Sustainability

By Joe Lorenz

Electrification and tariffs mean rural Midwest communities can cash in on their mineral resources. But how can these ventures balance local benefit to the ecological cost?

The post New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

By Samantha Ku
New federal policy is aimed at addressing the nation’s wildfire crisis by boosting timber production, but some experts say it’s not expected to have a major impact in Michigan. 

The post Federal wildfire policy sparks debate: timber or trees?  first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

The first meeting of the fall season of the Ripley and District Horticultural Society (RDHS) took place at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, Sept. 17. The group welcomed Amanda Saxton and Kim Armitage of Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN), a group dedicated to promoting sustainable living practices and finding solutions that benefit both their community and […]

By Maya Moore 

Blight Hernandez is a master of turning everyday trash into something of value. A Southwest Detroit native, Hernandez has called himself an artist since he was 6. Now a full-time working artist for five years, his sustainable business is called Be The Light. It’s born out of intention and focused on higher consciousness, keeping things out of the landfill, and making things that people love, Hernandez said.

The post The sustainable art of Blight Hernandez: ‘No waste’   first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

By Donté Smith 

Despite being surrounded by the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, Michigan imports the vast majority of its seafood, between 65% and 90%, according to Michigan Sea Grant. As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are building a more sustainable, local supply. Researchers say doing so could ease pressure on wild populations, create jobs in rural areas and help restore public trust in the food on their plates. But with high regulatory costs, limited consumer awareness and strong competition from imports, these farms face an uphill swim.

The post How inland fish farmers cultivate a sustainable future for the Great Lakes  first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

In addition to farmers using them in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, they are zapping weeds in the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand

A campaign is calling for staff and students to be consulted on major projects.

By Emilio Perez Ibarguen

In 2023, community organizers from the outdoor Discovery Center, an outdoor education and conservation-focused nonprofit in Holland, Michigan looked for ways to further sustainability efforts in the west Michigan community. This led to a partnership with another local nonprofit to create the Carbon Community Fund, which accepts donations from residents to fund local conservation efforts.

The post Small city’s ‘community carbon fund’ promises hyper-local carbon reduction first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Damian Warner will take another shot at the one decathlon title that has eluded him in his career.

Given society’s growing interest in AI, the data center industry will likely continue its rapid expansion. But without a consistent and transparent way to track water consumption over time, the […]

Thames Valley District school board is "phasing out" two of its highest-level jobs and shuffling superintendent positions as part of a restructuring plan

The ministry-appointed supervisor in charge of the embattled Thames Valley District school board has broken his public silence