Win-Win Climate Change Solutions: Better for People and Planet (#25)

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“It costs just as much to do bad architecture as it does to do good architecture, so why not do good architecture as a low-tech climate solution?” – Josh Dorfman

This week, we explore the opportunity to develop climate change solutions that increase our quality of life while vastly reducing our carbon emissions. It’s a continuation of the conversation from last week’s episode, for which I wrote something of a manifesto about the evolving direction of this show.

What I find fascinating is how low-tech and high-tech climate change solutions can create delight and improve human existence. That’s what I get into on today’s show. For example, good architecture makes streets vastly more walkable. Let me restate. Good architecture makes walking much more delightful. There still may be cracks in the sidewalks, but when I have pretty things to look at while walking, I’m much more inclined to walk.

So here’s a note to city planners; beautify your cities. Plant trees. Demand developers build beautiful buildings. Install public art. Make your streetscapes visually arresting and colorful. People will ditch their cars and walk. Your citizens will thank you. The climate will too.

I also talk about the importance of design in our quest to combat climate change. Good design can seduce even the most ardent climate denier and compel him to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. Good design can turn a lazy sloth into a homegrown grower of vegetables. Good design can do wonders for people and the planet.

This week on The Last Environmentalist Podcast:

• Integrating bike roads in car-dependent cities
• How the Walk Score ranks walkability and encourages a healthy, climate-friendly lifestyle
• Why cities need to focus on walk appeal and streetscapes
• How good architecture will encourage climate-change solutions
• Hydroponic appliances that integrate into kitchens
• How Rivian created the R1 electric pick-up truck
• Why beautiful design is crucial for climate change solutions

Resources Mentioned:

• Economy, Business, or First Class? It’s All Carbon Neutral Now – with Sara Bogdan, JetBlue (#23)
• Building a Vibrant Living Future For All – with Amanda Sturgeon, International Living Future Institute (#20)
• Kendeda Building
• Walk Score
• Natufia
• Rivian

This episode is sponsored by Simbly Furniture

Simbly Furniture is the maker of modern, environmentally responsible, American-made furniture. Simbly’s sleek tables, benches, and desks are made of FSC-certified sustainable wood and shipped directly to customers from a family-owned near Asheville, NC.

To learn more about the beautiful, environmentally friendly contemporary furniture at Simbly, visit Simbly.com.

Impacting the Environment, One Story at a Time

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