Green Buildings Can Reduce City Temperatures By Up To 2°C
July 12th, 2023
Via World Economic Forum, a report on the need for green buildings to become the norm to improve well-being, air quality and carbon emissions” Green buildings are vital in the fight against climate change. But, social benefits are also seen as users of these buildings will see improved well-being, health and productivity. One study saw […]
Read more »The Simple Ways Cities Can Adapt To Heatwaves
July 12th, 2023
Courtesy of the BBC, a look at some simple ways cities can adapt to heatwaves: Satellite images reveal how green spaces, white roads and water features are helping keep cities cool during deadly heatwaves. Ribbons of blue snake through the bird’s eye view of Prague, a cool relief from the intense patchwork of hot red, […]
Read more »Built Areas and Infrastructure: Stretching the Boundaries of Sustainability
July 11th, 2023
Via Earth.org, a look at the impact that built urban areas and infrastructure has upon sustainability: Globally, built areas account for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Three materials – concrete, steel, and aluminium – are responsible for 23% of GHG emissions, as reported by Architecture 2030. Global road networks, bridges, dams, and almost every […]
Read more »Climate Disasters Daily? Welcome to the ‘New Normal.’
July 11th, 2023
Courtesy of The New York Times, a look at how – around the United States – dangerous floods, heat and storms are happening more frequently: Catastrophic floods in the Hudson Valley. An unrelenting heat dome over Phoenix. Ocean temperatures hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit off the coast of Miami. A surprising deluge in Vermont, a rare […]
Read more »Lighter Pavement Really Does Cool Cities When It’s Done Right
July 10th, 2023
Via The Conversation, a look at how lighter pavement really does cool cities when it’s done right: When heat waves hit, people start looking for anything that might lower the temperature. One solution is right beneath our feet: pavement. Think about how hot the soles of your shoes can get when you’re walking on dark […]
Read more »Biden’s Climate Law Will Supercharge Emerging Green Tech Globally
July 9th, 2023
Via Bloomberg, a look at how the Inflation Reduction Act gave a boost to sustainable aviation fuel, clean hydrogen and direct air capture: In addition to supercharging the US solar, wind and EV industries in the near term, incentives in President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law are paving the way for still-nascent technologies to help bring down global greenhouse […]
Read more »'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.
'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.
It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.