A Little Greener

Trees help give us clean air to breathe, keep us cool, and can even benefit our mental health. But not everyone has equal access to trees. In this week's episode, Casey and Sara discuss the benefits (and challenges) of urban trees and take a look at the factors involved in tree disparity across different neighborhoods. Resources for this episode: The Inequitable Distribution of Urban Trees Tree Equity Score National Explorer Public Health Benefits of Urban Trees Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review Green gentrification in European and North American cities | Nature Communications Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan: 2016 -2026 Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Funding to Expand Access to Trees and Green Spaces in Disadvantaged Urban Communities | USDA. 50 years after being outlawed, redlining still drives neighborhood health inequities. Urban and Community Forestry Grants - 2023 Grant Awards | US Forest Service

With the total solar eclipse visible over parts of North America in just a few days, Casey and Sara discuss what we know about animal behavior during eclipse events. Listen to find out: If you are in the path of the eclipse, whether total or partial, you can join North Carolina State University's Solar Eclipse Safari project or take a look at NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes project. And if you are viewing the eclipse, remember to do so safely! Never look directly at the sun! Total Solar Eclipse Safety - NASA Resources for this episode: Researchers to observe how total solar eclipse affects animal behavior | PBS NewsHour NASA Eclipse Science 2024 Total Solar Eclipse - NASA Total Eclipse of the Zoo: Animal Behavior during a Total Solar Eclipse - PMC Unlocking the mysteries of animal behavior during cosmic events: IU News Surprising Ways Animals React to Solar Eclipses - National Geographic How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse? | Scientific American Animals act weirdly during an eclipse. Help NASA find out why | CNN

Join Casey and Sara for a discussion on the North Atlantic right whale. Learn where you can find these amazing animals, why they're called "right" whales, and what we can do to help save this incredibly endangered species. Resources for this episode: Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries North Atlantic Right Whale | NOAA Fisheries We know how to save the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Why aren’t we? - Vox IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Female North Atlantic right whales growing smaller, leading to fewer births Scientists release annual population estimate for critically endangered North Atlantic right whale amid ongoing threats - New England Aquarium North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2024 | NOAA Fisheries Maine fishing rope found in dead North Atlantic right whale | National Fisherman

Pulling weeds around the yard isn't most people's idea of a good time. Busting out a spray bottle of herbicide might be the easy way out, but what's the price we pay for that? Casey and Sara discuss the use of herbicides in agriculture and urban areas, including the recent news surrounding the use of dicamba. Resources for this episode: Protecting Pollinators from Herbicides: Rethinking Weed Management at Home Benefits and risks of the use of herbicide-resistant crops - Kathrine Hauge Madsen & Jens Carl Streibig How to use herbicides to safely control weeds on farms | OSU Extension Service Different pesticides dominate in different land-use areas Video: Herbicides: A Double-Edged Sword? What We Know about Herbicide Impacts on Pollinators History of Weed Control in the United States and Canada Herbicide Use in the Era of Farm to Fork: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Future Implications - PMC New Study: Agricultural Pesticides Cause Widespread Harm to Soil Health, Threaten Biodiversity Glyphosate-based herbicides and cancer risk: a post-IARC decision review of potential mechanisms, policy and avenues of research - PMC Weed Management in Lawns Guidelines--UC IPMBee Precaution Pesticide Ratings

Last spring, Casey and Sara discussed some of the ways parents might be able to make eco-friendly choices while expecting and raising a baby. Now that Casey is a mom, she's taking a look back at how things went for her and sharing some additional tips and resources based on her experiences. Resources for this episode: Climate change is making people think twice about having children Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK

