Reflections on the 2023 Georgia Climate Conference

By: John A. Lanier

The most recent edition of the Georgia Climate Conference was a resounding success. All of us at the Ray C. Anderson Foundation are grateful for the work that went into convening it. We came away inspired and reminded of how important it is to gather as a climate community.

Well dang, if it wasn’t great to be with my people again! Last week, I had the great joy of attending the Georgia Climate Conference, hosted by the Georgia Climate Project at the University of Georgia. It was an excellent few days, filled with learning, fellowship, and a reminder that Georgia’s climate community is remarkable. Now that I’ve had a few days to rest and reflect, I want to share a more philosophical post about what has stayed with me. 

It Takes a Village

First and foremost is gratitude for all of the people who made the conference happen. There were so many students who volunteered their time, presenters whose sessions offered rich content, and staff at the conference center who took excellent care of us. It took a village to pull off, but there were two leaders of the village whom I want to lift up.

Dr. Tish Yager is the Director of the Georgia Climate Project, but she is also a Professor of Marine Science at the University of Georgia. In other words, she has two really big jobs! And in the last academic year, I know that planning for this conference has consumed an inordinate amount of her time. Tish, thank you so much for the long days (and sometimes nights) that you poured into this conference. You should be really proud of it, and I hope you enjoy getting back to your Antarctica research this summer!

Continue Reading

How a Breakthrough Anode Technology Is About to Level-Up Lithium Ion Batteries

By: John A. Lanier

In recent years, multiple companies have made promising progress on replacing graphite with silicon in the anodes of lithium ion batteries. In doing so, they are primed to significantly increase the performance of the battery type that is currently driving the transition to electrified transportation.

Read More

The Latest Numbers from Lazard on the Levelized Cost of Energy

Whenever Lazard publishes their levelized cost of energy reports, I always dive in. I offer my takeaways below, but the bottom line is clear - the economics of renewable energy look really good.

Read More

Regulating PFAS: Why We Can’t Just Put It All on the EPA

By: John A. Lanier

There is some recent regulatory news out of the EPA, focused on protecting our water supplies from some harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, asking the EPA to regulate these chemicals the traditional way won’t be effective. Instead, chemical manufacturers should be required to prove the safety of PFAS before they are allowed to bring them to the marketplace.

Read More

A Factory Like a Forest: Interface and Biomimicry 3.8 Announce the Positive Performance Methodology

By: John A. Lanier

Ray Anderson and the people of Interface were pioneers in creating a model for corporate sustainability. We need corporations to go beyond that benchmark though, seeking ways to be regenerative enterprises. What might that framework look like? Interface and Biomimicry 3.8 have the answer, and it’s called the Positive Performance Methodology.

Read More

Tips For Planning A Green Event

Guest Blog by Sue Anne Morgan, Founder and President, idealand, LLC

This blog originally appeared on the Drawdown Georgia website on March 1, 2023. Sue Anne Morgan, an Atlanta-based event planner from idealand shares her secrets and the lessons she's learned while conducting sustainable events, including the Foundation's annual RayDay event.

Read More

How Recycling is Done Right: Lessons Learned at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials

By: John A. Lanier

CHaRM is a remarkable materials collection facility in Atlanta. On a recent visit, I came away not only impressed by how many different types of products they recycle, but by the good work they do in educating people about how to properly keep stuff out of the landfill.

Read More

The Cautionary Tale of Banana Farming, Panama Disease, and the Inherent Risks of Monocultures

By: John A. Lanier

For decades, banana farmers have tried to stay one step ahead of a fungus that is deadly to their crops. As that task becomes more difficult, farms will face the growing risk of the complete loss of their trees. This risk is one of the reasons that monoculture farming may not be the best way to go.

Read More

The History of Steelmaking, and Why It Has a Long Way Yet To Go

By: John A. Lanier

Humans have been making steel for more than two millennia. In its modern form and scale though, steel is responsible for a significant portion of annual carbon dioxide emissions. The whole industry will need to adopt a range of technologies and practices to reduce its negative impact, and steel recycling companies are helping to lead the way.

Read More

The Problem of Biodiversity Loss: How It Relates to Climate, and What the Countries of the World are Doing About It

By: John A. Lanier

Humans are the primary cause of the accelerated rate of biodiversity loss around the globe. The current statistics are sobering, and the urgency we must feel to solve the problem is only heightened when you examine the links between biodiversity and our changing climate. Fortunately, there’s been some positive recent momentum in the form of international biodiversity cooperation.

Read More