In this week's issue of our environment newsletter, we look at the differences in how certain types of trees sequester carbon and how a carbon price across borders might work.
Much ado about mangroves (23:20)
Why this twist on a nature-based carbon solution is growing roots at companies from Gucci to Procter & Gamble; plus Apple and Conservation International develop a new mangrove carbon credit. Featuring Jen Howard, senior director of Conservation International s blue carbon program.
The state of recommerce (33:00)
Trove is the company behind the garment resale programs at Patagonia, Levi s, Eileen Fisher and REI. Andy Ruben, CEO and co-founder, drops by to chat about why projections for a $64 billion market may be underestimating the potential. Music in this episode by Lee Rosevere: Curiosity, As I Was Saying, Sad Marimba Planet, And So Then and Night Caves
New Approach to Blue Carbon Projects Underway in Colombia
A mangrove preservation project along Colombia’s Caribbean coast is using a more comprehensive method to calculate how much carbon is stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, potentially boosting global efforts to conserve so-called blue carbon.
Conservation International, working with several partners in Colombia, is spearheading a mangrove protection initiative in Cispatá, Colombia that calculates not only the amount of carbon stored above-water in mangrove trees but also the amount stored underwater in roots and soil. Previous blue carbon projects in mangrove forests have generally counted only carbon stored above water. But since as much as 60 percent of a wetland’s or a mangrove forest’s carbon is sequestered underwater, the new accounting method increases the amount and value of carbon that communities can claim if they protect mangrove forests.
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There’s a fresh nature-based carbon project in town, and she’s getting attention from corporations with ambitious net-zero goals. Her name? Mangroves, a type of tree species and coastal forest ecosystem native to the tropics and subtropics.
Blue carbon, carbon captured by oceans or the ecosystems surrounding oceans, has huge untapped potential for carbon sequestration and Verra, the verified carbon standard, told Yale360 that the blue carbon market is about to take off. According to the article, Verra has issued 970,000 credits to blue carbon projects. And mangroves projects are poised to increase dramatically as they have become trendy with with big companies with ambitious carbon initiatives. Over the past year, Gucci, Apple and Procter & Gamble have announced mangrove protection and restoration projects to help combat greenhouse gas emissions.
CBS News
Jon Stewart, lawmakers join forces to help veterans who say toxic burn pit exposure made them sick
Lawmakers from both parties will join veterans on Tuesday for a new effort in Congress to help service members who say that toxic burn pits made them sick. They have been linked to some cancers and other ailments like lung issues.
The VA requires veterans to pay for tests to prove that any illness is linked to exposure to those fumes. Advocates say the majority of claims are denied.
In Iraq and Afghanistan some overseas bases used jet fuel to ignite and dispose of waste that was dumped and burned in giant pits. More than three million U.S. veterans may have come into contact with dangerous fumes.