Author Archives: hartleyjd

Food’s Carbon Footprint – An easy lifestyle change with big potential

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Food’s Carbon Footprint

I have recently found myself absorbed in climate change theory and news. Consequently, I have been assessing all aspects of my life in terms of their carbon cost. For example, what dietary choices could I make to lower my carbon impact? What lifestyle choices could I alter to do my part? Prior to taking this class, I had a sense of learned helplessness relative to climate change and how my individual choices could make a difference on something that had global impacts. However, with more education came empowerment.

In my internet venture, I was led to article after article on the connection between the food we eat and the footprint we leave behind. One of the articles I stumbled across (link here) outlined the importance of a climate based diet and placed some of the most commonly consumed foods in terms of a carbon footprint equal to that of a number of miles driven by car. The top three were Lamb (39.2 kilos of CO2 = 91 miles driven by car), Beef (27.0 kilos of CO2 = 63 miles driven by car), and cheese (13.5 kilos of CO2 = 31 miles driven by car). Through creating this comparison, it is apparent why reforming our ‘American’ diet could play a massive role in reducing the expenditure on our nations carbon budget. Especially considering how much our nation idolizes large portions, beef products (burgers, steak, etc.), and cheese. By replacing these foods with greener alternatives— fruits, veggies, or even chicken/fish— we could see a massive shift in carbon dioxide production. This seems completely manageable right? From a system-thinking and public health standpoint, it also has massive health benefits as well.

 

Here is a chart demonstrating the significance of such a minor lifestyle adjustment.

**Note how similar “No Beef” and “Vegetarian” diets are relative to their carbon footprint. **

Inspired by my newly acquired knowledge, I decided to make this a resolution for a two-week trial period and, hopefully, permanently. So out with the cows and in with the new (Who knew Chick-Fila was so environmentally conscious?).

It’s been two weeks on my new “diet” and I’ve realized that I pretty much eat this way anyway. I meal prep my food on Sunday so that I have meals planned out for the week. With the exception of a few of my go to meals, I felt that it was fairly easy to be consciously green. For example, I love to make quinoa noodles with homemade tomato sauce and seasoned ground beef. By replacing the ground beef with sautéed mushrooms and/or ground chicken or turkey, I have both reduced my carbon footprint and created a healthier meal at the same time.

The following is a list of the nine top tips that the aforementioned website provided for those who want to reduce their dietary carbon footprint the most:

1). Eat vegetarian (Meat is climate murder)

2). Bring back home cooking (Control waste and what you eat)

3). Cook smarter (Assess the efficiency of what you use to cook)

4). Eat organic (To be organic-certified, farmers must follow much more eco-friendly farming practices)

5).Save water (Reconsider your water efficiency. When you cut out meat, you save a lot of water)

6). Shop wiser (Consider if there is a greener alternative to what you are about to buy)

7). Shop local (Cut out the middleman. Support local farmers

8). Reduce, reuse, recycle (What could you repurpose the container for?)

9). Grow your own food (Why not test your green thumb? Save money and have some fun!)

I definitely think that this is something that I can manage and promote for years to come. I was a little hesitant given that I am already on a fairly strict diet (I am Celiac). However, it really was not a burden. The most challenging part has been promoting this behavior in others. People a very reluctant in advice concerning their dietary liberties or their liberties in general. It’s an uphill battle but I’m confident.

-Jackson Hartley

News Report: Artificial Leaves

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Artificial Leaves: Out of the lab and into the Air

Citation: (APA)

Innovation Toronto. (2019, February 17). Artificial leaves move into daylight. Retrieved from http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2019/02/artificial-leaves-move-into-daylight/

Original research:University of Illinois at Chicago, 2019

Link to article: http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2019/02/artificial-leaves-move-into-daylight/

Summary:

