Recent Events

Santa Marta Conference

The 2026 Santa Marta climate talks were an important shift from broad climate pledges toward concrete plans for phasing out fossil fuels. Fifty-seven countries met to discuss how to actually manage the economic transition away from oil, gas, and coal, especially for developing nations that depend heavily on fossil fuel revenues. Major themes included financing clean energy infrastructure, reforming fossil fuel subsidies, coordinating national transition roadmaps, and integrating these plans into official climate commitments. Colombia unveiled an ambitious draft plan targeting a 90% emissions reduction by 2050, but the hardest challenge ahead is funding the transition, as banks and global financial institutions have been slow to commit meaningful support for moving economies off fossil fuels.

Record High Methane

Methane emissions from fossil fuel production remained near record highs in 2025 despite the availability of relatively cheap and effective technologies to reduce them. According to the International Energy Agency’s Global Methane Tracker, emissions from oil, gas, and coal operations have shown “no sign” of meaningful global decline, even as more than 150 countries pledged to cut methane emissions 30% by 2030. Methane is especially concerning because it is responsible for nearly 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution and traps far more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term. Estimates show that around 70% of methane emissions from fossil fuel operations could be reduced using existing technology, with much of it achievable at little or no net cost because captured methane can be sold as natural gas. Still, rising fossil fuel production and weak implementation of climate commitments continue to drive emissions higher, with countries like China, the United States, Russia, and Iran among the largest contributors.

The origination of Earth Day

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated around the world. Earth Day originated from the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Before 1970, factories and industries were spewing out black clouds of toxic smoke into the air and dumping tons of toxic waste into streams, and it was perfectly legal. America remained oblivious to environmental concerns and the threats of a polluted environment. That was until New York Times bestseller Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962: a book that raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, and highlighted the link between pollution and public health. It sold more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries, and is considered a landmark in the modern environmental movement.

So how did Earth Day come to be? In January 1969, 6 miles from the shores of Southern California, Union Oil was drilling into their fifth well with only 239 feet of casting (other areas are required to extend at least 300 feet below the ocean floor). On their 14th day of drilling, the pressure caused a blowout with mud jetting 90 feet above the platform floor. Soon, oilmen began noticing the sea bubbling; apparently, the buildup of pressure caused natural gas and oil to come out through fissures in the ocean floor. For the first 11 days after that, oil escaped at a rate of 9000 gallons per hour, and by the time the leak was stopped, roughly 3 million gallons had spread over 35 miles.

This incident gained a national spotlight, with even President Nixon visiting the beach to take in the damage. Another politician that visited the site of the spill was Gaylor Nelson, a Wisconsin senator who had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the US. He was inspired by the student anti-war movement and decided to infuse the energy of those protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution. Nelson founded a non-profit called Environmental Teach-In Inc., and announced the event just a month after visiting Santa Barbara. This event would be a teach-in on college campuses and would be scaled to the national media. Nelson recruited Denis Hayes, a 25-year-old Stanford graduate, to organize the event and maximize student participation. They later changed the name to Earth Day, which sparked national media attention, and caught on across the country. Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans to protest against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development.

Earth Day became the largest secular day of protest in the world. It united all Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders, ultimately leading to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other environmental laws.

Tips: Kitchen tips

Fabric Over Paper

Paper towels may be convenient, but they can create a lot of unnecessary waste in the kitchen. A simple way to make your routine more sustainable is to replace disposable paper towels with reusable cloths instead. Old t-shirts, worn towels, or other fabric scraps can easily be cut up and reused for cleaning spills, drying surfaces, and handling everyday messes. By making this small switch, you can reduce waste and get more use out of materials you already have at home.

Kitchen Wrap Alternatives

Plastic cling film is a common kitchen item, but it is also a major source of single-use waste. A better alternative is to use reusable items, such as beeswax wraps or soy wax wraps, for covering food and storing leftovers. These wraps can often be washed and reused many times, making them a more environmentally friendly choice. Switching to reusable wrapping options helps cut down on plastic waste while still keeping food fresh and protected.

Concentrated Cleaning Products

Many household cleaning products are sold in large plastic bottles that are mostly filled with water. An easy way to reduce this waste is to switch to concentrated cleaning tablets or powders instead. These products are designed to be mixed with water at home, which means less plastic packaging and less unnecessary shipping weight. By choosing concentrated cleaners, you can keep your kitchen clean while also reducing the amount of plastic you bring into your home. Examples include laundry detergent, dish soap, and oven cleaner.