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Costa Rica’s Nosara Highlighted in Forbes Top 10 Adventure Spots

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Monday, January 5, 2026

Costa Rica has earned a spot on Forbes’ list of top 10 adventure travel destinations for 2026, with Nosara in Guanacaste standing out for its surf opportunities and commitment to sustainable practices. The recognition comes as adventure tourism gains traction worldwide, drawing travelers who seek active experiences in natural settings. The Forbes article, released late last month, ranks 10 locations around the world that offer unique outdoor pursuits. Nosara joins places like the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, Ciudad Perdida in Colombia, Dominica in the Caribbean, Tahiti in French Polynesia, Antigua in Guatemala, Huaraz in Peru, the fjords of Norway, Uyuni in Bolivia, and Jungfrau in Switzerland. Each site focuses on activities that connect visitors with the environment, from hiking ancient ruins to exploring salt flats. For Nosara, Forbes points to its position in a quieter part of Guanacaste, where visitors find fewer crowds than in other coastal areas. The town provides access to some of the strongest surf breaks in the region, appealing to beginners and experts alike. Playa Guiones serves as a central point, with consistent waves that support year-round surfing. Local businesses enhance the experience through surf schools, specialized lodging, and guided operations that emphasize skill-building in a relaxed atmosphere. Sustainability plays a key role in Nosara’s appeal, according to the ranking. Many operations run as family-owned ventures that prioritize environmental care, aligning with Costa Rica’s broader reputation for conservation. This approach helps preserve the area’s natural features while offering travelers a way to engage responsibly. Forbes notes that as some coastal spots in the country see more visitors, Nosara maintains a sense of seclusion, making it easier to enjoy uncrowded waves and nearby trails. This inclusion reflects growing interest in adventure travel, a sector valued at over $400 billion globally and expected to expand by nearly 17 percent annually through the end of the decade. In Costa Rica, such recognition supports economic growth in communities beyond major hubs. Nosara’s focus on surf and nature positions it to attract international visitors who stay longer and contribute more to local economies. Tourism officials here see the Forbes nod as a chance to promote Guanacaste’s diverse offerings. The region already draws people for its beaches, wildlife, and outdoor options, but highlights like this one spotlight lesser-known spots. Nosara’s surf ecosystem, including facilities with instructors and equipment rentals, caters to all levels, fostering a community where locals and visitors share the water. Travelers heading to Nosara can expect a mix of adrenaline and tranquility. Beyond surfing, the area offers yoga sessions, wildlife spotting, and beach walks amid protected zones. Accommodations range from boutique hotels to eco-friendly stays, many integrating surf programs directly. One example includes clubs that provide lockers, showers, and access to boards, creating a seamless setup for daily sessions. As 2026 begins, this ranking may increase visits to Nosara, prompting local efforts to balance growth with preservation. Community leaders have long worked to maintain the town’s low-key character, making sure development supports rather than overwhelms the environment. For Costa Ricans, the feature affirms our country’s strengths in delivering memorable, nature-based trips. The full Forbes list encourages planning ahead for these destinations, as adventure travel often requires bookings for guides and permits. In Nosara, operators prepare for the uptick by expanding sustainable initiatives, such as reef protection and waste reduction programs. The post Costa Rica’s Nosara Highlighted in Forbes Top 10 Adventure Spots appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

The Forbes article, released late last month, ranks 10 locations around the world that offer unique outdoor pursuits. Nosara joins places like the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, Ciudad Perdida in Colombia, Dominica in the Caribbean, Tahiti in French Polynesia, Antigua in Guatemala, Huaraz in Peru, the fjords of Norway, Uyuni in Bolivia, and Jungfrau in Switzerland. Each site focuses on activities that connect visitors with the environment, from hiking ancient ruins to exploring salt flats.

For Nosara, Forbes points to its position in a quieter part of Guanacaste, where visitors find fewer crowds than in other coastal areas. The town provides access to some of the strongest surf breaks in the region, appealing to beginners and experts alike. Playa Guiones serves as a central point, with consistent waves that support year-round surfing. Local businesses enhance the experience through surf schools, specialized lodging, and guided operations that emphasize skill-building in a relaxed atmosphere.

Sustainability plays a key role in Nosara’s appeal, according to the ranking. Many operations run as family-owned ventures that prioritize environmental care, aligning with Costa Rica’s broader reputation for conservation. This approach helps preserve the area’s natural features while offering travelers a way to engage responsibly. Forbes notes that as some coastal spots in the country see more visitors, Nosara maintains a sense of seclusion, making it easier to enjoy uncrowded waves and nearby trails.

