The health of our planet is undeniably in peril. Current linear economic models overlook the intrinsic interconnectedness of humanity with the Earth’s foundational elements: water, soil, air, energy, and space. As a result, each of these elements has been degraded, leading to climate crises and biodiversity loss. If humanity is to survive and thrive, a new economic framework is urgently needed; one that restores the health of our planet by reorienting existing systems.

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In 1937, US President Franklin Roosevelt wrote to all the US State Governors: “The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.” Today, there is unanimous consensus that the health of our planet is in peril. It is therefore essential that we properly care for the five foundational elements that constitute planet Earth: water, soil, air, energy (fire), and space. All life forms are composed of these elements. Thus, it is logical to conclude that nurturing these foundational elements will not only ensure a healthy planet but also foster a prosperous economy.

Traditional economic models – capitalism, socialism, communism, or mixed economic systems – have historically treated humans as separate from their environment, rather than recognizing their interdependence with it. This flawed approach has perpetuated economic and educational systems that exploit these foundational elements, leading to environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This grim reality is well-documented by renowned environmentalist Johan Rockström and his team, who have shown that humanity has breached six of the nine planetary boundaries, with the remaining three on the verge of being crossed.

To avert further environmental degradation, a radical shift in our thinking is required. Below is a proposed economic framework – not by starting anew, but by reorienting existing systems. This practical, bottom-up approach aims for minimal disruption and can be adopted by any country. While various well-intentioned top-down solutions like initiatives on creating a circular economy, carbon credits, and tax incentives exist, they are only incremental in nature.

You might also like: Toward a New Global Approach to Safeguard Planet Earth: An Interview With Johan Rockström

Principles for Implementing an Economic Model for Planetary Health and Prosperity 

1. Need for an Environmental Health Index (EHI)

All countries, as well as our planet, need a new measure: the Environmental Health Index (EHI). This index would capture the health of the five foundational elements at both national and global levels. EHI will complement the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which currently ignores the health of these elements.

More on the topic: Planetary Health: Measuring and Managing Planetary Biomarkers

2. Organize government ministries by the five foundational elements

When government ministries are organized around the five foundational elements, they become more sensitive, aware, and synergistic in addressing environmental challenges. For instance, a Ministry of Water would ensure that wastewater is not dumped into oceans, which would adversely impact the EHI. This could collaborate with the Ministry of Soil to address groundwater depletion caused by fossil-based materials on roads and highways to arrive at better material solutions. A shared vision and mission would compel each ministry to work together and continuously improve the EHI. 

3. Adopting an indirect tax model to promote prosperity and health

Countries should transition their tax systems from direct to indirect taxation, using a five-tier structure, with the lowest tier at 0% tax and the highest at 40%. Environmentally unfriendly products would fall in the higher tiers, eco-friendly ones in the lower tiers. Countries could adjust product placement within these tiers based on economic considerations and the pace of emergence of clean start-ups. Taxes would be collected only at the point of final consumption, thereby influencing consumer behaviour.

India already has a similar indirect tax model, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) model. The GST indirect tax structure is uniform across the country. While the current focus of GST is on affordability, its mission could be fine-tuned to align with sustainability goals. In this manner, it could become a model for other countries to emulate.

This tax model would spur innovation and phase out products that damage the environment, reducing the need for subsidies, tax incentives, and reforms. The GST model uses an expanded version of the Harmonized System of Product Classification, with an 8-digit code instead of the traditional 6-digit code, allowing for detailed product differentiation. For example, a plastic water bottle could fall into the highest tax tier, while canned water might be in a lower tier. Similarly, a bag of chemical fertilizer could be in a higher tier and a bag of organic fertilizer in a lower tier. 

Government ministries, organized by the five foundational elements, could collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to determine product placements annually. It is recommended that 60-70% of taxes be collected through indirect taxes and 30-40% through direct taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals. This model ensures sustainable practices and clean growth while accelerating a culture of clean start-ups. For example, several clean start-ups exist to replace all fossil-based plastics; lab inventions such as cotton, diamonds, microbes extracting precious metals from gadgets and so on will lower carbon dioxide emissions, saving large amounts of land and water. 

The indirect tax model paves the way for a rapid take-off of all clean technologies. Today, they languish for a variety of structural reasons.

4. Orienting education around the five foundational elements

True education encompasses the development of the body, mind, and soul. Within the scope of this essay, it is recommended that degree-granting institutions and vocational schools structure their programs around the five foundational elements. For example, material sciences, agricultural sciences, and other fields directly connected to the element “soil” could fall under this category. While liberal arts, medical degrees, and other programs not directly connected with any of the foundational elements may retain their standalone status, they should still be influenced by the foundational elements. Vocational institutes should follow a similar theme.

Schools should also teach climate science and biology concepts in relation to the five foundational elements. For instance, it is well known that meat grown for food, especially beef, has a high carbon footprint compared to plant-based food. Moreover, biology reveals that humans are naturally plant-eaters. 

Education should emphasize sustainable practices rather than prolonged academic journeys for students. 

More on the topic: Traditional Education Is Failing Us. Here’s What We Need for a Sustainable Planet

5. Agenda for the Conference of Parties (COP)

COP members should discuss and agree on the above principles. They should also consider reducing their defense budgets by 10% annually compared to the previous year. These savings must be directed towards implementing nature-based solutions and growing forests on degraded land. 

