minorities are often the ones who suffer the most. gaige kerr, an assistant research professor at gw’s milken institute of public health, focuses on this phenomenon. i sat down with him to discuss the impact of his research and what this could mean for americans across the nation.

this interview has been edited for clarity and length. 

what is the impact of globalization on the environment? 

we have seen a really stark rise in emissions of greenhouse gasses since the industrial revolution. as we began to produce more and more goods, we see increases in greenhouse gasses, and we’re also seeing increases in air pollutants. when we look at air pollutant emissions and economic output measured through something like, let’s say, gdp, we see a really tight correlation of air pollutants with economic output.

for example, during the 2007-2008 recession, we can see decreased air pollution emissions that scale with the level of manufacturing. so all this is to say there is this tight relationship between what we produce, what industries we have, and then air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 

you focus specifically on no2 levels in your piece. could you explain what that is and how that can specifically hurt air quality?

there are a handful of air pollutants that are highly regulated by the environmental protection agency under the clean air act. those pollutants are called criteria pollutants. they include particulate matter, ozone, lead, sulfur dioxide, and then nitrogen dioxide, or no2. no2 is unique because it’s short-lived in the atmosphere, which means that concentrations of that pollutant are really high near where it’s emitted, but low elsewhere, whereas some longer lived pollutants are redistributed by the wind.

that makes their concentrations more homogeneous in space and time. no2 is produced anytime that we combust a fossil fuel, and because of those origins, coupled with the fact that it’s short lived, we can think about no2 as a proxy for fossil fuel intensive processes. 

you said that it sticks around a certain area. if people are living in those areas, what are the health outcomes that you see for them?

it depends on the type of exposure window. if folks are exposed to high no2 levels for a day or two, people that have pre-existing conditions like asthma might experience more wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. for people who live in areas that are consistently exposed to high levels of no2, maybe a community right next to a heavily trafficked road, we expect they would have a higher risk of developing asthma, diabetes, cancer, and even dying prematurely. 

you point out that this occurs among different ethnic groups. could you talk a bit more about how you found that connection?

we can trace this back to redlining, back in the 1940s and 50s. redlining was a discriminatory home loan lending practice that graded or judged neighborhoods based on the composition of people living in those neighborhoods, and changed interest rates for mortgages based ostensibly on the race and ethnicity of people who lived there.

because of the high mortgage rates, many of the populations that lived there couldn’t afford houses. people that don’t have a stake in the community through home ownership can be targeted by developers for new highways and interstates or new factories and power plants.

many red-lined communities became home to really heavily trafficked interstates, frontage roads, and bypasses. we’re still seeing the impacts of that discriminatory practice today where emission sources are located. if we look at modern day cities, neighborhoods that have a high proportion of hispanic and african american individuals often have higher levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, as well as other criteria pollutants. when communities have higher levels of pollution, that translates into higher public health damages attributable to those pollutants.

a study that i published early last year in 2024 showed that asthma rates due to nitrogen dioxide pollution were about eight times higher in the least white neighborhoods throughout the us compared to the most white. something that’s very disheartening about this field of study of air inequality is that no matter really how you slice and dice it, we see these disparities persist. neighborhoods that have a higher proportion of marginalized and minoritized residents have higher pollution levels generally. it’s a systemic problem that exists across many different scales. 

how do we start to prevent these outcomes moving forward? because it’s hard to move people once they’ve settled in one area. should the responsibility be on the warehouses?

i don’t think the solution is just moving people out of polluted areas. i think the onus should be on policy makers and industry. there are some jurisdictions in the us that have implemented what we call “indirect source rules” for warehouses, so that requires a given warehouse operator or company to offset emissions that are occurring from the traffic that frequents those facilities in other ways. there are more widespread policy decisions.

one example of that would be stricter engine standards for cars. so if the epa helps to set standards for the amount of greenhouse gasses and air pollutant emissions coming out of exhaust pipes of cars and semis, and if we continue to lower those standards as we’ve done over the last several years and decades, that would be another way to reduce pollution. not just greenhouse gasses in overburdened neighborhoods, but reduce those emissions anywhere that semis drive. 

i saw that in september 2024, the epa approved this measure near the south coast in california saying that they would give warehouses incentives if they implemented solar panels or invested in more sustainable technologies. do you realistically see that happening in other areas?  

overall, across the us, i would say no. the example that you pointed out is somewhat of an exception. california in general is a leader when it comes to environmental policies and specifically air quality. while we could all aspire and hope that other parts of the country would follow california’s example, realistically, it’s not going to happen. i think in the coming years we’re going to see a growing role of the state epa or state departments of environmental conservation. 

is there a way to conduct warehouse production at the rate we’re going right now without harming the environment?

that could be accomplished through low emission or zero emission freight, but we don’t really have the infrastructure in place to roll that out at a large scale in the us. we would need to see a really large rollout of charging infrastructure and more research and development into how we can make batteries that would actually power semis to transport goods. 

what can we do as consumers to combat this contribution to air quality?