In this reunion episode, Casey returns to the podcast, joining Kristen and Sara in a discussion about the impact of various art forms on the environment, as well as the other ways that art and nature intersect. Nature often inspires art (and might be considered art in and of itself), art often depicts nature, and art can also be used to benefit nature and conservation! Resources for this episode: Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments - PMC Understanding the Hazardous Environmental Impact of Paint Painting Safety In The Arts Sustainability of Art Supplies. Art is a powerful means of conveying… | by Libby McClough | Environmental Justice Coalition | Medium Mindful of Its Impact on the Planet, the Art World Aims for Sustainability Meet Abhi; The Charcoal Artist raising Climate Change Awareness | by Abhijeet Shrivastava | Medium Quick Guide: Detox Your Art Studio | Artwork Archive How to Create an Eco-Friendly Art Studio | Artwork Archive Resin Art and Sustainability Backlash How to Make Plant Paints: Zero Waste Art - Greenify Me KaiNav Conservation Fund Painted Dog Conservation Washed Ashore

Kristen and Sara discuss the threats facing coral reefs around the world, what conservationists are doing to help, and how we can all get involved! Resources for this episode: Visual Feature | Status of Coral Reefs of the World What Florida’s coral bleaching means as high ocean temperatures continue - The Washington Post Warming, acidic oceans may nearly eliminate coral reef habitats by 2100 - AGU Newsroom Extreme Ocean Temperatures Are Affecting Florida’s Coral Reef | NESDIS Coral on the Red List of Endangered Species | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg Natural Threats to Coral Reefs Crown-of-thorns Starfish - Oceana Five fascinating facts about crown-of-thorns starfish - Great Barrier Reef Foundation Coral Diseases – South Florida Aquatic Environments Threats to Coral Reefs | US EPA Coral Nurseries | Reef Resilience Coral bleaching 101 | gbrmpa The Truth About Corals and Sunscreen | Smithsonian Ocean The Great Reef Census Deepest Fish Discovered Hydropower Map

When we think of coral most of us probably think of giant, colorful reef structures. But there's so much more to coral! We take a deeper look at the tiny animals that make up those reefs--and that can be found beyond those reefs, as well. Video for Weekly Challenge: Lens of Time: Corals in Motion Resources for this episode: What are corals? | ICRI NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs All About Soft Corals - Ocean Conservancy Coral tentacle elasticity promotes an out-of-phase motion that improves mass transfer | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Coral Polyp Anatomy - Coral Disease & Health Consortium Did you know: How do corals form colonies? Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Deep Sea Red Sea Expedition: Acrobatic mushroom corals are fun-guys IUCN: Eastern Water Dragon National Zoo: Asian Water Dragon

Kristen and Sara discuss the pros and cons of using water to produce electricity. Listen in to learn the three main ways we currently produce hydropower, the environmental impacts, and how hydropower might fit in to the future of energy production. Resources for this episode: Planning a Microhydropower System | Department of Energy Dam that threatens orangutan habitat faces three-year delay BATANG TORU HYDROPOWER PROJECT Factcheck and References on Key Issues Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre: Dam Displacement Why hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean energy UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050 | Flooding | The Guardian What Is Green Power? | US EPA Hydropower Basics | Department of Energy Hydropower explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Hydropower: US Department of Energy Why aren't we looking at more hydropower? | MIT Climate Portal Hydropower - IEA Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity - Energy Education Where hydropower is generated - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Hydro power by state in 2022 (United States)

With all the hype around Barbie these past few weeks, Sara and Kristen decided to take a look at the environmental impact of the iconic doll--and some of our other toys, as well. Listen in as they chat about their favorite Barbies, the challenges of plastic, and how to balance our desire to give the kids in our lives the things that they want and still be a little greener. Resources for this episode: (From intro) Nuclear fusion breakthrough repeated by lab | Fortune (From intro) Tour de Turtles Barbie Sustainability | Mattel Barbie and the Problem With Plastic - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Plastic Pollution Facts and Issues | The Problems With Plastic In Our Real World, Barbie’s Plastic Is Not So Fantastic Most materials are recyclable, so why can’t children’s toys be sustainable? | Yale Environment Review Life in Plastic, It's Not Fantastic - Earth Day Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Mattel launches sustainable new Barbie Loves the Ocean range My Kids Want Plastic Toys. I Want to Go Green. Here's the Middle Ground Hasbro: Environmental Responsibility

