Growing Energy on Trees

Written by Ryan McGuine // Biomass is the oldest source of energy harnessed by humans. The history of energy transitions has been one of moving away from biomass and toward fuels with greater power densities, like coal, natural gas, and petroleum, but today it is making a comeback in high-income countries as a way to help combat climate change. While replacing all fossil fuel consumption with biomass would be a disaster for the climate, it will certainly play a role in the decarbonization of the economy. Continue reading

Lean Machine: The Greening of Supply Chains

Written by Riley Collins // Big business has long been synonymous with oil spills, environmental degradation, and the overall promotion of a system that emphasizes quarterly profit above all else. However, many corporations are now turning a new leaf and using their size to exert influence across the economy by improving the environmental sustainability of their supply chains. The scale and quickness with which large businesses can act makes this an area that is extremely promising in reducing environmental degradation globally. Continue reading

Sustaining Conversations – Ian Coxhead on Economic Growth in Asia

Ryan McGuine in conversation with Ian Coxhead // In the very first installment of Sustaining Conversations, Ian joined Ryan to discuss Japanese cuisine, the importance of education for economies, why labor markets matter, trends in global trade, consumer-led environmental movements, communism in Asia, what makes an effective response to COVID-19, and more. Continue reading

Pouring the Foundations of Modernity

Written by Ryan McGuine // The modern age has been characterized by the skyrocketing use of a number of materials, including concrete, the most widely-used construction material in the world. The basic foundation of concrete is cement, a remarkable material due to its combination of robustness and ability to be shaped into all manner of beautiful forms, and one which would seem futuristic if it weren’t thousands of years old. Going forward, rapid urbanization and rising incomes in developing countries will ensure the continued use of concrete for decades to come. Continue reading

COVID-19 Response: Reflections from the (Virtual) Trenches

Written by Rebecca Alcock // On June 3rd, 2018, a volcano erupted in the heart of Guatemala. At the time of the eruption, I was living and working in Guatemala as a field intern for Engineers Without Borders, supporting the pre- and post-implementation site assessments for infrastructure projects. Our team mobilized to rebuild crucial infrastructure in the communities surrounding the volcano and had the foresight to formally establish a response framework, which would pave the way for the substantial COVID-19 response efforts underway today. Continue reading

Data & Development: A Journey Without Maps

Written by Ryan McGuine // The world is awash in data like never before, which is a good thing for global development — there are increasing returns to both more information, and better linkages across information types and sources. Despite considerable progress, though, it seems likely that a lot of the value associated with plentiful data is related to the ability to ask better questions, rather than the ability to make better prescriptions. Much of that value has yet to be realized. Continue reading

Grow Crops, Not Algae

Written by Ryan McGuine // The incredible crop yields made possible by modern, intensive agriculture have literally made it possible to feed the world. Fossil fuels, which are used to power mechanized cultivation and as feedstocks for fertilizers and pesticides, are central to intensive agriculture. Chief among the fossil fuel-derived agrochemicals is nitrogen fertilizer, in the form of ammonia. Continue reading