every time that we buy something at our local grocery store, ace hardware, or farmers market, we could be saving a trip that otherwise would have caused emissions and air pollution from amazon or another big box retailer. i am cognizant in saying this idea that sometimes those local goods can cost more money or be inconvenient.

although, i think there are ways that our consumer habits can reduce pollution. i don’t think that the entire onus should be on us as consumers. i think the companies themselves that are raking in enormous profits could be doing a better job at allowing their industry and the convenience that it offers to people to continue, but in a way that is more sustainable and more protective of public health. 

what role do you want your research to play in the next 10-15 years of this issue?

i think my study, if i may say so, did a good job at setting the stage for the type of air quality impact associated with this industry. i would hope that the study can be kind of foundational and could spur further studies that don’t just document this problem, but try to invent and quantify solutions on how to fix this problem.

i would love to see studies that did modeling of traffic emissions and transportation to understand the type of benefits that we could receive if we rethought the way that we move goods around.  

if someone was sitting here and making the argument of “people are going to consume, and there’s naturally going to be a byproduct,” what’s your sell to them? why should we care about what’s happening?

we have not realized the far reaching consequences of climate change yet. we’re starting to see little things pop up. you know, maybe this tropical storm was stronger than it should have been, or maybe there’s extreme precipitation that wiped out a town. we’re going to see more of that, and i think we’re going to reach a point where denying climate change will no longer be possible. 

learn how ferguson and her colleagues put together the program, the obstacles and intentions, and how climate education has transformed throughout ferguson’s own life as an educator. 

youngquist, 38, is the lead researcher on the chicago shedd aquarium’s “amphibian response to habitat restoration” project, where she has worked since 2019. youngquist works on experimental sites across la grange park woods and salt creek woods nature preserve, each about 30 minutes west of the aquarium, located in chicago’s south loop. 

over the past several years, she has worked with the shedd aquarium in chicago; the chicago park district, which oversees more than 600 parks in chicago; and the forest preserves of cook county, which oversees over 70,000 acres of land in chicago and the chicago-area suburbs, to transform these degraded areas into flourishing savannas and wetlands to welcome frogs and other amphibians. she analyzes how this restoration can help native species thrive.

it’s a battle between fighting off the dense, shadowy “wicked witch of the west” woods to restore the budding “cinderella” woods, with increased sunlight and biodiversity, said krystyna kurth, shedd’s coordinator of conservation action, who leads restoration at the skokie lagoons, a man made site roughly 45 minutes north of chicago’s downtown.

“in addition to the ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, holding water and mitigating drought and flooding, all the birds, all the mammals, all the amphibians, all the reptiles, the insects, they are all relying on these habitats that only hold water for a few months every year,” youngquist said. “[ephemeral wetlands] are little hidden gems that have an outsized role in our well-being.”

laying the groundwork

currently, youngquist is examining the adverse effects of invasive species on wetlands and the native species that inhabit them. 

when youngquist started, she focused on removing buckthorn, an invasive shrub that grows in a dense monoculture, she said. a monoculture is when one shrub excels and pushes out all the other plant species, affecting the biodiversity of the habitat. buckthorn’s berries act as a laxative, so when animals eat them, the plant spreads everywhere, kurth said.

native to eurasia, buckthorn was brought to north america in the 1800s as an ornamental plant but has since infiltrated the wild. the dense buckthorn creates shading over wetlands, which affects the water temperature and blocks the sunlight necessary for algae to grow — a crucial food resource for tadpoles, including chorus frogs and toads, and insects, youngquist said. other species, such as invasive cattails, have similar effects. 

“with shading, you get colder water, and [the amphibians] grow slower, so there’s a higher risk that they won’t make it out before the pond dries,” youngquist said.

she added that buckthorn also contains a chemical called emodin, which can contaminate the wetlands and lead to deformities in tree frogs’ and other amphibians’ eggs and even prevent them from hatching. those that do hatch can suffer liver damage as tadpoles.

after graduating with a b.s. from pacific lutheran university in washington, youngquist went on to pursue her ph.d. in ecology, evolution and environmental biology at miami university. there, she found a project studying amphibian communities and agricultural landscapes, supporting her lifelong love of amphibians and reptiles, and has pursued research on amphibians ever since, she said.

she focuses on nine ponds across la grange park woods — removing invasive species at 15, 10 and zero meters from the ponds’ edges, and salt creek woods nature preserve — where all buckthorn has been removed — to see various effects of restoration on habitats for amphibian and plant life.

“the idea … is to figure out, if you only clear a very small area of buckthorn, does that have a measurable effect right on the plants and animals,” youngquist said.

she said at 15 meters of restoration, grasses and flowering plants make a prominent return. at 10 meters, there is less biodiversity restoration due to shade from the buckthorn.

invasive species are also altering the physical structure of the wetlands, youngquist said. restoration is important so that these wetlands, especially the manmade skokie lagoons, north of the city, can properly manage water.

