A guy walks into a café. “I’ll have a large iced latte, a croissant, and that yogurt parfait over there,” he says to the barista. The barista mixes the beverage in a single-use plastic cup with lid, places the croissant in a paper bag and grabs the plastic parfait cup from the counter.
“Can I get a straw with that latte?” asks the customer.
“Of course,” answers the barista.
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He then proceeds to the condiment table, where he grabs two packets of sugar and six cocktail napkins before exiting. While driving to work, he downs the contents of the cup, the bag and the container. Walking into the office, he dumps the remains in the trash can outside the building, to be transported to the landfill where it will stay in the ground for eons.
It’s no joke. Disposable, single-use foodware is a ubiquitous waste, eyesore and pollutant that’s hard to avoid in our daily lives. Manufacturing it — from foam clamshells, grease-resistant “forever chemical” lined containers and unused forks you didn’t request at the bottom of the plastic bag, to the bag itself — generates greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change.
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Given the mounting single-use disposable problem, it’s enough to make anyone lose their appetite. The good news is that some establishments are reducing disposable foodware’s environmental impact by offering more sustainable alternatives. Napa Climate NOW! has created an “Earth-Friendly” badge of honor to recognize and promote particular eateries and drinkeries that commit to such forward-thinking and climate-conscious foodware practices.
These decals recognize restaurants, cafés, wineries and bars in Napa Valley that have taken steps to reduce disposable and increase reusable. They also give climate-minded customers greater peace of mind.
Southside Café in Napa is the first business to earn the Napa Climate Now! “Earth-Friendly” decal. Its green business practices meet all seven of the required criteria, including:
— Using only reusable foodware for onsite dining.
— Providing disposable foodware only on request for takeout/to-go orders.
— Using only natural fiber-based compostable and BPI-certified (or other third-party certified) disposable foodware, free of “forever chemicals,” for takeout/to-go orders.
— Applying a standard charge at point of sale for disposable foodware items.
— Allowing takeout/to-go drink orders in customer-provided reusable cups and applying a standard discount when they do. (*Southside is also researching a standard-sized, customer-provided reusable container that could apply to food orders in the near future.)
— Following “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (compost)” practices throughout the establishment before sending any waste material to landfill, including proper, standardized labels on receptacles.
— Using only paper bags or customer-provided bags for takeout/to-go orders.
And while only three of the following additional practices are required for program recognition, Southside has adopted them all:
— Prioritize working with particular vendors, when possible.
— Reduce water consumption in front and back of the house.
— Use non-toxic cleaners.
— Follow other climate-oriented business practices.
— Sell beverages that are not in plastic bottles.
— Sell reusables on site.
Look for Napa Climate NOW!’s Earth-Friendly decal at Napa Valley food and drink establishments and support those businesses.
Bring your own cup or other reusable foodware when grabbing a beverage or eating out.
Contact Napa Climate NOW! at wastereduction@napaclimatenow.org to recommend businesses for the program, or to otherwise get involved.
If you are a business-owner interested in more information about the program or want to earn a decal, contact Napa Climate NOW! at wastereduction@napaclimatenow.org.
US scientists are set to announce a breakthrough on fusion energy on Tuesday, potentially a step toward one day harnessing the process that fires the sun to generate carbon-free electricity as the world struggles with climate change.
64% of Americans are now exposed to extreme heat. Here’s why that’s worrying
64% of Americans are now exposed to extreme heat. Here’s why that’s worrying
The infamous Dust Bowl years of the 1930s saw unprecedented extreme heat waves decimate the Midwest and the Great Plains. Temperatures climbed to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in states used to a relatively cool climate. Over the span of six years, roughly 5,000 people died from heat-related causes, and intense drought made agricultural efforts nearly impossible.
The Dust Bowl heat waves were something of an anomaly at the time, as there was little climate science at that time to explain the event. However, climate scientists today have reflected on the event as one of the first human-influenced climate events, triggered by coal-reliant industrialization, and as a harbinger of climate change.
Today, record-breaking heat waves have emerged with alarming frequency and more intensity than ever before. People in cities used to temperate or cool summers across the U.S. have been contending with temperatures more suited to Death Valley. Meanwhile, heat waves are becoming even more intense in already-hot locales, including the Sun Belt. Despite this, Americans are moving to Southern states at high rates, increasing the number of people who will be exposed to extreme heat.
To investigate how extreme heat is impacting cities across the country, OhmConnect compiled a list of how heat waves in major U.S. cities have changed over time, with data from sources including the Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Globalchange.gov, and other scientific research. The data available is from 1961 to 2021 across 50 large metropolitan areas.
