Tag: earth
CNN: Planet Earth ‘Just Failed Its Annual Health Checkup’
The report “analyzes a series of global climate indicators — including levels of planet-heating pollution, sea level rise and ocean heat — to understand how the planet is responding to climate change and the impact it is having on people and nature.”
CNN’s conclusion? “The world just failed its annual health checkup.”=
– Oceans reached record high temperatures, with nearly 60% experiencing at least one marine heatwave.
– Global sea levels climbed to the highest on record due to melting glaciers and warming oceans, which expand as they heat up.
– Antarctica’s sea ice dropped to 1.92 million square kilometers in February 2022, at the time the lowest level on record (the record was broken again this year).
– The European Alps saw a record year for glacier melt, with Switzerland particularly badly affected, losing 6% of its glacier volume between 2021 and 2022.
– Levels of planet warming pollution, including methane and carbon dioxide, reached record highs in 2021, the latest year for which there is global data…
Last year, climate change-fueled extreme weather “affected tens of millions, drove food insecurity, boosted mass migration, and cost billions of dollars in loss and damage,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement. In 2022, China had its most extensive and long-lasting drought on record. Droughts also affected East Africa, with more than 20 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia facing acute food insecurity as of January this year. Many western and southern US states experienced significant drought and Europe’s punishing heatwave is estimated to have led to 15,000 excess deaths. In Pakistan, record-breaking rainfall left huge swaths of the country underwater, killing more than 1,700 people, with almost 8 million displaced, and causing $30 billion in damages…
Last year is unlikely to be an outlier, as temperatures continue their upwards trajectory. The past eight years were the hottest on record, despite three consecutive years of the La Niña climate phenomenon, which has a global cooling effect. The global average temperature last year climbed to about 1.15 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the report, as the world continues its march towards breaching 1.5 degrees of warming for the first time. With the predicted arrival later in the year of El Niño, which brings warmer global temperatures, scientists are deeply concerned that 2023 and 2024 will continue to smash climate records. The hottest year on record, 2016, was the result of a strong El Niño and climate change, said Baddour. “It is only a matter of time before that record is broken….”
“The droughts and level of heatwaves that we saw throughout 2022 were quite remarkable,” Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, told CNN. “This is really a wake up call that climate change isn’t a future problem, it is a current problem. And we need to adapt as quickly as possible,” she added.
Omar Baddour, head of the Climate Monitoring and Policy Division at the WMO, also told CNN that “Communities and countries which have contributed least to climate change suffer disproportionately.”
And for more bad news, CNN notes a report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service found Europe experienced its hottest summer ever recorded, unprecedented marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean sea, and widespread wildfires.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Earth Day 2023: green or greenwashed?
Brands love making big promises around Earth Day, and a lot of them are BS.
7 Bonkers Corporate Earth Day Campaigns
It’s Earth Day! Here at Earther, we’ve been absolutely inundated with press releases announcing that every corporation under the Sun is doing something ~*~special~*~ to mark the occasion. There’s no question that this holiday, which started from radical beginnings, has largely become the purview of greenwashing and PR…
This Week on Xbox: Dead Island 2, Earth Day, and Minecraft Legends
Save on refurbished tech with these Earth Week deals
Looking to shop for some discounted tech? Snag deals on refurbished gadgets like earbuds, tablets, and smartwatches just in time for Earth Day. Shop our favorite picks:
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BEST REFURBISHED EARBUDS: The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are a fantastic alternative to AirPods Pro and offer great audio for less — $99.99
$199.95(save $99.96) -
BEST REFURBISHED TABLET: The Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet is a powerful tablet with a lengthy battery life, a solid processor, and expandable storage — $89.99
$169.99(save $80) -
BEST REFURBISHED WEARABLE: The Apple Watch Series 6 is a capable smartwatch that can handle just about anything you throw at it — $169.99
$199.99(save $30)
Thinking about buying a new tablet? Or maybe you’re in the market for some new earbuds? Whatever you’re thinking about picking up, why not buy refurbished? With Earth Day around the corner, there’s no better time than right now to keep the health of our plant at the forefront of your mind.
Buying refurbished tech is better for the environment because it reduces electronic waste. When people throw away their old electronics, those devices end up in landfills where they can take years to decompose. But when you buy refurbished, you give perfectly good tech another shot at life. You also help to directly reduce carbon emissions, cutting down on the resources and energy needed to make new tech.
And let’s not forget the other draw: saving money. You can save big on some must-have tech goodies right now at Woot! and Amazon just in time for Earth Day. Shop our picks below and help do your part to keep our one and only planet in the best shape it can be.
Best refurbished earbuds
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Why we like it
The Beats Fit Pro may be some of the best wireless earbuds on the market, and according to Mashable reviewer Alex Perry, “Apple’s best wireless earbuds yet.” They offer “excellent active noise cancellation, magnificent audio output, elite comfort, and a long-lasting battery,” Perry said in his review. At this price, they’re an absolute steal, especially if you’re looking for earbuds that manage to stay in your ears a bit better than the AirPods Pro. The refurbished model may have a few scratches here and there, but the only difference from buying new that you should notice will be cosmetic.
Best refurbished tablet
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Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (Refurbished)
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Why we like it
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet is one of the retailer’s best, and it comes boasting a speedy processor and a beefy 12-hour battery life. It has a 10.1-inch touchscreen that’s perfect for reading, watching your favorite shows, and playing games, all with onboard Alexa compatibility. Plus, it includes expandable storage should you need additional space. Amazon’s refurbished model is the 2021 release and was fully tested and charged before being listed for purchase, complete with updated software.
