The environment is so fundamental to our continued existence that it must transcend politics and become a central value of all members of society.

The human brain now holds the key to our future. We have to recall the image of the planet from outer space: a single entity in which air, water, and continents are interconnected. That is our home.

Plastic bags are bad and for the most part unnecessary.

Some argue we should get coal, oil and gas out of the ground as quickly as possible, build more pipelines and make as much money as we can selling it here and abroad. Their priorities are the economy and meeting short-term energy needs so we can live the lives to which we've become accustomed.

The terrible part of this looming catastrophe is that people have been working on solutions for years and have developed concrete steps to massively reduce our energy use, while stimulating whole new industries and technologies that are more efficient and affordable.

Ultimately we need to recognize that while humans continue to build urban landscapes, we share these spaces with others species.

There are some things in the world we can't change.