-risk your renewables business model and learn how mitigate these challenges,, you cannot afford to miss the strategic solutions and upcoming industry trends.

Why John Kerry is the Right Man to Tackle Climate Change

John Kerry will serve as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the Biden administration. He has a distinguished track record on climate issues in both the Senate and as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. He was instrumental in securing the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. Under Kerry the US doubled its financial contributions to vulnerable countries impacted by climate change.  

Eco-Psychology Course at Saybrook University

A course at Saybrook University examines the role of humans as part of the web of life. The relatively new area of eco-psychology explores human nature and the human capacity to influence the environmental crisis. Coursework at Saybrook University is founded on humanistic psychology and it relies on the basic values of understanding and improving systems throughout the world.. The solutions, like the world itself, are ever evolving. With our planet changing so drastically over the last hundred years and the future all but in question due to climate change, eco-psychology is more important than ever for clinicians and thinkers alike.

Webinar | Unearth the Possibilities

This webinar on soil technologies will take place on December 1, 2020, 2:00 PM-3:15 PMET. The Unearth the Possibilities webinar will present on planned research in areas like precision agriculture, in situ and remote sensing technology, waste and water management, resource exploration, and more. It will review the planned research and membership structure of the Center for Soil Dynamics Technology, a proposed NSF Industry-University Collaborative Research Center project.

Online Event - From Paris to 2030

From Paris to 2030 is a free live virtual event that is taking place December 9, 2020. Five years after the landmark Paris climate agreement, most countries remain far behind on meeting their 2030 emission-reduction targets, and will now have to double or even triple their commitments in order to prevent dangerous levels of global warming this century. 

What we can Learn from the Pilgrims this Thanksgiving

The origins of Thanksgiving date back to a 1621 feast in which the Wampanoag people helped the Pilgrims to survive in the New World. We can draw inspiration and wisdom from the plight of the first English settlers who colonized this country.  If we peel back the sanitized renditions of this narrative we are confronted by unspeakable hardships. These settlers were ravaged by malnutrition and disease and most did not survive their first winter.  

This year the COVID-19 pandemic makes this a Thanksgiving like no other.  While many Americans are heeding advisories from public health officials and foregoing the usual gatherings, others see this as a political issue that infringes on their personal freedoms. This is a nation that is divided even on issues as fundamental as managing a deadly virus. 

COVID-19 and Other Crises Reviewed in a Year Over Year Assessment of GHG Emissions

There have been at least three times that we have seen reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic is also expected to cause a decrement in emissions. The virus has caused a 17 percent reduction in atmospheric carbon emissions during parts of this year and may decrease CO2 emissions by 4.2-7.5 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. These estimates from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are yet to be confirmed but they corroborate earlier data that shows the COVID-19 pandemic has driven down GHG emissions. This was initially observed in China as the first nation in the world to be stricken with the virus. As the virus spread around the world, we saw similar reductions in emissions in other countries. In previous years we have seen reductions in emissions correlated with economic crises and other factors. Some excellent data elucidating this trend comes from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). This organization launched a research programme dedicated to studying the phenomenon of global change. The data collected by the IGBP has been compiled in a table (see left) that helps us to seen to monitor year over year changes in GHG emissions.

Trump’s Coup Attempt and his Scorched Earth Policy

U.S. president Donald Trump and his allies are doing everything they can to tie President-Elect Joe Biden's hands before he is inaugurated. They seem intent on burning down the house as part of a scorched earth policy designed to make life as difficult as possible for the incoming administration. They are poisoning people with baseless accusations of electoral fraud and impropriety, while resisting science based action to combat COVID-19.  They are firing key personnel, hiring loyalists, announcing sanctions, withdrawing troops and rattling the sabers of war.  All the while they are continuing their assaults on environmental protections and climate action.

Trump is no Kingmaker

Many predict that U.S. President Donald Trump will be a kingmaker, however, there is more than ample reason to suggest that his brand is dying. Exhibit one is the million MAGA march in Washington DC on Saturday November 14. Attendance at this event was more than 980,000 short of the million people the White House had hoped for.  The administration lied about attendance in even more spectacular fashion than they lied about crowd size at Trump's inauguration. 

Online Event - IRSEC 2020

The 8th edition of IRSEC  will take place from 25 to 28 November 2020. This edition is focusing on workshops, totally online, and free of charge. A rich and varied scientific program is expected. Several workshops and special sessions are scheduled. November,  23 and 24 will be consecrated to Tutorials and other IRSEC activities.. Keynote talks in Workshops and Special Sessions will tackle cutting-edge technologies and hot topics related to Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Energy efficiency.  More than thirty confirmed international experts from 17 countries will present the latest news in the fields of Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Energy efficiency. In addition, a virtual exhibition is prepared to host national and international industrials.