6. Corporations, Government, and ESG (Environment, Sustainability, Governance)

Corporations and national and state governments should publicly disclose their high-level initiatives related to the five foundational elements. Governments should transparently declare revenue collection and expenditure by major categories, and government finances should be audited, similar to corporate audits.

7. Suggestion to dampen energy-intensive tools such as AI and cryptocurrencies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will account for 6% of total power use in the US by 2026, according to Forbes. This is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years, as Goldman Sachs predicts global AI investment to reach $1 trillion. Abundant literature on the internet highlights the significant use of energy and fresh water by AI. Cryptos like Bitcoin use as much energy as a small country in Scandinavia. It is assumed that utility companies offer volume-based or higher prices at higher tiers to the tech companies – one hopes that customers are not subsidizing the high energy consumption of AI.

AI companies like ChatGPT should charge customers based on the amount of energy units used. This may vary by simple or complex types of use. The logic is similar to Uber or Lyft charging customers for a specific ride. A similar concept should apply to cryptocurrencies. This will dampen demand, and AI will be used more judiciously. 

This win-win approach will make companies profitable, encourage students to rely more on their creative talents, and protect the planet. Government debates should focus more on the energy and water use of AI and cryptos, among other pressing issues. Growth in renewable energy will not keep up with the exponential growth of AI, thus warranting action by governments.

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In summary, every citizen and institution of the world must see their interconnectedness with the foundational elements and not abuse them. It is we the people who control our planet’s destiny. More action and less debate is necessary in this world since time is running out.

The post An Economic Model for Planetary Health and Prosperity appeared first on Earth.Org.

The United States has long stood as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the world. This article provides a few suggestions on how the US can positively impact its burgeoning debt by addressing climate challenges and pursuing a more sustainable path.

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A March 2024 blockbuster report by the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates America’s public debt to soar to $141.1 trillion by 2054, steadily climbing from the current $34 trillion, already equivalent to 99% of its GDP, to a daunting 166% of GDP. US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and a number of other top CEOs and university professors have already raised serious concerns.

On the climate front, award-winning Earth scientist and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Johan Rockström has warned that six of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached, pushing Earth beyond the safe zone. The scientific evidence of our planet’s peril is unequivocal, and time is running out to rescue it from intensive care. 

According to a 2021 article published in Frontiers of Medicine, the emergence of Covid-19 – which is estimated to have cost the US economy a staggering $14 trillion by 2023 – was partly to blame on climate change factors. 

Our leaders and the public at large must address two critical questions: How did we arrive here in the first place, and how do we move forward to fix it? 

How Did We Get Here?

Numerous factors have contributed to this precarious situation, including, among others, unsustainable lifestyles, relentless product upgrades driven by deceiving marketing tactics, and extractive technologies leading to heightened greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Our consumption and extensive choice-driven culture has fostered the proliferation of manufacturing production lines and innumerable service offerings, programmed obsolescence of products, and overflowing landfills, epitomized by the staggering increase in average American home size, partly fueled by a direct tax model that incentivizes the excess. Happiness has become synonymous with material possessions and wealth.

The current US debt has been influenced by wars in the Middle East, the 2008 housing crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and several other factors. Projected estimates are unclear on the impact of unexpected pandemics or other extreme natural events.

Our educational institutions burden students with prolonged academic journeys, excessive capital investments, and unnecessary infrastructure expansions, contributing to escalating student debt. However, quick-fix solutions to alleviate debt burdens only exacerbate public debt. Our healthcare system is flawed, with Medicare and private health insurance overwhelmed with a myriad of plan options, leading to administrative costs projected to account for about 30% of all healthcare costs. The list of evident problems goes on.

Fixing Debt And Climate While Ensuring Sustainable Growth

1. Shift to an Indirect Tax Model Catalyzes Clean Growth

Addressing our contemporary challenges requires bold and radical measures. Shifting from a direct tax model to an indirect tax model can directly influence purchasing behavior. 

The latter model should encompass five tax tiers, with environmentally unfriendly products taxed at the highest tier and eco-friendly products at the lowest. A similar model was implemented in India a few years ago, but it too warrants a revamped mission statement toward sustainability. 

Such models catalyze a green tech startup revolution, ensuring that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are substantive rather than superficial. A direct tax model as a complement to the indirect tax model may be appropriate only for the very rich. 

Rehabilitating our planet is a necessity for many factors, including increased biodiversity and the potential containment of new viruses and diseases.

More on the topic: Addressing the Need For a Progressive Holistic Tax Model For Sustainable Development

2. Sustainable Foreign Policy Positively Impacts Debt and Climate

The US can no longer afford to serve as the global police force. India’s success in achieving freedom through nonviolent means serves as a testament to the power of nonviolent actions, inspiration, and words. If we integrate this understanding into our foreign policy, we may alleviate our debt, save lives, spend less on armaments, and rehabilitate our soil, air, and water due to the absence of bombs.

3. Sustainability in Governance

Removing money from politics ensures unbiased decision-making. Providing free advertising to election candidates by the media eliminates the need for further advertising expenditure. Laws must delineate boundaries on lobbying and special interest groups, a necessary step to avoid unwise choices. For instance, we should begin discouraging electric vehicle batteries that extract rare metals from the Earth, moon, and our ocean floor and promote metal-free biodegradable batteries instead.