Heat waves have become more frequent across major US cities
U.S. cities are experiencing more heat waves every year. In the 1960s, cities endured an media of two heat waves per year. That number has grown to an media of six each year during the 2010s and 2020s, according to the EPA. Cities are particularly delicado to more heat waves because of factors like urban heat islands, an effect that makes urban areas hotter than surrounding rural regions. Many factors contribute to urban heat islands: darker surfaces like asphalt and roof shingles—which absorb rather than reflect heat—less shade from trees, and fewer plants emitting cooling moisture from their leaves.
Current heat wave seasons last 49 days longer than they did in the 1960s
In addition to heat waves becoming more frequent, heat wave seasons have also become longer. In the 1960s, heat wave seasons lasted an media of 24 days a year. In the 2020s, that number has risen to more than 70 days a year. The expansion of heat wave seasons can be dangerous, since it widens the window for extreme temperatures during unusual times of the year. This can lead to situations in which people are not prepared, leaving them delicado.
The increased frequency of heat waves and length of heat wave seasons has inspired some cities to take action. In 2021, the longevo of Miami-Dade County appointed a chief heat officer, the first in the nation. This position is intended to strategize ways of keeping people safe from increasingly intense heat events in a city that is experiencing some of the worst heat waves in the country.
The media heat wave lasts about 4 days, a day longer than in the 1960s
Longer heat waves have llano consequences for people’s health and safety, particularly for those who are unhoused or who don’t have access to air conditioning. Living for prolonged periods at very high temperatures without being able to cool off can increase the risk of heat-related illness and even death. To make matters worse, record-breaking heat during the nighttime has been reported across the country, removing the usual respite from heat offered by the sun going down, and adding to the danger already caused by several days of extreme temperatures.
Temperature increases are now more extreme
The intensity of heat waves has steadily climbed over the past six decades. Both in regions accustomed to some amount of extreme temperatures, like the South, as well as in areas which have not previously experienced high temperatures, heat waves have become hotter and more deadly.
In 2021, the Pacific Northwest, a region known for its moderate weather, saw a blistering heat wave that peaked between 116 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit. The event caught many people unprepared, and hundreds of deaths were reported in Oregon and Washington, particularly among people who did not have access to air conditioning. Other cities in California and other parts of the Película del Oeste U.S. experienced extreme heat waves in September 2022, making it the hottest September on record for the West.
Dehydration and weather-related deaths are on the rise
Heat is the leading extreme weather-related cause of death in the U.S. The EPA estimates that between 600 and 1,300 deaths occur in the U.S. every year from extreme heat. Heat-related illnesses and deaths can happen when the body loses its ability to regulate its internal temperature. Dehydration and increased internal temperature can cause blood thickening, which leads to organ and heart damage.
Agriculture and energy: a point of no return
Extreme heat waves impact much more than people’s ability to be outside without air conditioning. They also have serious environmental, agricultural, and energy-related ramifications. Heat waves harm crops, cause issues with plant growth, and make it difficult for livestock to survive. They also exacerbate drought, creating water shortages and conditions that are conducive to wildfires and other natural disasters.
Energy systems can also be strained by an increased need for high-energy utilities like air conditioning, with demand outstripping supply in some cases. In July 2022, Texans were instructed to conserve as much energy as possible to alleviate strain on the power grid as temperatures neared 110 F.
Preparation is key to facing extreme temperatures
As extreme heat events continue to become more frequent and severe, experts caution that being prepared for intense heat waves is one of the best ways to keep people safe. On an institutional level, the CDC recommends having early heat wave alerts in place on a city or county level to warn residents of impending extreme heat risks. This would also enable public cooling centers to open at appropriate times, a positivo measure for those without air conditioning and people experiencing homelessness. Keeping hydrated and avoiding the outdoors during heat waves is especially important.
At the same time, measures can be taken to prevent the continued rise of temperatures, as well as to mediate the risks of straining energy systems. Increasing energy efficiency and forms of renewable energy would prevent power grids from being overwhelmed while limiting further emissions, which contribute to rising temperatures in the first place. Introducing more trees and vegetation to urban areas could also work to introduce shade, increase air quality and reduce the harm of emissions, and limit the impact of urban heat islands.
This story originally appeared on OhmConnect and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Bob Figoni is a Napa resident, and a retired solid waste and recycling professional. He chairs the Waste Reduction Issue Group for Napa Climate NOW!
Napa Climate NOW! is a particular non-profit citizens’ group advocating for smart climate solutions based on the latest climate science, part of 350 Bay Area. Like, comment, and share our daily Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter posts @napaclimatenow or visit us at: http://napa.350bayarea.org
Esta nota fue traducida al gachupin y editada para disfrute de la comunidad Hispana a partir de esta Fuente