Online Event - MaRS Impact Week 2020

The first-ever MaRS Impact Week will take place from November 39 - December 4, 2020 and it will tackle some of society's greatest challenges — from smart cities and climate moonshots to ESG investing and creating a fairer version of capitalism. This five day immersive online event is Canada's leading conference. It is for people who believe that innovation can create a better world 

Environmental Plebiscites: Municipal Referendums and State Ballot Initiatives

The November 3rd election not only elected an environmentally responsible president it also gave Americans a chance to vote on environmental issues in five state ballots and two city referendums. Americans  weighed-in on clean energy, fossil fuels and wildlife.

Issue 1 referendum in Columbus, Ohio asked the electorate in that state to vote on whether they want to the city to run on 100% renewable energy by 2022. It gives the government the power to buy renewable electricity for residents of Columbus (passed).

Measure 4 in East Brunswick, New Jersey asked voters to decide if they want to give residents and businesses access to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 (passed).

Polls Suggest that Climate Action could Unite Americans

Americans desperately need to find common ground and climate science may prove to be a catalyst that helps to bring people together. Despite deep divisions there is reason to believe that the environment is a shared concern that can foster unity. We are seeing increasing support for climate action in the U.S. including the Green New Deal  This is due at least  in part to COVID-19. A poll from the Yale Program for Climate Communication indicated that 70 percent of voters favor federal stimulus funding for clean energy rather than fossil fuels.  In 2019 it was becoming clear that Americans were increasingly at odds with their government on climate action and in 2020 climate change was a ballot box issue that contributed to president-elect Joe Biden’s decisive victory.  

Virtual Event - Big Path Capital’s Company Showcase

This free virtual event will take place on Tuesday, November 17, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET. This event is an opportunity for institutional investors, family offices, funds, investment advisors, and foundations to hear from pimpact and sustainable private companies including the 10 best-in-class impact companies. This event will focus on pre-screened companies that are generating returns and creating impact. Throughout the program, the format provides opportunities to meet CEOs. Big Path Capital has worked with over 50 Impact Private companies. In our twelve-year history, over 5,000 Impact Investors have attended Big Path events.

Biden is the Last Great Hope for our Planet

Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States and this could pull us back from the precipice and change the course of history. The former vice president garnered more votes than any candidate since the dawn of the republic more than two centuries ago.  A Biden presidency will preserve democracy and return the U.S. to a fact-based approach to governance. Science will once again take its rightful place informing policy including national efforts to manage COVID-19. However, the most important corollary of this election may be reviving hope that we can act in time to preserve the future of life on the planet.  President-elect Biden's platform includes the most ambitious climate action plan every put forward by a major U.S. party. This election was timely as we are teetering on the cusp of the collapse of civilization and our window of opportunity to act is rapidly closing. A 2018 report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the world has less than a decade to slash greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the most disastrous climate impacts. 

Virtual Event - The Battery Show Digital Days Expo 2020

The Battery Show Digital Days expo will take place on November 10-12. At this show participants well get insights, contacts, and suppliers to help propel your career forward. you access to the latest products from some of the top-industry suppliers, networking activities, as well as educational opportunities. 

The features of this show include virtual booths that will showcase hundreds of exhibitor. These booths will have easy-to-find products and services. 

Trump and Biden: Presidential Endorsements

Trump is the most consistently unpopular president in the history of the republic. The most recent polls show the Biden leads trump by an average of 8.8 points nationally. This is the largest deficit by an incumbent president in decades. Biden has the support of Blacks, Latinos, women, seniors, independents and educated voters while Trump has Christian evangelicals, rural voters, older uneducated white men and police associations. Trump has also been endorsed by the Taliban and the Proud Boys. as well as authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin,, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Pilipino President Rodrigo Duterte, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Anatomy of a Failed Presidency

US president Donald Trump is a failure. He has consistently foundered throughout his life but the presidency has exponentially amplified the scale of his failings. Despite repeated warnings Trump chose to playdown the Coronavirus and this may prove to be his apex of evil. More than 228,000 Americans have died due to this pandemic and an additional 200,000 are expected to die by the end of the year.  Trump's corruption may be legendary but it is eclipsed by his epic mismanagement of the pandemic.  His inactions will go down in history as one of the most callous failures of any president in the history of the republic. It is not only that he is not doing enough, Trump is a superspreader of both the virus and disinformation. He has actively undermined efforts to manage the pandemic derided his own government’s guidance and mocked those who follow the rules.  These actions are directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. According to research out of Columbia University Trump could have saved between 130,000 - 210,000 lives had he listened to the science and acted responsibly. 

The Sustainable Jersey for Schools Program

Schools across the country and around the world are working on being more sustainable. Schools are ideal locations for sustainability initiatives because such efforts provide a healthier environment for students, reduces costs and offers a powerful learning opportunity. There is evidence to support the idea that healthier physical spaces benefit students academically and contribute to cost reductions. Exposing students to working sustainability programs offers practical insights into the logistics of such programs. It is one thing to learn about sustainability but quite another to see it in action.