4. Sustainable Education

Encouraging disruptive models in education is crucial. Companies establishing in-house centers for quality vocational education, including affordable compressed degree programs, warrant support. Aligning vocational and degree programs with the foundational elements of Earth (soil, water, air, energy, and space) heightens awareness of their interconnectedness, empowering the scientific community to address climate challenges. Measuring and managing the foundational elements via a single environmental health index assures proper stewardship. We cannot continue to build wealth without rehabilitating our planet’s health.

More on the topic: Op-Ed: Traditional Education Is Failing Us: Here’s What We Need for a Sustainable Planet

5. Simplifying Healthcare Assures Sustainability

Numerous experts have offered a variety of solutions to simplify the US healthcare system. Let us start tackling healthcare in bite-size chunks by making the complex simple. For example, streamlining the proliferation of plan choices in Medicare to just three simple plans – low, middle, and high income – may positively impact debt.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), in 2024, the average American Medicare beneficiary has a choice of 43 Medicare Advantage plans; some counties have more than 75. And there are 1,333 special needs plans. Medicare also offers a traditional Medicare plan and several Supplemental plans. There are a plethora of prescription drug plans, too. The entire Medicare system is overwhelming with excess advertising and an army of brokers. Behavioral economists argue too much choice makes people indecisive and they often make wrong choices. Debt reduction strategies often address spending, but simplification eliminates several bureaucratic layers and lowers cumulative costs over the years.

6. Climate-Friendly Infrastructure May Lower Debt

According to the National Center for Environmental Information, the US had 377 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2024). The total costs of the 377 events amounted to $2.67 trillion. This underscores the need for climate-friendly infrastructure.

The government should promote eco-friendly materials in all public sector projects, such as advanced green composites, permeable bio-materials made from wastewater for roads, highways, buildings, and so on. The indirect tax model mentioned earlier will foster rapid innovation in this domain. Innovative solutions, like constructing a forest with wild animals on our southern border, can mitigate climate disasters and curb illegal immigration which can exacerbate long-term debt burden. 

More on the topic: US Sets Record For the Most Billion-Dollar Natural Disasters In Single Year

Conclusion 

In an interdependent and interconnected world, alleviating public debt solely by direct taxes, spending cuts, monetary and fiscal policies may not be sufficient. New paradigms of thought in sustainability and climate are also warranted.

The post Alleviating America’s Rising Debt By Addressing Climate And Sustainability  appeared first on Earth.Org.

A Progressive Holistic Tax model implemented at the consumer level holds the potential to significantly influence behavior towards a more sustainable planet. By shaping consumer purchasing patterns, this approach would compel companies to pivot towards offering goods that are less detrimental to the foundational elements of our planet. Proposed as an alternative to the direct tax model, with the exception of the very high-income category, this innovative concept builds upon the framework of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) model in India. Its introduction warrants thorough discussion and debate to foster holistic progress and ensure the long-term survivability of our planet for future generations.

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Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” 

As a political saint, he influenced masses to free India from British rule through non-violence, preaching the message of “simple living, high thinking,” which reinforced sustainable living principles. Sadly, in our modern world, these ideals have lost their luster amidst warfare, greed, and excessive consumption driven by fossil fuel-based products, which are wreaking havoc on our planet.

Johan Rockstrom, recipient of the 2024 Tyler Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for the environment,” has warned that six of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached, pushing Earth out of the safe zone. These boundaries encompass land systems change, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows, biosphere integrity, climate change, novel entities, stratosphere ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, and ocean acidification, with only the last three remaining within safe limits. The scientific evidence of our planet’s peril is unequivocal, and we have a limited window to rescue it from intensive care.

Various factors have contributed to this precarious situation, including unsustainable lifestyles, incessant product upgrades driven by marketing tactics, and extractive technologies leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Furthermore, societal perceptions equating happiness with material possessions and wealth have exacerbated the issue. In contrast, historical wisdom, such as that found in India, emphasized finding happiness by overcoming desires through wisdom without suppressing them, a philosophy now overshadowed.

This consumption-driven culture has led to the proliferation of manufacturing production lines, programmed obsolescence of products, and inflated landfills, exemplified by the staggering increase in average American home size and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth. 

However, GDP fails to distinguish between activities that enhance well-being and those that degrade it, underscoring the urgent need for a new economic model to restore planetary health and foster holistic prosperity.

The proposed Progressive Holistic Tax (PHT) model aims to reshape consumer behavior towards sustainability, clean technology adoption, and circular economy principles by levying taxes at the point of final consumption. Unlike traditional income taxes, which are inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges, this model directly incentivizes sustainable choices by hitting consumers’ wallets. By taxing products based on their environmental impact, particularly their effect on essential elements like water, soil, air, energy, and space, the PHT model encourages responsible consumption patterns.

How Does a PHT Model Work?

It is suggested that a PHT model have five tax tiers ranging from 0% to 40%. At high tiers, PHT taxes those products or services that wreck the foundational elements of our earth, namely water, soil, air, energy, and space. Luxury products or services in a higher tax tier may also encourage consumers towards more sustainable options. 

Implementation

In 2017, India implemented an indirect tax model called the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a comprehensive, multistage, destination-based tax. It is comprehensive because it subsumed almost all indirect taxes; multi-staged as the GST is imposed at every step in the production process, but is meant to be refunded to all parties in the various stages of production other than the final consumer. As a destination-based tax, it is collected at the point of consumption and not the point of origin. 