This inclusion reflects growing interest in adventure travel, a sector valued at over $400 billion globally and expected to expand by nearly 17 percent annually through the end of the decade. In Costa Rica, such recognition supports economic growth in communities beyond major hubs. Nosara’s focus on surf and nature positions it to attract international visitors who stay longer and contribute more to local economies.

Tourism officials here see the Forbes nod as a chance to promote Guanacaste’s diverse offerings. The region already draws people for its beaches, wildlife, and outdoor options, but highlights like this one spotlight lesser-known spots. Nosara’s surf ecosystem, including facilities with instructors and equipment rentals, caters to all levels, fostering a community where locals and visitors share the water.

Travelers heading to Nosara can expect a mix of adrenaline and tranquility. Beyond surfing, the area offers yoga sessions, wildlife spotting, and beach walks amid protected zones. Accommodations range from boutique hotels to eco-friendly stays, many integrating surf programs directly. One example includes clubs that provide lockers, showers, and access to boards, creating a seamless setup for daily sessions.

As 2026 begins, this ranking may increase visits to Nosara, prompting local efforts to balance growth with preservation. Community leaders have long worked to maintain the town’s low-key character, making sure development supports rather than overwhelms the environment. For Costa Ricans, the feature affirms our country’s strengths in delivering memorable, nature-based trips.

The full Forbes list encourages planning ahead for these destinations, as adventure travel often requires bookings for guides and permits. In Nosara, operators prepare for the uptick by expanding sustainable initiatives, such as reef protection and waste reduction programs.

The post Costa Rica’s Nosara Highlighted in Forbes Top 10 Adventure Spots appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

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Sustainable aviation fuel take-up in UK unlikely to hit 2025 target, data suggests

Provisional figures in government mandate’s first year show 20% shortfall in levels of SAF supplied for UK flightsThe take-up of sustainable aviation fuels is on course to fall short of the UK government’s first annual mandate, official figures suggest.Production data published by the Department for Transport (DfT) covering most of 2025 shows that sustainable fuels (SAF) only accounted for 1.6% of fuel supplied for UK flights – 20% less fuel in volume than the 2% needed to fulfil the requirement. Continue reading...

The take-up of sustainable aviation fuels is on course to fall short of the UK government’s first annual mandate, official figures suggest.Production data published by the Department for Transport (DfT) covering most of 2025 shows that sustainable fuels (SAF) only accounted for 1.6% of fuel supplied for UK flights – 20% less fuel in volume than the 2% needed to fulfil the requirement.The government introduced the mandate in January, which requires suppliers to hit targets for SAF – which the industry has argued is important for cutting its carbon emissions – within the overall UK aviation fuel mix.Themandatory target rises sharply from 2% in 2025 to 10% in 2030 and then to 22% in 2040, including the use of second-generation fuels that are seen as more sustainable in the long term.So far, the supply of SAF has been exclusively produced from recycled cooking oil from Asia, predominantly China, the DfT figures showed.The data shows that a little more than 160m litres (35m gallons) of SAF was used, out of 10bn litres of jet fuel burned in UK flying until early October.The DfT said the time needed for verification meant that the figures were provisional, and final figures for the year were not expected to be published until November 2026. A spokesperson for the department said: “These figures do not present the full picture. SAF volumes are continuously rising and not all suppliers have reported on the fuel they’ve supplied.”Planes burning SAF still emit equal amounts of CO2 in flight, but the net carbon footprint is calculated as far lower because of how SAF is produced, compared with normal jet fuel. Although many scientists and environmental groups remain deeply sceptical that it can be delivered, production and uptake of SAF is seen as the only way for commercial, and particularly long-haul, aviation to reduce its emissions.While the government has backed aviation as a driver of economic growth and granted permission for airports including Gatwick and Luton to rapidly expand, ministers have promised to consult the Climate Change Committee over plans to build a third runway at Heathrow.The aviation minister, Keir Mather, told an industry conference in London earlier this month that Heathrow expansion would still have to meet Labour’s four tests, including reducing its climate impact, but that decarbonisation would be “a licence for growth”.He said that SAF represented the biggest opportunity, and the government’s SAF bill, which is passing through the House of Lords, “will deliver the revenue-certainty mechanism that you called for – a guaranteed price for SAF that reduces risks for investors and raises confidence for producers”.Heathrow airport has pushed the uptake of SAF with an incentive scheme that cuts landing charges for airlines using cleaner fuel. It expects to meet its own target of 3% SAF use over the course of 2025.However, airlines have fewer available supplies outside larger hub airports, and have questioned whether future mandates can be met – especially when costlier second-generation and power-to-liquid SAF, yet to be produced at scale, are mandated.The UK has progressed further than most in global aviation. The international airlines body Iata recently warned that growth in production worldwide was stalling, with SAF supplying only 0.6% of total jet fuel consumption in 2025, and forecast to increase to 0.8% in 2026.Iata’s director general, Willie Walsh, criticised the mandates, adding: “If the objective is to increase SAF production to further the decarbonisation of aviation, then they need to learn from failure and work with the airline industry to design incentives that will work.”Duncan McCourt, chief executive of the air industry body Sustainable Aviation, said: “These provisional figures show the UK is using significant quantities of SAF and we remain confident that the mandate will be met and UK aviation will use increasing quantities of SAF in the years to come.”

