According to the UN Foot and Agricultural Organisation, the transport sector accounts for around five and a half billion tonnes of CO₂emissions every year. Given the increasingly obvious need for the world to lower its carbon emissions, the case for making a switch to cleaner, greener forms of transport is nigh-on incontrovertible. These new forms of transport will, in all likelihood, be electric ones. Given the variety of vehicles we choose to make our way around in, this transition is likely to come in many forms. So what are they?

Electric Vans

Just about every package that’s delivered will at some stage travel along roads on the back of a van. Thus logistics firms looking to reduce their emissions will want to focus on smaller trucks like the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit. One measure that might increase adoption is the gradual introduction of clean-air laws into British (and European) city centres – once this happens, we can expect to see even niche vehicles (like the wheelchair-friendly ones provided by Allied Mobility) making the switch.

Electric Buses

In September, London’s fleet of electric buses became the largest in Europe. The buses introduced not only relieve the capital’s dismal air pollution problems; they also offer commuters free USB charging points. Sadiq Kahn, the Mayor of London, is thus able to boast that he has delivered on a manifesto pledge to bring in twelve low-emission bus zones, about a year ahead of schedule. Given this success story, it’s entirely likely that electric vehicles of this sort will be rolled out to other public transport networks in other cities.

Electric Cars used for Company Fleets

Modern businesses invest millions into energy-saving measures, ranging from paperless printing policies to LED-powered light bulbs. But part of any workplace’s carbon footprint is formed by the transport that its workers use to get there, and thus if your business is seriously about going green, it makes sense to equip workers with efficient electric vehicles.

One of the major obstacles to widespread adoption of electric cars, of course, is a lack of charging infrastructure. You might get around this by offering fast-charging stations at your place of work; cars can be charged throughout the day, thereby saving the trouble of installing a charging point at home.

Electric Trucks

Short-haul journeys are relatively straightforward for an electric vehicle. Problems arise when it comes to longer trips, with range anxiety becoming a considerable barrier to entry for many hauliers. After all, the prospect of an expensive truck becoming stranded is the stuff of fleet-manager nightmares. We should, therefore, expect the technology to become widespread only when batteries have become twice the size and half the price – which means that the sight of an electric lorry cruising along British motorway is some way off, yet.

Climate change, under the umbrella of environmental justice issues, plays a part in social justice as do so many other growing environmental concerns. While it’s a mild concern in first world countries where it’s only real presence is as a topic of conversation, climate change adversely affects vulnerable communities and creates an increasingly dangerous situation in third world countries. Along with pollution, which research shows is more prevalent in urban areas, these issues are a part of social justice concerns, as the demographic of those affected is, time and time again, that of our most vulnerable communities around the world.

The Presence of Change

Climate change is still, to this day, considered a myth by fossil fuel companies and some politicians, although it is causing very real consequences in areas where it may go unnoticed until it’s too late to effect change. The attempt to reduce the environmental impact we have is all around us: electric cars, recycling bins, even green buildings. However, all of these sustainable practices may not be enough to combat the effect we’ve had on our planet for the last several decades and that we still have each day.

As climate change becomes more prevalent, the raw materials so precious to underprivileged communities, like fresh water and weather that promotes the growth of crops, are becoming less reliable. This creates difficult situations for those involved, increasing their chances of developing illnesses that come from exposure and malnutrition. Business and government decisions continue to put the burden of environmental problems on vulnerable communities that have fewer resources to defend themselves with than better-off communities.

The Government Role

The environmental justice movement started in middle and upper classes with a focus on wildlife preservation and wilderness protection. The focus of environmentalists has shifted largely in the last few decades as minorities and underprivileged groups have joined and created their own groups to bring attention to the issues they want to prioritize, such as infrastructural changes that favor impoverished communities in urban areas. The individuals involved in the environmental movement often dedicate a portion of their lives to try to implement change that will benefit their communities.

