Southface Institute: Blog

Tracking Global Carbon Emissions in Real-Time

Climate Change
Green Technology
Tackling the problem of climate change has been a difficult task because carbon emission data is collected after the fact, not as it happens. Climate TRACE, an initiative led by Watt Time and supported by former Vice President Al Gore, aims to track pollution in real-time so researchers can see exactly where it comes from.

Georgia’s Mass Timber and the Triple Bottom Line

Climate Change
Green Building
In the weeks before COVID-19 disrupted daily life, the Georgia General Assembly was considering two bills which Southface believes may be able to accelerate the transition to a regenerative economy. House Bill 1015 (HB 1015) could update Georgia’s carbon sequestration registry to include building products that sequester carbon. (Did you even know Georgia already has a carbon sequestration registry? Me neither.). House Bill 7773 (HB 777) could instruct the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to investigate amending the state’s building codes to allow “tall” mass timber construction types to serve as an alternative to the typical steel and/or concrete construction commonly used in tall buildings.

Global Emissions Have Plunged, but Will They Continue To?

Climate Change
Government shutdowns and economic inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic have caused sharp declines in greenhouse gases. Over 1 billion tons of carbon emissions have already been reduced, and it is projected we will see an overall annual decrease between 4-7%. Although these reductions are remarkable, scientists warn that more structural changes to the energy system need to be made for long-term success.

COVID-19 Proves That the Economy Can Adapt to Climate Change

Climate Change
Harvard economist, Rebecca Henderson, has spent the last 15 years encouraging companies to prepare for climate change. The coronavirus pandemic is proof that if there is a natural threat to the economy, organizations can change the way they operate. Henderson emphasizes that businesses need to apply the same methods of response to tackle climate change.