“wetlands are really important for flood management and water control, keeping water on the landscape during drought years, and also managing water during very wet years when you get flooding,” she said. “by having a properly structured and functioning wetland, you’re helping people with that water management as well.”

taking action

the negative effects of buckthorn go beyond youngquist’s experimental site and the skokie lagoons, which are under jurisdiction of the forest preserves of cook county. four sites in the southeast side of chicago, under jurisdiction of the park district, suffer degradation as well.

the southeast side parks allow youngquist’s team to further monitor amphibian response to the removal of invasive species as well as their response to installation of water control structures and regrading shorelines, said cassi saari, a project manager for the chicago park district. like youngquist’s experiment, these changes help restore biodiversity in wetland habitats.

“a lot of these sites have an industrial pass … where it’s just a street with a steep drop off, and so there’s very limited habitat between aquatic ecosystem and the terrestrial ecosystem. so we’ve been regrading shorelines to make it a much more gentle slope,” saari said. “that allows a huge variety of plants that could grow in that slope area, compared to if it’s just a steep drop off.”

youngquist also collaborates with community volunteers organized through shedd’s “action days” program. volunteers remove buckthorn around ponds in the winter so that the area is clear for youngquist to do her research in the spring and summer months.

kurth leads restoration and recreational programming that takes places outside of shedd. “action days,” devoted to sites such as the skokie lagoons, encompass the largest program. 

kurth, 27, said many of the volunteers do not have a background in science, rather they range from young adults to retirees wanting to get involved in the work in their own backyard. she added that she believes aquariums appeal to a wide audience and offer a “cool gateway opportunity” for volunteering.

“our team works really hard to build a dedicated volunteer community from the sites that we’re working out,” kurth said.

some volunteers are fairly new. allison witek began volunteering with the forest preserves in the fall as part of a class project. she graduated from chicago’s roosevelt university in december with a degree in sustainability studies. volunteering has inspired her to pursue a career in fieldwork, rather than behind a desk, and she hopes to turn her commitment into a more permanent role.

others are more seasoned. phillip stalley, a professor of political science at depaul university in chicago, has been a part of this volunteer community for three years. volunteering not only feels great, he said, but also makes small steps to calm his “ecoanxiety” about the state of the planet.

 “to be out here and be part of the solution is great for mental health,” stalley said.

kurth has worked at the shedd’s skokie lagoons site just north of the city since 2019. she also assists youngquist at la grange park woods and salt creek woods nature preserve. this has allowed her to apply her learnings from the experimental site to the skokie site and copy and paste some of the work youngquist is doing, kurth said.

the restored “cinderella woods,” otherwise known as woodland savannas, are home to massive oak trees, spread out to allow sunlight through, restoring the biodiversity of grasses and shrubs, kurth said. they are also better at carbon sequestration, the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making small contributions to combat climate change.

increased biodiversity also makes habitats more resilient in the face of climate change.

“having more diverse animals and plants gives you this idea we would call ‘redundancy,’ so that if one species is lost and the role that species plays in the environment is lost, another species is doing the same thing and can replace it,” youngquist said. “that creates that resiliency by having lots of different species all kind of overlapping in their sort of ecosystem role and services.”

restoration and revival

kurth said the skokie lagoons took “extra muscle” to bring back to life. figuring out what seeds can be replanted and thrive naturally in a man-made area is a very fine-tuned task. in their restoration efforts, researchers are planting hyper localized seeds — from no more than 20 miles away.

kurth first replants “weedier natives,” such as goldenrod, that are able to fight back against the buckthorn resprouting. then, she can thin out the heartier natives and plant more sensitive ones to thrive without the threat of buckthorn.

“as we remove these invasives, we’re putting back these awesome, diverse natives that not only help the amphibians, but the whole food chain there,” kurth said.

despite restoration of plant diversity, youngquist has yet to see effects in amphibian and insect populations. climate change is altering precipitation patterns and leading to droughts in some areas. the rain is coming in the summer, despite the amphibians needing it in the spring, which affects breeding, she said.

“having that drought effect from climate change and extreme events is kind of overshadowing the only buckthorn effect that we have,” youngquist said.

despite the last five dry springs, youngquist said she hopes the next few years bring rain so that she can better observe the effects of buckthorn removal and restoration on amphibian populations. she wants to continue examining the wetlands across la grange park woods and salt creek woods nature preserve for the next decade or so in order to see the full effects of climate change and restoration efforts on such a crucial habitat.

“hopefully, it’ll be a decade or two of data, so we can really see how weather and climate are impacting amphibians across a large area,” she said.

these intertidal objects form an ecological installation that protects eroding shorelines while providing shelter for sea life. designed by object territories, a design firm based in brooklyn and hong kong, the installation is being tested in the waters off randall’s island as a nature-based solution to coastal erosion. the project will soon expand to the coastline off nearby governors island as part of an initiative that will provide entrepreneurs with real-world labs for testing prototypes that address climate-change solutions.

a living lab for testing

the trust for governors island, which operates and manages much of the island, welcomes entrepreneurs to use the 172-acre island and its two miles of waterfront and helps funding innovative projects through its annual climate solutions challenge.