However, without the reinforcement of government implemented policy, these efforts are not protected and may not have long-term effects. The Environmental Protection Agency is in charge of policy development responsible for protecting people and their environment; but they are not above influence. The Obama administration mandated a comprehensive government review of asbestos products — a review that, in October of 2017, was scaled back by the Trump Administration to enforce the chemical review on only a few hundred tons of asbestos each year, rather than the 8.9 million tons of asbestos estimated to exist in the U.S.

It’s no doubt that environmental issues are social justice issues as well — this is seen clearly through a variety of research studies. Grassroot groups have organized to effect change in their own communities, as well as others, but environmental pollution, climate change and chemical industry risks are concerns that should be regulated for the sake of our underprivileged communities. With the increase of information on environmental justice issues, there may be hope for the issues environmentalists are working to solve.

Income inequality has long been a growing concern, with a range that has only continued to expand in the last 30 years. While many claim to have an idea of what income inequality looks like, studies show that citizens perceive the range of inequality as significantly less vast than it actually is. Stagnant wages have left the middle class behind, and income inequality is as high as it was going into the great depression.

There are several socioeconomic issues that contribute to income imbalance, and as this disparity continues to grow among the working class, the populations on the lower end of the wage spectrum are left in a very vulnerable position. Hikes in utility costs and the impact of environmental disasters are much more difficult to handle for families in lower income brackets who don’t have the expendable funds for damage control. For this reason, environmental justice must be sought by groups that have the resources to do so.

Vulnerable Communities

Social workers advocate to provide resources and sound environments for susceptible communities by focusing on their needs. According to social worker Jennifer Pierce, “…it is irresponsible and unethical to try and effect change without listening, observing and enlisting those who can help us the most.” When searching for solutions to environmental disasters that primarily affect vulnerable communities, it’s important to reach out and try to implement change.

No one expects legislators to control the weather. What people do ask for, however, are emergency plans, funds, and resources. Natural and man-made disasters can cause unexpected damage on a massive scale that can take absolutely everything away from families and communities. In these instances, it’s crucial to be prepared.

There are different insurances offered for people living in areas where these kinds of disasters are more common or likely, but families living in poverty don’t always get the luxury of these safeguards. When families have to choose between feeding their families or paying insurance for a storm that may or may not happen, they choose the immediate need — that’s really their only choice. Similarly, man-made disasters are even more difficult to prepare for.

Environmental Pollution

Environmental pollution is a tragedy that has happened on many occasions — such as when oil is spilled into rivers and coasts — and causes long term consequences for susceptible communities as well as wildlife. Although these accidents are not intentional, fossil fuel companies must be held accountable for their actions that affect low income communities most and should be responsible for providing relief.

These accidents are motivation behind protests of pipelines and oil companies, who have lost the trust of the general public in containing spills and not contaminating their land and water. Having left these environmentally unsound energy sources in the past, protesters insist on incorporating more renewable energy sources into their lives instead.

While the investment for renewable energy is expensive initially, it saves costs over time and has several additional benefits to consider. Investing in renewable energy has the potential to benefit public health, as well as decrease our carbon footprint.

Renewable Energy

Apart from improving public health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there are additional benefits to renewable energy, such as lowering utility costs and providing individual energy independence. Diversifying our energy supplies gives the public the opportunity to use energy from natural resources that are reliable and will decrease our dependence on energy from foreign sources.

One way to ease the burden of high energy costs in low income areas is by installing microgrids. Microgrids are growing in popularity due to their many advantages, such as lower energy costs and their ability to work independent from the grid that powers entire cities — which means they can provide energy during large scale power outages. Investment prices for microgrids are still high but will lower as their distribution becomes more common.

Renewable energy comes in many forms: wind turbines, solar power, geothermal energy, etc. These resources can help balance climbing utility costs, as well as be a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional power sources. Being conscious of rising income inequality and integrating environmentally sound practices into our communities will save our vulnerable populations as well as our planet.

