This site is where we keep the recordings, text chats, presentations and resources from from our climate conversations series where we discuss solutions to addressing the climate emergency. You can find future conversations on Meetup here: https://www.meetup.com/SeattleClimateChange/
2021 Discussions:
April 11: Biochar as a Climate Change Solution
Featured speaker, Jeff Thiel, presented a compelling case to answer these questions: What if we could sequester 10% of our current greenhouse gas emissions while improving the health of our soils, making farmers more profitable, and making our crops more resilient? That’s the potential of biochar. With recent innovations in gasification technology, we can turn agricultural and forestry waste into a valuable soil amendment at large scales.
Links from the Discussion: Zoom recording, PDF of presentation, and curated chat with questions and resources.
Original posting with full description on Meetup is here.
March 28: Is There an Answer to the Problems Waste Poses to Climate, Health & the Economy?
On March 28, featured speaker Philipp Schmidt-Pathmann helped us to gain an insight into the world of waste management with a focus on climate impact and the opportunities we have to significantly turn that around. He discussed our regional and national roadblocks and how to overcome these based on examples from North America and Europe. Full Description at Meetup here.
Links from the Discussion: Zoom recording, Curated chat with questions and resources.
March 14: Earth-friendly Investing with Peter Krull of Earth Equity Advisors
On March 14, Featured speaker, Peter Krull discussed Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing (SRI) also known as socially responsible investing. Peter also covered the history of the strategy, current trends, and why it’s important to align your investments with your values. Other topics included were fossil fuel free investing, investment performance and what to look for in a SRI investment. There is Q&A session at the end from the questions that were asked throughout.
Links from the Discussion: Zoom Recording, Curated Chat with Resources, Paul Litwin’s Opening Presentation, and Service Menu from Earth Equity Advisors on their Offering. Original posting with full description on Meetup is here.
February 28th: Tiny Native Foresting for Wildlife and Drawdown
On February 28th, Jae Geller spoke about Tiny Native Forest Gardening for Wildlife and Drawdown. Jae Geller is the team lead for the National Wildlife Federation’s Redmond Community Wildlife Habitat Team, a local forest steward, and a member of the education teams for the Central Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society and Eastside Audubon. Drawing from the Tiny Forest movement, Cascadia forest stewardship, sustainable gardening, wildlife biology, and a love of native plants, this presentation will give you the why and how to do your own tiny native forest gardening for wildlife and drawdown.
Links from our discussion: (Zoom recording, edited/curated text chat, PDF of presentation)
February 14th: Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal featuring Chris Meinig
On February 14th 2021, our featured speaker Chris Meinig spoke about Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR): a brief science background, challenges in developing monitoring technology and reasons he is optimistic. Chris addressed the ocean’s role in mCDR and give a brief introduction to a few promising methods (seaweed cultivation and chemical). He also discussed major challenges in ocean sensor development and why gaining social license is important. Chris Meinig, Director of Engineering at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Lab (https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/).
Links from our discussion: (Zoom recording, edited/curated text chat, PDF of presentation)
Additional resources: Visual Capitalist on Human Impact and the Ocean Economy
2020 Discussions:
July 26, 2020 – The Movement Voter Project and Food Waste (Watch Here)
Our discussion focused primarily on two topics: the Movement Voter Project (Rob Beem presenting) and Food Waste (Maddie Price presenting). Jim Little also did an introduction to set up why voting is so critical for the climate crisis this year. Thank you Jim, Maddie, and Rob for your time and effort in leading these discussions!
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- The Movement Voter Project is working to mobilize millions of dollars to support these movements and their work. Winning on climate and environmental justice is critical not only for 2020 but beyond. MVP will support work at these intersections in 5-15 key states, with the final number dependent on the level of resources we are able to raise to direct to our local partner groups.
- Reducing Food Waste. Maddie has been doing research and work with various organizations focused on one the leading solutions to the climate crisis. She is interested in introducing these ideas to the group, since it seems like COVID hunger relief is increasingly colliding with the challenge of food waste–particularly as our local growing season ramps up while there continues to be a large influx of perishable food into the hunger relief system (from USDA), now sometimes more than food banks have capacity to accept. She would like to connect folks with my contact working on expanding Little Free Pantries around Seattle, and should would like to connect with anyone else would also be interested in looking into possibilities for community fridges in the city too.
- Resources and Key Action Items:
- Online Zoom recording of the presentations and discussions
- The Movement Voter Project:
- Reducing Food Waste:
- General:
- OneNote with links and detailed notes can be found here.
- Files for download (including audio and video of the presentations and discussions)
