A series of talks on redesigning cities, their systems and policies, to meet the needs of the 21st century promises to explore topics that are on the table today in metro Atlanta. The series of six talks begin Dec. 4 and continues through April at Georgia Tech.
By Guest Columnist KAREN GRAINEY, assistant director of Center for a Sustainable Coast
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a monumental report on Oct. 8, warning that humanity has only 12 years to make the “rapid and far-reaching” reforms needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change. These reforms entail drastic reductions in the primary cause of global warming – greenhouse gas emissions.
By Guest Columnist JENNIFER HIRSCH, co-founder of RCE Greater Atlanta, with GARRY HARRIS and SERENA NEWHALL, steering committee members of RCE Greater Atlanta.
Atlanta’s regional sustainability network, RCE Greater Atlanta, will celebrate its recognition by the United Nations University at an event hosted Wednesday by the Center for Civil and Human Rights, an RCE member organization. A program for youth leadership in sustainability is among those to be celebrated.
By Guest Columnist STEPHANIE STUCKEY, a sustainability expert
In May 2016, Atlanta became the final city to be part of 100 Resilient Cities (“100 RC”), a program pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation to help cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st Century.
The Rockefeller network enables cities to increase the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems to survive, adapt, and thrive no matter what chronic stresses or acute shocks they face.
Georgia Tech’s planned police headquarters is designed to comply with a fairly new set of standards that aim to improve the health and wellness of those who spend time inside the building. In at least one instance, the standard is tighter than LEED standards.
Southface is preparing to recognize four projects that embody the philosophy of sustainability that forms the foundation of the Fulcrum Awards, which are a highlight next week at Southface’s Greenprints program.
An affiliate of the United Nations has recognized a new Regional Center of Expertise in metro Atlanta as just the sixth such regional sustainability network in the United States. The RCE Greater Atlanta aims to advance education for sustainable development related to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, through smart sharing of information and collaborative programming among universities, governments, communities and the private sector.
Metro Atlanta has climbed to third place on the fourth annual Green Building Adoption Index, an index led by CBRE, a real estate firm. But the big news appears in at the start of the executive summary – regarding the potential demise of the green building movement.
Atlanta is entering the final stage of its role in helping Georgia Tech build what Tech bills as, “the most environmentally advanced education and research building ever constructed in the Southeast.” The city intends to sell an acre of land for the site of Tech’s planned Living Building.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect new language about Georgia Power’s posture on renewable energy. // The Atlanta City Council has resolved that all the electricity used in the city shall be generated through renewable resources by 2035. Advocates said the victory sets the stage for a push to bring the issue of clean energy for transportation into this year’s city elections.
By Guest Columnist SUSAN VARLAMOFF, the former director of the University of Georgia’s Office of Environmental Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and lifetime Master Gardener
Landscapes occupy vast swaths of land across urban and suburban areas in the U.S. and how we cultivate our gardens directly affects the surrounding environment. Since Atlanta is bisected by the Chattahoochee River, which serves as a drinking water source, runoff from the land directly impacts the river’s water quality. Misuse or overuse of fertilizers and pesticides can result in water contamination as these chemicals run off the land during rain events.
Solar panels that can withstand the weight of vehicles were installed last week on the surface of the roadway at the Georgia Visitor Information Center in West Point. The energy will help power the information center.
Westside Atlanta represents the rise and fall and the impending revival of a community.
The historic core of the community is the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically-black colleges and universities. The consortium of the black colleges began in 1929.
“We were in the business of aspirations and dreams,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College.
By Guest Columnist KATHERINE MOORE, senior director of The Georgia Conservancy’s statewide Sustainable Growth program
This holiday season, I’m thankful for … an easier-than-normal commute.
School is out this week for Thanksgiving break, but if you’re like me, you may find yourself heading into the office at some point to escape from the excess of family time and turkey leftovers. With most metro-area schools deserted this week, you will no doubt enjoy a noticeably smoother and shorter commute.
As lawyers argue in a Washington courtroom over the distribution of water between Florida and Georgia, Fulton County is preparing to nearly triple the amount of treated sewage it dumps into a river that flows into Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico.
APALACHICOLA, FL. – There are no surprises in the groupings of organizations that submitted “friend of the court” briefs in the federal lawsuit filed by Florida against Georgia to get more water out of the Chattahoochee River basin. The hearing began Monday.
Business interests stuck together. Environmental groups stuck together.
By David Pendered Florida filed a lawsuit against Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court after years of negotiations failed to resolve disputes over Georgia’s consumption of water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river basin. The hearing began Monday in a federal courthouse in Washington. Lawyers for both sides expect to take up to six weeks to present […]
Atlanta is in the early stages of renovating the green roof atop Atlanta City Hall. Plans call for more seating, the removal of invasive weeds and the installation of plants with a vibrant mix of colors and bloom times.
By Guest Columnist MARILYN A. BROWN, a professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy whose research focuses on energy, climate and environmental policy
In a year marked by ever deepening political divides, an unlikely consensus has formed between Georgia regulators and environmental advocates: energy bills must remain affordable as we transition to a low-carbon economy. My research on sustainable energy policies and the electric utility industry demonstrates that we can best achieve this result by using innovative tools already available to us.
MARTA is expanding its sustainability program and on Friday received proposals from seven companies vying for a contract to recommend and implement steps the transit system can take to further reduce its usage of water and electricity.
Feds approve seismic testing off Georgia’s coast for gas, oil; environmentalists sue to haltDecember 17, 2018 - 5:01 pm
Give the gift of the Atlanta BeltLine, urges BeltLine’s non-profit fundraising armDecember 16, 2018 - 4:47 pm
Marcia Bansley, John Pruitt, Raphael Bostic among those now advising Atlanta AudubonDecember 15, 2018 - 1:43 pm
Photo Pick: Physical therapists’ research aims to limit pain for guide dog users by Peggy CozartDecember 16, 2018 - 10:25 pm
Photo Pick: Lunch and conversations by Maria Saporta and Lynn EmoryNovember 26, 2018 - 4:49 pm
Photo Pick: Kusama preview with Maria Saporta & Eleanor Ringel CaterNovember 19, 2018 - 8:31 am