The tax has five tiers, ranging from 0% to 28%. Luxury products and services are placed in the highest tax tier. The consumer never pays a tax on a tax. The Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) code, a nomenclature used worldwide, is also used by GST. Each product has a unique code, thus enabling GST to place different products in different tax tiers. 

Key Difference Between PHT and GST

The key difference between the proposed PHT model and GST model is that the former levies a tax on products that destroy the planet at a higher tier, whereas in the GST model, a product that wrecks the health of our soil such as a chemical fertilizer could potentially be in the lower tax tier. Similarly, in PHT, a plastic water bottle could be in the highest tax tier versus canned water in a lower tier. An automobile with a metal-free biodegradable battery could be in a lower tax tier versus one with a lithium ion battery. 

Such fine nuances in PHT may necessitate a revision to HSN to account for the environmental degradation of various products. This ensures every country can implement PHT successfully.

Way Forward

Two countries that can urgently implement a PHT-type model are India and the United States for the following reasons:

• India 

A highly successful GST system is providing excellent tax revenues for India. A revised HSN code will allow the country to easily leapfrog into a PHT model. In this manner, it can achieve the dual purpose of addressing planetary health and holistic progress. The current debate on streamlining GST towards a 2-tier or a 3-tier model may hinder the progress of implementing a PHT-type model. Instead, India can become the first country in the world to launch a PHT model. It would be a historic achievement and it would help reach net zero faster than anticipated.

• United States 

Most of the innovative cleantech startups are in the US. A PHT model will allow these startups to enter the market faster. Today, the ecosystem of big corporations has kept the growth of most of these innovative startups under the lid. For example, there are hundreds of startups that can replace single-use plastics, but none has successfully gained entry into the market because virgin plastic remains significantly cheaper than any other more environmentally friendly alternative. A PHT model would address this issue by changing behavior patterns in the market. 

Moreover, the US can streamline its current complicated direct tax law – personal income taxes must be only collected from people in the high-income category. A significant portion of the tax revenues must be collected via PHT (as is happening in India already through the GST mechanism). Income taxes do not influence purchasing behavior at least at the level of achieving holistic progress.

If India can help implement a PHT system for the US, and the US can share its clean tech know-how, then both countries together could demonstrate to the world that a PHT model would succeed in addressing the critical woes of our planet.

Advantages of a PHT model

In addition to fostering holistic national progress, PHT serves as a unified tax system across any nation, streamlining the complexity of various state-level taxes. Revenue sharing between the central and state governments is determined by predefined formulas, mirroring the existing GST system in India.

At the governmental level, PHT streamlines the legislative process, reducing the need for multiple laws and debates surrounding green tax incentives. An independent PHT council, comprising a diverse team of technical and social scientists, utilizes scientific evidence to make informed decisions regarding tax tier allocation for different products, tailored to meet the government’s revenue requirements and economic demands. This market-oriented approach cultivates an environment conducive to the growth of entrepreneurs and clean tech startups, fostering equitable development across all states. Economists should develop and analyze a simulated PHT model to assess its positive impact on overall societal progress, including its contribution to mitigating climate change. Existing GST data from India can shed more light on purchasing patterns at different tiers. 

Complementing the PHT model, a national economic planning framework should be established to monitor and manage the foundational elements of our planet. 

You might also like: How India’s Carbon Tax Implementation Could Set a Precedent for G20 Countries

The post Addressing the Need For a Progressive Holistic Tax Model For Sustainable Development appeared first on Earth.Org.

To create a sustainable planet through education, we must collectively embrace a vision centered around protecting the Earth’s five foundational elements: soil, water, air, fire/energy, and space. This shared vision, along with a scrutiny on structural reform, creates a sense of heightened awareness at the grassroots level to see the interconnectedness between all disciplines, and a commitment to achieving a common goal – a regenerative world where education thrives harmoniously with the planet’s well-being.

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In today’s modern world, the educational landscape stands fragmented, often confining itself within rigid disciplinary boundaries that overlook the interconnectedness between various subjects and degree programs. The lack of holistic wisdom and a linear approach to problem-solving has resulted in pervasive issues such as plastic waste, depleted soils, contaminated air, polluted water, and biodiversity loss. To address these challenges, we must champion a comprehensive and interconnected educational approach from early schooling to university levels.

You might also like: 15 Biggest Environmental Issues in 2024

The ancient seers of India foresaw the vital relationship between our inner and outer worlds. They emphasized that genuine education entails the harmonious development of body, mind, and soul. For instance, nurturing the body seamlessly influences the mind and soul, and vice versa. This integrated philosophy prioritized a focus on the inner essence of humans, profoundly shaping their interactions with the outer world.

However, our current educational paradigm often prioritizes specialized degrees without considering their ecological impacts or their contributions to the degradation of our planet and loss of biodiversity. While it is impossible to rewind time, we can construct a framework that fosters an organic evolution towards a circular economy and environmental rehabilitation.

This article aims to outline a sustainable educational framework that rejuvenates our planet while fostering an inclusive and prosperous global economy, benefiting all life forms. The emphasis here is not on holistic education of the body, mind, and soul but specifically on an education system that shapes humanity’s livelihood without undermining the fabric of our planet – a crucial initial step towards a longer term nobler, harmonious world.

Science and Technology Education

Schools should educate on the five foundational elements – soil, water, air, rire/energy, and space – highlighting their roles in Earth’s constitution, sustenance, and biodiverse vitality. Addressing these elements automatically fosters a circular economy, representing a sincere bottoms-up approach.

