Welcome back! We've got a little bit of a different episode in store for you today - and it's brought to you in partnership with the Jacksonville Climate Coalition.  Last month, the Coalition hosted a virtual meeting to learn about the steps that Jacksonville and other local governments are taking to apply for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant or the CPRG.  We ended up covering quite a few topics that we thought you might be interested in, so in today's episode, we're presenting excerpts of this conversation. 

As you'll hear the team at the city is working really quickly - so quickly in fact that some of the dates you'll hear referenced have already passed between when we recorded and now. But the city is still soliciting feedback - and in the episode we cover how you can provide comments directly to the team.

Our guest was Judy Holm, Fuse Executive Fellow with the City of Jacksonville who is working with the sustainability department led by Ashanta Green. James Richardson with the city's environmental protection board also joined in the discussion.

We were very lucky to have both of them on the call. And we hope that you enjoyed the conversation!

RESOURCES:
DRAFT Priority Climate Action Plan
https://cleanairnortheastflorida.com/get-involved

CONTACT:
[email protected]

Jacksonville Climate Coalition

The conversation we have on tap for you today was a fun one to record. It features Tim Armstrong. Tim is the founder of Eat Your Yard Jax, and as the name suggests he’s on a mission to introduce the world to edible landscapes and the importance of local food. But don’t let the friendly nature of the conversation fool you!  The topic is a critical one when it comes to sustainability. Agriculture accounts for 11% of carbon emissions in the US. But the importance of eating local when it comes to emissions reduction is not as straightforward as you might think. True, transportation is a big part of the carbon footprint when food travels by air. Berries and other foods that spoil quickly are often shipped this way. However, most of our food travels by boat or rail, and then transport is a relatively small portion of its total emissions. The big driver? Agricultural practices. So what does that even mean? Simply put, pesticides and fertilizers are a really big source of emissions. That is where the real benefits of eating local kick in. If you’re growing food in your yard, you can use more sustainable practices. You’ll likely reduce food waste, and if you transform part of your yard into an edible landscape, you are watering your lawn less.  I hope you enjoy this conversation with Tim!

RESOURCES
IFAS North Florida Gardening Guide
Article on Impact of Local Food on Carbon Emissions
US Carbon Emissions by Sector
https://squarefootgardening.org/

CONNECT
https://eatyouryardjax.org/
email: [email protected]
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram

Jacksonville Climate Coalition

With the beautiful weather we've been having recently, it might be hard to remember that record-breaking heat in the summer has become the new normal - and urban areas are on the frontlines. To adapt we need to develop new strategies to beat the heat when it's at its worst.

Our guest today is Dr. Adam Rosenblatt. Adam was one of the leaders of an urban heat study conducted in Jacksonville to understand which parts of the city are the most vulnerable. This information is being used to guide future urban planning decisions.

We also cover the basics of climate change. Adam is a great communicator, and I think that he does a pretty good job of explaining the science in a way that is easy to understand, but also very pragmatic. Even if you are already familiar with the science of climate change, it's worth a listen - you might pick up a few ideas that will help you in your own climate conversations with friends and family.

Get Connected:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrosenblatt/

Helpful Links:
Interactive Heat Map of Jacksonville
Climate Perceptions by County
Clean Air Northeast Florida Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Jacksonville Climate Coalition

Today we're talking about waste. And we're talking about sustainable agriculture. And carbon sequestration. And a sustainable business model that ties it all together. Our guest today is Mike Kelcourse. His company, Sunshine Organics, is a local company making an outsized impact on climate change.

Contact Sunshine Organics and Compost:
[email protected]
Sunshine Organics and Compost Website

Other Resources:
Project Drawdown Website

Jacksonville Climate Coalition

In this episode, we speak with local entrepreneur Bob Hawkinson whose company Recede Bioplastics is on a mission to reduce Persistent Plastic Particulate Pollution.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about the ingenuity and grit it takes to bring a new product to market. Bob's innovations are moving Jacksonville towards a more sustainable future, starting (quite literally!) in our own backyard.

Resources from the show:
https://recedebioplastics.com/
https://weedrecede.com/
Microplastics Fact Sheet from Ocean Conservancy

Contact Bob: [email protected]

Contact the show: podcast.sustainablenorthflorida.com

Jacksonville Climate Coalition