Danae Columbus: Addressing climate impacts could become New Orleans’ equalizer

 Posted by at 11:55 am  Congress, environment, opinion, politics, weather
Jun 232017
 
Danae Columbus

Danae Columbus, opinion columnist

This week’s tropical storm Cindy is just the latest example that the New Orleans region and the entire Gulf Coast must become better at living with water rather than merely struggling to defeat it. From powerful waves breaking over the sea walls on Lakeshore Drive and in Covington to flooding caused by storm surge in Venetian Isles, Myrtle Grove and Grand Isle, we must employ what the Dutch call “inventive urbanism” to make our towns and cities more resilient. Continue reading »

‘Concert for the Coast’ aims to raise coastal land loss awareness on Earth Day

 Posted by at 11:38 am  coastal preservation, environment, events, recovery
Apr 192017
 

via National Audubon Society

Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of several organizations, will present “Concert for the Coast” to help raise awareness about Louisiana’s coastal land loss crisis and the critical projects available to restore the coast. Continue reading »

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Health Department hosts community conversation on climate change

 Posted by at 1:00 pm  city government, community meetings, environment, events
Apr 132017
 

The Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy, in partnership with the New Orleans Health Department, will host community conversations on climate change, where public health advocates and educators will talk about the negative impacts of climate change in the community and discuss solutions and prevention techniques. Continue reading »

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World-renowned environmental activist Dr. Vandana Shiva to speak at Tulane

 Posted by at 2:37 pm  environment, events
Mar 202017
 

Dr. Vandana Shiva (via http://seedfreedom.info)

Tulane University will host world-renowned Indian ecofeminist scholar and environmental activist Dr. Vandana Shiva for a speaking event on Thursday, March 23. The “Soil Not Oil” event take places at 8 p.m. on Tulane’s main campus, and Dr. Shiva will speak about about fossil fuel based industrial agriculture, a topic of specific relevance to Louisiana which has long been known for petrochemical production.

Soil Not Oil will take place in the Kendall Cram Room on the second floor of Tulane’s Lavin Bernick Center (LBC). The university’s main campus is located at 6823 St. Charles Avenue.

Dr. Vandana Shiva has published numerous works on ecofeminism, international development, environmental and human rights, spirituality, agriculture, and biotechnology.

Tulane organizations sponsoring the event include: Environmental Studies Program, Undergraduate Student Government, Newcomb College Institute, Tulane Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking (and Dr. Thomas Sherry, the center’s Professor of Social Entrepreneurship), Tulane Green Club, Feminist Alliance of Students at Tulane, Divest Tulane, and also in the Taylor Center.

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Danae Columbus: Louisiana should start planning to now to survive climate change

 Posted by at 11:53 am  elections, environment, opinion, politics
Aug 182016
 
Danae Columbus

Danae Columbus

The American Red Cross labeled it “the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy.”

With last week’s devastating floods which displaced more than 40,000 citizens and caused 11 deaths, along with Tuesday’s 47th anniversary of Hurricane Camille and the upcoming 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana’s citizens should focus on what climate change has already done to our state and their personal responsibility to create a more sustainable future. Continue reading »

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New $51 million project will use “Living with Water” ideas to improve Central City drainage

 Posted by at 11:20 am  city government, environment, flood protection and drainage
Jul 012016
 
This diagram shows the drainage improvements on one side of Galvez Street as part of a $51 million drainage project around Central City. (via City of New Orleans)

This diagram shows the drainage improvements on one side of Galvez Street as part of a $51 million drainage project around Central City. (via City of New Orleans)

LaToya Cantrell

LaToya Cantrell

A new $51 million drainage project along Martin Luther King Boulevard will help prevent flooding from heavy rains around the Central City area — but instead of simply trying to push water away through underground canals, it will absorb and store it according the most current thinking on stormwater management in New Orleans. Continue reading »

Local nonprofits awarded $250,000 to foster sustainable living

 Posted by at 11:10 am  environment, good works, recovery
Jun 072016
 
(via Urban Conservancy)

(via Green Light New Orleans)

Green Light New Orleans and the Urban Conservancy, two local nonprofit organizations, received a total of $250,000 in grant money from the Allianz Katrina Fund to promote sustainable living in Orleans and Jefferson Parish by implementing programs which address energy consumption, water mitigation and fresh food access.

Continue reading »

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Coliseum Square eyed for “bioswale” stormwater-management project

 Posted by at 11:04 am  city government, environment, flood protection and drainage, neighborhood groups
May 202016
 
A diagram demonstrating the parts of a bioswale included in a presentation by city officials.

A diagram demonstrating the parts of a bioswale included in a presentation by city officials.

If all goes as planned, the Lower Garden District will soon get a 600-foot-long bioswale along Coliseum Square Park, thanks to money pledged by the Sewerage and Water Board to give the city more green infrastructure. Continue reading »

Nonprofit seeks volunteers for clean-up of historic Valence street cemetery Tuesday

 Posted by at 10:50 am  environment, events, good works
May 022016
 

soc_logo_hi_200x200

The nonprofit Save Our Cemeteries will be supervising the community clean-up Tuesday of the historic Valence Cemetery in the Freret neighborhood by trimming ferns, clipping invasive vegetation, and removing trash. Continue reading »

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New mapping tools to improve planning for environmental projects in New Orleans (live coverage)

 Posted by at 5:57 pm  environment
Apr 252016
 
Holly Elwell of the Trust for Public Land describes the Climate-Smart Cities initiative at the Propeller entrepreneurship incubator on Monday, April 25. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Holly Elwell of the Trust for Public Land describes the Climate-Smart Cities initiative at the Propeller entrepreneurship incubator on Monday, April 25. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

A new mapping tool that collects and visualizes environmental data down to the neighborhood-, street- and property-level will help New Orleans improve the planning of its “green infrastructure” — to cool the city off, manage stormwater runoff, increase bicycle transportation and even protect against storm surge, officials said. Continue reading »

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The Herb Society to hold annual plant sale this Saturday

 Posted by at 2:05 pm  environment, events
Apr 052016
 

The New Orleans Unit of The Herb Society of America will host their annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be herbs, butterfly plants, annuals and perennials for purchase. The sale will be held rain or shine, and proceeds will benefit local educational programs. Continue reading »

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Energy efficiency workshop, climate change documentary at Alliance Française

 Posted by at 11:53 am  environment, events
Nov 172015
 

Energy Wise demonstrates light bulb efficiency with bike generator. (via Alliance Française)

 

In light of the upcoming COP21 UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris, Alliance Française and the World Trade Center of New Orleans will host an energy efficiency workshop and climate change documentary. This free event takes place this Wednesday, Nov. 18, and will include wine and cheese. Continue reading »

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Allan Katz and Danae Columbus: High time for Army Corps to re-evaluate flood threats

 Posted by at 11:11 am  environment, opinion, politics, public safety
Aug 202015
 

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to do a better job of estimating the risks of flooding around the U.S. With the upcoming 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina – much of whose destruction was caused by poorly engineered and maintained levees – we naturally think about the heavy losses to our region, what it has taken to rebuild, and all the people who died or have not been able to return. Continue reading »

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Alliance Française holds photo contest tied to U.N. Conference on Climate Change

 Posted by at 11:43 am  environment
May 312015
 

(image via Alliance Francaise)

(image via Alliance Francaise)

The Alliance Française of New Orleans is hosting an online photography conference, and the winner will be entered into a competition to exhibit his or her photos at the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in Paris in December. Continue reading »

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