Best refurbished earbuds
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Apple Watch Series 6 (Refurbished)
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Why we like it
The Apple Watch Series 6 may not be the latest and greatest Apple’s line of wearables has to offer, but it’s still a capable smartwatch. Call, text, and use a variety of apps straight from your wrist. The watch’s always-on Retina display is bright and clear, and it’s always ready to display the info you need. Plus, this model includes ECG capabilities as well as a swath of health and fitness tracking features to help you be the best you that you can be. Woot! says these watches have been fully restored and may have “minor cosmetic blemishes”, but that’s nothing a case or a new watch band can’t fix.
Galaxy S22 series is becoming Certified Re-Newed (with low prices) on Earth Day
Avatar: The Way Of Water Returns To Theaters For Earth Day This Week
Avatar: The Way of Water, the No. 3 highest-grossing movie of all time and a movie that focuses its story on preserving the natural world, is coming back to theaters this week to celebrate Earth Day. The film will come back for a special IMAX 3D screening this Friday, April 21.
You can grab tickets for a screening near your at IMAX’s website (via ComicBook.com).
In another effort to celebrate Earth Day, 20th Century Studios is hosting an “immersive art experience” this weekend at the Lighthouse Art Space in Los Angeles. Tickets are free but need to be reserved through Lighthouse’s website here.
Apple Shares 2023 Environmental Progress Report Ahead of Earth Day
The report explores Apple’s chemical research, recycling and device recovery operations, energy efficiency improvements and use of renewable energy, reduction of waste, support of community action, and more as part of its ongoing goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. It also draws attention to Apple’s recent announcement that it plans to accelerate the transition to recycled materials across its devices.
In addition, Apple highlighted its individual Product Environmental Reports, which break down the environmental impact of any current Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, external display, Apple TV, or HomePod with regards to source materials, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, use, and recovery. Apple vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa Jackson said:
This year, we’ve also made it easier to understand the carbon impact of your Apple devices, and the extraordinary steps we’re taking to reduce their emissions. In our Product Environment Reports, you can learn about recycled gold in your iPhone, the energy demands of your iPad, and the packaging around your Mac. We’re transforming so many aspects of the way we make our technology, and with our Product Environment Reports, you’ll see where we’ve made progress and where the hard work remains.
Visit apple.com/environment or see the full PDF version of Apple’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report for more information.
This article, “Apple Shares 2023 Environmental Progress Report Ahead of Earth Day” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Kick off your Earth Day celebrations early with eco-friendly deals
Here are our favorite Earth Day finds as of April 17:
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Stasher bags will replace your tupperware and single-use plastic bags — save up to 20% on select reusable bags
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Tushy 3.0 bidet minimizes your toilet paper waste — $99
$129(save $30) -
Xbox Remix special edition wireless controller is a new Earth Week release made from recycled materials — $84.99
Making sustainable shopping choices is an excellent year-round practice, and Earth Day sales are a good time to try out eco-friendly swaps while saving some money.
From bathroom and kitchen essentials to indoor hydroponic gardens, there’s an Earth-friendly alternative for nearly everything you use. Though Earth Day isn’t officially until April 22, the savings have already started.
To make finding what you need easier, we’ve rounded up some of the best Earth Day sales as of April 17. We’ll be updating this post throughout April, so you can celebrate all month and live sustainably all year long. Check out our top picks below:
Stasher — save up to 20% on select reusable bags
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Why we like it
Stasher bags come in a ton of different sizes — and they’re microwaveable, heat resistant up to 425 degrees, freezable, and dishwasher-safe. That kind of convenience makes them an easy swap over disposable plastic bags. The biggest drawback is their upfront cost, but the 20% discount helps. Plus, from April 18 to April 25, you’ll be able to grab any product sitewide for 25% off.
Tushy 3.0 bidet — $99 $129 (save $30)
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Why we like it
Our favorite simple bidet is on sale for $30 off, and saves you way more money as you waste less toilet paper. Plus, installation is simple enough to manage on your own. While it only has one heat setting, it gets the job done with impressive pressure settings, and is streamlined enough to not add too much bulk to your bathroom setup. You can also grab a two-pack for $90 off.
Xbox Remix special edition wireless controller — $84.99
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Why we like it
It may not technically be on sale, but this Earth Week release from Xbox is cool enough that we thought it deserved a mention. The Remix special edition controller is made from recycled materials, so you can game and be Earth-friendly simultaneously — the ultimate win-win. You can snag the controller for pre-order at the time of writing, and it’ll officially drop April 17 (that’s today) at 9 pm ET.
More Earth Day deals
Kitchen deals
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Bee’s Wrap Roll — $24.99
$29.99(save $5) -
SodaStream Terra — $69.99
$99.99(save $30) -
Vitamix FoodCycler — $339.95
$399.95(save $60) -
Reencle Home Composter — $429
$499(save $70) -
Take $15 off Three Bluebirds Swedish dishcloths orders of $30 or more with code PLANET15
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Save over 30% on all Aerogarden Elite gardens
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Save up to $60 on SodaStream sparkling water makers
Cleaning deals
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Take 25% off sitewide at Dropps with coupon code EASYECO25
Bathroom deals
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Tushy Ace Electric Bidet Seat — $399
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Save up to 45% on select Bio Bidet products
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Take 10% off any Billie reusable razor set with code GIMME10
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Buy three pairs of Proof leak resistant and leakproof period underwear and get 25% off
Bedroom deals