Universities should categorize science and technology degrees under these elemental umbrellas, emphasizing minimizing harm while enriching these elements. Academicians should scrutinize inter-disciplinary impacts, refining degrees to minimize adverse effects. For instance, mining degrees offered under the elemental umbrella “soil” should pivot toward growing diamonds in labs rather than mining, while energy programs under the umbrella should focus on renewable technologies. 

Similarly, material science programs should scrutinize materials that degrade any element and find alternative uses. For example, material scientists could convert human waste into permeable materials for roads and highways, simultaneously replenishing depleted groundwater levels and constructing houses with biodegradable materials to minimize energy needs. The possibilities of fine tuning every discipline under each of the elemental umbrellas are endless.

This structured approach hastens collaboration between academic divisions. For instance, the “air” and “soil” divisions can collaborate to mitigate natural disasters while enriching both elements. Industry-academia partnerships driven by a unified vision of preserving Earth’s fundamental elements form the bedrock for a circular economy. Economic planning around these foundational elements, measured and managed by a single environmental health index, could yield significant progress and embellish existing measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Vocational and Technical Education

Technical schools should adopt this thematic approach. Post-tenth grade, students should receive hands-on, specialized education focused on preserving the elements. Certificates in wastewater treatment, water body conservation and so on should fall under the “water” umbrella. Skill-based programs must embrace both indigenous and modern concepts as appropriate to the local region.

You might also like: Indigenous Climate Storytelling Holds the Key to Climate Change Solutions in the Global South

Health, Social Sciences, and Beyond

Degrees not aligning with elemental categories should still be influenced by this ideology. All foundational elements fundamentally impact human well-being, revolutionizing public health perspectives. For example, the quality of soil can impact health, mining the moon may impact one or more of its positive influences of life on Earth, and so on. 

The suggested framework allows all disciplines to see the interconnectedness between the elements. Social sciences will also benefit from this evolved educational approach, influencing our understanding of world events, such as the relationship between climate change, conflicts, and migration patterns. Awareness could also be created on the unfettered growth in artificial intelligence and cryptos, and their high energy use.

Sustainable Structural Reforms

Escalating costs, duration time for some degrees, ballooning student debts, unnecessary capital investments, and emphasis on degrees rather than skills, necessitate reform. Streamlining US degree programs like the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) to its original Bachelor’s, Masters, and PhD levels or allowing students to enter medical school after high school similar to most other countries could lower the debt burden for American students. Rethinking capital investments and utilizing shared infrastructures including stadiums could make education more affordable. Public perception on a degree versus skills can also influence debt.

Fortunately, some companies are disrupting the model on academic credentials, Google in the US, for example, offers specialized shorter duration certificates that are highly sought after versus a degree. India-based Zoho Corporation started its own Zoho University that recruits bright students from impoverished backgrounds and offers free skill based education with a stipend to cover basic living expenses. 

In both examples, company employees tutor the students. Such disruptive models are affordable while providing quality education. However, these models need to expand beyond the sphere of information technology. A systematic review of unnecessary expenditure in education could significantly reduce costs for students. Finally, social scientists need to shed light on the relationship between high student debt, delayed marriage, purchase of a house, or even having children – obstacles to sustainability and a rejuvenating world.

The post Traditional Education Is Failing Us. Here’s What We Need for a Sustainable Planet appeared first on Earth.Org.

The video game industry holds immense potential to integrate knowledge in green tech, sustainability, and climate enhancement. Leveraging this potential can transform games into powerful tools for educating and inspiring a greener generation.

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The online gaming industry, a multibillion-dollar sector, is anticipated to soar to US$231.4 billion by 2032, up from $83.9 billion in 2022. 

Similar to Hollywood movies and casinos, online gaming encapsulates narratives featuring heroes combating villains or engaging in crypto trading of digital assets. Unlike passive movie-watching, gaming immerses players as central characters, fostering dreamlike involvement and expanding social interactions across global digital platforms. Unfortunately, these platforms are vulnerable to cyber threats such as identity theft. Nonetheless, despite associated dangers, online games promise to enhance sports skills through virtual esport games, simulate piloting planes, driving, sailing, and more.

With growing criticism from the public and media for the violent themes and potential addictive tendencies of online gaming, the industry has the chance to embark on a journey to revolutionize its business model. This transformation entails infusing online games with holistic, educational, and wholesome content, imparting lessons on safeguarding our planet. Achieving this demands collaborative efforts across various disciplines and input from sustainability experts deeply concerned about the world’s future and its deteriorating health.

Here are a few thought-provoking ideas for the gaming industry’s evolution toward offering enjoyable, sustainable, and climate education experiences for the global youth.

1. Infrastructure 

Circular Economy Gaming

Develop games simulating a circular economy, challenging players to rectify environmental issues caused by their virtual companies. This could encourage transitioning from single-use plastics to alternatives like canned water, emphasizing practical solutions that transcend the limited impact of plastic recycling in reality.

City and Town Planning

Reimagine games like SimCity to incorporate functions allowing users to build sustainable cities. Infrastructure should be constructed using eco-friendly materials, incorporating innovative concepts like roads and highways built with permeable materials, or utilizing wastewater for construction.

You might also like: What Are the Most Important Features of Sustainable Cities?

