Green-Eyed: Our Favorite Environmental And Climate Change Crusaders

[Image Credit: Taking Root]

Here is a quick snapshot of just a few of the many people that have influenced the climate change movement:

• Jean Jouzel: He started his career studying hailstones, not knowing that one day he would become one of the leading specialists on climatic shifts. A climatologist and glaciologist renowned for his work in Antarctica and Greenland, Jean Jouzel is considered a pioneer in the reconstruction of climate history. He is the director of the CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique) and received the highest French scientific award, the CNRS Gold Medal with Claude Lorius for archiving glacial shifts. Constantly faced with the heated debate surrounding climate change, his research has been published in more than 350 articles within various international journals. In an interview published in The Global Journal, he discussed the challenges the globe faces in reducing greenhouse gas emissions without countries that are willing to make commitments to reach a specific goal. In his closing comments, he wanted to note that “April 2010 was the warmest month ever recorded on the planet.”

• Andy Revkin: Currently the senior fellow at Pace University’s Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies and the award-winning blogger of the New York Times‘ Dot Earth blog, Revkin is perhaps best known for exposing the impact of climate change on the North Pole. The Arctic Rush, a Discovery-Times channel documentary about climate change at the North Pole he shot and co-produced with Craig Duff, won the National Association of Science Writers’ “Science-in-Society” award; his “The Big Melt” series on NYTimes.com offers extensive multi-media coverage of Arctic melting. Along with stints as the senior editor of Discover and senior writer at Science Digest, Revkin is the author of three benchmark books on the Amazon rainforest, global warming, and the North Pole.

• Wangari Maathai: Known as the “tree woman,” Wangari Maathai founded The Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in  2004. The movement has since planted more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking fires. Poor women in the villages of Kenya mostly planted the trees, restoring their environment and providing paid work. Maathai gained worldwide attention in 1998 by helping to defeat plans by Kenya’s president to clear hundreds of acres of forest for luxury housing. Jailed several times by previous administrations, she was elected to parliament in 2002 and is now the country’s environment minister. Today, The Green Belt Movement aims to plant one billion trees around the world, as well as supporting other efforts to create a healthier environment.

• Al Gore: His documentary An Inconvenient Truth shook up the planet and created an awareness for global warming that was unprecedented. In October of 2007, Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were awarded the Nobel Prize.The film won an Oscar award as well as many other film awards related to inspiring a positive social movement. Al Gore has put global warming solidly on the American political agenda.

• James Hansen: According to Discover Magazine : Al Gore won a Nobel Prize for explaining global warming to the world, but James Hansen was the one who explained climate change to Al Gore. Hansen, a NASA climatologist, started voicing that climate change would accelerate more quickly than originally calculated in 1981. By the end of the decade, his computer models showed that humans were heating the planet and as a result, serious problems would occur. The impact of Hansen’s research and outspoken laments against wasteful consumerism helped fuel the green movement.

5 Websites To Get Your Green Fix

1) The Daily Green

Pitched as the consumer’s guide to the green revolution, this website has everything and anything you need to know about green news, cuisine, products, tips and tricks.  Senior editor Dan Shapley learned about the environment by growing up in the upstate New York with a family that reduced, reused and recycled as a way of life. Born and founded on Earth Day 2007, the quirky website includes interesting headings like “Weird Weather Watch” and a blog called, “The Green Cheapskate.” The stories are clear and concise without being bogged down in too much technical jargon.

2) Grist :  A Beacon in the Smog

Add Grist.org to your Google Reader for its unique green perspective on news and technology stories.  Reporting on green newssince 1999, Grist started focusing on climate change long before the green revolution. The website is another great resource for entertaining stories with punchy headlines. Grist has a fun discussion section called “Ask Umbra” where readers can get green advice on everything from “where to buy slime free hamburger meat?” to “hair dye that won’t kill you or the planet.”  Also, join Umbra’s book club for the latest published green works.

3) Ecorazzi: The Latest in Green Gossip

Are you missing your People magazine? You can turn to this site to catch up on the the green or not-so-green lives of the rich and famous. With celebrities like Meg Ryan, Leonardo Dicaprio and Cameron Diaz speaking out on environmental issues, people of all ages are inspired to join their causes. Who the latest celebrity to join PETA’s cause? Is the Dalai Lama the ultimate freegan? This is website to find out.

