Building Cities That Are Kind To Nature
October 25th, 2023
Via CNN, a report on why we should build cities that are kind to nature: With most of the world’s population residing in cities, it’s often challenging to understand how our actions affect remote and wild regions. For Call to Earth Day 2023, we will focus on the vital link between urban areas and wilderness, and […]
Read more »Using AI to Combat Floods, Wildfires and Extreme Heat
October 25th, 2023
Via Google, a look at some AI tools and technologies helping communities around the world address the effects of climate change: From experiencing the hottest summer on record to dealing with frequent and devastating floods and wildfires, the effects of climate change are already here and impacting all of us — particularly the most vulnerable […]
Read more »How Do Heat Pumps Drive Sustainability?
October 25th, 2023
Via Nature, a look at how heat pumps drive sustainability: In September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron took a firm stance on climate action during an ecological planning council. His vision? A significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, measured against the 1990 benchmark. Amidst the diverse array of initiatives presented, one […]
Read more »China’s Adaptation Advantage
October 23rd, 2023
Courtesy of The Wire, a look at China’s head-start in mobilizing to adapt and thrive in a rapidly warming world. If it succeeds, the geopolitical consequences will be profound; Illustration by Sam Ward. On an August day last year, Xi Jinping visited Saihanba National Forest Park to inspect the trees and flowers. Spanning nearly 200,000 acres northwest […]
Read more »Crisis Resilient Urban Futures: What’s Next for Asia-Pacific Cities?
October 23rd, 2023
Via The CityFix, commentary on urban resilience in Asia: Cities have always been dynamic hubs of culture, education, economic growth and opportunity, and most importantly, centers of social interaction attracting residents and visitors alike. It is no surprise then, that Asia and the Pacific have become increasingly more urban in recent years as people seek […]
Read more »The Bahamas Is Introducing the World’s First Carbon-Negative Construction Technology
October 22nd, 2023
Via Quartz, a look at a new home debuted by a sustainable materials firm that can remove as much carbon as 5,200 trees: The Bahamas has started pioneering the use of a construction material that naturally absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, a huge leap towards replacing carbon-intensive Portland cement and reducing emissions. A global first, […]
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.