Virtual House

Develop games where players build houses using biodegradable materials and employ technologies like bladeless windmills for energy generation, promoting zero reliance on the grid. Incorporating Eastern wisdom on architectural science like “Vasthu” or “Feng-shui” could enrich these games, appealing to architects, interior decorators, and individuals.

Nature Building Games

Create challenges where players build forests, spice farms, mangroves, or forest sanctuaries with indigenous trees, birds, and animals. These games necessitate knowledge in botany, zoology, and local ecosystems, fostering an appreciation for nature and offering practical learning experiences and their implementation in real world settings.

2. Conservation 

Ocean Conservation Challenges

Design games focused on protecting marine species and ecosystems. Players must address scenarios involving safeguarding the ocean and its inhabitants from destructive activities such as ocean mining or industrial fishing.

Moon Mining Hazards

Explore the hazards of moon mining, highlighting its adverse effects on planetary balance. Players strategize ways to mitigate these impacts, showcasing the consequences of reckless resource extraction on Earth and the moon.

3. Corporations

Clean Tech Manufacturing Simulations

Offer educational games enabling players to construct sustainable facilities like solar power plants or recycling centers. Encouraging a 100% circular economy could foster an understanding of various eco-friendly technologies, such as using microbes to extract minerals from discarded gadgets or solar photovoltaics.

Company ESG Gaming Tool

Develop games assisting companies in creating a circular economy within their operations. These tools can aid in building sustainable manufacturing processes and identifying eco-friendly solutions throughout the entire system.

Energy-Efficient Coding Games

Design games emphasizing energy-efficient coding practices, addressing concerns about excessive energy consumption in technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrencies. Integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concepts in technological development could promote a more responsible approach for both hardware and software design.

4. Health

Health Improvement Games

Gamify personal health improvements by allowing users to upload full-body pictures along with basic health statistics. Through various scenarios, players can visualize the impact of exercise, dietary habits, positive thinking, sleep patterns, and more on their personal appearance. This visually engaging game could potentially trigger positive lifestyle changes rather than simply reading about them.

More on the topic: Explainer: Is the Video Game Industry Sustainable?

The post Unveiling the Online Gaming Industry’s Green Potential appeared first on Earth.Org.

Globally, built areas account for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Three materials – concrete, steel, and aluminum – are responsible for 23% of GHG emissions, as reported by Architecture 2030. Global road networks, bridges, dams, and almost every infrastructure need an overhaul in order to achieve a green construction industry. Governments around the world need to come together to address these challenges.

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What Does ‘Green’ Mean in Construction? 

Going green in construction involves using sustainable materials, efficient water and energy use, efficient waste management, and proper city planning with green spaces to support biodiversity, among other strategies. 

Let us examine some concepts that are not commonly thought of to stretch our boundaries on sustainability.

Built Area Strategy

The strategy for a built area must be to achieve full energy independence and minimal dependence on the grid – one can explore blade-less wind turbines, such as the ones developed by AeroMINE Technologies, which do not harm birds and occupy only one-tenth of the space on a flat roof. They can be easily installed and are 50% more productive than solar panels. 

If electricity storage is required, we do not have to rely solely on lithium-ion batteries. Scientists at Texas A&M University have discovered a 1,000% difference in the storage capacity of metal-free, water-based electrodes. Their findings were published in Nature Materials in March 2023. Organic polypeptide and wood batteries also show promise. 

HomeBiogas in Israel offers anaerobic digesters that convert organic waste into biogas, providing greater self-reliance for built areas. Cambridge University in England has invented a plant-based film, a daytime radiative cooling (DRC) material that cools when exposed to sunlight and rivals air conditioning units in its cooling capacity. 

Densely populated areas with a greater number of high-rise apartments can switch to washing and drying clothes in laundromats that operate on liquid CO2, which is non-toxic, biodegradable, and fully recyclable. Such machines are in existence in major US cities – currently in use by entrepreneurs who solely cater to the hospitality industry. A switch to a liquid CO2 business model can save billions of gallons of water for water-starved regions around the world. Fresh water can be harvested from the air for household use. A startup such as SOURCE uses its hydro panels to accomplish this feat. 

Decentralised and self-reliant strategies enable us to achieve net-zero emissions with minimal impact on land and water and they will ultimately lower costs for the consumer due to the nonexistence of centralised production and distribution players.

Many startups are offering cost-saving solutions to built areas. SolarSkyrise in the US has capitalised on a 2023 study’s finding that 2-3% of buildings with high square footage in major US cities account for 50% of the emissions in that city. Governments may also need to create tax incentives for both startups and consumers to embrace energy-efficient solutions. 

Built Area that Integrates Eastern Wisdom

Several hundreds of years ago, India discovered an ancient science of architecture called “Vastu”. Vastu aligns structures in a way that creates balance with cosmic forces/energies. The layout design suggests the right placement of the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining and living rooms, as well as the preferred direction of sleep. Natural materials are used for construction, and the science is based on magnetic forces, the rotation of the Earth, movements of the sun, the five elements of the Earth, cosmic energies, and more. The interior and exterior designs embrace green building concepts. The seers believed that Vastu-compliant structures contribute to the well-being, happiness, and prosperity of the people who dwell in them. Similar to a good diet, exercise, and positive thinking, living or working in a Vastu-compliant building is considered equally important. 

