Category: Eco Updates

COP27: Success or Flop?

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 18 world leaders met in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt at the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, otherwise known as COP27. The two-week-long summit focuses exclusively on climate change, as well as the steps countries should take to achieve the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement. […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Changing How We Talk about Climate Change: The Difference Between Climate and Weather

Climate and weather are two entirely different concepts. When we talk about the weather, we’re referring to short-term changes in our atmosphere, whereas when we talk about climate, we’re referring to long-term changes and atmospheric trends over time. Yet despite these important distinctions, whenever there’s an abnormal period of warm weather in November or December, […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Ray Composting: How Much Waste Have We Diverted from Landfills?

After many years of trying to implement composting on campus, ECOPC was finally able to bring composting to Raymond Dining Hall last spring, and the program has since extended to Alumni over summer. This has had a substantial impact on decreasing our on-campus environmental impact, specifically in the area of food waste. From April 2022 […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Why Halloween is Scary for Our Planet: How to Have a Sustainable Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, many of us are starting to prepare for costumes and parties. Most of these preparations are often unsustainable and it’s important to consider alternatives that are less environmentally harmful.   According to a study from the United Kingdom, seven million costumes are thrown away each year in that country alone. […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Ecofeminism: How Environmental Issues and Gender Inequalities Intersect

Climate change intersects with many different areas of social justice, including race, gender, and class. Gender equality and feminism, specifically, have connections to climate change and environmental issues, as women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters. This means that gender inequality is worsened by climate change. The Ecofeminist Movement is centered around the relationship between […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Don’t Bee Scared: Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of These Important Pollinators

Despite their tiny antennae, fuzzy bodies, and adorably disproportionate eyes and wings, it seems like everyone is scared of bees. Yes, they sting when they’re threatened, but without bees, we wouldn’t be able to survive. Unfortunately, through climate change, pesticide use, and habitat loss and fragmentation, we have caused significant declines in the populations of […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Why Developed Countries Need to Start Taking Responsibility for Climate Change

Catastrophic floods have recently devastated Pakistan, leaving over one-third of the country underwater and displacing 33 million people. Over 1,000 people have already died, but these numbers continue to rise. Typically during this time of year, Pakistan’s monsoon season causes heavy rainfall; however, this year, the rain has been ten times heavier than usual, and […]

Kaelin Ferland '23