Sustainable

Government

EU Yields to Pressure From Automakers as It Rethinks 2035 Combustion Car Ban

BRUSSELS/LONDON/STOCKHOLM, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The European Commission is expected on Tuesday to reverse the EU's effective ‌ban on sales of new...

BRUSSELS/LONDON/STOCKHOLM, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The European Commission is expected on Tuesday to reverse the EU's effective ‌ban on sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, bowing ‌to intense pressure from Germany, Italy and European automakers struggling against Chinese and U.S. rivals.The move, the details of which are still being hashed out by EU officials ahead of its unveiling, could see the effective ban pushed back by five years or softened indefinitely, official and industry sources said.The likely revision to ‍the 2023 law requiring all new cars and vans sold in the 27-nation bloc from 2035 to be CO2 emission-free would be the European Union's most significant climb-down from its green policies of the past five years."The European Commission will be putting forward a ⁠clear proposal to abolish the ban on combustion engines," Manfred Weber, head of the European Parliament's largest group, the European People's Party, said on Friday. "It was a serious industrial policy mistake."Reneging on the ban has divided the sector. Traditional automakers like Volkswagen and Fiat-owner Stellantis have pushed hard for targets to be eased amid fierce competition from lower-cost Chinese rivals. The EV sector, however, sees it as yielding more ground to China in the electrification shift."The technology is ready, charging infrastructure is ready, and ‌consumers are ready," said EV maker Polestar's CEO Michael Lohscheller. "So what are we waiting for?"COMBUSTION ENGINES AROUND FOR 'REST OF CENTURY'The 2023 law was designed to accelerate a transition from ‌combustion engines to batteries or fuel ‍cells and fine automakers who failed to ⁠meet the targets.Meeting the targets means selling more electric vehicles, where European carmakers lag Tesla and Chinese producers like BYD and Geely.Europe's carmakers are making EVs, but say demand has lagged expectations as consumers are reluctant to buy more expensive EVs and charging infrastructure is insufficient. EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs have only slightly eased the pressure."It's not a sustainable reality today in Europe," Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters in France last week, announcing a partnership with Renault to help cut EV costs. Industry needs were "not well balanced" with EU CO2 targets, he said.The EU granted the sector "breathing space" in March, allowing automakers to comply with 2025 targets over three years.But automakers want to continue selling combustion-engine models alongside plug-in hybrids, range extender EVs with 'CO2-neutral' fuels - including biofuels made from agricultural residues and waste such as used cooking oil.Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in October she was open to use of e-fuels and "advanced biofuels"."We recommend a multi-technology approach," said Todd Anderson, chief technology officer at combustion-engine fuel systems maker Phinia, adding the internal combustion engine will "be around for the rest of the century."The EV industry meanwhile argues the move will undermine investment and push the EU even further behind China."It's definitely going to have an effect," said Rick Wilmer, CEO of charging hardware and software provider ChargePoint.Automakers want the 2030 target of a 55% reduction in car emissions to be phased over several years and to drop the 50% reduction for vans. Germany wants sustainable practices like using low-carbon steel to count towards CO2 emission reductions.The European Commission will also detail a plan to boost the share of EVs in corporate fleets, notably company cars, which make up about 60% of Europe's new car sales. The auto industry wants incentives, pointing to Belgium as a country where subsidies have worked, rather than mandatory targets.The Commission is likely to propose establishing a new regulatory category for small EVs that would enjoy lower taxes and earn extra credits towards meeting CO2 targets.Environmental campaign groups say the EU should stick to its 2035 target, arguing biofuels are in short supply, are not truly CO2-neutral and supplying them would be prohibitively expensive."Europe needs to stay the course on electric," said William Todts, executive director of clean transport advocacy group T&E. "It's clear electric is the future."(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume in Paris, Marie Mannes in Stockholm and Nick Carey in London, Tilman Blasshofer, Ludwig Burger and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Susan Fenton)Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.Photos You Should See – December 2025

