Life Saves the Planet Blog: Cooling

Nature plays a pivotal role in cooling the Earth, with plants being central to this process. Through transpiration, they release water vapor, which cools the air and aids in cloud formation. This mechanism is crucial in countering the urban heat island effect, where non-vegetated areas like cities absorb more heat. Water itself helps to regulate temperature by absorbing heat without raising air temperatures. However, greenhouse gases trap heat near the Earth, exacerbating global warming. Reflective surfaces (albedo) help by bouncing back solar energy, aiding in cooling. Vital too are diverse ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and marine environments, which offer benefits beyond cooling, including carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, and biodiversity preservation. Holistically nurturing these ecosystems is essential for maintaining Earth’s climate health and addressing the challenges of climate change.

Stopping Ecocide: Can International Law Prevent Mass Environmental Destruction?  Monday Oct. 7

Stopping Ecocide: Can International Law Prevent Mass Environmental Destruction? Monday Oct. 7

Register Now!Diverse ecosystems represent the greatest climate action technology at our disposal. But what recourse do we have when nature itself is under attack from the world’s biggest political and economic powers? The movement to codify ecocide, that is, the intentional (or negligent) mass destruction of an ecosystem, as an international crime is gaining traction,…

Biodiversity 11: Warming Oceans, Moving Shorelines & Sea Level Rise – with Jim Laurie

Biodiversity 11: Warming Oceans, Moving Shorelines & Sea Level Rise – with Jim Laurie

What can be done to break the ocean’s fever and cool the planet?  With the oceans warming rapidly causing larger storms and hurricanes, forecasts for sea level rise ranging from 2 feet to 20 feet by 2100, and polar regions warming three times faster than the rest of the world, humanity may be facing the…

2024 Midwest Beaver Summit (virtual) – August 28 – 11 am – 3 pm Central Time

2024 Midwest Beaver Summit (virtual) – August 28 – 11 am – 3 pm Central Time

Bio4Climate is excited to co-host the 2024 Midwest Beaver Summit alongside many outstanding environmental nonprofits, land trusts, restoration practitioners, and other organizations dedicated to conservation, implementing coexistence strategies, and cultivating awareness of the importance of beavers as keystone species in our ecosystems. Join us on Wednesday, August 28 from 11 am – 3 pm Central…

Just released: “Cooling Climate Chaos: A Proposal to Cool the Planet within Twenty Years.”

Just released: “Cooling Climate Chaos: A Proposal to Cool the Planet within Twenty Years.”

This newly published book by Peter Bunyard and Rob de Laet approaches the climate crisis and its solutions from a completely different angle.  “To address the climate crisis, now demonstrably causing havoc with life-killing extreme events,” the authors write, “we must not only transform our economic and societal models towards sustainability and resilience, we must…

Kick off your Summer 2024 Reading List
Healing Our Land & Our Climate! – Registration still open

Healing Our Land & Our Climate! – Registration still open

In order to heal our climate, we must FIRST heal our land. In order to heal the land, we must restore the health of the soil and our ecosystems. Join Hart Hagan for this course on Healing Our Land & Our Climate! from July 9 – September 24. Classes are weekly on Tuesdays at either 12 noon or…

[MA Local] Emerald Tutu Floating Wetlands Tour

[MA Local] Emerald Tutu Floating Wetlands Tour

July 23, 2024, 10am to noon. Join local students of Jim Laurie’s Symbiosis Team to get an up front and personal view of the floating wetlands designed for Boston Harbor. This is the innovative project of modular floatingwetlands in East Boston that was shown in the documentary, Inundation District, on sea level rise in Boston.…

From Parking Lot & Lawn to Miyawaki Forests: Transforming Worcester, MA

From Parking Lot & Lawn to Miyawaki Forests: Transforming Worcester, MA

A transformation is underway in Worcester, MA. In this mid-sized city in Central Massachusetts long known for its industrial activity, city leadership has undertaken ambitious initiatives to address some of their climate resilience goals using the Miyawaki method. Together, Bio4Climate, BSC Group, and the City of Worcester planned and created two Miyawaki Forests in the…

Beavers as Wetland Protectors and Climate Heroes – Thursday June 20

Beavers as Wetland Protectors and Climate Heroes – Thursday June 20

How can one furry critter can help us restore wetlands, protect biodiversity and mitigate both floods and fires. Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist will shared their insights on beavers’ beneficial role as ecosystem engineers, and lessons from their successful support of a recent state-led Beaver Restoration Program in California. Watch the recorded event. As WATER…

Small Forests, Big Benefits – Tuesday June 18

Small Forests, Big Benefits – Tuesday June 18

On Tuesday, June 18 at 7pm ET, we participated in a comprehensive forum on Miyawaki Forest adoption across the US. Watch the recording here! In this online event, Bio4Climate’s Director of Regenerative Projects, Maya Dutta, joined keynote speaker Douglas Tallamy and three other national leaders to explore how mini-forests of native trees and shrubs can…

Journey of an Apprentice
Signing on to Protect Forests
Biodiversity Day: A Community Celebration

Biodiversity Day: A Community Celebration

By Paul Barringer and Jean Devine of Native Plant Community Gardeners Our first Biodiversity Day festival was a success! On Saturday, May 4th, over 120 visitors came to Danehy Park, Cambridge, to join birding tours, Miyawaki Forest tours, learn about pollinator gardens, native plants, and ecosystem restoration from ten local environmental organizations who joined us…

Cool Forests for a Hot World
Miyawaki Forest Planting – Extra Installation Date June 12

Miyawaki Forest Planting – Extra Installation Date June 12

This Spring, we are planting the first two Miyawaki Forests in Worcester, MA. These dense, biodiverse, native pocket forests will bring cooling, beauty, and resilience to the urban landscape. Join us for one additional planting day at Plumley Village Apartments on Wednesday, June 12 at 3pm. Come ready to get your hands in the soil…

Grow Food, Play Music, Mālama Pono (Take Good Care) – Thursday, April 25, 6pm ET

Grow Food, Play Music, Mālama Pono (Take Good Care) – Thursday, April 25, 6pm ET

On Thursday, April 25 at 6pm ET, Beck Mordini and Jenny Pell held a lively conversation about facing our pretty scary future with integrity, hope, plenty of know-how, and a great sense of humor.  We dove into climate reality, appropriate technologies, skill-building, local food, and neighborhood solutions that will inspire you to jump into your own…

Youth-Powered Climate Justice with Our Children’s Trust – Thursday, April 25 – 12 noon

Youth-Powered Climate Justice with Our Children’s Trust – Thursday, April 25 – 12 noon

On Thursday, April 25 at 12:00 noon ET on Zoom, Mat dos Santos and Laura Gehrke of Our Children’s Trust will explain how 16 youth plaintiffs successfully sued the State of Montana to protect their right to a clean and healthful environment, and how youth in six other cases in the U.S. and Canada are…

Compendium Vol. 3 No. 2: Heat Planet: Biodiversity, the Solar Interface and Climate Disruption

Compendium Vol. 3 No. 2: Heat Planet: Biodiversity, the Solar Interface and Climate Disruption

By Christopher A. Haines, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate Christopher Haines is a seasoned architect licensed in both MA and NY who applies expertise in regenerative architectural design, healthy materials, preservation, renovation and specification writing to small commercial and urban projects. He has spoken for years at US and international forums as well as formally…