To Decarbonize Transportation, We Must Invest in the US EV Battery Supply Chain
September 27th, 2023 Via RMI, a report on how a circular EV battery economy can help strengthen the U.S. EV battery supply chain and the nation’s growing demand for EVs: As the number of people adopting electric [...]
Water Authority Moves To Conserve On Cooling Systems In Southern Nevada
September 25th, 2023 Via the Las Vegas Sun, a report that the Southern Nevada Water Authority has banned high-consumption evaporative systems in new commercial buildings amid drought: The Southern Nevada Water Authority [...]
L.A. Freeway: New Life As Parks and Green Housing?
September 25th, 2023 Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, a look at how one unfinished freeway could be revitalized as green space and housing: The 90 Freeway, an unfinished three-mile stretch of road from Marina del Rey, [...]
Empowered by Solar Panels, Here Come the Armchair Energy Traders
September 23rd, 2023 Courtesy of HeatMap, a look at the rise of the “armchair” energy traders, empowered by their home solar panels: The new film Dumb Money gives home traders the Hollywood treatment. The [...]
How to Cool Down a City
September 22nd, 2023 Courtesy of the New York Times, an article looking at Singapore’s efforts to tackle urban heat: Singapore is rethinking its sweltering urban areas to dampen the effects of climate change. Can [...]
Which Cities Will Still Be Livable In A World Altered By Climate Change?
September 22nd, 2023 Courtesy of National Geographic, an article on how northern U.S. communities may not be completely immune to a warming world, but they are well-placed to meet the needs of an influx of climate [...]

ABOUT
BLACK SWANS GREEN SHOOTS
Black Swans / Green Shoots examines the collision between urbanization and resource scarcity in a world affected by climate change, identifying opportunities to build sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure through the use of revolutionary capital, increased awareness, innovative technologies, and smart design to make a difference in the face of global and local climate perils.

'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.