4) Jetson Green

Jetson Green is a fascinating blog about green innovation and residential building. The blog was founded by Preston Koerner, a LEED AP, as a MBA student to chronicle latest building trends. The website is updated daily and on the pulse of the newest and greenest technology on the planet. The website is a preview of our future homes in five to ten years. Full resources, it is bursting with informative articles, cool pictures, videos and links.

5) Mother Nature Network

Mother Nature’s Network has one goal: to help you improve the world. MNN organizes its site with eight different channels, each providing in-depth news and information updated throughout the day: Earth Matters, Lifestyle, Green Tech, Eco-Biz, Transportation, Your Home, Food, and Family. MNN  also has a special section called “Translating Uncle Sam,” a guide to issues on governmental websites translated in simpler, more understandable terms.  Simplicity is what they advocate and in turn, their website is simply designed and very user-friendly. Whether you are green novice or expert, MNN is the perfect resource for a green living.

Belgrave Trust Partners With ArtHamptons And Kavoo

July has only just begun, but the summer’s already shaping up to be a real red-letter one for Belgrave Trust. Today, I’m thrilled to announce Belgrave Trust’s new partnerships with ArtHamptons and Kavoo. On the surface, it seems like an art fair and a charter aviation company would have few similarities, but they share a common dedication to adopting sustainable and clean technologies—without sacrificing quality. It’s a dedication that resonates with Belgrave Trust’s values, and I couldn’t be happier with both end results. The full press release is after the jump.

BELGRAVE TRUST ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIPS WITH KAVOO AND ARTHAMPTONS, PREMIER BRANDS IN PRIVATE AVIATION AND ART

Through Carbon Offsetting Companies Will Incentivize Emission Reductions While Raising Environmental Awareness Among Their Guests

New York – July 6, 2010 – Belgrave Trust today announced partnerships with Kavoo aviation service and highlight of the Hamptons summer season, ArtHamptons (and sister event ArtAspen), making all three entities carbon neutral for the first time. Known for providing their clientele with a world class experience and service, these quality brands are now taking a sustainable approach to their business operations. A social enterprise, Belgrave Trust leverages innovation and markets to help companies and individuals live carbon neutral.

“Kavoo and ArtHamptons are among the absolute best at what they do,” said Belgrave Trust Founding Member Nicholas Baily, “and we’re honored to partner with companies that not only share a vision for sustainable business operations, but also set the bar for high quality and service.”

Belgrave Trust has worked closely with each partner to identify their sources of emissions, evaluate quantities, and offset them using its diversified portfolio of carbon reduction projects. Projects in Belgrave Trust’s actively managed portfolio are selected after close and careful evaluation. Through diligence and diversification, risk is minimized while resources are channeled to innovative climate change solutions, from clean energy development to demand reduction. Belgrave Trust is committed to high quality delivery on product, service, and outcomes.

Providing private air service to over 500 airports in the northeast, Kavoo makes business and personal air travel pleasurable and efficient. By enabling business travelers to more easily access smaller cities that major airlines don’t directly connect to and providing greater scheduling flexibility, customers save time and emissions that would be spent on multiple connections and hotel stays otherwise. The company’s Cirrus SR22 planes also require significantly less fuel than turbine powered flights, with no sacrifice in convenience. Belgrave Trust will offset emissions from Kavoo’s fleet and business operations going forward on a monthly basis.

Anticipated summer season highlights in their respective communities, ArtHamptons and ArtAspen annually give more than 20,000 art enthusiasts a museum quality experience, featuring art from a renowned lineup of international galleries. This year’s event will feature the work of 600 respected artists from 7 countries. Belgrave Trust will measure and offset emissions resulting directly from the events including facilities, hospitality, transport, and on-site energy usage.

Tapping the power of global markets via an actively managed offset portfolio, Belgrave Trust helps members and partners spur game changing innovation, increase demand for clean energy solutions, and drive positive change. Founded on the principles of ease through simplicity, innovation via markets, and strength from diversification, Belgrave Trust is a single point choice, and the most efficient and effective approach for businesses and individuals to live carbon neutral.