Renewable resources are becoming a more practical option through advancements like microgrids, which can help store energy. While fossil fuel companies discourage this transition, it’s important to see past the period of growing pains and to recognize that these companies have their own best interest in mind and should be held accountable for the harm they cause. By putting money into the right projects, we can help create a safer planet for everyone.

On November 12, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Iranian/Iraqi border. A week later, the devastation left behind is being called “apocalyptic.” Eyewitnesses put the death toll in the thousands, much higher than the official count. In September, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City, killing 370. Earthquakes that rank 7 or higher on the Richter scale can cause severe damage to buildings and loss of life.

In a study presented to the Geological Society of America during their annual conference, Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado in Boulder and Rebecca Bendick of the University of Montana in Missoula postulated we might see an uptick in the amount of 7.0 and higher earthquakes in 2018.

Does that mean your New Year’s resolution should be disaster preparedness? Should your place of employment be focused on a disaster recovery plan? Well, it’s always good to be prepared, both personally and in business, but it’s probably a bit premature to say this prediction model should factor into your plans.

Let’s take a closer look.

The Theory

Here’s the theory: every 30 years the Earth’s rotation slows down for a period of 5 years. This slowdown is typically accompanied by a year of more intense earthquakes. This heightened activity primarily manifests in the area around the equator — specifically, 10°N-30°S.

Unlike the other man-made global shifts that American legislature has been arguing since the ‘70s, this slowdown is completely natural. As the Earth rotates, the molten part of the planet’s core (which encapsulates the solid inner core) oscillates inside the crust. This impacts the speed at which the earth rotates, and every 30 years the planet slows down for a period of 5 years. As a result of this movement, the magnetic field shifts (after all, that molten core is made up primarily of iron and nickel), tectonic stress builds, resulting in higher impact earthquakes.

Bilham and Bendick noticed this pattern after looking at the last century of earthquake activity and comparing elevated earthquake intensity with potential exacerbating factors — like the speed of the earth’s rotation. The data seems to line up.
Traditional Earthquake Concentration vs. 2018

Typically, any given year will see 15 to 20 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or higher. As of November 2017, that number is quite a bit lower — we’ve only seen seven. The study hypothesizes that 2018 could see 20 to 30. Compared with 2017’s total, that prediction seems an enormous difference. In reality, 2017 has been a comparatively good year, despite the thousands of deaths worldwide. This uptick isn’t the end of the world as we know it; at most, it’s a 30 percent increase in a concentrated area.

Earthquake Predictiveness

The exciting part of this discovery lies in what it means for the future of earthquake prediction. While science has tried to ferret out a predictive pattern for earthquakes, so far those efforts haven’t yielded much by way of results. This might be the first step in that direction (even if it’s only one year every 30 years or so). The ability to predict earthquakes will save countless lives, especially since the pattern gives a few years leading up to the year of heightened activity to work toward preparedness.

While 2018 might be the wrong kind of exciting for people who live around the equator, for the science community it could be promising in a way that cracks the geological code. This can help us better understand our planet and live on it longer, more sustainably and with greatly lessened loss of human life.

With over 70 percent of the world covered in water, you can imagine how diverse and bountiful wildlife is under the sea. Snorkeling and scuba diving loses most, if not all, of its appeal without the interaction of colorful fish, social dolphins and other amazing sea creatures.

Even just watching these animals at the zoo is enough to give anyone a sense of wonder. However, what if these creatures could never be seen again? Due to the ever-increasing detrimental effects of climate change, this is unfortunately a possibility.

If steps are not taken soon to stop the harm that is being done to the environment, we may never see underwater fauna again. Instead of saying goodbye to these beloved animals, do what needs to be done to save them. How exactly can you do that? Follow these three steps to get started.

1. Do Your Research and Experience It All

If you want to make a difference in protecting the lives of marine animals, you’re gonna need to do some research. There are plenty of resources that can be found online and at libraries that have information on the endangered species in your area and beyond, giving you a better idea on how to deal with what’s threatening their existence.