Sustainable

Technology

Waste

‘Sustainable’ Cambridge busway will cause irreversible ecological harm, inquiry told

Planned route linking Cambourne to Cambridge will go through one of county’s last traditional orchards A £160m busway scheduled to be built through one of Cambridgeshire’s last traditional orchards would cause irreversible ecological harm, a public inquiry has been told.The plans being examined for an off-road busway linking Cambourne to Cambridge follows a route through Coton Orchard, a 24-hectare (60-acre) orchard and nationally recognised priority habitat. A public inquiry, held by planning inspectors appointed by the transport secretary, is examining the scheme until 21 November. Continue reading...

A £160m busway scheduled to be built through one of Cambridgeshire’s last traditional orchards would cause irreversible ecological harm, a public inquiry has been told.The plans being examined for an off-road busway linking Cambourne to Cambridge follows a route through Coton Orchard, a 24-hectare (60-acre) orchard and nationally recognised priority habitat. A public inquiry, held by planning inspectors appointed by the transport secretary, is examining the scheme until 21 November.Coton Orchard is one of the county’s last large traditional orchards, home to century-old Bramley trees, rare moths, bats, birds and butterflies. Its age and structure mean it is classed as an irreplaceable habitat under national planning policy.The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) and Cambridgeshire county council, who are proposing the route, say the busway is essential for housing growth, congestion reduction and sustainable travel.But more than 24,000 people have signed a petition opposing it, and Coton parish council has proposed an alternative using an on-road section of the A1303, with targeted bus priority. “The community does not feel they have been listened to,” said Coton parish councillor Carolyn Postgate. “They fear a massive waste of public money: people believe that the on-road solution is, on balance, a much better solution.”Anna Gazeley, whose family has owned the site for generations, said the scheme was “sacrilege” when viable alternatives exist. “To sacrifice a century-old orchard for no discernible public good is unthinkable,” she said.There is particular disagreement over the issue of biodiversity loss. GCP said it had “voluntarily committed to delivering 20% biodiversity net gain (BNG) across its infrastructure programme” and that Coton Orchard had been assessed “using the statutory Defra metric”. It said only 0.42 hectares qualified as traditional orchard habitat, and three trees had been deemed “irreplaceable” and would be “translocated”.However, chartered ecologist Dominic Woodfield told the inquiry that GCP’s consultants, WSP, misclassified large areas of the orchard as grassland, even though “most of the site falls squarely within the priority habitat definition”, and had “disregarded trees”, including veterans. This had “a very, very profound impact” on the BNG score, because grassland is replaceable and can be offset elsewhere.Gazely told the inquiry: “You cannot replace a habitat that has taken decades to form with credits from another council-owned site … species that rely on these trees will simply disappear.”GCP said the scheme was necessary to accommodate housing expansion, with thousands of new homes and jobs coming to the area. They said it would help unlock developments such as the 3,500-home Bourn airfield site, whose planning consent requires the busway once the first 500 homes are built. They said they have “thoroughly assessed other options, including on existing roads, but found these won’t give people the same benefits as our scheme.”The inquiry is taking place as the government advances its planning and infrastructure bill, aimed at accelerating the delivery of housing and infrastructure. Environmental groups warn it could weaken protections for irreplaceable habitats, saying developers should be required to avoid harm on site, rather than relying on off-site biodiversity offsetting.Inspectors will submit recommendations to the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, after evidence concludes on 21 November. Environmental groups say the decision could set a national precedent for how irreplaceable habitats are treated in future infrastructure schemes.

Sustainable

Government

Waste

14 Incredible New Books to Inspire Your Friends and Family in the Year Ahead

These beautifully produced new books — covering art and photography, cooking, crafts, and more — celebrate our wildlife, health, and sustainable ways to care for our environment. The post 14 Incredible New Books to Inspire Your Friends and Family in the Year Ahead appeared first on The Revelator.