People can adopt the Vastu template for constructing a built area and then integrate into their green building concepts. Green building concepts do not explicitly proclaim to create well-being and happiness for the dweller, but Vastu does. Existing structures can borrow principles from Vastu as appropriate or feasible. The science of Vastu has immense literature on city planning, too. When integrated with clean technological innovations occurring all across the world, the wisdom from the East can usher in true global prosperity.

Green Construction: Materials Strategy

Biomimicry (or biomimetics) – a technological-oriented approach focused on putting nature’s lessons into practice – has inspired many efficient building designs, drawing inspiration from termite mounds, beetles, pine cones, lotus flowers, and more. Green concepts are evolving towards “living building materials”. The idea is that, if a coral reef can build and repair itself, we can develop materials that mimic this process. 

There are many examples of how this concept was put into practice around the world. Binghamton and Rutgers University developed a self-healing concrete, where dormant fungi spores in the concrete become active when cracks occur, repairing the damage. While US-based BioMason worked on manufacturing cement and bricks using microbes and boasting the lowest carbon footprint. Mycelium bricks have been used in building construction. Another US-based company, Ecovative, creates everyday materials using mycelium, while Boston Metals produces green steel with no emissions. In Germany, Green City Solutions offers a special type of moss that absorbs pollutants from the air and cools the surrounding temperature, while Zaak Technologies upcycles waste from various industries to produce green construction materials, for example, converting fly ash from coal plants into Lypors, an alternative to sand. 

New developments in bio-composites, materials science, biology, and the use of natural materials like bamboo, hemp, or flax can inspire entrepreneurs to replace the mining of metals with natural materials for both buildings and infrastructure projects.

Significant and strategic improvements are also required when we think of our road networks. We need to turn our road networks into carbon sinks and use materials from our wastewater (instead of dumping them in oceans) to recharge our dangerously low groundwater levels.

We now also have technologies that can generate electricity by harnessing the chemical differences between freshwater and seawater prior to its entry into the sea. This can be done through a special membrane separator, as scientists at Rutgers University have demonstrated. Similarly, most water desalination plants around the world are outdated, energy-intensive, expensive, and create more brine. Scientists at the University of Illinois have demonstrated that the vast amounts of water vapour above oceans can be captured by much cheaper structures in a more efficient manner. 

Most countries are investing in massive infrastructure to create a hydrogen economy. However, new research by scientists at Princeton University and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) challenges the notion of hydrogen as a safe alternative to fossil fuels, suggesting that a chemical reaction in the lower atmosphere could restrict the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel as it is linked to planet-warming methane emissions.

A hydrogen economy needs specially coated steel structures and strong materials with a need for maintenance, making careful thought and consideration a requirement before massive infrastructure investments. Despite robust standards, some leakage during production and transmission may be unavoidable.

Final Thoughts

By seamlessly integrating the scientific wisdom of Vastu from ancient India with novel developments in materials science, biology, and microbiology, we can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable future while increasing the happiness of people living in built areas. If we think along the lines of creating a circular economy, every waste could be utilised to create infrastructure, from buildings and bridges to roads and bodies for ships, trains, or automobiles. The challenge for material scientists is to think of circularity when it comes to materials.

You might also like: 5 Ways the Construction Industry Is Getting Greener

The post Built Areas and Infrastructure: Stretching the Boundaries of Sustainability appeared first on Earth.Org.

Ram Ramprasad makes a strong case that planetary wealth can only be created by addressing planetary health. He suggests complementing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with Environmental Health Index (EHI), which encompasses planetary biomarkers as a way to achieve sustainable development.
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Planetary Biomarkers: Measuring the Five Elements to Manage Them

Our ancient seers respected Mother Nature, especially the five elements: Water, soil, air, fire (energy), and space. These elements sustain and form the basis of all life on Earth. Only by protecting them can we protect all life and create a circular economy.

We only manage what we measure. As long as we continue to rely on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a metric for economic progress, it will be extremely challenging to meet our climate action goals. 

GDP measures both the positive and negative aspects of economic activity. For instance, while plastics provide utility, their pollution costs $600 billion per year, according to a recent UN report. If we extend this example to every sector of the economy, GDP becomes a measure that conflicts with the goals of sustainable economic development. 

Since revising GDP lacks consensus, we need to complement it by measuring the five elements using a simple metric. These five elements, or planetary biomarkers, are similar to human biomarkers used to assess health. For example, blood and urine analysis (water element), stool analysis (soil element), breath analysis (air element), exercise analysis (energy element), and body mass index (debris in space). Similarly, planetary biomarkers measure planetary health and guide us to formulate the right strategies. 

Let us measure both wealth (GDP) and health (biomarkers): Health creates wealth, not the other way around. Like GDP, the measurement of the five planetary biomarkers – water, soil, air, energy, and space – is already occurring at a global level but needs to be formalised for each country through the use of modern statistical sampling techniques (with the exception of space). When four of the five measured elements (except Space) are aggregated, it can provide a single number – a national or global Environmental Health Index (EHI). This is the number we need to manage in order to build true circular economies.

1. Measuring Water to Manage It

Water bodies comprises two-thirds of our planet and serve as a significant carbon sink due to their diverse marine life. To measure water, we can track the number of diverse fish species and the health of water (phytoplankton) per square mile compared to a desired target.