clare newman, ceo of the trust for governors island, says the trust is positioning the island as leader in piloting climate solutions for the new york city region. “let people come and try stuff,” newman said. “you’re not testing in isolation in a lab, but in a real-world environment and you can see how people respond.”

last year, object territories was one of six winners selected for the trust’s challenge on water abundance. in addition to $10,000 in grant support, the winners will have access to the island to develop and demonstrate their projects.

access to these kinds of living labs is critical for object territories, as the firm seeks to improve upon their intertidal objects. their prototypes first came to life in hong kong. the city hired the team, along with several others, to design coastal armoring units and sea wall panels. this effort kick-started their initial research and resulted in two different prototypes that were tested in the hong kong harbor: the octahedron and the rock pool, a miniature tidal pool that siphons water and sea life in and out.

the intertidal objects are a constant work in progress. “each time we try to improve by adding elements, like increasing the surface area with more dents to help self-shade or applying different textures,” said marcus carter, co-founder and architect of object territories.

when the team discovered, for instance, that larger holes made it easy for predators to come pick off baby oysters, they added smaller concavities that oysters can wedge in until they grow big enough to push out and have a better chance of surviving. they also applied different textures to the forms that make it easier for barnacles and algae to attach, enhancing the aquatic ecosystem and adding new voids for fish to lay eggs in.

“we also made sure that the objects could be placed in any orientation, forming a visible, almost gordian texture,” carter said. what stays the same in every installation, however, is the geometrical form, which easily integrates in existing stone sea wall structures.

working with nature, protecting by design

according to the new york city mayor’s office of climate and environmental justice, climate change is causing cloudburst events, coastal storms, and sea level rise to become more frequent and intense. in addition to creating a habitat for sea life, the intertidal objects offer a nature-based solution to help protect shorelines from the devasting ecological impact of coastal erosion and storm surges.

figuring out how to better protect new york city has been part of the public conversation since hurricane sandy hit new york in 2012. flooding became a reality for residents throughout the city and raised the question of how to fortify shorelines in ways that are not at war with nature, unlike the bulkheads or seawalls that have long been used to protect people and property. these traditional concrete structures may address immediate threats, but are inflexible to the faster changing climate and they can cause problems elsewhere, like loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation.

by contrast, the intertidal objects can be integrated into hard existing stone sea walls and promote a living shoreline. “they are only one ingredient in a very layered landscape,” carter said. they add an extra dimension to an existing sea wall, transforming it to a smart structure that not only protects the coastline, but also creates bio habitats. “or you can stack them like lego’s to build an artificial coastline,” carter said.

resilient defenders

providing object territories with access to governors island offers another opportunity: public education. in addition to being an ideal location to situate and experiment with their objects in the water, the island provides ample locations to showcase the concrete forms on land. visitors can see, touch and learn about the forms, which could give rise to potential collaborations with landscape-architecture firms.

the intertidal objects will soon be tested and placed in the existing stone coastline at governors island, gradually becoming camouflaged within and inhabited by new communities of aquatic creatures in the tidal waters of the east river.

the pilot will also monitor the objects on both locations under starkly different water conditions: the brackish water surrounding randall’s island and the faster-moving waters at governors island, closer to the mouth of the harbor. engineered to support natural spaces, the intertidal objects may soon add an essential layer of protection for new york shores, the people, and sea life.

according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, “the 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade.”

from reporting on communities living through water scarcity in iraq to sea-level rise in egypt, author and climate security journalist peter schwartzstein has spent over a decade documenting how climate change fuels conflict, violence, and displacement. in this video interview, schwartzstein joins dre pedemonte to discuss his new book, the heat and the fury: on the frontlines of climate change, and explore the powerful link between ecological disruption and geopolitical instability.

amid this turmoil, schwartzstein and his book’s global anecdotes share how grassroots organizers and local communities are responding with growing strength and ingenuity. 

and together, we ask: is there hope — and how do we find it?

despite its villainous talon and fierce claws, a delectable meat, laden with protein and nutrients lies beneath the scorpion’s segmented shell. the scorpion isn’t the villain of desert nightmares but potentially a hero in our agricultural future.

the path to sustainable food production in an increasingly resource-constrained world appears unpopular but revolutionary: insects and arachnids, eight-legged creatures such as scorpions and spiders. while just about everyone calls spiders, “insects,” this idea isn’t exactly correct. insects and arachnids are both arthropods, but insects have six legs and three body parts, while arachnids have eight legs and two body parts, with no antennae or wings.

the problem “at steak”

our current agricultural system, particularly the meat industry, is facing a crisis of sustainability. according to the food and agriculture organization, livestock production and grazing occupies approximately 30% of the earth’s ice-free land surface and accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. a single pound of beef requires up to 1,800 gallons of water to produce — a staggering figure when compared to other protein sources.

