Chatelaine_April_May_2019

12 CHATELAINE • APRIL/MAY 2019

PHOTO, ASHLEY RODGERS, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY.

guest editor’s letter

MISCELLANEOUS

THINGS WE

LEARNED THIS

MONTH

Green light

Recycled plastic and

vegetable waste can

look pretty chic.

P 33

When people fi nd out I’m a climate scientist

from Canada, they have a lot of questions. “Do

you believe it’s real?” has been the most com-

mon one here in conservative Texas, where I’ve

lived for the past 10 years. But these days, as

every new headline seems to feature yet

another doom-fi lled report or record-breaking

wildfi re, the question I get from just about

everyone is, “What gives you hope?”

I have to be honest—what I study can be

depressing, even to me. It’s not an exaggera-

tion to say that the future of human civiliza-

tion hinges on how we respond to this

challenge. Some days, it makes me feel like

getting back into bed, pulling the covers over

my head and hoping it all goes away.

What keeps me going, though, is the knowl-

edge that it doesn’t have to be this way. We still have time to stave off the doomsday

scenarios. The future truly is in our hands; and the good news is, climate solutions

aren’t all harsh or impractical.

That’s why I’m so excited to guest edit this special issue of Chatelaine. There are

many ways we can reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and build resilience to a

changing climate: innovative technology, such as solar shingles, biofuel-powered

jets and even basic smart thermostats; healthy choices, like regenerative agricul-

ture and plant-rich diets; and, smart planning to reduce food waste and increase

effi ciency. We don’t have to shoot ourselves in the foot to save the world—it’s about

accelerating a transition that’s already underway. To do this, we need rational hope—

hope that’s informed by the consequences of our choices and powered by a vision

of a future that’s better than the one we have today.

In this issue, the climate journalist Chris Turner describes what our lives could be

like in his surprisingly optimistic essay (page 20). From cutting down on single-use

plastic to smarter shopping , there are countless easy ways to help the planet off ered

in “Save the World” (page 85). Our actions matter, and we can infl uence people

around us through both our voice and our example. When others notice us making

changes, we get the opportunity to start a conversation about why those changes

are important. And as I say in my essay “We need to talk” (page 72), that’s one of the

most important things each one of us can do.

Chatelaine is my favourite dock read, but I’m not going to be saving this issue for

summer. I’ll be taking it with me everywhere I go. And the next time someone asks

what gives me hope, I’ll hand them a copy and say, “Start here!”

What aquafaba

actually is and the

delicious things you

can make with it.

P 96

The crazy amount of

money you can save by

ditching paper towels.

P 85

Katharine Hayhoe, @KHayhoe

[email protected]

Polar bears and grizzlies

are interbreeding,

creating “pizzly” bears.

P 76