Satellite imagery can help estimate the distribution, population, and diversity of fish, coupled with factors such as water temperature, acidity level, ocean colour, chlorophyll concentration, acoustic surveys, sonar monitoring, and more. Scientists can then develop the right formula for the desired range. NASA has already gathered several insights on all of the water on the Earth’s surface, including freshwater bodies.

Key Considerations to Positively Impact Ocean Water and Marine Life

According to Edward Jones of Utrecht University, 48% of the world’s untreated wastewater ends up in the oceans, a figure that is even higher in developing countries. Plastic pollution in oceans is also a major problem, posing additional challenges. We must ensure that only treated wastewater is discharged into the oceans, and waste must be utilised as a resource for building road networks, recharging groundwater, construction materials, nutrients, and treated water must be used for agriculture, and so on. When oceans are clean, fish, whales, and phytoplankton will increase to their historic levels, contributing to restoring the oceans’ efficiency as Earth’s greatest carbon sink.

2. Measuring Soil to Manage It

Soil health is measured by the percentage of soil organic carbon (SOC). The desired SOC range is between 3-5%. Well-established lab techniques and sampling methods are already in use by soil scientists.

Key Considerations to Positively Impact Soil Organic Carbon

According to the UN, 40% of the world’s land is degraded due to the ways we produce food for humans and livestock –industrial farming practices, chemicals, pesticides, and more. Soil is a great carbon sink but, according to NASA, 86% of our land ecosystems are becoming progressively less efficient as a carbon sink. The UN states that, if land systems were restored, global GDP would increase by 50%. Several sustainable, organic, regenerative, and other holistic farming practices are now receiving increasing attention. Encouraging people to switch to a plant-based diet or other holistic alternatives could free up more land and water.

You might also like: On A Mission to Keep the Magic of Soil Alive: An Interview With Sadhguru

3. Measuring Air to Manage It

Air quality can be measured by tracking CO2 parts per million (PPM), including methane emissions, due to their significant short-term impact. Methane contributes to one-third of global warming. A variety of sensor technologies are available to measure these gases.

Key Considerations to Positively Impact Air Quality

The current consensus is that our planet needs to be below 400 CO2 PPM. Despite this, we are now more than double what they were before the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century – around 410 PPM. Beyond 450 PPM, human survival is at stake.

In the near term, aggressive increases in forest cover to one trillion trees have been advocated by Crowther Labs as one of the fastest ways to combat climate change. In June 2023, a team of scientists and researchers at the University of Sheffield published a study suggesting that fungi store one-third of carbon from fossil fuel emissions.  Researchers suggest that conservation and biodiversity policies should be developed with these “jaw-dropping” findings in mind.

In the longer term, the total and complete replacement of fossil fuels within the next decade must be aggressively pursued. Recent developments, such as the solar-powered “artificial leaf” developed by the University of Cambridge, which produces car-ready liquid fuel from sunlight, pave the way for a zero-carbon emission future. However, options like making vehicles run independently with organic solar cells and metal-free biodegradable batteries are also highly efficient alternatives.

4. Measuring Energy to Manage It

Energy production should be measured by the percentage of carbon-free energy generated and per capita energy consumption. Established standards already exist to collect such data.

Key Considerations to Positively Impact the Energy Metric

Energy strategies should aim for the lowest land, water, air, and space footprint. Such an approach assures efficiency in resource use.

Dwellings and transportation vehicles should strive to meet their energy needs with minimal dependence on the grid or external energy sources. Reliance should be, among others, on sources such as blade-less wind turbines, organic solar photovoltaics, metal-free biodegradable battery power, and anaerobic digesters for cooking gas. Such a strategy creates the least harm to land and water instead of fracking, or long pipelines for natural gas or fuels. Cables to transport electricity placed under the sea or on land are also inefficient due to energy loss during transport and potential harm to the environment.

5. Measuring Space to Manage It

The amount of allowable debris in space should be tracked to ensure that it does not pose a threat to the launch of various spacecraft. Radar tracking, optical tracking laser ranging, photographic observations, and more help assess debris in space.

Key Considerations to Improve Sustainability in Space

Due to the significant number of derelict satellites and millions of tiny fragments posing a threat to spacecraft, it is crucial to address the problem of space debris. Initiatives like Clearspace-1, a startup expected to clear space debris starting in 2025, deservemore attention.

Additionally, the Artemis Accords, which grant signatory countries rights to mine the moon, require careful scientific evaluation of the potential risks. Until we have a better understanding of the moon’s various nocturnal influences on Earth, mining operations should be put on hold. Exploring alternative battery technologies that do not rely on metals also needs stronger support, such as several advancements in metal-free biodegradable batteries.

You might also like: What is Space Junk and How Does It Affect the Environment?

Final Thoughts

We need a systems approach to address our problems. We need regional and global treaties to promote the restoration of our water, soil, air, and energy. Not one element should adversely impact the others. By tackling each element independently, it becomes easier to take a whole-systems approach and eventually deal with all planetary biomarkers collectively. A systems approach addresses the root cause rather than having several siloed squabbles. The suggested approach is a first step towards discussion, debate, and bringing everything on a common platform. Organisations such as the UN Conference of the Parties (COP), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) can take the lead.

Developing a simple environmental health index (EHI) that combines the above elements allows every country to benchmark its own health and its contribution to the health of the planet. In short, GDP will measure wealth, and EHI will measure health. Addressing planetary health is imperative to creating planetary wealth.

The post Planetary Health: Measuring and Managing Planetary Biomarkers appeared first on Earth.Org.