“we’ve been raising cattle for thousands of years, and (edible) insects for only the past decade commercially,” said nathan laurenz, an entomologist and edible insect enthusiast based in singapore. “there’s a lot of learning left to do.”

the uncomfortable truth is that our appetite for traditional meat is putting immense pressure on planetary resources. as the global population rises toward 10 billion by 2050, our current agricultural model simply cannot scale without devastating environmental consequences. deforestation, water scarcity, and climate change are already accelerating due to conventional livestock farming.

according to the un’s food and agriculture organization, meat production is expected to double by 2050, growing from 258 million tons in 2006 to around 455 million tons. this projected growth comes at a time when we desperately need to reduce, not increase, our environmental footprint.

“in time, we’re going to run out of land for cattle, and we’re going to have to replace that protein with something. insects are a good replacement,” said jim louderman, assistant collector at the field museum and a beetle enthusiast with over 70 years of experience studying insects.

insects: a historical delicacy

what many westerners don’t realize is that insect consumption, known as entomophagy, has been a normal part of human diets throughout history and across cultures.

“all sorts of indigenous cultures around the world have been eating insects for as long as humans have been around. it’s probably one of our first meat sources as a species,” laurenz said. the selection is wide and diverse. in thailand, grasshoppers, giant water bugs, and bamboo worms are a common street food. for mexico, it’s aphids and beetles. in china, silkworms are the traditional rage. 

cultural norms have a lot to do with what we label a good meal. consider the lobster, now a luxury seafood. in colonial america, lobsters were so abundant they were considered “poor man’s food,” often fed to prisoners and servants. massachusetts servants famously complained about being eating lobster too frequently. today, we pay premium prices for the same crustacean.

the 2021 emergence of brood x cicadas in the eastern united states provided a recent glimpse into the potential for insect cuisine in western contexts. restaurants and home cooks experimented with cicada tacos, tempura, and even desserts – demonstrating that with the right preparation, insects can appeal to modern palates.

the cultural hurdle

the “yuck factor” remains the biggest obstacle to the widespread adoption of insect protein in western diets. this aversion is entirely cultural, not biological: a learned response rather than an innate rejection.

“people in big cities tend not to be fans,” laurenz said about insect consumption in southeast asia. “there’s some stigma attached to it that it’s like a poor person’s food or a village food.”

louderman echoed this sentiment. “how do you convince people who are scared of insects or think insects are nasty to eat, something they don’t even want to touch?”

the challenge becomes as much about marketing as it is about production. companies like cricket energy bars target specific demographics, from environmentally conscious consumers to fitness enthusiasts seeking alternative proteins. by segmenting the market and addressing specific communities, these products can gradually normalize insect consumption.

interestingly, most people already consume insects unknowingly. the fda allows certain levels of insect fragments in common foods. chocolate, for instance, can legally contain up to 60 insect fragments per 100 grams.

the average person consumes about one to two pounds of insects annually through these trace amounts, according to the fda’s food defect levels handbook. it doesn’t stop there. for the regular grocer, insects are consumed through daily necessities: canned tomatoes (up to 10 fly eggs per 500g), ground cinnamon (up to 400 insect fragments per 50g), or wheat flour (up to 75 insect fragments per 50g), also per the fda handbook.

the production challenge

beyond cultural acceptance, the practical challenge of scaling insect production remains significant. the industry has gone through several boom-and-bust cycles, starting with crickets, then mealworms, and now black soldier flies. laurenz works at the core of the industry, at the startup named karang foodie. their mission is to raise black soldier flies for aquaculture feed. 

“you need to be importing tens or hundreds of tons of raw material every day and then exporting tens or dozens of tons of insect protein every day,” laurenz said, highlighting the scale required to compete with conventional agriculture.

louderman adds that crickets and mealworms are currently the most viable insect protein sources because they can be dried and ground into protein powder, making them more palatable to western consumers. when cooked, he explains, insects congeal to a texture similar to lobster or shrimp and usually have a nutty flavor. larger insects and arachnids such as  scorpions, tarantulas, and beetles are often peeled like shrimp in cultures where entomophagy is common.

“it’s so expensive because most people in the united states won’t do it. it’s not being done on a big enough scale to bring the price down,” louderman said, highlighting the chicken-and-egg problem of cost and adoption.

environmental benefits: the advantage of insects

despite these challenges, insects offer remarkable advantages as protein sources. black soldier flies, for instance, can convert food waste into protein with noteworthy efficiency, growing to harvestable size in just two to three weeks while consuming “whatever slop you have lying around,” laurenz said.

their environmental footprint is minimal compared to traditional livestock according to agronomy for sustainable development:

• insects require significantly less land and water.
• they produce fewer greenhouse gases.
• they can convert feed to protein much more efficiently.
• select species can be raised on monitored organic waste streams, creating circular economic opportunities while adhering to strict food safety protocols.

