Taking the Earth’s pulse: UBC scientists unveil a new economic and environmental index « UBC Public Affairs

“Singapore ranks worst out of 150 countries in terms of its environmental impact…

This is not very encouraging… But why is it so?  Is it our cars, bags, shoe collecting obsession or our oil refineries that tip the scale?”

A growing world population, mixed with the threat of climate change and mounting financial problems, has prompted University of British Columbia researchers to measure the overall ‘health’ of 150 countries around the world.

Encompassing both economic and ecological security, high-income countries were ranked among the least healthy overall. Many countries in South America performed well, offering future generations better financial, food, water, and energy security.

The top five performing countries are Bolivia, Angola, Namibia, Paraguay, and Argentina, while the bottom five performers are Jordan, the Republic of Korea, Israel, Kuwait, and Singapore.

via Taking the Earth’s pulse: UBC scientists unveil a new economic and environmental index « UBC Public Affairs.

Why we can’t shop our way to sustainability

 

 

Eco labels are cluttered, confusing and unreliable.

Organic food gets a tiny slice of the market.

Most shoppers don’t pay much attention to environmental factors. Perhaps understandably so. They’re busy, or  ignorant. Or they don’t care.

Which makes me believe that we can’t count on consumers to bring about a sustainable food system.

So, like it or not, that it’s going to be up to business to fix the food system.

via Marc Gunther.

The Super Green List: Connecting Human and Ocean Health

 

 

The Super Green list includes seafood that meets the following three criteria:

Low levels of contaminants (below 216 parts per billion [ppb] mercury and 11 ppb PCBs)

The daily minimum of omega-3s (at least 250 milligrams per day [mg/d])*

Classified as a Seafood Watch “Best Choice” (green)

via Monterey Bay Aquarium.

RSPO celebrates first 25,000 certified palm oil family farms

As part of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s 8th Roundtable meeting, held this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, RSPO President Jan Kees Vis honored representatives from six smallholder communities and the palm oil mill owners which they supply. “These smallholders prove that RSPO is not and should not be just about large palm oil producers and users,” Mr. Vis said. “Over the next few years, hundreds of thousands more smallholders will become certified producers of sustainable palm oil.”

via GoodLight Natural Candles.