climate change

Summer in Yellowstone National Park

When one of my editors for whom I write “The Virtuous Traveler,” my column on sustainable travel, asked me to visit Yellowstone National Park this past January, I was — how shall I say? — less than enthused. Surely, I suggested, they needed a story on Tahiti? Kenya? Lebanon?

Disneynature’s acclaimed new film Earth presents the most spectacular 100 minutes of wildlife footage I have ever seen. The film reunites directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, who produced the award-winning BBC series “Planet Earth,” in a new venture that brings equally stunning images to the big screen.

I recently had dinner with a friend who teaches environmental science at our local college. “I feel like the voice of doom,” he confided. “Everything I tell them is depressing. I just wish I could find something to give them some hope.” He asked how I keep myself hopeful in the midst of so much bad news.

Franny filming windfarm developer Piers Guy, one of the stars of the film, at an operational windfarm in Wales.

Ladies and gents: The entertainment world is changing.

A week after telling you that Fox’s hit series 24 has gone green, I’m happy to report that the world’s first entirely eco-friendly movie premiere will take place this Sunday.

Ever since my book The Virtuous Consumer, about how to make purchases that are healthier for people and the planet, was released a bit more than a year ago, I’ve been receiving strange confessions. “I don’t recycle,” said one guy at a cocktail party. “I love to take really long, really hot showers,” revealed a friend. “I refuse to use recycled toilet paper,” scoffed another.

For most of his life, Prince Albert II has been dubbed a playboy. Now, it looks like he’ll be known as an eco-crusader.

Prince Albert courtesy of http://www.gouv.mc

The 50-year-old ruler of Monaco, whose parents were Prince Rainier III and the ever elegant Grace Kelly, kicked off a month-long expedition on Monday to view the impact that global warming has had on the Earth’s southern tip.

I did the math in my head. We have one car that barely gets driven, a TV and DVD player that get unplugged when not in use, plus a diet free of meat — and I have to admit that I was feeling a bit overconfident when I plugged my numbers into the carbon calculator at www.carbonfootprint.com.

I often get invited to conferences and consumer shows to offer up my advice for living a greener, healthier life. After outlining all the ways we’re polluting our planet and our own bodies — along with advice on what we can do about it — I frequently end with a chirpy “thank-you for listening. Have a great day!” And I’m often met with incredulity. Finally one person asked me outright how I could remain so upbeat and energetic knowing everything I do about our planet’s peril. It’s a good question.