The EU needs a better palm oil policy

The EU has basically set a standard for sustainable palm oil that’s based on RSPO certification. In other words, if 93% of the palm oil imported into the EU is RSPO-certified then the EU scores this as 93% of the way towards total sustainability. The problem is that the EU’s standard for sustainable palm oil is inadequate.

The carbon footprint of Christmas

The carbon footprint of Christmas, graph from How Bad Are Bananas. The graph shows his estimates for the carbon footprint of Christmas (per person) in three scenarios: low-, average- and high-waste. The carbon footprints are 0, 0.3, and 1.5 tonnes of CO2, respectively.

As COP27 wraps up and we get closer to welcoming 2023, it seems appropriate to talk about the carbon footprint of Christmas. I think that most of us would actually like to not destroy the planet and yet seem to forget about what’s really important during the holiday season (Christmas in particular).

Re-Up Refill Shop in Oakland

The Re-Up Refill Shop, based in Oakland, California, offers zero-waste solutions for most of the stuff that you need for your home. US residents dump more than their own body weight in plastic every year. Half of it is packaging.

Wake Up! Extreme heat will worsen

Temperature in London reached 40°C (104°F) for the first time ever; Ireland set a 135-year heat record; fires burn across Europe; one third of Americans are under heat advisories; this will get worse; the way to prevent it is known.

Dairy vs vegan butters in Europe

Supermarket shelves are dominated by two kinds of butter: conventional dairy-based butter or plant-based vegan butter made from palm oil. Vegan butters are more sustainable than dairy butter, but ideally should be palm-oil free. I found two that I like.

The ethical issues with dairy farming

Still undecided whether to choose dairy or vegan butter? Using cow’s milk as an example, here’s a list of the three most basic ethical issues with dairy farming. Solutions are also explored.

Last word from the IPPC before things really heat up

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) working group 3 (wg3) released its sixth assessment report (AR6) at the end of March, 2022. This post will summarize that report, which is likely to be the last major report from the IPCC before we all start melting like popsicles.

IPCC AR6 wg2 report summary

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) working group 2 (wg2) released its sixth assessment report (AR6) at the end of February. Here are some key points from the Summary for Policymakers and the Technical Summary.

Energy sanctions against Russia

The US should impose energy sanctions against Russia. Reduced Russian oil imports may lead to an increase in prices, but this is long overdue and provides the best incentive to transition to renewable energy. This post outlines some ways you can help.