“without insects, our food wouldn’t get pollinated. when things die in the forest, they don’t decompose, and the soil becomes infertile. without insects, the trees die, we run out of oxygen, and we run out of food,” louderman said, highlighting insects’ crucial role in our ecosystems beyond just being a food source themselves.

the path forward

however, louderman cautions that there are some health considerations. people allergic to shellfish may also be allergic to insects and arachnids that have exoskeletons or shells (arthropods). he also emphasizes the importance of consuming farm-raised rather than wild-caught insects to avoid potential contamination issues.

the best chance for mainstream acceptance in western countries, according to louderman, is through products like cricket flour in familiar foods such as cookies, chips, and protein bars, rather than whole insects. this gradual introduction of insects, which would have to be included on product labels, could help overcome the cultural barriers while delivering the environmental benefits of insect protein.

even committed vegans like northwestern sophomore mia el-yafi offer nuanced views on insect consumption. “if there was bug powder in something, that would bother me less than if there was lard or gelatin,” she said, suggesting insects occupy a different ethical category for some plant-based eaters. 

non-vegetarians like casey bond exhibit cautious curiosity about insect protein. “i would support it, but i’ve never eaten insects… if they were made like a bug burger, maybe i’d eat it,” he said, drawing a comparison to more familiar food presentations: “it’s like eating fish versus when fish is served whole with the head on.” in the future, presentation may be crucial for mainstream adoption.

as we face the dual challenges of feeding a growing population and mitigating climate change, entomophagy offers a solution that’s been hiding in plain sight, buzzing and crawling around us all along. the question is not whether insects will become part of our dietary future but when and how we’ll embrace this sustainable  and substantial protein source. 

these are the words of sarah stroup, ph.d., director of the conflict transformation collaborative at middlebury college, spoken as she closed out day 1 of the 2025 planet forward summit, held april 17 and 18 in washington, dc. 

hearing people’s stories, through deep listening and by extending curiosity, is a key way to connect with others, help find common ground — and find a path to understanding. and that connection, forged through the power of storytelling, was a theme heard throughout the 12th annual summit. 

more than 300 in-person attendees and students from 50-plus colleges and universities joined planet forward at the george washington university for two days of inspiring talks, invigorating panels, and enlightening workshops centered around this year’s summit theme: “the climate divide: new narratives to transform the crisis.”

the 2025 event was presented in association with the conflict transformation collaborative, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to addressing and combating the increasing levels of divisiveness present in much of the world today. 

stroup and netta avineri, ph.d., both leaders in the collaborative, kicked off the summit by explaining that everyone experiences conflict, but that it doesn’t need to be a scary thing. in fact, stroup said, conflict can actually be productive — if we approach it the right way.

“you may have heard the phrase, ‘facts don’t change minds, stories do,’” stroup said. “this insight that stories can foster curiosity and complexity informs all sorts of interventions, like solutions journalism. if we are able to shift the stories that we tell, we can take a step toward more constructive conflict.”

our panels on thursday brought together students, storytellers, and scientists for discussions about navigating conflict, communicating complex data, preserving and respecting traditions, and connecting with people with different perspectives.

a keynote from environmental filmmaker bilal motley highlighted the importance of citizen journalism and recognizing the value of your unique perspective and voice as an environmental storyteller. 

“use what you have,” motley said. “use what you have and tell these stories … you are the answer.”

thursday’s discussions all had one central idea in mind: conflict doesn’t need to be something that we shy away from, especially if we’re equipped with the tools to deal with it in a productive manner. while many attendees began the day viewing conflict as something to be avoided because it made some feel uneasy, most left thursday’s discussions with a much more optimistic outlook on their abilities to approach it productively and constructively.

during thursday’s programming, planet forward also announced two new student experiential learning initiatives. 

first, a partnership between mystic aquarium and the gw alliance for a sustainable future that will send two gw students to mystic, conn., for an 8-week science storytelling fellowship at the aquarium this summer.

“[the fellows] will have access to all aspects of our mission,” said allison d. tuttle, chief zoological officer at mystic aquarium. “we’re going to show them everything: how we inspire our guests, how we educate and engage the public, our citizen science efforts, our world-class animal care and our conservation research. it’ll be a smorgasbord of elements for them to explore, reflect on and choose from. then, they’ll create a piece to tell the story of their choosing.”

the second is a storytelling expedition to the ted turner reserves in new mexico, where a group of students will join planet forward for five days of honing their visual storytelling skills in the remote and wild landscapes of the southwest.

day 1 of the summit ended on a high as the storyfest winners were announced, each of whom will be joining planet forward and lindblad expeditions on a storytelling adventure to the galápagos islands this summer. 

day 2 of the summit began with an inspiring keynote from renowned climate activist and author bill mckibben.

“the fossil fuel industry has so much money and so much power that they were able to figure out how to keep their business model going even when it became clear that it was ruining the earth,” mckibben said. “in the absence of billions of dollars, the only currency that will work is the currency of movements of getting people together to get things done … we can do that work, but only if we build momentum, and that, at some level, is a process of telling stories.”

mckibben’s talk was followed by workshops that engaged students and attendees on a range of topics from creating careers in a changing climate, to centering cultural storytelling in filmmaking, to presenting data in an easily digestible, audience-first manner.

this year’s summit brought together some of the best and the brightest in the worlds of storytelling, science, and conflict transformation. the two days of inspiring conversations instilled in the audience a renewed hope that we can use our voices to continue moving the planet forward.

