Drawdown^® Insights

Tropical deforestation is a leading driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

As we approach the holidays, I can’t help but think about food.My uncle’s green bean casserole, my new recipe for pomegranate-glazed sweet potatoes, the smell of sage, garlic, and rosemary wafting throughout the kitchen – every meal tells a story. For me, food is personal and emotional. It’s how I show love, how I connect with my culture, and, lately, it’s become a big part of how I think about taking climate action.

Southeast Asia is one of the most carbon-rich places on Earth. The region is home to dense tropical forests, as well as peatlands and mangroves, which together store massive amounts of carbon above and below ground. But when trees are cut down and peatlands are drained, these carbon stores are released into the atmosphere. 

Heat pumps have been around for a long time. I mean a really long time. The first heat pump was reportedly built in 1856 to dry salt in salt marshes. Today’s heat pumps, however, are far more useful. In fact, they are one of the most important technologies we have for slashing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. 

Another Climate Week NYC has come and gone, leaving the Project Drawdown team feeling inspired and energized for the work ahead. Over the week, our staff participated in more than a half dozen events, reaching thousands of people from around the world.

The international climate community is clear that net zero emissions, wherein we don’t emit more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than can be removed, are what we need to achieve to halt global warming and the most dire effects of climate change. 

Though we live on an undeniably watery planet, the ocean and the seafloor remain largely unexplored.

Last month, I led the inaugural Climate @ Work Employee Training, a new workshop by Project Drawdown designed to help non-sustainability employees understand the role of businesses – and most importantly, their employees – in scaling climate action. 

Every summer, country representatives and climate professionals gather in Bonn, Germany, for UN dialogues on climate change.

Africa is home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population, but accounts for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.