Remembering Pioneering Economist Herman Daly

Remembering Pioneering Economist Herman Daly

It is little wonder that Herman Daly’s recent death, on October 28, 2022, passed with little fanfare from the nation’s mass media, for he was a pioneer of “ecological economics” with principles that counter the mainstream economic paradigm of constant growth.

Daly was a promoter of the idea of a “steady-state economy,” which explained that infinite growth is not possible in a world of finite resources. Starting with his textbooks written in the 1970s, Daly taught that rather than being one of several factors in our economies (along with labor and capital), the natural world, with its complex systems and vast resources, is actually the foundation upon which our human-developed systems rest. And therefore, economics must be governed by the laws of nature and the biophysical limits of natural systems such as the climate system, biodiversity principles, and others.

Welcome 2023 One Earth Team

Welcome 2023 One Earth Team

Join One Earth in offering a warm welcome to our new teammates. They are jumping in with both feet, ready to make our 2023 fest season the best one ever. They’ll be writing our communications, planning our programs and engaging donors and members. Join our social media accounts and engage with them there.

From Shoe Factory to School: This Green Building's in a Class by Itself

From Shoe Factory to School: This Green Building's in a Class by Itself

Historecycle has emerged from fall hibernation with renewed energy, like an aging building newly retrofitted with LED lights. For the past several months, we’ve been Sherlock Holmes-ing a few “mystery” structures we’ve discovered, to dig into their murky past. And the rigorous pursuit of historical data has been like a shot in the arm.

Take, for example, the former B. & B. Shoe Company factory, which dates to at least the 1920s. Located in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, B. & B.’s workers used sewing machines to turn out footwear by the hundreds, starting most likely in the 1940s. By 1992 the three-story brick building had been sold to the current owners and reopened as the Catherine Cook School.

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COP27: Digging in the Sand at Sharm El-Sheikh

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COP27: Digging in the Sand at Sharm El-Sheikh

Representatives from nearly 200 countries will attend the “Conference of the Parties,” or COP27, November 6-18, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. This is the 27th time since 1992 that world nations have gathered to collaborate on global action to fight climate change. Our window for action is shrinking. We really need everyone—elected leaders, corporations, community organizations and individuals—to commit to doing the most we can, as quickly as we can. COP27 is an important symbol of that collaboration.

Sharm El-Sheikh is a beautiful resort town in a country with a dubious grasp on human rights, a fitting mix of hope and despair. Can something productive come out of this conference?

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Electrifying Our Old Oak Park Home: Going Solar

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Electrifying Our Old Oak Park Home: Going Solar

As bad news about climate change continues to frequent the headlines, it can feel hopeless. What could we, a single household, possibly do to make a meaningful contribution to such a huge, global problem? Should we recycle more? Stop eating meat? Stop using plastic bags?

We’re often told these kinds of actions help. But if we step back and look at the bigger picture, it becomes clear that these kinds of efficiency and lifestyle changes won’t be enough. Climate scientists and the UN have told us we need to get to net zero emissions by 2050. Is there anything more we could possibly be doing to ensure a more sustainable future for our kids?

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Chicago Area Youth Will Attend COP27 in Egypt

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Chicago Area Youth Will Attend COP27 in Egypt

On November 5, five students from the Chicago area youth-driven advocacy group It’s Our Future (IOF) will fly to Egypt to take part in COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh. It's Our Future, a program developed by Seven Generations Ahead and supported by One Earth Collective along with other partners, connects youth climate activists and empowers them to advocate for climate solutions in their schools and communities, and for a healthy livable future for all.

If you, like me, don’t know much about how a young person gets to go on a trip like this, you’re in luck, because I had the great pleasure of discussing these matters with two students who will be going—Tori Evans and Emmet Ebels-Duggan.