  • The source: Innovation Toronto reporting on research conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago (Also reported in Their findings are reported in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Science Daily)
  • What: Artificial Leaves that mimic photosynthesis
  • Who: University of Chicago at Illinois
  • Why: The finalized concept design offers an artificial source of reducing the compounding carbon emissions.
  • When: February, 2019. The date to release the official device has not yet been determined
  • Where: This technology would have global impact and use
  • How: Their improved leaf, which would use carbon dioxide from the air, would be at least 10 times more efficient than natural leaves at converting carbon dioxide to fuel. They accomplished this by encapsulating an artificial leaf inside a semi-permeable membrane. When warmed by the sun, water from within the resin membrane evaporates out and, at the same, pulls in CO2. The artificial photosynthetic unit inside the membrane then converts the CO2 into CO. This CO is then used to create various synthetic fuels. O2 is also produced and can either be collected or released into the surrounding environment.
  • Significance:
    • A solution to the growing atmospheric CO2 concentration
    • Answers the call to find a new renewable source of fuel
    • 360 leaves –> 1/2 ton of CO per day to be used for synthetic fuel
    • 360 leaves –> reduce CO2 levels within a 100 m space 10% in one day

Questions:

  • Since this technology is taking in carbon dioxide from the environment and creating carbohydrates with the sun’s energy, can this be considered a primary producer?
  • Will the release and development of this technology reduce the significance of protecting natural areas like the Amazon rainforest in the eyes of policy makers?
  • Where might this technology prove to be most effective?

AUV Operations to Observe and Report Scallop Population Health: SubSea-Observers

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A research team led by Drs. Phoel and Trembanis at University of Delaware developed and launched an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to survey the ocean floor off of the East Coast. The mission of this survey was to create a way in which researchers could estimate the Atlantic Scallop population by surveying a series of images from the sea floor. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in turn uses this information to develop catch limits for the scallop populations in order to maintain the health of this sea-creature population and ecosystem. Prior to the AUV, the only way to efficiently survey the scallop’s population and environment was through invasive collection methods that disrupted all surrounding marine life. The only barrier that remained was sorting through the hundreds-of-thousands pictures that were collected. From this obstacle was born the citizen science campaign— SubSea-Observers.

 

When you first join the SubSea-Observer team, they initiate you via a series of educational slides about their mission and the background of the team. Next, you must complete a training period to ensure competence in the identification of scallops and processing of the images provided by the AUV. After that, you are free to explore at your leisure and report your results to the team. The data that everyone reports contributes towards the NMFS data that was previously described. As an environmental/sustainability student, this has heightened significance because it echoes the systems thinking approach when considering the health of our ecosystems. Where we see variations in the populations of Sea Scallops, we can seek possible underlying cause afflicting the dearth or surplus of this organism. For example, are the scallops or the predators/prey of the scallops being overharvested? Is the ecosystem changing in the form of rising ocean temperature or pH?

 

Here are some examples of the types of images provided by the AUV that require identification:

 

As an observer, you are asked to comment on the environment (sandy, shell hash, rippled, mounds, ect.). Additionally, you have to report the number of scallops (if any) that are within the image in addition to the health of the scallop (dead or alive).

 

We might already be seeing the effects of climate change on scallop populations. One article stated that the reduction could be as drastic as a 50% in the next decade (Brookins & Rhode Island Public Radio, 2018). The only way to fully establish the severity of this population reduction is through survey tools like this. Again, this is not an isolated measurement. Scallop populations provide insight into the health of the ecosystems in which they live. Continuing in our systems thinking, changes to our aquatic ecosystems result in changes to our terrestrial ecosystems and terminate have compounding effects. Consequently, there is significance in the work of the volunteer surveyors with SubSea-Observers. Any evidence to support the effects that climate change are having on Earth help advocate for action.

 

If I have convinced you to join our team of SubSea-Observers click the link: http://subseaobservers.com

 

Citations:

Brookins, A., & Rhode Island Public Radio. (2018, October 04). Climate Change Could Reduce Scallop Population, Study Shows. Retrieved from https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/10/04/scallops-new-bedford-climate-change