Carbon is not the enemy, says architect and sustainability leader William McDonough, the author and inventor of the concept of “cradle-to-cradle”. In the climate conversation, almost all references to carbon are negative. We talk about needing to aim for “low carbon,” and “zero carbon”. But McDonough thinks that it’s framing the problem (and solutions) in the wrong way. Humans are made of carbon. The plants and animals we eat are made of carbon. Carbon in soil is the basis of healthy ecosystems. When carbon is locked up inside diamonds or recycled in plastic, it’s a useful tool, not a pollutant. McDonough argues for new phrases. “Living carbon” is growing in biological cycles. “Durable carbon” is locked inside stable solids, like the wood inside a building or the paper in a book. Only “fugitive carbon”—carbon that has ended up somewhere unwanted, like carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere—is a problem.
Sustainability leader wants to change the way, we talk about carbon
More of Today's Solutions
The three muscle groups behind knee stability, and how to train them
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Running, climbing stairs, squatting to pick something up from the floor: every one of these movements passes through ...
Read MoreSan Francisco police won’t send officers to respond to non-criminal calls
Cities across the US are finally seeing some tangible police reform and defunding changes. San Francisco is joining the movement with their recent announcement ...
Read MoreMeet Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise
At The Optimist Daily we love telling you about incredible happenings from around the world, both human and animal focussed. At the start of ...
Read More3 ways to relax to the max in nature, according to science
Okay, so you’ve finally decided to carve out the time in your busy schedule to commune with nature because you’ve heard and read that ...
Read More