However, there’s no better research than actually experiencing it. There are many places that promote wildlife conservation, but none so ingrained in everyday life as the Galapagos Islands. Over 90 percent of this archipelago is a national park, and park rules are in place to ensure the safety of the environment as well as the animals. The Galapagos’ entire touring business and way of life is centered around conservation.

By visiting (or even volunteering at) this province of Ecuador or any similar site, you will receive firsthand knowledge on what successful preservation looks like, and the area will remind you how important it is to prevent the extinction of these beautiful creatures. By speaking about your personal experiences in conservation areas, you will have more credibility and validity when spreading awareness of ocean animal extinction issues.

2. Live a Sustainable Life

One of the sad facts of life is that the main reason for the extinction of many aquatic species is us. Through the irresponsible resource usage of many people, ocean animals’ longevity are at risk. As we burn fossil fuels and clear more and more rainforests, our climate becomes warmer with each engine rev and fallen tree.

Although plenty of people enjoy warmer weather, marine fauna do not. When the temperature of ocean water increases, its chemical makeup begins to change to the point of no longer being able to support life. Humans have caused these tragedies, but thankfully they can also stop them, starting with you.

Small changes can be done at home, such as adjusting your thermostat and recycling. However, bigger changes may be in order, such as retrofitting your home to improve sustainability and conserve energy. The overuse of energy is a big contributor to climate change.

By making your home as energy efficient as you can, you will play a big part in the protection of the welfare of aquatic species. However, some of these renovations will come with big price tags. Loans can come in handy if you can’t afford a large payment at once.

You can also help the environment by running errands all at once instead of on separate days, or by foregoing your car altogether to walk or bike to your destinations, lessening your fossil fuel output immensely.

Also, keep in mind what you buy. Some products, when disposed of, can be harmful to ocean animals, or your purchases can support companies that do not have the environment’s best interests at heart.

3. Make Your Votes Count

Protecting ocean wildlife isn’t just an environmental issue — it’s a political one as well. With the Science March in May, the need for open-minded and science-based politics was and still is at the forefront of many minds.

If you want to protect marine fauna, you need people in office to care about the environment and stopping the things that harm it. That will only happen if you vote for them. However, many people who care about the environment are not actually voting.

Although there are many things we can do ourselves to protect the environment, lasting change is only possible with help from the government. With people in congress who don’t even believe in global warming (we all know the truth behind the climate change conspiracy: it’s not one), we may never receive that help.

That’s why it’s crucial to go to the voting booth and make your voice heard. If enough educated voters take action instead of staying home, we can have more elected officials with the right priorities and mindsets that will help not only animals who live in the sea, but everyone else who calls this planet home.

Every animal has a role to help our environment stay healthy and balanced, even the ones we don’t see. Under the ocean’s surface is a world filled with a multitude of life. However, if even one species goes extinct, its loss will affect everything around it as well as things far away from the sea.

Every being has a purpose that cannot be replaced, with consequences to match when that purpose goes unfilled. Instead of waiting for that time, do something now to stop it. By educating yourself, reducing your energy consumption, and voting responsibly, you can be the change we need to see in the world and protect the animals of the ocean and more.

With companies being as powerful and influential as countries, it’s important now more than ever for these entities to start taking responsibility for their actions. Only caring about the bottom line is not cutting it anymore, especially with customers.

Customers need to know the company they’re purchasing from is eyeing more than just their wallet and are actually taking up worthy causes. As more and more companies are integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the way business is run, the importance of sustainability is still as relevant now as it was in the past.

However, priorities have definitely changed. The U.S. pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, an unprecedented amount of natural disasters, and the gender gap in business are all issues that need to be tackled. Here are three causes to take up for an effective CSR campaign.

1. Climate Change

As we see the negative impact climate change has had on our world, protecting and sustaining the environment should be a top priority for companies with CSR mission statements. One environmental issue that should be addressed is the prevention of a food crisis.