amonette, who lives in rural southwestern montana as a full time technical writer, has volunteered with the citizens climate lobby (ccl) since 2013, working to promote bipartisan climate policies to congress. her passion for climate change began during an internship in washington, d.c. where a conversation about climate change and listening to dr. james hansens’s warnings pushed her towards advocating for solutions.

read the interview with amonette below.

editor’s note: this interview has been edited for length and clarity.

maggie rhoads: how do you connect with farmers on climate change?

alex amonette: i help get columns written in local newspapers through the media. there are little rural towns across the state of montana, and they each have a newspaper. that’s a good place to tell stories about how climate impacts farmers and ranchers. my job is to make friends with many of the editors of these newspapers and submit our articles to them. 

mr: how do farmers feel about climate change? 

aa: it varies. some people don’t want to talk about it. you get a lot of farmers and ranchers who want to put solar panels up and nobody has talked to them about climate change. they are just trying to cut their electric bills in half.

mr: i’m assuming these farmers who put renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind onto their properties just to save money are getting any benefits from the inflation reduction act or the bipartisan infrastructure law.

aa: the inflation reduction act helped fund a program administered by the usda called reap, or the rural energy for america program. until the trump administration, that program was going into full force. now it’s frozen, and many of these ranchers and farmers were counting on reap funding that was funded by the inflation reduction act to put solar panels on their barns and things like that. 

mr: what policies should be implemented to address climate change concerning farmers? 

aa: we’re advocating for preserving clean energy tax credits from the inflation reduction act. no republicans voted for the inflation reduction act. however, many states like texas took advantage of the clean energy tax credits and they’ve got many windmills. they’re not doing it for renewable energy because they believe in climate change. they’re doing it because it’s a great opportunity to have more of a diversified renewable energy source. 

mr: does your status as a rural citizen make it easier for you to connect with people like farmers about climate change?

aa: oh yeah, i’m surrounded by ranchers and farmers. i’m talking to ranchers and farmers all the time. there are some people, a dear friend passed away from covid-19 a few years ago, but she and her husband deliver eggs. he is a fox news listener and never wanted to discuss climate change with me, but i really enjoyed them. they were my good friends, and i could count on them as neighbors. the fact that we disagreed on climate change never came between us, not as an issue. 

mr: is he a believer in climate change? 

aa: no.

mr: no? he doesn’t believe in it. 

aa: no, he followed rush limbaugh for years. and, you know, climate change was a hoax, and you can’t talk to him about it. he says, oh, that’s for the birds. 

mr: so he shuts down the conversation.

aa: yeah. it’s like, you’re joking, alex, get out of here. however, i also want to tell you that it’s getting easier to talk to people who their whole life have voted republican. maybe they don’t believe in climate change. and that’s not to say that there aren’t a lot of republicans who know that climate change is happening. my senator knows that climate change is happening. he’s seen the data. he can tell it’s happening. he may not want to talk about it because he doesn’t want to lose a chance of getting re-elected, and a large part of his base doesn’t believe in climate change. it was a taboo topic to talk about, but that doesn’t matter anymore. 

mr: so people would rather talk about the economics behind climate change benefiting them. 

aa: some people don’t want to talk about it. i want to tell you a little anecdote. one time, i was at a farmer’s market. i had some leaflets, talking about the carbon fee and cash back policy. i handed one to these guys, and they looked a bit, and both of them just started ranting at me.

“you know, girly, carbon dioxide has been around forever. it’s part of the carbon cycle.” they went on for 20 minutes, talking at me instead of with me about climate change. and i relax. it was a hot day. i had lemonade. i just sipped my lemonade, listened to them, and nodded, just listened to them. and after a while, they got tired of talking to me and said, “well, thank you for listening.” i said it was my pleasure. i learned a lot talking to you guys. would you like me to explain why i’m standing here with this leaflet about this policy? and they said, well, ok.

and i think that part of the problem is that people don’t feel listened to. so listen to people, let them rant. give them the time of day. let them tell you what their concerns are, you know, and then, when it’s appropriate, talk with them. 

“instead of planting trees, we are cutting them down, harming nature, and causing drought in the valley. but today, kashmir’s environment is under threat,” environmental scholar ab majeed said.

kashmir, the northernmost part of the indian subcontinent surrounded by the himalayas and amazing landscapes, is home to famous springs that have flowed for hundreds of years. the achabal spring in anantnag, the nishat garden spring in srinagar, and the aripal spring in tral are notable water sources in kashmir, each known for their unique charm. these springs are not only scenic, but also hold cultural and historical significance. 

but these springs are facing a serious problem. in february 2025, for the first time ever, each one stopped flowing. the unexpected drying of these important water sources is a clear warning to the people living there, who are now dealing with a growing water shortage that affects drinking water, farming, and the culture of kashmir.

these springs have always provided hydration for the land and its people. their constant water flow was taken for granted, a promise of life and prosperity even during tough winters. but now the balance has been disrupted by a long dry spell, made worse by 75% less snowfall according to meteorological department srinagar director mukhtar ahmad.