After a challenging year, we could all use something to help us recharge and remotivate ourselves. A new book (or two, or more) may be just what the situation calls for. We’ve gathered 14 new books to inspire you, your friends and family as the year winds down — and encourage everyone to start the new year with a positive and energetic approach. The list includes practical, thoughtful, and informative reads that you might find humorous and enlightening. We’ve adapted the books’ official descriptions below, and the link in each title goes to the publisher’s page. You should also be able to find any of these titles through your local bookseller. Pseudoscience: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love Them by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen This short, light-hearted book is a visual and narrative history of popular ideas, phenomena, and widely held beliefs disproven by science. From the easily disproved to the wildly speculative, to straight-up hucksterism, Pseudoscience is a romp through much more than bad science — it’s a hilarious look into why we insist on believing in things such as climate change denial, phrenology, astrology, and the existence of aliens. For example, “Rumpology” claims you can tell a person’s future by touching their butt. Seriously. Other examples include fake moon landings by the government, spontaneous human combustion, and gay conversion “therapy.” This wild mix of history, pop culture, and good old-fashioned science not only entertains, but sheds a little light on why we all tend to believe in things we know aren’t true — and how con artists take advantage of us by convincing us that these unscientific notions are facts. This book is a searing commentary on how conspiracy theories can spread like wildfires across the social networks of our increasingly interconnected online existence. Painting the Cosmos: How Art and Science Intersect to Reveal the Secrets of the Universe by Nia Imara This National Indie Excellence award winner presents a stunning portrait of our vast, dynamic, and mysterious universe as seen through the lenses of astronomy and art, evoking our curiosity about where the two come together. Astrophysicist and visual artist Dr. Nia Imara combines these perspectives to shed new light on the marvels of the universe and how we see ourselves in it. Richly illustrated with stunning full-color images of our universe and beautiful paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more from creators around the world — particularly the often-neglected work of women and Black artists — this one-of-a-kind book unites the realms of art, science, and culture to create a dynamic portrait of the cosmos, inspiring one to see the world in a fascinating new light where space and art are beautifully intertwined. Welcome to Florida: True Tales From America’s Most Interesting State by Craig Pittman Humor with an environmental message, award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman introduces readers to the people, creatures, places, and issues that make up the Florida of today. From threats to Florida’s environment to a hippo that became an official state citizen, these tales range from the moving to the bizarre. Follow the escapades of crime writers, hungry predators, politicians, and developers across the state. At the core of this collection is a deep sense of admiration for the resilience of those who live here, showcasing the power of “ordinary Floridians” fighting to save some part of the state and its wildlife that they hold dear. Often, that means folks rallying to protect the state’s unique natural landscape; sometimes it means former CIA agents incorporating their own island community. Both a love letter to and hilarious deep dive into the nation’s fastest growing state, and imbued with Pittman’s characteristic humor and undeniable fondness for both the weird and wonderful parts of his home, this book shows why, despite some of its reputations, Florida continues to prove irresistible. Wild Eye: A Life in Photographs by Beverly Joubert and Dereck Joubert A magnificent, large-format coffee table book featuring the dazzling wildlife and haunting landscapes of the African continent, with more than 250 beautiful photographs from one of National Geographic’s most popular photographers and her filmmaker husband. This luxe retrospective documents their 40-year odyssey through Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. A vivid journey into Africa’s landscape and all its wildlife, this passion for animals shows striking images that tell an arresting story in an instant, opening a window into the souls of their subjects and inspiring viewers to fight for their survival. Each alluring shot includes Dereck’s observations on the wildlife they hold so dear. Covering five themes, the book reveals the essence of Africa such as a leopard, his eyes glowing, from an acacia tree, a lion devouring a buffalo, a baboon silhouetted against the moon, a baby elephant snuggling with his mother, a rhino being rescued from poachers and much more. Both profound and inspiring, this majestic book forms a bridge between the animals, the lands, and the photographer. Each page is an impassioned call to conserve all forms of life— no matter what it takes. Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking: Vegan Recipes, Tips, and Techniques by Joe Yonan Maybe you know someone who wants to become vegan but doesn’t know where to start. This informative and fun cookbook features simple, delicious, and wholesome plant-based recipes, making it easy for anyone to savor the joys of vegan cooking — whether you’re a seasoned chef or a curious beginner. With over 100 vegan recipes using seasonal and sustainable ingredients, this book educates vegan newbies on how to choose fresh, local produce that supports the planet while respecting their busy lives with quick meals. Voted by NPR and Bon Appétit as one of the best culinary books of 2025, it’s the first book to collect vegan dishes and wisdom into a single volume, treating vegan food as its own cuisine, worthy of mastery. Packed with recipes and essays from prominent food writers in the plant-based sphere, this book shows the abundance of vegan food around the world, offering something for everyone. Starting with an in-depth pantry section, it explains how to create homemade versions of foundational ingredients like milks, butters, stocks, dressings, and spice mixes. There are numerous base recipe variations, an extensive dessert section, hundreds of vegan meals, and stunning photography. This will become a mainstay in you and your friends’ kitchens delivering new ideas for years to come. Yosemite Wildlife: The Wonder of Animal Life in California’s Sierra Nevada By Beth Pratt This lively and accessible blend of storytelling, the latest research, natural history, and compelling wildlife photographs fills a 100-year gap in publishing that will deeply connect people to this world-renowned national park in California. Crafted over decades by writer and conservation leader Beth Pratt to fulfill her vision of continuing the legacy of Grinnell & Storer’s landmark 1924 work, Animal Life in the Yosemite. Beth’s writing is accompanied by the work of naturalist-photographer Robb Hirsch, who spent more than 30 years in the field photographing animals so as not to impact them by his presence; his photography tells a distinct story of the park’s dazzling wildlife at its most undisturbed. Portrait of an Oyster: A Natural History of an Epicurean Delight by Andreas Ammer, translated by Renée von Paschen, illustrated by Falk Nordmann For anyone who loves oysters, this glorious guide