To comprehensively measure your carbon footprint in minutes (no commitment necessary) and become a member visit Belgrave Trust at http://www.BelgraveTrust.com.

Belgrave Trust Paints ArtHamptons Green

[Image Credit: ArtHamptons]

Not literally, of course! But yes, the East End’s most prestigious art fair is now environmentally friendly. I went to the inaugural ArtHamptons, back in 2008, and I remember, distinctly, three things:

• The quality, and quantity, of the art was fantastic, ranging from old school cubists (Picasso) and realists (Andrew Wyeth) to new school splatterers (Pollack), printmakers (Jasper Johns), and pop-artists (Lichtenstein, Warhol).
• The tents—I think at that time there were four—were enormous. We’re talking big-top level, possibly bigger. Also, they were freezing; the tennis ladies were rocking major goosebumps.
• Yellow heirloom tomato Bloody Marys are delightful, especially when they’re free.

Two years later, ArtHamptons is bigger than ever: 93 galleries are coming this year, up from 2008’s 60. Erasing the carbon footprint of an event this large ain’t no greenwashing, folks, and we were thrilled and impressed when the ArtHamptons team asked us to do it. Read more

Out Of The Smoke, And Into The Fire

Mysh bzi, Morembe, Es salaam aleikom, Pauari-ecuápe, Sapyibabyi, Hello! Quick note: Apart from the last, I don’t speak any of those languages. Nor, until this week, did I speak PHP or CSS—heck, I barely spoke HTML. And now, a scant handful of days into my sojourn at Belgrave, I can safely put myself into the “beginner” category of web design. Why am I learning these concepts? Because the Belgrave blog’s getting a redesign! Tackled, in part, by me.

Some background: I’m a hot-off-the-press NYU grad—Go Violets (or Bobcats, depending on the day and sporting event)! My background is mostly in the editorial side of the web—I’ve worked for several sites, and started a few of my own. I was born in New Hampshire, grew up in Boston, moved to New York four years ago, and have been blinded by the bright lights of this big city ever since.
Here at Belgrave, in addition to revamping the blog and handling some of the social media, I’ll be working on ways to help Belgrave Trust bring our message of sustainability and direct action to stop climate change to the world, our readers, members, fans. — and you! I want you to enjoy coming to our main site, blog, facebook page, and twitter. It’s you out there that makes real change possible, so I’d like to make your experience with us as pleasant as possible. If you have suggestions on improvements to any of our existing platforms, or think we should be exploring new ones, please let me know!
Over and out,

Beware Of False Idols, Especially The Green “Marketing Guru” Type

So I happened to find myself at a sustainability event awhile ago and a very successful and well known (among those who follow such things) individual came up to speak about connecting with audiences, advocacy, driving change and opinion. Not someone who was known for green issues or advocacy mind you, but a “Marketing Guru.” We heard all about using the latest and greatest marketing tactics to convince the world to “Go Green!” Create clever advertising! dazzle people!

And so on.

All well and good I guess. Nothing wrong with advertising to convince people to do something that’s worth doing. No reason not to grab people’s attention instead of boring them to death, right? Fair enough, but is there anything more than talk to all this? Well, as it turns out there was, when it got into specifics there were several “tactics” but one that I remember clearly:

“Use creative humor…. For example, you could create a weekly comic strip with yourselves as the characters, and your office as the background. What more memorable way to tell your story and make people laugh while you’re at it. Some call this a PR or communications business comic…”

It goes without saying that if you’re committed to solving major environmental problems you should always keep an open mind. But, I mean really? Really? For some reason this one stuck with me, I’ve heard some absurd marketing/corporate-speak but this one resonates. What on earth would a “Business Comic” even look like?

So I couldn’t resist: behold Belgrave Trust’s co-founders Jeff Stewart and Nick Baily (that’s me) in our first “Business Comic”

Note to self: Ignore marketing gurus, hell ignore “marketing” altogether unless it’s genuine. This issue is way too important. There’s a lot of people coming into green these days hawking all sorts of things. For those that have cared about this for many years frankly this is a great thing, the more attention, help and resources the better.