Due to global warming, rising food prices, and the development of new technologies, food shortages and the lack of access to it are becoming big concerns to the people behind the newest green revolution. It has been predicted that the world’s population will increase by more than two billion in just 30 years.

The regions that will take the brunt of new growth are also the ones that will be most affected by climate change, making it that much more difficult for farmers to cultivate enough crops, if any at all. Not to mention, the growth of wheat and grains (staple foods for many countries) has stunted.

According to Princeton climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer, “In some areas yields have stopped growing entirely. My personal view is that the breakdown of foods is the biggest threat of climate change.” Companies with CSR initiatives can play a part in the prevention of future famines.

Marylhurst University suggests, “Societies can manage this by introducing new and advanced information technology to farmers, including communication systems, robotics, and drones, which have the potential to boost yields, reduce waste, and mitigate environmental maladies.” By supplying farmers with the technology and tools they need to make a sustainable food supply, companies will not only be helping others, but also themselves.

2. Natural Disaster Prevention and Relief

With earthquakes causing destruction in Mexico and violent tropical storms such as Hurricane Harvey and others flooding streets and decimating homes, giving aid to the cities and people afflicted by these disasters is crucial. Companies are becoming more involved with humanitarian organizations and partnering with celebrities to raise funds.

Corporations are realizing that not only do they affect the world, but the world affects them, and they have a duty to help those in need. Although CSR campaigns should focus on disasters of the natural kind, they should not ignore the ones caused by humans either.

Lessons have been learned from crises in city and town politics. One such crisis was the contamination of Flint, Michigan’s drinking water. After switching water supplies, the lead pipes used to transport the water were starting to fall apart. This led to the poisoning of the water and resulted in many people becoming sick and even dying. Michigan’s state government was not upfront with its citizens in its decisions and plans about changing water sources or using the lead pipes. Companies with good CSR can be there for the people who need to turn to someone they can trust for help.

Disaster prevention isn’t that easy, but there are some things corporations can do to mitigate damage to their property and thus injuries to their employees. Keeping buildings up to construction codes is key, as is maintaining the landscaping around building. Although landscape maintenance like regular tree trimming might seem aesthetic, its role in disaster prevention is actually quite substantial. Regular landscape maintenance decreases injury risk during natural disasters like floods or hurricanes because problems such as rotting roots and hanging limbs have been literally nipped in the bud.

3. Addressing the Gender Gap

Building more diverse public organizations and businesses is definitely not up for debate, especially when it comes to the employment of women. Although progress has been made to close the gender gap, it’s still not enough. Companies can incorporate gender equality into their CSR by hiring a greater percentage of women.

This not only looks good to potential customers, but will also do wonders for the company itself. Organizations that boast a higher percentage of female and overall diverse employees are much more innovative since different perspectives and ways of thinking are thrown into the mix.

Even financial success favors businesses with a more gender-diverse workforce. Employee productivity goes up and solving problems become easier as women contribute the unique skills only they can provide. These benefits only compound when a woman actually runs the company.

According to Karen Rubin (a product manager from the trading platform Quantopian), “There’s a lot of the theorizing around why the results are dramatically higher for the women, but most think it has to do with how hard women have to work to become CEO at such big companies in the first place.”

Although not many women pursue entrepreneurship, women are just as capable of coming up with the next big idea as anyone else. With loans geared specifically towards women, starting their own business is completely achievable. A company with a CSR vision can make the difference between enjoying the benefits female employees and executives can bring or not.

As 2017 begins to draw to a close, CSR priorities have changed dramatically in lieu of world events. With the U.S. in the process of pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, extra effort needs to be put into protecting the environment. Also, with the many hurricanes and earthquakes that have been occurring around the world, natural disaster relief needs to be on the forefront of every company’s CSR agenda. The gender gap most also not be forgotten as we strive for a more equally represented workforce.

When these issues are addressed, companies will be successful not only because of the loyal customers they will gain, but because of the good they will offer to the world.