to global oyster varieties, with drawings and descriptions of each specimen is an exploration of the oyster’s role in art, culture, cuisine, science, and history — featuring stunning full-color illustrations. Delve beyond the shucked shell to discover the rich and surprising world of the oyster and the artists, philosophers, explorers, and chefs the mollusk has inspired across the centuries. See vintage advertisements, line drawings, and archival photographs and find intriguing insights into the biology and cultivation of oysters. Bonus: Read our article about how conservationists are restoring oyster reefs and helping to protect coastal communities. Tamed: From Wild to Domesticated, the Ten Animals and Plants That Changed Human History by Alice Roberts Dogs became our companions. Wheat, rice, corn, soy and potatoes fed booming populations. Chickens inspired new branches of science. Horses gave us strength and speed. Apples and other fruits provided harvestable sweetness. Humans tamed them all. For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors were just one wild species among many, our survival dependent on the whims of nature. Then we began to tame the plants and animals all around us — and ourselves. Combining genetics, archaeology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, Tamed tells the story of the greatest revolution in human history, revealing the fascinating origins of crucial domesticated species and how they transformed us. As Roberts uncovers the astounding global implications of mutual domestication, she urges us to look again at our relationship with the natural world — and our incredible influence upon it. *** And Something for the Young Folks… No matter the occasion, never arrive empty-handed — bring a book! These titles encourage our younger readers to discover ways to protect and sustain the planet. How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up by Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Teresa Martínez Hey kids: Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes grown-ups need you to explain things to them — like climate science. In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining climate science to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn: The difference between weather and climate, how climate scientists collect data, what causes climate change and what we can do to reverse course and repair the planet. Fun and fact-filled, this book, part of a series, will empower kids to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen. Earthrise: The Story of the Photograph That Changed the Way We See Our Planet by Leonard S. Marcus A unique middle-grade nonfiction book about the astonishing photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission that forever shifted the way we view ourselves and our planet. Gazing out the window of the Apollo 8 spacecraft on Christmas Eve, 1968, NASA astronaut Bill Anders grabbed his camera and snapped the iconic color photo of our planet rising over the lunar horizon. Not long after the crew’s safe return, NASA developed Anders’s film and released “Earthrise” to the world. It soon became one of the most viewed and consequential photographs in human history, inspiring the first Earth Day in 1970 and boosting the global environmental movement. In the decades since, this incredible photograph of our “blue marble” has moved billions to rethink their understanding of our home planet, and even their very idea of “home.” No Less Strange or Wonderful: Essays in Curiosity by A. Kendra Greene Author and artist Greene delivers a brilliant and generous meditation on the complex wonder of being alive, on how to pay attention to even the tiniest (sometimes strangest) details that glitter with insight, whimsy, and deep humanity, if only we’d look. In 26 essays, illuminated in both text and image, Greene is trying to make sense of the things that matter most in life: Love, connection, death, grief, the universe, meaning, nothingness, and everything. Through a series of encounters with animals, strangers, and children, the wild merges with the domestic and the everyday meets the sublime. Each essay returns readers to our smallest moments and our largest ones in a book that makes us realize life’s playful curation, and its delightful associative interconnectedness that helps us understand we are all one. History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment by Kate Messner In this graphic novel for young adults, discover the real story behind the first Earth Day celebration and some of the biggest U.S. climate catastrophes — and their solutions. In April 1970, 20 million people grabbed their rakes, gloves, and recycling bins to celebrate the first Earth Day. Since that environmental kickoff, the struggle to save and restore wildlife and nature continues. While it’s true that the first Earth Day encouraged people around the globe to clean up their act when it came to the environment, it has not been an easy task. Learn about the centuries-old history of activists who have tried to save the planet: Indigenous people across the world using sustainable farming practices, women in 18th-century India protecting trees, and amateur scientist Eunice Foote discovering the science behind global warming in the 1850s. Join the History Smashers team to bust history’s biggest misconceptions and figure out what in the world really happened before and after the first Earth Day — and how you can join the fight to protect the environment. Plant Attack! The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself by Erin Silver Plants can’t scream or run away from danger, but many have developed surprisingly cool and courageous ways to keep themselves safe from pesky bugs, hungry animals and even large-clawed crabs. Plants can stab, poison, drown and even suffocate their predators. Discover the corpse flower, which smells like a combination of rotting wounds, garlic, cheese and sour sweat. Then there’s the touch-me-not balsam that explodes, flinging anything that touches it through the air. This intriguing book explores 15 different plants and the unique, and sometimes bizarre, ways they defend themselves from predators, including us. We Love You: An Optimistic Guide to Life on a Rock Floating Through Space by Thomas Sullivan and Andy Min Join best friends Thomas and Andy as they take you on an optimistic, philosophical, and hopeful journey that contemplates what it means to be joyfully alive. Providing a guidebook to deepen your relationship with nature — and your relationship with yourself — these lifelong best friends explore nature as they talk, laugh, and cry their way through what it means to live a fulfilling life on Earth. From teeming oak forests to the strange concrete wilderness of our human cities, Thomas and Andy will show you how to pursue hope and happiness across our world and teach you to recognize the beauty of what we often take for granted. With breathtaking imagery, essays, original artwork, poetry, and mindfulness practices, universal human themes like “Recapturing Childhood Wonder” and “Dealing with Today’s World” take on the big questions of life and shows that maybe there’s nothing to be afraid of. If we embrace the journey, we can make our lives and this rock we live on so much better. *** You can find hundreds of additional environmental book recommendations, including many more to inspire your friends and relatives, in the “Revelator Reads” archives. And let us know what you’re reading: Drop us a line at comments@therevelator.org. The post 14 Incredible New Books to Inspire Your Friends and Family in the Year Ahead appeared first on The Revelator.