But there won’t be any gurus or quick fixes. How about we all spread the word about climate change, and the need we all share to be a part of the solution?

Personally, we think Belgrave Trust is the most efficient and effective way to offset your footprint, drive innovation, and get us closer to a solution. If you’d like to live carbon neutral today there’s a big button up and to your right, and we hope you’ll join our community, as mentioned, today. There’s no reason to wait, our members are sending resources right this second to people actively working on real solutions.

But if you don’t, then please do something. Find a way to reduce your emissions, to live a more sustainable life. Be knowledgeable and informed. Convince a friend. Act.

Change the world by changing whatever corner of the world you inhabit. Look around. Think locally in order to act globally.

So if that’s “marketing” then we’re for that. Let’s all do it, please help us spread the word. Subscribe to the Belgrave Trust Twitter feed covering all things climate change, carbon, and green, and send us ideas, or use our ideas. Join our rapidly growing community on Facebook’s Belgrave Trust sub-page and interact. Take out advertising, write op-eds. Even create online games, viral programs, iPhone or Facebook apps. There’s nothing wrong with “marketing” at all, as long as it’s just an honest way to engage people in something that matters.

So, fine, let’s take the best of Madison Avenue if that’s what’s needed to gain attention, but I think this might be the first and last installment of our in-house office comic series.

Sorry guys.

“La dolce vita – with a splash of social responsibility”

In the new issue of Accent Magazine, writer Shira Levine profiles the Belgrave Trust in a story called ‘Sustainable High Style.’

Our story begins, with a rock:

“You’d have to be living under a rock to have avoided the controversial chatter about global warming. If you’re reading this, chances are you don’t live under that rock. In fact, you probably enjoy a nice life, indulging in occasional luxuries, whether it be driving a fabulous car, owning multiple homes or flying often for business or pleasure. It’s great to be a well-traveled person, but don’t forget to consider your sizeable carbon footprint.

Not to worry, say Jeff Stewart and Nick Baily, co-founders of The Belgrave Trust: they have one, too. But they’ve figured out a way to counteract it. The Belgrave Trust is a membership concierge service that promises “an intelligent way to solve global climate change.” The firm manages a mutual fund-like portfolio of offsets….”

Read More [PDF]

Belgrave Trust On Public Radio’s Marketplace Money

“Next week marks 40 years since the first Earth Day. I’m guessing they didn’t talk nearly as much about the environment then as we do now. It’s not easy being green. But it’s a lot easier when you’ve got piles of greenbacks.

Spendy solar panels? Check. Hybrid car? Check. Large check to the Sierra Club? Check. And why not? A recent Princeton University study reported that the world’s wealthiest people cause half of the world’s carbon emissions.

Ashley Milne-Tyte looks at some of the ways the well-off are trying to make up for that.”

Listen to audio of The Belgrave Trust featured on Marketplace Money here.

Belgrave Trust Making the Case For Our Green Economy @ Huffington Post

There’s been a lot of talk about green jobs, and more generally about making sure we stay ahead in the burgeoning green economy. But there’s a difference between rhetoric and legislation, and the signs from Washington are decidedly mixed, as I elaborate on in an essay for the Huffington Post.

I wanted to share Belgrave Trust’s perspective on the green economy — and specifically the pending financial reform legislation, which — however well intentioned — may have some consequences that deserve closer scrutiny. Read the whole article here.

Wine Spectator Highlights “Carbon-Offsetting Concierge”

Check out the latest issue of Wine Spectator for a profile on how wine enthusiast Lewis Gersh used Belgrave Trust to create “A Carbon Neutral Collection” when planning his cellar.

Says the magazine: “Gersh uses Belgrave Trust, a carbon-offsetting concierge,” that accounts for his passion for collecting, as well as everything else, “based on estimates of how much carbon his lifestyle — plane trips, multiple homes, the size of his wine collection — releases in the atmosphere.”

Click the link to read more about how Lewis created his own Carbon-Neutral Wine Collection with some help from Belgrave Trust.

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