Kristen and Sara chat about one of Kristen's favorite animals, the aardvark! Learn about the behavior and adaptations of this unique African mammal, the conservation issues they face, and what on Earth aardvarks have to do with cucumbers. Resources for this episode: National Geographic: Aardvark Carnegie Museum of Natural History: A is for Aardvark ScienceDirect: Aardvark Cincinnati Zoo: Adventures with Aardvarks San Diego Zoo: A is for Aardvark

With increased awareness of bee pollinators and the value of their conservation over recent years, there has been growing discussion (and controversy!) over the nature of the relationships between managed western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and wild bees. In this episode, Kristen and Sara chat with entomologist Jon Elmquist, who shares the current evidence for conflict between managed honey bees and wild bees and the implications this may have for bee conservation efforts. Along the way you'll learn how Jon got interested in pollinators and conservation, some of the differences between honey bees and wild bees, and hear about some of the amazing native bee species in North America. Resources for this episode: Scientific American: The Problem with Honey Bees Floral Resource Competition Between Honey Bees and Wild Bees: Is There Clear Evidence and Can We Guide Management and Conservation? An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, and Ecosystems in Wild Landscapes What are the 4Rs?

We often think about conservation on either the global scale (climate change!) or on a personal level (sustainable swaps!), but community-based, local conservation is an extremely important piece of the puzzle. This week, our guest co-host, and Soil and Water Conservation District professional, Kristen, talks us through the history and roles of SWCDs and touches on some other local conservation resources you might not have known that you have! Resources for this episode: Non-farmers bumped from Florida's soil and water conservation district boards Contact Your Local SWCD – IASWCD Conservation Districts | State Conservation Committee | NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.

In order to protect the planet, we have to care about it. And pop culture can sometimes help make nature more relatable and accessible. With that in mind, Sara and our amazing new guest co-host, Kristen, have some fun discussing the real-world counterparts to the sidekicks in the new live action version of The Little Mermaid. Resources for this episode: Snopes: Myths, Manatees, and Mermaids Northern Gannet Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Northern Gannet - American Bird Conservancy NatGeo: Flounders' Eyes Face Skyward, How Do They See the Ocean Floor? Video: Flatfish Metamorphosis Fast Facts About Flounder - Ocean Conservancy Abudefduf saxatilis – Discover Fishes Blue Crab FAQ | FWC Galapagos Conservation Trust: Ghost Crab

Parental care in the animal kingdom takes a variety of forms. Who are the gold star parents and who never even sees their kids? Do animals babysit? And do quakkas really throw their babies? Resources for this episode: Parental Care - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Patterns of parental care in vertebrates Humans aren’t the only ones that help out their adult kids — here’s why animals do it too | One Thing They Aren't: Maternal - The New York Times Why Some Animals Forgo Reproduction in Complex Societies | American Scientist Fact or Fiction?: Birds (and Other Critters) Abandon Their Young at the Slightest Human Touch - Scientific American Seven Super Mums of the animal kingdom | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne Professor Allen J. Moore - Uncovering The Evolutionary Origins Of Parental Care • scientia.global Meet the Alloparents | Natural History Magazine Parenting in Animals - PMC