Sustainable

Activism

Climate

Engineering next-generation fertilizers

MIT postdoc Giorgio Rizzo harnesses plant chemistry to design sustainable fertilizers that could reshape modern farming.

Born in Palermo, Sicily, Giorgio Rizzo spent his childhood curious about the natural world. “I have always been fascinated by nature and how plants and animals can adapt and survive in extreme environments,” he says. “Their highly tuned biochemistry, and their incredible ability to create ones of the most complex and beautiful structures in chemistry that we still can’t even achieve in our laboratories.”As an undergraduate student, he watched as a researcher mounted a towering chromatography column layered with colorful plant chemicals in a laboratory. When the researcher switched on a UV light, the colors turned into fluorescent shades of blue, green, red and pink. “I realized in that exact moment that I wanted to be the same person, separating new unknown compounds from a rare plant with potential pharmaceutical properties,” he recalls.These experiences set him on a path from a master’s degree in organic chemistry to his current work as a postdoc in the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he focuses on developing sustainable fertilizers and studying how rare earth elements can boost plant resilience, with the aim of reducing agriculture’s environmental impact.In the lab of MIT Professor Benedetto Marelli, Rizzo studies plant responses to environmental stressors, such as heat, drought, and prolonged UV irradiation. This includes developing new fertilizers that can be applied as seed coating to help plants grow stronger and enhance their resistance.“We are working on new formulations of fertilizers that aim to reduce the huge environmental impact of classical practices in agriculture based on NPK inorganic fertilizers,” Rizzo explains. Although they are fundamental to crop yields, their tendency to accumulate in soil is detrimental to the soil health and microbiome living in it. In addition, producing NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) fertilizers is one of the most energy-consuming and polluting chemical processes in the world.“It is mandatory to reshape our conception of fertilizers and try to rely, at least in part, on alternative products that are safer, cheaper, and more sustainable,” he says.Recently, Rizzo was awarded a Kavanaugh Fellowship, a program that gives MIT graduate students and postdocs entrepreneurial training and resources to bring their research from the lab to the market. “This prestigious fellowship will help me build a concrete product for a company, adding more value to our research,” he says.Rizzo hopes their work will help farmers increase their crop yields without compromising soil quality or plant health. A major barrier to adopting new fertilizers is cost, as many farmers rely heavily on each growing season’s output and cannot risk investing in products that may underperform compared to traditional NPK fertilizers. The fertilizers being developed in the Marelli Lab address this challenge by using chitin and chitosan, abundant natural materials that make them far less expensive to produce, which Rizzo hopes will encourage farmers to try them.“Through the Kavanaugh Fellowship, I will spend this year trying to bring the technology outside the lab to impact the world and meet the need for farmers to support their prosperity,” he says.Mentorship has been a defining part of his postdoc experience. Rizzo describes Professor Benedetto Marelli as “an incredible mentor” who values his research interests and supports him through every stage of his work. The lab spans a wide range of projects — from plant growth enhancement and precision chemical delivery to wastewater treatment, vaccine development for fish, and advanced biochemical processes. “My colleagues created a stimulant environment with different research topics,” he notes. He is also grateful for the work he does with international institutions, which has helped him build a network of researchers and academics around the world.Rizzo enjoys the opportunity to mentor students in the lab and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to learn. “It is one of the greatest qualities you can have as a scientist because you must be driven by curiosity to discover the unexpected,” he says.He describes MIT as a “dynamic and stimulating experience,” but also acknowledges how overwhelming it can be. “You will feel like a small fish in a big ocean,” he says. “But that is exactly what MIT is: an ocean full of opportunities and challenges that are waiting to be solved.”Beyond his professional work, Rizzo enjoys nature and the arts. An avid reader, he balances his scientific work with literature and history. “I never read about science-related topics — I read about it a lot already for my job,” he says. “I like classic literature, novels, essays, history of nations, and biographies. Often you can find me wandering in museums’ art collections.” Classical art, Renaissance, and Pre-Raphaelites are his favorite artistic currents.Looking ahead, Rizzo hopes to shift his professional pathway toward startups or companies focused on agrotechnical improvement. His immediate goal is to contribute to initiatives where research has a direct, tangible impact on everyday life.“I want to pursue the option of being part of a spinout process that would enable my research to have a direct impact in everyday life and help solve agricultural issues,” he adds.

Sustainable

Agriculture

Chemicals

Suggested Viewing

Coding for Crayfish

Communities in the red and a fishery on the brink of collapse. Coding for Crayfish explores the notion of Rethinking Sustainability through technology, told through the Story of traditional fisher David Shoshola.

Culture

Sustainable

Technology

Wake Up People!

Environmental activists have been camping in Sodros for more than four months with the purpose of stopping the trees from being cut down. In the past few days Chinese company CRBC workers have been showing up at the site accompanied by the police and gendarmerie forces. The activists have been requesting to see the permits and the documentation for the work they are planning to conduct from the CRBC workers. The CRBC workers haven’t shown any of the permits. Also, the work has begun without a construction board being clearly visible, which is mandatory by law.

Sustainable

Social Justice

Nature

Yo Gleans

We follow a day in the life of Yosarian Bisbee, aka Yo, as he gathers “junk” from the local dump and unwanted food from the grocery store, all in an effort to minimize waste.

Waste

Experimental

Sustainable

Sashiko as Cultural Sustainability

When we talk about Sustainability, we tend to focus on the sustainable solutions based on physical resources. However, very frequently we overlook a key part for creating a successful sustainable society: Cultural Sustainability.

Culture

Sustainable

Solutions

Inside The Grand Canyon

This guerrilla style documentary film captures a Colorado River rafting expedition through the Grand Canyon. Exhilarating and sometimes dangerous expeditions like this are not often considered when discussing global climate change but could be helpful to enlighten more folks about the changes to our planet. This rafting trip will soon be a thing of the past with record draughts continuing due to ongoing global climate change caused largely by humans. This is just a tiny slice of natures many warning signs of things to come. We find ourselves in a world of ongoing disbelief and hesitation in lieu of planning for the clear and present dangers from climate change. The Colorado River has already reached devastating levels for communities that depend on the water and electrical power resource. Government study in 2022 showed that Lake Powell could reach ""dead pool"" by 2023. There is no plan to mitigate the catastrophe that will leave over a million and a half people with no electricity.

Water

Climate

Sustainable

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Costa Rica’s Nosara Highlighted in Forbes Top 10 Adventure Spots

Related News

Sustainable aviation fuel take-up in UK unlikely to hit 2025 target, data suggests

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Engineering next-generation fertilizers

Suggested Viewing

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Inside The Grand Canyon

Join us to forgea sustainable future

sign up for our mailing list to stay informed on the latest films and environmental headlines.

Join us to forge
a sustainable future