the drought has been worsened by pollution and deforestation. places that used to be full of water are now dry. the loss is not just about the water; it’s about the strong connection between the people and their environment.

mohd amin dar, a gardener who has cared for the ancient nilnag spring in south kashmir — connected to seven other springs in tral — shared his sadness. “the nilnag spring, which has helped our community for many years, has dried up. i remember when its water was vital for drinking and irrigation. there were times when the water would slow down naturally, but now our actions have caused it to disappear,” he said. 

his assistant, filled with emotion, added, “this is the second time i have seen such a disaster. these springs are not just sources of water; they are special gifts from nature. our neglect and pollution have pushed us into a severe drought.”

farming, which is a vital source of income for many local families, is struggling because of the water shortage. fields that used to thrive with water from these springs are now dry and unproductive. 

in tral, a village in south kashmir, the aripal spring used to provide steady water for crops, but sudden losses now threaten not only farmers’ incomes but also the food supply for the whole region. people are scared that if quick action is not taken, these issues could hurt farming for years.

the aripal spring is especially important to the tral people. located in the mountains not far from tral, its clear waters were praised in kashmiri poetry and seen as a sign of divine favor. poets like wahab khar wrote ” ار پل چھ پانی یتھ ونہ ژھالان، چشمس پانی نہ چھ آمو ترالہ” (the water of aripal does not dry up in any season; the spring’s water never stops flowing to tral.)

but today, that promise is broken. according to gh mohd bhat, a phe (public health engineering) employee from tral, kashmir who lives nearby, “the aripal spring has a rich history. its water used to drop a little in november and december but would return in february. this time, because of what we have done, it has completely vanished.”

tourism, a significant industry in the area, is also affected. gardens like achabal and nishat, once known for their beauty and the sound of flowing water, are now quiet reminders of nature’s troubles. 

“tourists are no longer visiting these gardens. the springs that used to attract visitors are now gone. their absence hurts both the environment and the economy of our towns,” said dilshada begum, an employee connected to the local heritage.

the drying up of achabal spring, a vital feature of the historic mughal garden built by empress noor jahan, has severely impacted both tourism and the local economy. the decline in tourist visits has hurt businesses such as handicraft sellers, hotels, and transport services.

as the water disappears, many people feel a loss of hope. the natural beauty and importance of these springs have brought people together in celebrating their culture. “cutting down trees and dumping waste has sped up this crisis. instead of caring for our trees and waters we are hurting them,” environmental expert mohd shafi sofi said.

but amidst this sadness, there is a new hope emerging. out of their grief, local volunteer groups are taking action. young people, students, and concerned citizens have come together, dedicated to fixing the damage done to their beloved environment.

javed dar, a renowned photojournalist, has started an initiative to clean the polluted rivers and streams of south kashmir. to inspire others to participate in the cleanup operations, he formed a team of roughly 40 individuals. the sandran river, which used to be a popular place for kids to play in muniwar village, anantnag district, is now overflowing with trash. with regret, javed recalled, “as children, we used to play in this river. it’s so polluted now that it’s hard to even walk next to it.” the anguish of people witnessing this once-beautiful river become a landfill is reflected in his remarks.

a significant effort toward environmental conservation has taken shape in the gulmarg belt, north kashmir’s most-visited tourist spot. rah-e-umeed foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the underprivileged and those in need, led a large-scale cleanliness drive, bringing together hundreds of volunteers to keep gulmarg and tangmarg clean.

in aripal village, a local school has started drives that focus on environmental care. “our teachers and classmates are dedicated to keeping our area clean. we hope that what we do will inspire others to see how important our springs are and to act before it’s too late,” said umais nazeer, a student involved in these efforts.

campaign members like qamran, a recent media graduate from university of kashmir, are actively taking part in the cleanup drives and rallying with passion, believing that bringing back these springs is not just about the environment but also about cultural heritage. 

“we want to raise awareness throughout the kashmir valley,” he said. “we need everyone to see that saving our waters means saving our heritage. with help from local contractors and our personal efforts, we are doing all we can to clean up and restore these springs’ natural flow.” many share his belief that together, they can make a difference even in tough times.

the story of kashmir’s dried springs is complex — a tale of poor environmental management and the tough consequences of neglect, mixed with the strong spirit of a people determined to reclaim their heritage. it is a story filled with tears and sadness, but also filled with hope. each volunteer, every clean-up event, and the collective voice of local communities signal a promise that past mistakes will not shape the future.

“even if the achabal, nishat, and aripal springs seem calm now, the voices of kashmir’s people are not silent. we are united in healing our land — every piece of trash we remove and every drop of water we save is a step toward restoration. nature is fragile, but our spirit is strong. with hope, perseverance, and collective dedication, i believe we can revive these springs and build a sustainable future,” volunteer sajad murinwari said.

with politics ever-changing, how we view our environment should not be impacted. simple understandings aim to find common ground for everyone while taking a deeper look at how the next generation of leaders understand our environment today. in this story, learn how high school students from upstate new york, to vieques, puerto rico are engaging with environmentalism at pivotal points in their lives.

check out the full story by clicking on the image below!