The state of rhinos around the world is precarious. At worst, rhino species are critically endangered, and even the species with the largest population, the white rhino is still classified as near threatened by IUCN, and their population is declining. Despite protection and education efforts, the threat of poaching for their horn looms large over all species of rhinos. So, where do we go from here? Casey and Sara look at what drives the rhino horn trade and discuss the pros and cons of an outside the box solution--rhino farming. Resources for this episode: World's Largest Rhino Farm in South Africa for Sale--Business Insider The horns of a dilemma: Ethical questions about legalising rhino horn trade RHINO HORN CONSUMERS, WHO ARE THEY? | Traffic.org World Rhino Day 2022: TM Practitioners warned prescribing endangered species is a crime - Wildlife Trade News from TRAFFIC Former billionaire to auction world's biggest rhino farm after spending his fortune to save the animals - CBS News Is the rhino horn trade a cartel? Economic analysis suggests it works like one State of the Rhino China's Legalization of Domestic Rhino Horn Trade: Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Perspectives and the Likelihood of Prescription 2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR Did a Legal Ivory Sale Increase Smuggling and Poaching? | NBER Legalizing ivory trade won't save elephants, study concludes | Science | AAAS After legal-ivory experiment, black markets thrive from greater demand, less risk iucncsg.org - Farming and the Crocodile Industry Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking: Combating a Source of Terrorist Funding | United States Institute of Peace Combating rhino horn demand in Vietnam | African Wildlife Foundation Powers of Persuasion: Conservation Communications, Behavioural Change and Reducing Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products

Rhinos are iconic animals that most of us can recognize from the time that we're little. However, there's more to rhinos that most people realize! For example, did you know that there are more species of rhinos outside of Africa than inside? Have you ever heard of the hairy rhinoceros? If not, this episode's for you. Sara and Casey discuss the five species of rhinos and what's being done to keep them safe. Resources: International Rhino Foundation: Rhino Species IUCN Red List Development of third Sumatran rhino sanctuary advances to save species Save the Rhino: Dehorning Rhino Resource Center: Why the Name of the White Rhinoceros is not Appropriate Rhino poaching and illegal trade decline but remain critical threats – new report - Press release | IUCN Will Fake Rhino Horns Curb Poaching? | Live Science Rhino Rescue Project: Devaluing Rhino Horn

The Willow Project is an oil drilling project set to begin in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska--albeit in a scaled down version of the original plan. Casey and Sara explore the history of the project, look at the environmental impacts, and discuss the challenges of breaking free from fossil fuels. Resources for this episode: Q&A: Willow oil project and Arctic drilling limits Alaska's Willow oil project is controversial. Here's why. | AP News What is the Willow project? The Alaska oil drilling debate, explained. - The Washington Post The Willow Project and the Race to Pump the “Last Barrel” of Oil - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Biden Administration Sued Over Willow Oil Project in Alaska’s Western Arctic - Center for Biological Diversity Interior Department Substantially Reduces Scope of Willow Project Willow drilling: How will it affect polar bears?

Chances are you've heard about the environmental impacts of plastics and how air travel contributes to climate change, but did you know that there's a man-made substance that contributes more than double the emissions of the aviation industry? It's estimated that up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions is from the concrete industry--and this is mainly due to the production of cement, an essential ingredient in concrete. Sara and Casey discuss what needs to be done to clean up concrete on this 100th episode of A Little Greener! Resources for this episode: The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save Our Planet by Hal Harvey and Justin Gillis Cement vs. Concrete: A Case of Mistaken Identities Explained: Cement vs. concrete — their differences, and opportunities for sustainability | MIT News Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth | Cities | The Guardian MIT Researchers Develop New Additives For "Green" Concrete - CleanTechnica PPE Waste Makes Stronger, More Flexible, Green Concrete Heat Island Compendium | US EPA Want To Build A Carbon Neutral Skyscraper? Easy: Just Don't Use Cement. Good Luck With That | Digg Materials scientist working to revolutionize concrete and radically reduce CO2 emissions Countering climate change with cool pavements | MIT News Effects of pavement texture and colour on Urban Heat Islands: An experimental study in tropical climate - ScienceDirect

Expecting your first child can be an overwhelming time, with so much to acquire, learn, and do before baby arrives. The thought of trying to do all that and be environmentally friendly at the same time might feel like too much, but never fear! Casey and Sara are here to discuss being a little greener with a few aspects of baby care: how to prepare for your baby, how to feed your baby, and, oh yes, how to diaper your baby. Listen for the do's and don'ts of getting secondhand items, how to cut down on microplastics, and whether or not cloth diapers are as eco-friendly (or as scary) as you might think. Resources for this episode: Climate change is making people think twice about having children Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK