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Colorful new mosaics portray the cogs of industrialization on the Charles River
The three art installments along Waltham's greenway are a time-traveler's delight, taking observers from the pre-Industrial era of the Charles to its speculative, and hopeful, future. -
Ask Dave Epstein: What are heating and cooling degree days?
It's a measure energy companies use to anticipate how much power consumers will need to heat and cool their homes. -
Healey says Vatican-led climate summit is an 'opportunity' to share Massachusetts' story
Healey joined GBH's All Things Considered to discuss the international climate conference hosted by Pope Francis, and addressed the arrests of student protesters at UMass Amherst. -
'Diet-Climate Connection' audio documentary explores food in a warming planet
The food we eat impacts not only our health but the earth's climate. -
Faster disappearing snow cover is speeding up climate change
White snow reflects solar radiation. Without it, the ground absorbs more heat. -
Cement has a climate problem, but a Boston startup is changing that
Cement is the second most-consumed resource in the world—second only to water. -
Boston's centuries-long history of climate activism stems from ancestry and spirituality
19th-century Bostonians realized that deforestation was changing the climate and pushed reforestation efforts visible today in parks like Middlesex Fells and the Blue Hills Reservation. -
Museum of Science exhibit explores how climate change is affecting World Heritage sites
A new interactive shows how climate change has affected famous places like Venice, Easter Island and Mesa Verde National Park. -
Agriculture commission hears ways to adapt to climate change for state's farms
Tax relief, flood funds, cover crops and boosting soil health are all on the table. -
Mill Talk: The Hidden Costs Of A Greener Future
The sustainable future we are collectively building comes with significant environmental costs, primarily felt by the global south. The mining and processing of rare earth metals, nickel, cobalt, copper, and many other critical materials, essential for electrification and renewable technologies, often result in considerable ecological damage.
These activities can lead to deforestation, contamination of water sources, soil erosion, and the emission of harmful gases. Consequently, the health and safety of workers and local residents are compromised along with the environment. All of this stands in stark contrast to the overall goals of the green revolution, but currently represents an unavoidable aspect of progress.
This talk explores how the mining and extraction of these materials, while essential for driving forward the clean energy revolution, often contradicts the principles of environmental stewardship. The lecture particularly focuses on the impact in the global south, where much of the world's mining and refining activities take place, often with less stringent environmental regulations and oversight. This raises critical questions about the true cost of our transition to renewable energy and electric mobility.
In response to these challenges, Dr. Tomas Villalón shares Phoenix Tailings’ transformative approach to mining and material processing. Our innovative strategies aim to revolutionize the industry by extracting rare earth metals and other crucial materials sustainably. He discusses their cutting-edge techniques for minimizing ecological impact through rethinking the approach to material refining and the remediation of toxic waste. By turning a historically pollutive process into a more environmentally responsible one and cleaning up the toxic byproducts of mining operations, Phoenix Tailings is not only contributing to the cleaner production of electrification materials but also paving the way for a more equitable and truly sustainable future.Partner:Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation