On the occasion of Environment Day today (5 June), we thought we’d put together some favourite links from across the web that deal with the environment. These links range from video talks on environmental problems and solutions, to sites where you can compare countries on various environmental parameters through bulging maps.
Happy browsing and here’s hoping for a healthier planet in the year to come!
Websites
UNEP: World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
Measure your Carbon Footprint: A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. You can measure this!
Worldmapper: An interactive map showing population density, pollution, carbon emissions etc. across the world and by country
Videos
Sir David Attenborough: The Truth About Climate Change
The legendary broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough was long unsure about the causes of the observed climate warming. In his documentary, The Truth About Climate Change, he sheds doubt and explains what convinced him.
Synthetic seas
Plastics, like diamonds, are forever. Plastic floating in the ocean is the number one source of pollution of the world ocean, and 80% of marine debris comes from urban run-off. The problem is many marine birds and fish confuse floating plastic particles with food.
Melting Himalayan glaciers
A Greenpeace expedition went to the Himalayas to document glacial retreat there – something that could affect the water supply of millions.
Home (Film on Climate Change)
Through the landscapes of 54 countries captured from above, Yann Arthus-Bertrand takes us on an unique journey all around the planet, to contemplate it and to understand it.
More videos (TED talks)
Kamal Meattle on how to grow fresh air (in Delhi!):
Researcher Kamal Meattle shows how an arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
Amy Smith shares simple, lifesaving design: Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.
Paul MacCready on nature vs. humans: In 1998, aircraft designer Paul MacCready looks at a planet on which humans have utterly dominated nature, and talks about what we all can do to preserve nature’s balance. His contribution: solar planes, superefficient gliders and the electric car.
E.O. Wilson on saving life on Earth: As E.O. Wilson accepts his 2007 TED Prize, he makes a plea on behalf of all creatures that we learn more about our biosphere — and build a networked encyclopedia of all the world’s knowledge about life.
Jane Goodall on what separates us from the apes: Jane Goodall hasn’t found the missing link, but she’s come closer than nearly anyone else. The primatologist says the only real difference between humans and chimps is our sophisticated language. She urges us to start using it to change the world.
Alex Steffen sees a sustainable future: Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity’s ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries.
Capt. Charles Moore on the seas of plastic: Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he’s drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.
Al Gore on averting climate crisis: With the same humour and humanity he exuded in An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore spells out 15 ways that individuals can address climate change immediately, from buying a hybrid to inventing a new, hotter “brand name” for global warming.
